US6430554B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive system for investigating products on a network
Assignee: Nm LLC
•
Filing: 2000-01-25
•
Granted: 2002-08-06
•
Expires: 2020-01-25
Abstract
Abstract An interactive search system for use primarily with a global computer network, e.g., the Internet, using a search identifying barcode, such as a UPC code, to rapidly and effectively obtain a supply of related information for presentation to a user. A computer may be used to input a UPC code, taken from a package or advertisement or pre-stored in the computer, to an implementing server on the network. The server contains a database of product and manufacturer identifying UPC codes and uses the input UPC code and the database to identify the manufacturer and is programmed to then perform a search of the network to locate sites relating to or operated by the manufacturer. Also, the server may search the network on a product basis to locate other sites containing the UPC under search. To reduce search time, the user can identify the optional category of the product when the UPC is entered and the server may be programmed to initially search sites where a greater likelihood of uncovering a particular UPC exists. Using “parsing” technology, the server “pulls out” the product description, transmits it to and places it in a random access memory (RAM) or storage of the computer, and proceeds to perform further searching relying on the product description to uncover relevant information. Accordingly, using a single input, a collection of product-related and manufacturer information is quickly assembled in the computer available for a user's consideration all at once at any time. To purchase the particular product, the server can automatically link the computer with the manufacturer's site on the network or the server, to permit direct ordering.
Inventors
- 👤 Leigh M. Rothschild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9554; G06Q30/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An interactive search system for obtaining a supply of information relating to the object of the search from a global computer network for presentation to a user, said system comprising: an implementing server coupled to the global computer network and comprising database means for storing search-object-related information and associated information on where further search-object-related information can be located on the global computer network; a computer input terminal coupled to said implementing server and operable by a user to send a coded input for accessing said implementing server, said coded input addressing said stored search-object-related information; means, responsive to said coded input, for activating said implementing server to use said associated information to access said further search-object-related information on the global computer network; and means for collecting and storing at said computer input terminal said further search-object-related information accessed by said implementing server to provide a supply of search-object-related information from the global computer network ready for presentation to the user in accordance with the coded input.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An interactive search system for obtaining a supply of information relating to the object of the search from a global computer network for presentation to a user, said system comprising: an implementing server coupled to the global computer network and comprising database means for storing search-object-related information and associated information on where further search-object-related information can be located on the global computer network; a computer input terminal coupled to said implementing server and operable by a user to send a coded input for accessing said implementing server, said coded input addressing said stored search-object-related information; means, responsive to said coded input, for activating said implementing server to use said associated information to access said further search-object-related information on the global computer network; and means for collecting and storing at said computer input terminal said further search-object-related information accessed by said implementing server to provide a supply of search-object-related information from the global computer network ready for presentation to the user in accordance with the coded input.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said coded input comprises a barcode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said coded input comprises a UPC code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said search-object-related information comprises product-related information and said coded input comprises a manufacturers code and a related product category.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said coded input comprises a code printed on a document.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said implementing server has an administrator and said coded input comprises a code provided by said administrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising means for scanning said coded input into said computer input terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said computer input terminal comprises a wireless portable computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said computer input terminal comprises a wireless internet phone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said computer input terminal comprises a server accessible phone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said computer input terminal comprises means for storing a library of coded inputs for selective transmission to said implementing server.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising means, in said implementing server, for prestoring specialized search-object-related information associated with said coded input, and responsive to said coded input for sending said associated specialized search-object-related information to said computer input terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising means for directly linking said implementing server to certain sites on the global computer network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 1 further comprising means for directly linking said computer input terminal to certain sites on the global computer network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
An interactive search method for obtaining a supply of information relating to the object of the search from a global computer network for presentation to a user, comprising the steps of: inputting, by means of an electronic terminal, a coded input relating to the object of the search, to an implementing server containing databases relating the coded input to web sites on a global network; checking to verify that the coded input is valid and making any predetermined conversions that are required for the search; first querying said databases of said implementing server to find web sites on the global network related to said coded input; second querying the websites found related to said coded input for information regarding the object of the search; transferring all of the information regarding the object of the search that results from said second querying of the websites, to said electronic terminal for providing a supply of information regarding the object of the search obtained from the global computer network ready for presentation to the user in accordance with the coded input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
An interactive search method for obtaining a supply of information relating to the object of the search from a global computer network for presentation to a user, comprising the steps of: inputting, by means of an electronic terminal, a coded input relating to the object of the search, to an implementing server containing databases relating the coded input to web sites on a global network; checking to verify that the coded input is valid and making any predetermined conversions that are required for the search; first querying said databases of said implementing server to find web sites on the global network related to said coded input; second querying the websites found related to said coded input for information regarding the object of the search; transferring all of the information regarding the object of the search that results from said second querying of the websites, to said electronic terminal for providing a supply of information regarding the object of the search obtained from the global computer network ready for presentation to the user in accordance with the coded input.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said information regarding the object of the search comprises product-related information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said coded input comprises a barcode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said coded input comprises a UPC code.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said coded input comprises a manufacturer's code and a related product category.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said coded input comprises a code printed on a document.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said implementing server has an administrator and said administrator provides said coded input.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said inputting step comprises scanning said coded input into said electronic terminal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said electronic terminal comprises a wireless portable computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said electronic terminal comprises a wireless internet phone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said electronic terminal comprises a server accessible phone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of storing a library of coded inputs in said electronic terminal for selective inputting to said implementing server.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: storing in said implementing server, specialized product-related information associated with said coded input; and sending, in response to the input of said coded input, said associated specialized product-related information to said electronic terminal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of directly linking said implementing server to certain sites on the global computer network.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of directly linking said electronic terminal to certain sites on the global computer network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5524240A
Cited
US5948040A
Cited
US5978773A
Cited
US5791991A
Cited
US5804803A
Cited
US6330244B1
Cited
US6202060B1
Cited
US6157935A
Cited
US5913210A
Cited
US6123259A
Cited
US6327570B1
Cited
US6317718B1
Cited
US6199099B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-05 | 2006-02-04 | 2006-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-05 | 2010-02-04 | 2010-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-05 | 2014-02-04 | 2014-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |