Patents Assigned to IPF, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20040019535
    Abstract: An Internet-based consumer product kiosk for installation within a retail environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: IPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Perkowski
  • Patent number: 6631357
    Abstract: A novel system and method for finding product and, service related information on the Internet. The system includes Internet Servers which store information pertaining to Universal Product or Service Number (e.g. UPC number) preassigned to each product and service registered in the system, with Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that point to the location of one or more information resources on the Internet, e.g. World Wide Websites, related to such products or services. Each client computer system includes an Internet browser or Internet application tool which is provided with a “Internet Product/Service Information (IPSI) Finder” button and a “Universal Product/Service Number (UPSN) Search” button. The system enters its “IPSI Finder Mode” when the “IPSI Finder” button is depressed and enters the “UPSN Search Mode” when the “UPSN Search” button is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: IPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Perkowski
  • Patent number: 6625581
    Abstract: Method of and system for delivering consumer product related information to consumers over the Internet. The system and method involves creating an UPN-encoded Consumer Product Information (CPIR) enabling Applet for each consumer product registered within a manufacturer-managed UPN/URL database management system. Each CPIR-enabling Applet is encapsulated within an executable file and then stored in the UPN/URL database management system. Each CPIR-enabling Applet is searchable and downloadable by, for example, (1) retailers purchasing products from an electronic-commerce enabled product catalog, (2) advertisers desiring to link consumer product information to Web-based product advertisements, or (3) anyone having a legitimate purpose of disseminating such information within the stream of electronic commerce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: IPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Perkowski
  • Publication number: 20030158792
    Abstract: A system and method for finding and serving consumer product-related information over the Internet (10) to consumers. The system includes Internet Information servers (33) which store information pertaining to Universal Product Number (e.g. UPC number) preassigned to each consumer product registered with the system, along with a list of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that point to the location of one or more information resources on the Internet, e.g. World Wide Web-sites, which are related to such registered consumer products. Upon entering the UPC number into the system using a conventional Internet browser program (13), the menu of URLs associated with the entered UPC number is automatically displayed for user selection. The displayed menu of URLs are categorically arranged according to specific types of product information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: IPF Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Perkowski
  • Publication number: 20030149642
    Abstract: A system and method for finding and serving consumer product-related information over the Internet (10) to consumers. The system includes Internet Information servers (33) which store information pertaining to Universal Product Number (e.g. UPC number) preassigned to each consumer product registered with the system, along with a list of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that point to the location of one or more information resources on the Internet, e.g. World Wide Web-sites, which are related to such registered consumer products. Upon entering the UPC number into the system using a conventional Internet browser program (13), the menu of URLs associated with the entered UPC number is automatically displayed for user selection. The displayed menu of URLs are categorically arranged according to specific types of product information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: IPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Perkowski
  • Patent number: 6064979
    Abstract: A method of and system for finding and serving consumer product-related information on the Internet comprising a database serving subsystem which stores: a plurality of manufacturer identification numbers (MINs) assigned to a plurality of manufacturers of consumer products; a plurality of home-page specifying URLs symbolically linked to the plurality of MINs; a plurality of universal product numbers (UPN) assigned to a plurality of consumer products made by the plurality of manufacturers; and a plurality of product-information specifying URLs symbolically linked to the plurality of UPNs. During operation, a client subsystem transmits to the database serving subsystem, a request for information which includes the UPN assigned to the consumer product on which product-related information is being sought.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: IPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Perkowski
  • Patent number: 5950173
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for finding and serving consumer product-related information over the Internet to consumers in retail shopping environments, as well as at home and work, and on the road. The system includes Internet information servers which store information pertaining to Universal Product Number (e.g. UPC number) preassigned to each consumer product registered with the system, along with a list of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that point to the location of one or more information resources on the Internet, e.g. World Wide Web-sites, which related to such registered consumer products. Upon entering the UPC number into the system using a conventional Internet browser program running on any computing platform or system, the menu of URLs associated with the entered UPC number is automatically displayed for user selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: IPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Perkowski
  • Patent number: 5918214
    Abstract: A novel system and method for finding product and service related information on the Internet. The system includes Internet Servers which store information pertaining to Universal Product or Service Number (e.g. UPC number) preassigned to each product and service registered in the system, with Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that point to the location of one or more information resources on the Internet, e.g. World Wide Websites, related to such products or services. Each client computer system includes an Internet browser or Internet application tool which is provided with a "Internet Product/Service Information (IPSI) Finder" button and a "Universal Product/Service Number (UPSN) Search" button. The system enters its "IPSI Finder Mode" when the "IPSI Finder" button is depressed and enters the "UPSN Search Mode" when the "UPSN Search" button is depressed. When the system is in its IPSI Finder Mode, a predesignated information resource (e.g. advertisement, product information, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: IPF, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Perkowski