US6045048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols while surfing the internet using an internet browser program
Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-15
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Granted: 2000-04-04
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Expires: 2019-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based system is provided for composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols specifying the location of Internet-based information resources on the Internet. In the illustrative embodiment, the system comprises a computer system operably connectable to the Internet and including a visual display screen, a keyboard, and printer. The system also includes a GUI-based Internet browser program and a URL-menu composition program supported by the computer system. The function of the GUI-based Internet browser program is to enable a user to access and display Internet-based information resources stored on an Internet information server at a location specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The function of the URL-menu composition program is to enable the user to compose a menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols while surfing the Internet using the GUI-based Internet browser program. After the menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols has been composed, it may be edited and then printed on a selected print medium. By virtue of the present invention, any Internet-based information resource can be automatically accessed and displayed by reading its URL-encoded bar code symbol from the printed menu using a bar code symbol reader operably connected to an Internet-enabled computer system supporting a bar code driven Internet browser program.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Wilz, Sr.
- 👤 Carl Harry Knowles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10851; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9554; G06K7/10712; G06K7/10722
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A computer-based system for accessing and displaying Internet-based information resources stored in information servers on the Internet and composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols specifying the location of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet, said system comprising: a computer system operably connectable to the Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and having a visual display screen and a data input means; a GUI-based Internet browser program, supported by said computer system, and enabling a user to access and display of Internet-based information resources on said visual display screen, each said Internet-based information resource being stored on an information server connected to the Internet, and at a location specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) defined on the Internet; and a URL-menu composition program, supported by said computer system, and enabling a user to compose a menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols, each said URL-encoded bar code symbol being encoded with a URL specifying the location of one of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet; wherein, during the operation of said GUI-based Internet browser program, said URL-menu composition program allows the user to compile said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols for printing on a selected print medium, and wherein, after said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols are printed on said selected print medium, an Internet-based information resource specified by its URL-encoded bar code symbol on said menu can be automatically accessed and displayed by reading the URL-encoded bar code symbol with a bar code symbol reader operably connected to an Internet-enabled computer system provided with a bar code driven Internet browser program.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
A computer-based system for accessing and displaying Internet-based information resources stored in information servers on the Internet and composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols specifying the location of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet, said system comprising: a computer system operably connectable to the Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and having a visual display screen and a data input means; a GUI-based Internet browser program, supported by said computer system, and enabling a user to access and display of Internet-based information resources on said visual display screen, each said Internet-based information resource being stored on an information server connected to the Internet, and at a location specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) defined on the Internet; and a URL-menu composition program, supported by said computer system, and enabling a user to compose a menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols, each said URL-encoded bar code symbol being encoded with a URL specifying the location of one of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet; wherein, during the operation of said GUI-based Internet browser program, said URL-menu composition program allows the user to compile said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols for printing on a selected print medium, and wherein, after said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols are printed on said selected print medium, an Internet-based information resource specified by its URL-encoded bar code symbol on said menu can be automatically accessed and displayed by reading the URL-encoded bar code symbol with a bar code symbol reader operably connected to an Internet-enabled computer system provided with a bar code driven Internet browser program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein said URL-menu composition program comprises a plug-in type module for integration with said GUI-based Internet browser program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein said Internet-based information resources comprise a plurality of HTML-encoded documents.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols further comprises, for each said URL-encoded bar code symbol listed in said menu, one or more of the following information elements: a human-readable URL corresponding to said URL-encoded bar code symbol; a title description assigned to said URL-encoded bar code symbol; a brief description of the content of the Internet-based information resource specified by said URL-encoded bar code symbol; and a date indicating when the Information-based information resource was last accessed and displayed by the composer of said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein said URL-menu composition program comprises: a composing mode of operation during which said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols is composed; and an editing mode of operation during which said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols is edited.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer-based system of claim 5, wherein said URL-menu composition program further comprises a printing mode of operation during which said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols is printed on said selected print medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer-based system of claim 1, which further comprises a printer, operably connected to said computer system, for printing said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols on said selected print medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer-based system of claim 8, which further comprises a bar code symbol reader operably connected to said computer system, for reading one or more of URL-encoded bar code symbols on said menu and automatically accessing and displaying the Internet-based information resources specified by said one or more of URL-encoded bar code symbols printed on said selected print medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-based system of claim 8, wherein said visual display screen is realized by a visual display device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer-based system of claim 8, wherein said data input means comprises a keyboard.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of accessing and displaying Internet-based information resources stored in information servers on the Internet and composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols specifying the location of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet, said method comprising the steps of: (a) operably connecting a computer system to the Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), said computer system having a visual display screen and a data input means, and supporting a GUI-based Internet browser program and a URL-menu composition program, said GUI-based Internet browser program enabling a user to access and display of Internet-based information resources on said visual display screen, each said Internet-based information resource being stored on an information server connected to the Internet, and at a location specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) defined on the Internet, and said URL-menu composition program enabling a user to compose a menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols, each said URL-encoded bar code symbol being encoded with a URL specifying the location of one of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet; (b) during the operation of said GUI-based Internet browser program, using said URL-menu composition program to compile said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols for printing on a selected print medium; and (c) after said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols are composed, printing said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols on said selected print medium.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of accessing and displaying Internet-based information resources stored in information servers on the Internet and composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols specifying the location of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet, said method comprising the steps of: (a) operably connecting a computer system to the Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), said computer system having a visual display screen and a data input means, and supporting a GUI-based Internet browser program and a URL-menu composition program, said GUI-based Internet browser program enabling a user to access and display of Internet-based information resources on said visual display screen, each said Internet-based information resource being stored on an information server connected to the Internet, and at a location specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) defined on the Internet, and said URL-menu composition program enabling a user to compose a menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols, each said URL-encoded bar code symbol being encoded with a URL specifying the location of one of said Internet-based information resources on the Internet; (b) during the operation of said GUI-based Internet browser program, using said URL-menu composition program to compile said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols for printing on a selected print medium; and (c) after said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols are composed, printing said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols on said selected print medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 11, which further comprises after step (c) (d) accessing one or more Internet-based information resources specified by URL-encoded bar code symbols on said printed menu by reading said URL-encoded bar code symbols using a bar code symbol reader operably connected to an Internet-enabled computer system provided with a bar code driven Internet browser program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11, where during step (a) said URL-menu composition program comprises a plug-in type module for integration with said GUI-based Internet browser program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11, where during step (a) said Internet-based information resources comprises a plurality of HTML-encoded documents.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 11, wherein step (b) comprises composing said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols such that, for each said URL-encoded bar code symbol listed in said menu, one or more of the following information elements are included in said menu: a human-readable URL corresponding to said URL-encoded bar code symbol; a title description assigned to said URL-encoded bar code symbol; a brief description of the content of the Internet-based information resource specified by said URL-encoded bar code symbol; and a date indicating when the Information-based information resource was last accessed and displayed by the composer of said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, wherein after step (b) but before step (c), said method further comprises: editing said menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-04 | 2003-10-04 | 2004-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-10-04 | 2008-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-04 | 2011-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |