Abstract: A communication appliance has a processor, a data store, a display screen, an interface to a wireless network, a microphone, and software executable from a machine-readable physical medium, wherein the software provides a function for comparing incoming audio signals with signals stored in the data store as trigger signals, and a function for initiating an action or sequence of actions in response to recognizing an incoming signal as a trigger signal.

Abstract: A communication appliance has a processor, a data store, a display screen, an interface to a wireless network, a microphone, and software executable from a machine-readable physical medium, wherein the software provides a function for comparing incoming audio signals with signals stored in the data store as trigger signals, and a function for initiating an action or sequence of actions in response to recognizing an incoming signal as a trigger signal.

Abstract: A system for retrieving information over a network includes a machine readable code implemented in a visible fashion on a product or product representation, and a set of machine instructions implemented as a software application resident on and executable from the digital medium of a mobile network appliance. A user operating the mobile network appliance connected to the network and aided by the set of machine instructions acquires the machine readable code associated with the product or representation thereof whereupon the machine readable code is interpreted by the application to identify and retrieve or otherwise acquire and display on the mobile appliance one or more interactive menu options relative to the product or product representation, the interactive menu options selectively evocable to cause navigation to and or connection with an information source on the network adapted to service inquiries and requests relative to the product.

Abstract: A network-connected server has software executing from a machine-readable medium for providing functionality, a web page with links to one or more further pages providing information or services related to a first enterprise hosting the server, an interface for communicating with a computerized appliance accessing the web page with a web browser; and functionality in the software for adding to the browser display at the computerized appliance an interactive interface not provided on the web page, the interactive interface providing one or more links to specific information or services.