Abstract: A television advertisement system whereby a viewer retrieves product placement contact information for a product, that has been promoted on the viewer's television by using a wireless remote control device. The invention provides the means for a viewer to easily obtain in-hand product contact and detailed information which can then be used at-will. Teletext data, which contains product information, is associated with a product's video signal and is automatically decoded and stored in the television's or TV set-top box's memory. The viewer retrieves on demand the product's teletext data stored in memory by using a remote control device. The product data is transferred to and stored in a remote control device's memory. The data is displayed on the remote's screen. The data stored in the remote control can be used to contact an advertiser for further information, or to purchase a product or service.

Abstract: A method and system whereby a consumer creates a shopping list using a portable barcode scanner to scan barcodes from a printed catalog and a printed advertisement. The entered barcodes are downloaded to an smart base-station from the barcode scanner. The base-station retrieves related information from a barcode database via the Internet. The database can belong to a merchant, or it can be a generic shopping service. The base-station can be a consumer's computer, or some other smart electronic device. The base-station maintains a predictive shopping list database for all barcodes entered via the barcode scanner. The database learns the shopping consumption habits of the consumer over a period of time and ensures that when the consumer is ready to shop no previously needed, but currently forgotten items are left off of the shopping list. The consumer can use this method to shop in a store, or via Mail-Order/Telephone-Order or on the Internet.

Abstract: A television advertisement system whereby a viewer retrieves product placement contact information for a product, that has been promoted on the viewer's television by using a wireless remote control device. The invention provides the means for a viewer to easily obtain in-hand product contact and detailed information which can then be used at-will. Teletext data, which contains product information, is associated with a product's video signal and is automatically decoded and stored in the television's or TV set-top box's memory. The viewer retrieves on demand the product's teletext data stored in memory by using a remote control device. The product data is transferred to and stored in a remote control device's memory. The data is displayed on the remote's screen. The data stored in the remote control can be used to contact an advertiser for further information, or to purchase a product or service.

Abstract: A television advertisement system whereby a viewer retrieves advertisement teletext contact information of an advertisement that has been displayed on the viewer's television by using a wireless remote control device. The invention provides the means for a viewer to easily obtain ad? contact information, in-hand, which can then be used at will. Teletext data is associated with an advertisement video signal, which is then decoded and stored in the television's or TV's set-top box's page memory. The viewer can retrieve, on demand, the advertisement's teletext data stored in the television's, or set-top box's page memory by using a wireless remote control. The advertisement data is transferred to and stored in the remote control's memory. The data is displayed on the remote's screen. The data stored in the remote control can be used to automatically contact an advertiser for further information, or to purchase an advertised product or service.

Abstract: A method and system whereby a consumer creates a shopping list using a portable barcode scanner to scan barcodes from a printed catalog and a printed advertisement. The entered barcodes are downloaded to an smart base-station from the barcode scanner. The base-station retrieves related information from a barcode database via the Internet. The database can belong to a merchant, or it can be a generic shopping service. The base-station can be a consumer's computer, or some other smart electronic device. The base-station maintains a predictive shopping list database for all barcodes entered via the barcode scanner. The database learns the shopping consumption habits of the consumer over a period of time and ensures that when the consumer is ready to shop no previously needed, but currently forgotten items are left off of the shopping list. The consumer can use this method to shop in a store, or via Mail-Order/Telephone-Order or on the Internet.

Abstract: A method and system whereby a consumer creates a shopping list using a portable barcode scanner and an intelligent base-station. The entered barcodes are downloaded to the base-station from the barcode scanner. The base-station retrieves related barcode information from a barcode database via the Internet. The barcode database can belong to a merchant, or a generic shopping service. The base-station can be a consumer's computer, or some other smart electronic device. The base-station maintains a predictive shopping list database for all barcodes entered via the barcode scanner. The database learns the shopping consumption habits of the consumer over a period of time and ensures that when the consumer is ready to shop no previously needed, but currently forgotten, items are left off of the shopping list. The consumer uses this method to shop in a store, or via Mail-Order/Telephone-Order or on the internet using the created shopping list.

Abstract: This invention integrates with a country's customs and immigration system to keep a periodic check on visitors within the country's borders. A smartcard is created and issued to the visitor at the visitor's Port of Entry. Pertinent immigration information is embedded in the smartcard. Cryptographic technology is used with the smartcard to maintain privacy, as well as to reduce fraud and other misuse. The smartcard is used as the visitor's official identification document whilst in the country. During the visitor's stay, at specified intervals, the visitor registers with automated kiosks (i.e. a Visitor-Visa Automated Teller Machines—ATMs), which are placed at various locations within the country. The ATM kiosks are securely integrated with the customs and immigration database. On exiting the country, the smartcard is returned and is recycled with a new visitor.

Abstract: This invention integrates with a country's customs and immigration system to issue an electronic visitor's visa, and to validate periodically, electronically a visitor's visa within the country's borders. A computer-encoded visa card is created and issued to the visitor at the country's overseas consulate. Pertinent visa application information is embedded in the issued card. Cryptographic technology is used with the card to maintain privacy, as well as to reduce fraud and other misuse. The card is used as the visitor's official identification document whilst in the country. During the visitor's stay, at specified intervals, the visitor registers with self-service kiosks, which are placed at various locations within the country. The kiosks are securely integrated with the customs and immigration database.

Abstract: The present invention solves the serial nature of today's Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephony menu systems, by means of visually “looking ahead” and in any direction in the nested audio IVR menus. Computer software in the telephone, or associated hardware, provides a graphical user interface that enables the user to navigate related IVR text menus that are displayed on the telephone. The present invention provides a variety of means to store, display, select and update associated text menus and other data with an IVR system. The various communication means include analog modems, broadband modems, and VoIP connectivity. The present invention provides the means to convert the audio IVR menus to text menus, as well as the means to download the associated IVR text menus from the Internet.

Abstract: This invention integrates with a country's customs and immigration system to keep a periodic check on visitors within the country's borders. A smartcard is created and issued to the visitor at the visitor's Port of Entry. Pertinent immigration information is embedded in the smartcard. Cryptographic technology is used with the smartcard to maintain privacy, as well as to reduce fraud and other misuse. The smartcard is used as the visitor's official identification document whilst in the country. During the visitor's stay, at specified intervals, the visitor registers with automated kiosks (i.e. a Visitor-Visa Automated Teller Machines—ATMs), which are placed at various locations within the country. The ATM kiosks are securely integrated with the customs and immigration database. On exiting the country, the smartcard is returned and is recycled with a new visitor.

Abstract: This invention integrates with a country's customs and immigration system to issue an electronic visitor's visa, and to validate periodically, electronically a visitor's visa within the country's borders. A computer-encoded visa card is created and issued to the visitor at the country's overseas consulate. Pertinent visa application information is embedded in the issued card. Cryptographic technology is used with the card to maintain privacy, as well as to reduce fraud and other misuse. The card is used as the visitor's official identification document whilst in the country. During the visitor's stay, at specified intervals, the visitor registers with self-service kiosks, which are placed at various locations within the country. The kiosks are securely integrated with the customs and immigration database.

Abstract: A television advertisement system whereby a viewer retrieves advertisement teletext contact information of an advertisement that has been displayed on the viewer's television by using a wireless remote control device. The invention provides the means for a viewer to easily obtain ad? contact information, in-hand, which can then be used at will. Teletext data is associated with an advertisement video signal, which is then decoded and stored in the television's or TV's set-top box's page memory. The viewer can retrieve, on demand, the advertisement's teletext data stored in the television's, or set-top box's page memory by using a wireless remote control. The advertisement data is transferred to and stored in the remote control's memory. The data is displayed on the remote's screen. The data stored in the remote control can be used to automatically contact an advertiser for further information, or to purchase an advertised product or service.

Abstract: An electronic commerce system, that electronically emulates the Mail Order/Telephone Ordering process on the Internet, including customer and merchant network address verification. Customer and merchant address verification are done electronically. Other commerce parties than the customer and merchant in the electronic commerce system, could be as easily verified using the commerce system. (PKI) The system uses a Public Key Infrastructure system to ensure secure and irrefutable electronic commerce transactions on the Internet. PKI ensures that the electronic commerce party is whom he claims to be when used in conjunction with network address verification, ensures confidentiality of the data transmitted between the commerce parties and ensures that the data has not been altered during transmission. The electronic commerce system operates in two phases: a registration phase and a transaction phase.

Abstract: This invention relates to the synchronization of electronic directories and catalogs located on a remote computer, or a remote electronic device and a central computer that maintains the master copies of the directories and catalogs. Email is used to notify a subscriber of changes to the subscribed master directories and, or catalogs. PKI cryptography is used to verify the email and the integrity of the directory and catalog updates. The remote computer uses information in the email to download the updates using the Internet. The updates are then applied to the local copy of the directory and, or catalog.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and system that extracts and collates electronic sales prospect data from multiple selectable data sources, which can be downloaded to mobile computing devices and desktop computers. In business, finding prospects that will lead to new customers has been and continues to be the most critical and the most challenging stage in the sales process. The sales prospect data includes GPS location coordinates that assist in pinpointing prospects within a specific territorial region and helps to navigate to the specific prospective customer locations. Other pertinent data includes contact information about decision makers at the prospective customer's location. The invention creates a centralized collated database that covers the salesperson's target market, based on parameters that a salesperson has specified. The database can be queried securely either on a LAN, a wireless network or the Internet.

Abstract: The present invention solves the serial nature of today's Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephony menu systems, by means of visually “looking ahead” and in any direction in the nested audio IVR menus. Computer software in the telephone, or associated hardware, provides a graphical user interface that enables the user to navigate related IVR text menus that are displayed on the telephone. The present invention provides a variety of means to store, display, select and update associated text menus and other data with an IVR system. The various communication means include analog modems, broadband modems, and VoIP connectivity. The present invention provides the means to convert the audio IVR menus to text menus, as well as the means to download the associated IVR text menus from the Internet.

Abstract: The current invention addresses the problems that are encountered by patients, medical doctors, pharmacies and health insurance companies relating to filling medical prescriptions and related services. These services include, but are not limited to: scheduling appointments with the doctor electronically through the Internet; filing and paying for a medical prescription online through the Internet; electronic notification of any events related to medical issues, e.g. change in the doctor's appointments, availability of prescriptions for pickup, etc.; doctor's online access to the patient's preferred drug list as specified by the patient's PBM and Health Insurance plan; the pharmacy's electronic receipt and confirmation of a patient's prescription via the Internet; the patient's electronic notification of the readiness of a filled prescription; and the simplifying the refilling of medical prescriptions.

Abstract: A method and system in which a consumer creates a shopping list using a small wireless bar code scanner and an intelligent base station that gets related bar code information from a merchant's database via the Internet. The consumer uses this method to shop in a store, Mail Order/Telephone Order (MOTO) or on the Internet using the created shopping list. The consumer creates the shopping list by using a small wireless bar code scanner to scan in the merchandise Universal Product Codes (UPCs), which are available on product labels, and in product catalog. The consumer then transmits the scanned bar codes to an intelligent device owned by the consumer, which known as a base station. Examples of a base station are an Internet Appliance, or a PDA, or a PC or a cell phone. Data transmission between the bar code scanner and the base station is via radio frequency standards, such as Bluetooth.

Abstract: A compact telephone directory system that integrates a subscriber's telephone with a local on-line telephone directory database system and with a central directory service provider that maintains the local on-line telephone directory database. The telephone directory database system comprises an electronically stored equivalent of a telephone book. The telephone directory database can, for example, store local residential directories, local business directories, local and federal government directories, and a user specific directory. The user specific directory contains telephone numbers and other information that is particular to a subscriber, or a group of subscribers as in the case of a business. This information can be grouped into various lists as determined by the subscriber. All of the directories, excluding the user specific directory, are maintained by a Central Telephone Directory Service Provider (CTDSP), that down-loads the directories to the subscriber's telephone directory system.

Abstract: This invention comprises a compact portable, handheld electronic device that is capable cataloguing and managing an inventory of consumer audio and audio-visual recordings.The audio and audiovisual recordings include; audio cassette tapes, digital audio tapes, records, compact discs, laser dicsc, video cassette tapes, 8 mm film, 16 mm film etc..The present invention provides the means for the user to electronically store, retrieve, search, edit, delete, display and print information pertaining to the user's inventory of audio and audio-visual recordings.Furthermore the present invention provides the means for the user to integrate the inventory data stored in the invention with a larger user database that resides on an external computer, such as a personal computer.