CN100476788C - Method for interfacing scanned product information with product source over global network - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for interfacing scanned product information with a product manufacturer over a global communication network (306). After scanning the product bar code information (102), a proprietary bolt body interface (104) adds additional information in the form of key-stroke data. The firmware included in the bolt (104) adds additional tap data to open a web browser window to insert the URL/barcode data string and send the data. The information is then transmitted to an advertising reference server (308) which includes a database (310) of products and their associated advertising URLs, the advertising reference server (308) sending the product file URLs located on the advertising information server (312) back to the source computer (302), the source computer (302) retrieving the product information from the advertising server (312) for processing.

Description

Method for interfacing scanned product information with product sources on a global network

technical field

The present invention relates generally to a method of controlling a computer, and more particularly to a method for modifying scanned barcode data associated with a manufacturer's product for input over a global communications network to a computer at the manufacturer's location for communication between them connect.

Background technique

This application is related to co-pending US Patent Application Serial No. 09/151,530, entitled "Method of Controlling a Computer Using Audio Signals," Attorney Docket No. PHLY-24,398, filed on the same date.

With the advent of the global information network commonly referred to as the "Internet", more and more marketing points are distributed on the network to take advantage of the interconnection provided to users. These outlets allow users to visit the "website" of the specific outlet to access different products, thus creating in effect a "virtual marketplace". To provide this access, users must run a "browser" application on their computers that allows them to access online locations. Each location on the Internet is defined by a Universal Resource Locator ("URL"), and the user only needs to enter this URL into a web browser to connect to the relevant location. Users typically enter a "domain" name into the network, which translates to a URL for that domain name. The use of domain names makes the use of the Internet more convenient, because every location on the Internet can now have an easily decipherable address.

The type of information provided to the user from a given point of sale can be an interactive event that allows the user to select a product, set a price and even order a product. Some points of sale provide access to many products. However, other points only provide access to one company and all of its products. A major problem in marketing a product or providing information on the Internet is to manage to inform the user of the location and link the user to that specific location through an associated URL or domain name. Today, users are required to type a domain or URL into a browser window and instruct the browser to look for that location on the web. This has several disadvantages. First of all, the user must try to obtain information about a specific company or one of its products to make the user desire to seek more information. Second, there must be some type of connection between the product and the specific company's "web page" in order for the user to walk from the product to the web page to retrieve more information about the product. Currently there is no easily accessible system available for linking a product with the web page of the manufacturer of that product.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein includes a method for associating a product with telematics for the product. A product identifier associated with a product is accessed at an online source location so that it identifies the related product. Appends the accessed product identifier with routing information that identifies the remote location's location on the network. Product information is then sent from the source location on the network to the remote location according to additional routing information, the routing information defining a network connection between the source location on the network and the remote location, wherein information about related products can be returned from the remote location to the source location.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a method for associating a product with remote information about the product comprising the steps of: accessing at an online source location a product identifier closely associated with the product so that it identifies the related product; Routing information is attached to the product identifier accessed, and the routing information determines the location of the remote location on the network; the product information is transmitted from the source location to the remote location on the network according to the attached routing information, and the routing information determines the distance between the source location on the network and the remote location. network connection between, wherein information about related products can be sent from a remote location back to the source location; wherein routing information is associated with a secondary location on the network such that the step of sending to the remote location sends product information to the associated routing information remote location for return to the source location, and at a secondary location: accessing a product routing information database that provides a link between a predetermined product identifier and a remote product information location on the web, where multiple Such product routing information; accessing the database in response to receiving at the secondary location a product identifier transmitted from the source location; comparing the received product identifier with product routing information stored in the database; if received There is a match between the product identifier of the product and any of the stored product routing information, then the matching product routing information is returned to the source location associated with the embedded instruction code; and the matching product routing information and the Responsive to receipt of the embedded instruction code, the source location is automatically interconnected with the remote product information location on the network under control of the received instruction code and product information is received from the latter location.

The present invention also provides a system for interfacing scanned product codes with product sources over a communication network, comprising: an interface circuit for receiving scanned product codes, said interface circuit appending routing information to said scanned a computer connected to said interface circuit and running a web browser at a source location connected to one or more remote locations on a communication network based on routing information; wherein in a first instance, said message packet is automatically sent by said web browser to one or more of said remote locations via said computer; and wherein in each subsequent instance, said message is reconstructed package to determine the direction of communication between said source location and corresponding one or more of said remote locations and to connect said scanned product code at said source location with said product source at said remote location wherein, as part of the first matter, the routing information is associated with a secondary location on the network such that routing to the remote location transmits product information to the remote location associated with the routing information for return to the source location, and in Secondary location: product routing information database, the product routing information provides the association between predetermined product identifiers and remote product information locations on the Internet, and multiple such product routing information is stored in the database; The secondary location receives a product identifier sent from the source location to respond to access the database; the comparator compares the received product identifier with the product routing information stored in the database; if the received product identifier and there is a match between any of the product routing information stored in the database, returning the matching product routing information to the transmitter at the source location associated with the embedded instruction code; and matching the matching product routing information with the embedded A computer responsive to receipt of an instruction code for automatically interconnecting a source location with a remote product information location on a network under control of the received instruction code and receiving product information from the latter location.

Description of drawings

The present invention and its advantages can be more fully understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system using a proprietary latch interface;

Figure 2 illustrates the general I/O of a microcontroller used in the proprietary latch electronics;

Figure 3 illustrates a retrieval system for obtaining product information on the global communication network;

Figures 4a-4e illustrate the different message packets transmitted between the source PC and the server used in the preferred embodiment;

5 illustrates a flowchart of a method for receiving and encoding data prior to sending the data to an Advertisement Reference Server (“ARS”);

Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of actions taken by the ARS server;

Figure 7 illustrates a flow chart of the interaction process between the source computer and the ARS;

Figure 8 illustrates a web browser page for receiving modified URL/barcode data according to a preferred embodiment;

Figure 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of the disclosed embodiments;

Figure 10 illustrates a more detailed simplified block diagram of the Figure 9 embodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of a method for accomplishing routing operations;

12 illustrates a block diagram of an alternative embodiment using audio input to generate routing information;

Figure 13 illustrates a block diagram for generating an overview of the disclosed embodiments;

Figure 14 illustrates a flow diagram for generating and storing profiles in the ARS; and

Figure 15 illustrates a flowchart for processing profile information as it is sent to the user.

Detailed ways

The present invention relates to a personal computer ("PC") connected to receive input from a bar code scanner pen and keyboard, and also connected to a network through a network interface. The PC runs a browser program to facilitate accessing information on a network, such as the global communications network known as the "Internet" or World Wide Web ("Web"). Browsers are hypertext-linked applications used to access information. Hypertext is a term used to describe a specific organization of information within a data processing system and its presentation to users. It takes advantage of the computer's ability to link information from many different sources to provide users with the ability to research a specific topic. The organization of information applied in the traditional presentation used in the book is limited by the medium, namely sequential pages of fixed length. Hypertext systems, however, use a large number of units of text or other types of data, such as image information, graphic information, video, information or sound information, which are of various lengths. A collection of such information units is called a hypertext document, or when a hypertext document uses information other than text, it is called a hypermedia document.

Multimedia communications may use Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP"), while documents or formatted data may use Hypertext Markup Language ("HTML"). This formatting language "marks up" a text document using HTML to mix text, graphics, sound, video, and hypertext links. Data encoded using HTML is often referred to as an "HTML document", "HTML page" or home page. These files and other Internet resources can be accessed over the network using a network addressing scheme that uses a locator known as a Uniform Resource Locator ("URL"), such as "http:://www.digital.com".

和Microsoft Internet

所做的浏览器。The Internet is used to interconnect distributed computer systems and allow users of these computer systems to exchange data throughout the world. There are many private networks connected to the Internet, such as municipal or commercial networks. Standard protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol ("TCP") and Internet Protocol ("IP") provide a convenient method of communicating over these various networks. These protocols specify how data is formatted and transmitted. As is characteristic of the Internet, these protocols are layered in the IP stack. In the higher layers of the IP stack, such as the application layer (where HTTP is used), it is easy to see user information, while in the lower layers, such as the network layer (where TCP/IP is used), it appears that data is just packets or Fast moving digital signal flow. Overlaid on the Internet is a standard protocol interface for accessing network resources such as servers, files, web pages, mail messages and the like. One way to access network resources is through the

and Microsoft Internet

browser made.

In scan mode, the scanner scans barcode data into the "latch" interface for conversion to keypad data, from where it is passed to the PC's keypad input port. The latch interface is simply an interface box containing the circuitry to accommodate input from both the scanner and the computer keyboard. The output from the scanner is therefore fed into the latch for conversion into keyboard data. Since the latch emulates a keyboard, the PC does not need a separate input for the scanner, and the scanner data can be sent directly to the PC's keyboard port through the latch. When not receiving scanner data, the latch is only used as a pass-through for keyboard data. Finally, the information is presented to the viewer through the display.

In operation, the code for a specific product appears as a barcode. This barcode is the "link" to the product. The disclosed embodiments can be used to use barcodes as routing information on the web, thereby providing a link between the product and the product manufacturer's web page, while also providing financial processing, as will be described in detail below. Barcodes are by themselves not compatible with any type of network for network communication purposes. It is mainly used in retail business. Therefore, the information contained in the barcode itself is only used to identify the product. Of course, there should be a database, which includes information related to the product and the barcode.

The information in the barcode is first fed to the latch interface, which can be used to decode the barcode and then "attach" the intermediate routing information to the barcode. This intermediate routing information is the information used to determine where to send the barcode information on the network. It is sent to the network through the network interface.

When combining the intermediate routing information and the information to determine the location of the ARS on the network in the form of a specific barcode, it is important that the information in the barcode must be converted from the light image to the numerical value entered into the keyboard, and then converted into HTML language. The rationale is that it must be converted to a browser-compatible format in order to interface with the browser. Of course, if another program is used, it should be converted to a language compatible with that program.

Once the latch interface decodes the barcode information and attaches the intermediate routing information to it, it will compose the barcode/intermediate routing information into keyboard data, and then send it to the PC. The reason for this is that the interface just makes the pen scanner, the scanned information and the added intermediate routing information appear to be keyboarding to the PC, essentially simulating a user typing the same information on the keyboard. The interface and pen combination thus allows the user to "key" data into the PC by using the encoded information in the barcode. Of course, the user could also actually key in the information in the barcode and then append the appropriate intermediate routing information associated therewith. As will be described below, the intermediate routing information attached thereto is the URL of the destination server on the network.

A microcontroller controls the interface of the keyboard and pen to the PC. The microcontroller has memory located within it, or it can also have external memory. There are multiple interfaces to pens, multiple interfaces to PCs, and multiple interfaces to keyboards. Generally speaking, a pen requires a serial data line, a ground line, and a power line. Similarly, a keyboard requires a serial data line, a ground line, a clock line, and a power line. The PC provides a clock line, a power line, a serial data line, and a ground line for input to the microcontroller. A microcontroller can be used to receive a signal from the keyboard and pass that signal to the PC as a keyboard signal. The operation of the keyboard is mainly a "passing" process. Data output from the keyboard is already in keyboard format, so no conversion by the latch interface is required. As for the pen, its serial data is not compatible with the keyboard, so it must be converted to keyboard format to allow it to enter the keyboard input of the PC. The microcontroller decodes the barcode information and converts the barcode information into a suitable data stream including the barcode information and the attached URL to complete this function. This additional URL is pre-stored in memory and can be programmed at manufacture. Note that the memory is explained as being included in the microcontroller to provide a single chip solution. Of course this could be an external memory accessible by the microcontroller. Thus, the microcontroller provides an interface between the pen and keyboard and the PC to allow the pen to receive coded information and translate it into keystrokes with additional intermediate routing information, or alternatively just pass the keystrokes from the keyboard through. Thus, the user does not have to plug in any type of circuit board to the computer's motherboard to provide an interface to the pen; instead, the user simply takes advantage of the already available keyboard port to enter the appropriate data into the system.

In this particular disclosed embodiment, the microcontroller comprises a PIC16C73 microcontroller made by Microchip Technologies ^(TM) . The PIC16C73 device is an inexpensive CMOS 8-bit microcontroller with an integrated analog-to-digital converter. The PIC16C73 device, as illustrated in the disclosed embodiment, has 192 bytes of RAM and 4K x 4 EPROM memory. Microcontrollers can accommodate asynchronous or synchronous inputs from input devices connected to them. In the embodiments disclosed herein, communication with the keyboard is synchronous and communication with the pen is asynchronous.

It should be noted that although in this particular embodiment the barcode information is entered into the keyboard input of the PC, the disclosed method may also advantageously use high speed port architectures such as Universal Serial Bus ("USB") and IEEE 1394.

Barcodes are constructed to be read in both directions. Timing issues should be considered as different individuals scanning barcodes will introduce a wide range of different scan rates. Barcodes use bars of different widths. A black bar generates a positive pulse, while no black bar generates no pulse. Each character of a conventional barcode has seven pulses or bars associated with it. Depending on the bar width, the time between pulses is different. In the disclosed embodiment, the interface circuit performs a "running" calculation of scan time based on the rising edge of the pulse initiated by the leading or header information. The software along with the interface continuously calculates the minimum and maximum scan time during the scan to ensure the user scans successfully.

For example, there is a PC like a PC used as a network source, which is connected to a network interface like an interface, which in turn is connected to the global communication network. In this embodiment, the data scanned by the pen plus additional intermediate routing information is received by the PC as simulated keystrokes. This message instructs the PC to obtain information from the Advertisement Reference Server ("ARS") via path "A". The ARS is a network device that sits on the network and determines where scanned data from barcodes should go. This is determined by the routing information programmed into the interface. Likewise, scan information is always sent to ARS because the URL is unique on the system. Linked to the ARS is a database of product codes and associated manufacturers. The database undergoes a continuous update process that is transparent to the user. When a company signs up for the system disclosed herein, ie makes an appointment with it, manufacturer and product information is added to the database and is updated frequently without interrupting the operation of the source PC.

Referring now to FIG. 4a, the message packet sent from the source PC to the ARS via path "A" includes several fields, one field including the URL of the ARS. Another field includes any additional additional information needed to derive the advertised product code or other information and designations from the barcode. Yet another field includes the URL of the source PC. Generally speaking, network transmission is realized by information packets, and each packet provides a destination address, a source address and data. These packets vary depending on the network transport protocol used for communication. Although the protocol used in the disclosed embodiments is a conventional protocol commonly referred to as TCP/IP, it should be understood that any protocol that provides a similar basic function can be used. to the desired URL. From now on, "message package" refers to the combination of destination URL, barcode information and source address, and sometimes even more than one package must be transmitted in order to realize this transmission.

的浏览器讲是相对地常规的，而源PC然后可访问广告服务器而不是显示来自ARS的信息。ARS通过路径“B”将包402送回源PC。现参照图4B，消息包402包括源PC的地址，嵌于指令码中的广告服务器的URL，和ARS的URL。After receiving the message packet 400 from the PC, the ARS processes the message according to the instructions embedded in the extra message. The ARS specifically extracts the barcode information from the received packet 400 and decodes this barcode information immediately after extraction. Once decoded, this information is compared with the data contained in the ARS advertisement database to determine if it was a "hit". If there is no "hit" that marks a match, then a message is sent back to the browser to indicate this. If there is a "hit", a packet is assembled 402 which includes the source PC's address and information which instructs the source PC how to directly access another location on the net, the location of the ad server, in a "hand-by-hand" operation . Such structures are for example and Microsoft Internet

The browser of ARS is relatively conventional, and the source PC can then access the ad server instead of displaying information from the ARS. ARS sends packet 402 back to the source PC via path "B". Referring now to FIG. 4B, the message packet 402 includes the address of the source PC, the URL of the advertising server embedded in the script, and the URL of the ARS.

After the message packet 402 is received by the source PC, the message packet 402 is unpacked to obtain the appropriate routing information needed to assemble the new message packet 404 . The web browser running on the source PC is instructed to retrieve product information based on the specific ad server location information embedded in message packet 404 via path "C". Referring now to Figure 4c, the message packet 404 for this event includes the URL of the ad server, the "request product information" data and the address of the source PC.

After receiving the message packet 404 from the source PC, the advertisement server unpacks the message packet 404 to obtain the "request product information" data. The ad server then retrieves the specific product information from its database and passes it back to the source PC via path "D". Referring now to Figure 4d, the message packet 406 for this particular event includes the address of the source PC, the requested information and the URL of the ad server.

Alternatively, the ARS may directly request product information from the ad server via path "E". In this mode, the ARS sends a message to the ad server instructing it to contact the source PC. While doing so is not routine, it requires more sophisticated software control. The message packet 408 required for this purpose is shown in Figure 4e and includes the URL of the ad server, the "request product information" data and the address of the source PC. Since the product information is not returned to the ARS but directly sent to the source PC, the message packet 408 requires the return address to be the address of the source PC. The product information is then sent directly to the PC via path "D".

The process for assembling the message package 400 from the source PC to the ARS is described below. The process starts when the user scans the UPC barcode. The stylus interprets the code bar and sends a signal over a serial connection to the latch interface, where software stored in firmware decodes the bar code data. Store the decoded data in a word register for easy manipulation. Next, the word register data is converted into keystroke data and stored. Here the product information is stored in the memory on the interface of the latch body. Information is sent serially through the keyboard port for insertion into the web browser. Adds a Ctrl-O command to the keystroke data. The hypertext protocol header http:// is added to the keystroke data. Next, add the ARS URL to the keystroke data, replacing the characters /? Add to the keystroke data, add the UPC code data to the keystroke data. A carriage return is then added to the keystroke data to transfer the data to the ARS via path "A".

It should be noted that this embodiment is not limited to the UPC barcode standard and can include other barcode standards as well. For example, if the Code 128 standard is used, optional steps are available to deal with systems using that particular code or multiple bar code standards. Function block 522 may be used in multi-code schemes to determine the specific bar code standard used. Function block 524 enables the software to handle the particular standard used.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flowchart illustrates the process that an ARS may go through when it receives a message packet 400 from a source PC. In decision block 600 the ARS checks for receipt of message packet 400 . If the message packet 400 is not received, the program moves along the "No" path and continues to wait for the message. If message packet 400 is received, the program continues to process the message along the "Yes" path. After receiving the message packet 400, in a function block 602 the ARS extracts the character /? and the following variable field including the UPC code. The UPC code is independently extracted in functional block 604 in preparation for matching the product code with the appropriate ad server address. In functional block 606, the UPC code is used together with a lookup table to retrieve the advertisement server URL of the corresponding product information contained in the UPC code. In functional block 608, the ARS assembles the message package 402 for transmission back to the source PC. Function block 610 designates the process of sending message packet 402 back to the source PC via path "B".

Referring now to FIG. 7, a flow diagram illustrates the interaction process between the source PC and the advertisement server. In functional block 700, the source PC receives the message packet 402 sent back from the ARS and starts decoding the packet 402. In function block 702, the URL of the advertised product information is extracted from the message packet 402 and stored for insertion into the message packet 404 sent to the advertisement server. In function block 704, the message package 404 is assembled and sent from the source PC to the advertisement server via path "C". When the source PC is waiting in function block 706, in function block 708 the advertisement server receives the message packet 404 from the source PC and unpacks it. The product information location is extracted from the message packet 404 in function block 710 . Specific product information is retrieved from the server database for sending back to the source PC. In function block 712, the product information is assembled into message package 406 and sent back to the source PC via path "D". Return to the source PC in function block 714 , extract and process the advertisement product information contained in the message packet 406 received from the advertisement server in function block 716 .

Referring now to FIG. 8, the user starts a web browser application on the source PC and the computer display 800 displays a browser page 802. The user scans the barcode with the scanning pen. The product information embedded in the keystroke data is passed to the latch interface, where the entitlement URL data is appended to the barcode data to create an appended word. This additional word with keystroke data format is sent in the keyboard input port of source PC from latch body interface. After receiving the URL/barcode keystroke data 808 from the latch interface, a URL page 804 is opened. The URL page 804 is opened in response to a Ctrl-O command which is added by the patented latch interface 104 as the first string. Opening the URL page 804 automatically places the cursor in field 806 where additional keystroke data following the Ctrl-O command will be inserted. After the URL page 804 is opened, the hypertext protocol segment header http:// is inserted into the field 806 . Second, the URL information associated with the location of the ARS is the insertion field 806 . After the ARS URL data is the character /? to allow a /? Enter the variable after the character. In this embodiment, the following variable is a UPC product code, which provides the cross-reference information used to retrieve the advertisement URL from the ARS database. Next, add a carriage return to send URL/barcode data and close window 804. After the message packet 400 is sent from the source PC to the ARS, everything from the ARS to the source PC, to the ad server and back to the source PC happens very quickly and is therefore transparent to the viewer. The next information the viewer sees at this point is the product information received from the ad server.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a product 902, which may be either a product, an advertisement ("ad"), or some physical or visible device accessed by a user. In this disclosed embodiment, associated with this product or ad 902, there is also a zone 904, which contains primary routing information therein. In the embodiment described above, this one-time routing information is in the form of a barcode. It should be understood, however, that from an optical standpoint, primary routing information may be encoded with any type of media. For example, an optically coded background can be provided which, when scanned, can extract information including primary routing information from it. An example is the digital encoding by means of background optics on driver's licenses. By scanning the entire driver's license, the digital information embedded in the optical code is extracted to provide primary routing information. There are many other examples where optical information is encoded on some real medium.

Once the routing information is extracted once from field 904, it is imported to the PC using the stylus and interface as described above. Once extracted from area 904, the primary routing information is entered into PC 906 similar to the PC described above by pen-related decoding operations or some other technique. The PC 906 interfaces with the user 908, who can initiate the transfer of routing information from the area 904 to the PC 906. This is an active system that requires some form of user intervention. As noted above, PC 906 accesses network 910 in response to receiving a routing message from zone 904 to provide an interconnection medium with a plurality of network nodes (not shown), one of which has a link with it on network node 912. Associated remote information. The network node 912 contains the remote information associated with the primary routing information 904 therein. The PC 906 together with the network 910 can be used to access the telematics 912 by once routing information extracted from the optical domain 904, thereby establishing a connection between the PC 906 and the telematics node 912 for extracting information from the telematics node 912 and providing to User 908. This is accomplished by the user actively entering information from the optical domain 904 into the PC 906 through some type of input device. In the disclosed embodiment, this does not require the user to actually launch the web browser and have the input device, ie, the pen, enter information into the web browser. However, software within PC 906 may be implemented to actually launch the browser in response to information input from optical domain 904.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a more detailed schematic diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 9 is illustrated. Routing information in area 904 is input to PC 1002, which is similar to the personal computer and PC 906 above. In detailed embodiments, however, PC 1002 can be used to assemble a packet that includes secondary routing information and primary routing information in field 904 for transmission. Secondary routing information is routing information that PC 1002 uses to communicate primary routing information in domain 904 over network 910 to an intermediate PC 1004. This intermediate PC 1004 is basically an ARS. Associated with PC 1004 is a database 1006, similar to an advertising database. However, this database may contain other information. As noted above, this operation requires user 908 to first access routing information in domain 904 through some user-initiated operation. Once the primary routing information in domain 904 is entered into PC 1002, it is assembled with the secondary routing information and this primary routing information in domain 904 is forwarded to PC 1004. The PC 1004 looks up information in the database 1006, which is in the form of a table, to determine where the remote information is on the network 910. This then sends back to PC 1002 again, and it realizes the connection with telematics node 912. It can thus be seen that using PC 1004 and its associated database 1006, information in optical domain 904 can be correlated with network routing information to remote node 912. It is noted that in order for the PC 1002 to interface with the remote network node 912, all information in the primary routing information field 904 must be transmitted to the PC 1004 in the form of primary routing information to realize the connection.

Referring now to FIG. 11 , a schematic diagram illustrates how to form a network packet to send primary routing information to PC 1004. Generally speaking, the primary routing information occupies a single field, which is then assembled with the secondary routing information into a data packet for transmission to the network 910 . This is described in detail above. It is important to realize, however, that the information contained in the optical field 904 in the form of a bar code, optically encoded field, etc. constitutes the routing information. For example, once the database 1006 at the PC 1004 has been programmed with the manufacturer's location, the manufacturer knows that it only has to place this routing information in an optical domain associated with a product or an advertisement or some other media in order for the user to access it . Combining the optical domain with the product allows the user to input optical information into the network to view additional information about the product. Of course, the additional information viewed by the user or accessed by the user is determined by the manufacturer, not the PC 1004. PC 1004 just forwards the information.

Referring now to Figure 12, therein is illustrated a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the present invention using an audio input source. In the FIG. 12 embodiment, program medium 1202 is provided that may be used to include certain types of routing information therein in the form of audio signals. This may be coded tones or other such devices which, when connected to an audio input device 1204, will cause routing information to be input to the PC 906 in the form of audio tones. The PC 906 has an associated conventional audio card for receiving the audio signal on a dedicated port and digitizing this sound for the PC 906 to process internally. This decoding operation is a normal operation. However, audio output device 1204 is a device operated by user 908 . This operation is similar to the embodiment of Fig. 9, ie the user has to operate it, so it is an active operation. Once the routing information is received from the telematics node 912, in response thereto, the routing information is provided to the user. Program media 1202 and audio output device 1204 can be any type of media and audio output device. One type of media may be media related to children's books, which has the ability to access audio information of pictures.

Referring now to Figure 13, a block diagram of an embodiment is illustrated in which a user profile may be forwarded to the original subscriber or manufacturer. The PC 906 has associated therewith a profile database 1302 which may be used to store the profile of the user 908. This profile is established when a program requests profile information in order to start the program after the initial installation of the program. In addition to the profile, the user is provided with a unique ID associated with the browser program running on the PC 906. This is stored in the storage location represented by block 1304 . This ID 1304 is accessible by remote locations as a "cookie", which is information stored in an accessible location in PC 906 that is actually accessible by remote programs running on remote nodes.

The ARS 308, which basically constitutes the PC 1004 of FIG. 10, may have associated therewith a profile database 1308 for storing profiles of all users. Profile database 1308 is the combination of all the profiles present in profile database 1302 for all PCs 906 that can be connected to the system. This is in contrast to information stored in a database, the advertisement database, which contains intermediate destination tables. When the routing information in field 904 is sent to the ARS and extracted from the original packet, the query process described above can be done to determine where this information should be sent. A profile database is used for each item, where each item in the form of routing information received from domain 904 is compared to the destination table to determine which manufacturer it is associated with, and the associated The ID is compared to the profile database 1308 to determine if a profile associated with it is available. This information is stored in an event database 1310 so that later for each routing code or barcode received in the form of information in field 904 there is an ID for each PC 906 associated with it. The relevant profiles stored in the database 1308 associated with the IDs can then be assembled and transmitted to the subscriber for reference by the subscriber node 1312 on the web 910 . ARS can do this in two modes: real-time or non-real-time. In real-time mode, the user's profile information is updated in the subscriber node 1312 each time the PC 906 accesses the advertisement database. At the same time, billing information is generated for subscriber 1312 and stored in billing database 1316 . The ARS thus has the ability to notify the subscriber 1312 of each event, the billing of these events, and provide the subscriber 1312 with profile information about who is accessing a particular product ad that has a specific routing code or barcode associated with it once Routing information field 904, which is as described above. Once assembled, this information is transmitted to the subscriber 1312 and is also reflected in the billing information and stored in the billing database 1316.

Reference is now made to Figure 14, in which a flow chart depicts the operations for storing user profiles. The program is started in block 1402 and proceeds to function block 1404, wherein the system prompts for a profile when starting the system. This launch is a feature that is used to launch any time the user initially loads the software provided to him or her. Its purpose is to build a user profile in addition to setting information. Once the user is prompted, the program proceeds to decision block 1406 to determine whether the user has provided basic or detailed information. This is user selectable. If basic information is selected, the program proceeds to function block 1408, where the user will enter basic information, such as name and serial number, and possibly an address. However, in order to encourage the user to enter more information, such as the user enters additional information, the initial prompt in function block 1404 may provide such offers as coupons, discounts, and the like. If the user selects this option, the program proceeds from decision block 1406 to function block 1410 . In functional block 1410, the user is prompted to enter certain information, such as job, income level, general family history, demographic information, and more. Any amount of information can be collected within this particular function block.

Once all the information is collected, either in basic mode or in a more specialized mode, the program proceeds to function block 1412 to store this information in place. The program then proceeds to decision block 1414 and then connects to the host computer or ARS online. Generally, the user is prompted to decide whether he or she should send this information to the host now or later. If he or she selects the "later" option, the program proceeds to function block 1415 to prompt the user to send the message later. In the disclosed embodiment, the user cannot utilize the software until the profile information is sent to the host. Therefore, the user may have to initiate this operation later in order to connect with the host.

If the user selects the option to upload the profile information to the host, the program proceeds to function block 1416 to start the connection process, and proceeds to judgment block 1418 to determine whether the connection has been realized. If not, then the program proceeds to decision block 1420 at one time along the "no" path, and either proceeds to error block 1422 or returns to the entry of connection decision block 1418. If connected, the program proceeds along the "Yes" path from decision block 1418 to function block 1428 to send the profile information with the ID of the computer or user to the host. As mentioned above, the ID is basically a "cookie" in the computer that is accessed by the program when it is transmitted to the host computer. The program will go to function block 1430 to start the program so that it can run without any setup information later. Generally speaking, there is a "wizard" who does everything for this flowchart, taking the user step-by-step through the setup process. The program proceeds to completion block 1432 after completion.

Referring now to Figure 15, therein is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the host when receiving transactions. Start the program in the initial block 1502, then proceed to the judgment block 1504 to judge whether the system has received a routing request, that is, the routing information in the routing domain 904 described above in conjunction with FIG. 9 and the like in barcode form. The program will loop around the entry of decision block 1504 until a routing request is received. At this point, the program proceeds to function block 1506 along the "Yes" path to receive routing information and user ID once. This time the routing information and user ID are mainly extracted from the receiving domain. The program proceeds to function block 1508 to query the manufacturer's URL corresponding to the received primary routing information, and then sends necessary command information back to the requesting PC to allow the PC to connect to the destination associated with the primary routing information. The program then proceeds to function block 1510 to update the item database 1310 of existing items. In general, routing information and associated IDs are stored as a single field. As mentioned above, the profile database is associated with a detailed profile of each user on the system that activates their software in association with their ID. Since the ID is sent with the routing information, what is stored in the event database is the routing code, the barcode, and all the IDs sent to the system, which are associated with that specific routing code. Once the item database is updated as described above, the item, along with detailed profile information from the profile database 1308, may be communicated back to the subscriber at the node.

Profile information can be transmitted back to subscribers or manufacturers in nodes in real-time or non-real-time. To this end, a decision block 1512 is provided for determining whether the transmission is real-time. If real time, the program will proceed along the "Yes" path to function block 1514 to immediately forward the information to the manufacturer or subscriber. The program proceeds to function block 1516 to update the billing for this particular manufacturer or subscriber in the billing database 1316 . The program then proceeds to end block 1518. If it is non-real time, the program proceeds along the "No" path to function block 1520, where it is set to be sent later and added to the transaction database. In any case, all information related to the specific routing code is added to the event database.

For real-time events, it is possible for a manufacturer to place an ad in a magazine or put an ad on a shelf at a specific time. Manufacturers can thus monitor the number of times an advertisement or product sells. Of course, this information has to be scanned into the computer, so there is some delay. However, manufacturers can have a very timely understanding of the flow of products. For example, if a Coke manufacturer wants to promote an ad on, say, television, stating that New Coke will be on the shelves and that the first 1,000 buyers who scan their codes online will get certain benefits, such as a chance to travel to Florida. Resort travel or some other incentive, the manufacturer will know very well whether the response to the advertisement is good or not. In addition, the advertiser can know where the receiving market is. Such an advertiser who runs a TV advertisement in, say, ten cities and receives an enthusiastic response in one city and a very cold response in another, will tend to believe that either the cold response city is not a good market, or that the advertising medium he chooses very bad. Since advertisers can obtain relatively immediate responses and are satisfied with the demographic responses of the responders, very important information can be obtained in a relatively short period of time.

It should be noted that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to a single source PC, but can include a large number of source computers connected by a global communication network. Furthermore, this embodiment is not limited to a single ARS or a single ad server, but may include a large number of ARSs and ad systems. It should also be noted that this embodiment is not limited to global communication networks, but can also be used in LAN, WAN and peer-to-peer configurations.

It should also be noted that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to personal computers, but may also be used in, for example, network computers ("NetPCs"), scaled-down versions of PCs, or any system that accommodates user interaction and interfacing with information resources.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be noted that various changes, substitutions and alterations could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. method that the remote information that is used for a product and this product associates may further comprise the steps:

One of source position place visit on the net has the product identifiers of close association so that its identifies Related product with this product;

Routing iinformation is attached on the product identifiers of visit, this routing iinformation is determined remote location position on the net;

Transmit product information to remote location from the source position on the net according to appended routing iinformation, this routing iinformation determines that online source position is connected with network between the remote location, wherein can return to the source position from remote location with the information of relevant Related product;

Wherein routing iinformation is associated with online secondary position and product information is sent to the remote location that is associated with routing iinformation in order to being back to the source position so that be sent to the step of remote location, and in the secondary position:

Visit product routing iinformation database, this product routing iinformation provide related between predetermined prod identifier and the remote web product information position, are depositing a plurality of these series products routing iinformations in this database;

Respond and accessing database to receive a product identifiers that transmits from the source position in the secondary position;

The product identifiers of receiving is compared with the product routing iinformation of depositing in the database;

There is coupling between any one as depositing in the product routing iinformation, then the matched products routing iinformation is transmitted back to the source position that is associated with the instruction code that embeds in the product identifiers of receiving and institute; And

At the place, source position the reception of the instruction code of matched products routing iinformation and embedding is responded, under the control of the instruction code that receives, automatically source position and the interconnection of long-range product information position are also received product information from one position, back on the net.

2. the process of claim 1 wherein that the step that transmits product information is responding to accessing step and finishing.

3. the process of claim 1 wherein that the step of additional routing iinformation responds to accessing step and takes place.

4. the method for claim 1 also comprises the step that shows the product information of receiving.

5. the process of claim 1 wherein that product identifiers invests on the product.

6. the method for claim 5, wherein product identifiers is a bar code.

7. the method for claim 6, wherein accessing step comprises scanning barcode.

8. the process of claim 1 wherein that this network is one and provides the global communication network of a universal resource locator (url) and the URL that routing iinformation comprises this position for online each position.

9. the method for claim 8, the disposal system of moving a program wherein is provided, this program receives the input quantity of stroking that is used for the information that transmits to it, and wherein additional lanes is comprised by the step of information and forms the step of stroking and going here and there, the stroke combination of routing iinformation and product identifiers in the operation and of this string emulation of stroking the operation of stroking of emulation is sent to program with user's identical mode of stroking, and transfer step responds together with an additional command program of being sent to that is associated with it to additional routing iinformation and product identifiers and finishes, and this additional command instructs this program to finish transfer operation with program interaction to transmit the identical mode of routing iinformation with the user.

10. the method for claim 9, wherein Fu Jia routing iinformation comprises command information, how the instruction remote location handles the product identifiers of transmission.

11. one kind is used on communication network the product code of scanning and the system of product source interface are comprised:

An interface circuit that is used to receive the scanning product code, described interface circuit are additional to routing iinformation on the product code of described scanning to form a message bag;

A computing machine that is connected to described interface circuit and locates runs web browser in the source position, described source position is connected to one or more remote locations according to routing iinformation on communication network;

Wherein in first item, automatically described message bag is delivered to one or more described remote locations by described computing machine by described web browser; And

Wherein in each item subsequently, re-construct described message bag with determine between described source position and the corresponding one or more described remote locations communication direction and so that the product code of the described scanning that described source position is located and the described product source at described remote location place couple together;

Wherein, as the part of first item, routing iinformation is associated with online secondary position and product information is sent to the remote location that is associated with routing iinformation in order to being back to the source position so that route to the operation of remote location, and in the secondary position:

Product routing iinformation database, this product routing iinformation provide related between predetermined prod identifier and the remote web product information position, are depositing a plurality of these series products routing iinformations in this database;

Access means is used for responding and accessing database to receive a product identifiers that transmits from the source position in the secondary position;

Comparer is compared the product identifiers of receiving with the product routing iinformation of depositing in the database;

There is coupling in the product routing iinformation between any one as in product identifiers of receiving and database, depositing, then the matched products routing iinformation is transmitted back to the transmitter of the source position that is associated with the instruction code that embeds; And

Reception at source position place to the instruction code of matched products routing iinformation and embedding responds, under the control of the instruction code that receives on the net automatically with source position and the interconnection of long-range product information position and from the computing machine of one position, back reception product information.

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