Abstract: A method for initiating and completing a commercial transaction is disclosed that allows a user to acquire and own an article of commerce having associated therewith a machine resolvable code (MRC), the MRC having encoded therein information relating to the article of commerce, the user having unique identification information associated with the user. The MRC is first recognized and a representation of at least a portion of the MRC containing at least a representation of the encoded information from the MRC is stored in a temporary buffer. The unique identification information is then associated with the user that allows a retail processing system to uniquely identify the user. The stored representation of the MRC and the unique identification information is transferred to the retail processing system and then ownership of the article of commerce is transferred from an entity other than the user to the user to complete the transaction.

Abstract: An architecture for automatically configuring equipment. A piece of equipment connected externally to a user PC has one or more machine-resolvable codes (MRCs) associated therewith. The piece of equipment receives configuration information from a remote location disposed on the network in response to reading a select one of the one or more MRCs with a reader. Configuration information associated with the select one of the one or more MRCs is transmitted from the remote location to the piece of equipment via the user PC, and the piece of equipment is then configured according to the configuration information.

Abstract: A battery pack for a wireless communication device comprises a housing, at least one battery disposed within the housing and an optical reader disposed within the housing. The housing is adapted to be removably attachable to a wireless communication device. The housing includes an external shell defining an optical port therethrough and has an operational power interface and a data interface disposed on an exterior surface. The battery is electrically connected to the operational power interface. The optical reader can scan an optical indicia through the optical port and produce signals indicative of information encoded in the optical indicia. The optical reader is operably connected to the data interface. A wireless communication device attached to the battery pack can obtain operational power from the operational power interface and can access signals indicative of the information encoded in the optical indicia from the data interface.

Abstract: A method for allowing a consumer to access an advertiser's location over a global communication network. A normal broadcast program is broadcast to a class of consumers having a unique signal embedded therein, which unique signal embedded therein is associated with a particular advertiser and a predetermined location on the network. Additionally, the unique signal has encoded therein a unique code that correlates with the location of this predetermined location on the network. When the unique signal is received at a consumer's location, the unique signal is decoded to extract therefrom the unique code. In response to this decoding, routing information to the predetermined location on the network from a consumer's computer on the network at the consumer's location is determined. This determined routing information is then archived in the consumer's computer.

Abstract: A method for allowing a user PC to be controlled in order to effect a connection between the user PC and a destination node on a network. This is facilitated through an audio source wherein the content of digital video disk recording media has embedded therein an audio signal. When the recording media is played, the audio signal is extracted by an audio extractor and transmitted to the user PC, and detected by a program running in the background of the user PC. Once the audible tone is detected, a web browser is launched and the tone or decoded product identifier information associated with the tone is transmitted to an ARS on the network. The ARS then compares the information received from the user PC using information from a relational database. The relational database contains routing information for various destination nodes on the network.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for allowing a remote site to interact with an intermediate database to facilitate access to the remote site a method for delivering information from a source on a global communication network to a second and a user location thereon. A unique code is associated with an advertising action associated with the source location. The unique code is stored in a database and routing information over the global communication network to a defined location on the global communication network for the source associated with the unique code in the database. The unique code is delivered to the user and then accessed of the database by the user results in retrieval of the routing information associated with the delivered unique code by the user. The user is connected to the defined location associated with the delivered unique code in the database and in accordance with the associated routing information retrieved from the database.

Abstract: An input device for allowing input of a unique digital code to a user's computer to control access thereof to a web site. A method for connecting a user computer at a first location on a network with a second location on the network through use of a coded symbol having contained therein encoded information associated with routing information on the network to the second location thereover is disclosed. The encoded information is extract from the coded symbol and then decoded to provide decoded information. The decoded information is input to a defined port on the user computer which has an existing first functionality associated with the operation of the user computer which is not the same functionality as the step of inputting the decoded information. The input operation of the encoded symbol comprises a second functionality, with the port of the user computer operable to accommodate for both the first and second functionality during operation thereof.

Abstract: An audible designation for a node on a communication network A method is provided for allowing any of a plurality of first locations on a global communication network to access a specific and determinable second location on the global communication network. A unique audio signature is defined for the specific and determinable second location on the global communication network, which unique audio signature is permanently associated with the specific and determinable second location. A unique audio designation corresponding to the unique audio signature is stored in a database, and routing information associated therein with the unique audio designation over the global communication network to the specific and determinable second location from any of the plurality of the first locations on the global communication network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering information, from a content location on a global communication network (GCN) dynamically selected according to statistical information, to a user location thereon. In a computer database, GCN routing information for each of a plurality of content locations on the GCN are associated with a predefined combination of one of a plurality of advertising codes and one of a plurality of possible statistical outcomes. One of the plurality of advertising codes is received from the user location. Data regarding multiple GCN users is statistically analyzed to derive one of a plurality of statistical outcomes. One of a plurality of advertising codes received from a user and the one of the plurality of statistical outcomes are combined in a database to derive a particular predefined combinations. Routing information for a particular content locations which is associated with the predefined combinations is then retrieved from the database.

Abstract: A redirect system is provided which is operable to redirect information over a network 1610. This information is associated with a compressed MP3 audio file which is initially transmitted through the network from a source 1612 to a user PC 1600. The user PC 1600 will then play the information and, upon playing the information, embedded information within the audio file will be detected by an application program 1604. This will cause a browser 1602 to launch and route the embedded information to an intermediate node 1620. This information will be matched with information in a database 1624, which information provides routing information to a producer location 1614.

Abstract: A method for conducting a contest using a network is provided. Displayed, on a practical screen of a user computer operably connected to the network at a user site, is a plurality of pick spaces, a virtual television set including a first virtual screen, and a virtual computer including a second virtual screen. The apparent area of the first virtual screen constitutes a first display area of the practical screen for showing successive images selected from a first plurality of images. A preselected one of the first plurality of images is designated a lesson image. The apparent area of the second virtual screen constitutes a second display area of the practical screen showing a rolling counter. The rolling counter depicts successive ones of a plurality of available characters, each character being displayed in the rolling counter for a preselected duration.

Abstract: A system for connecting a wireless device to a remote location on a computer network. The wireless device (2510) includes a processor (2714) and a transmitter/receiver (2716) for sending and receiving radio frequency signals (2516) to provide two-way digital communication between the processor and the computer network (306). The system comprises a beacon unit (2502) and a beacon signal receiver circuit (2508). The beacon unit is disposed at a location and includes a transmitter (2602) which transmits a beacon signal (2506) into a target region (2910a) adjacent to the location. The beacon signal receiver circuit is disposed with the wireless device and adapted to receive the beacon signal when the wireless device is within the target region. The beacon signal receiver circuit is operably connected to the processor of the wireless device. In response to receiving the beacon signal, the beacon signal receiver circuit sends control signals to the processor of the wireless device.

Abstract: A method of promoting a product. A user at a user location (100) is induced to obtain a first product having a unique ID from a first vendor to win a prize. The user registers the product via a user computer (102) connected on-line to a central registration server (108) across a packet-switched network (104) by completing a user profile and transmitting the user profile and unique ID to a central registration server (108) having a profile database stored on a profile database unit (110). Promoting the product in conjunction with an event at an event location (114), and in response to a triggering event occurring during the event, a tone control system (117) causes a tone signal to be transmitted in the broadcast signal using a broadcast system (116). The tone signal is coupled to the user computer (102) and decoded to enable the computer (102) to automatically connect to a web server having a prize-winning phrase containing advertisement of the second product.

Abstract: A method for a user to access information on a network. Information from a machine recognizable code (MRC) (1606) is extracted at a user location, which MRC (1606) has associated therewith routing information to a remote location (312) on the network. The extracted information from the MRC (1606) is wirelessly transmitted to a network interface device (302) in response to the information being extracted. The remote location (312) associated with the extracted information from the MRC (1606) is then connected thereto from the user location and the information downloaded therefrom. The downloaded information is displayed on a display (1612) at the user location, such that when displayed, substantially immediate feedback is provided to the user in response to the MRC (1606) being scanned.

Abstract: A multi-purpose input device (2500) for providing conventional positional tracking, and one or more read capabilities for automatically connecting a user PC (302) to remote node. In one embodiment, a user reads optically encoded indicia (1606) of a product by passing the input device (2500) thereover. A software interface (2505) processes the read information, assembles a message packet, and appends routing information thereto to connect the user PC (302) to an ARS (308) disposed on a common network (306). The ARS (308) performs a matching operation with the received product information to obtain an associated network address of a vendor server (314) having the desired product information. The ARS (308) returns the vendor server address to the user PC (302) whereby the vendor advertiser server (312) is automatically accessed by the user PC (302). The respective product information is then returned from the vendor server (312) to the user PC (302) for presentation to the user.

Abstract: An optical reader is provided for reading a symbol representing information having areas of different light reflectivity. The optical reader comprises a radiant energy source, a photodetector, an optical system and a decoder. The radiant energy source generates a radiant energy for illuminating a target region. The photodetector generates output electrical signals indicative of the radiant energy incident thereon. The optical system includes a projection portion and a collection portion. The projection portion directs the radiant energy along a projection path extending from the radiant energy source to the target region. The collection portion collects the radiant energy reflected from a symbol when the symbol occupies the target region and directs the collected radiant energy along a collection path extending from the target region to the photodetector.

Abstract: An architecture for accessing a network server using one or more characters. A user computer (302) disposed on a global communication packet-switched network (306) is operable to communicate with an ARS (308) and a destination server (312) also disclosed on the GCN (306). The user computer (302) runs a software interface which displays a window (2500) to the user via a display (1612). The window (2500) contains a data entry field (2502) into which the user enters the character string, the character string disassociated from an address of the destination server (312). The character string is then transmitted from the software interface either directly to the ARS (308) or indirectly to the ARS (308) through a communication package resident on the user computer (302). The ARS (308) then performs a matching operation using the character string to obtain matching information from an ARS database (310).

Abstract: An aiming indicia is provided for a bar code comprising a sequence of parallel code bars and intervening code spaces disposed along a longitudinal code axis in accordance with a predefined standard. The aiming indicia comprises a non-encoded graphic element disposed on the longitudinal code axis adjacent the bar code and spaced apart from the nearest code bars by a distance of at least 10 times a minimum unit width for the code bars.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking network activity of a user. A user PC (302) disposed on a network (306) runs tracking software which initially requires registration to a registration server (2500). The registration process is initiated by the user entering user information into the tracking software for transmission to the registration server (2500). In response to registration, the registration server (2500) sends a unique ID and bar code back to the user PC (302). Subsequently, when the user accesses a vendor server (2504) disposed on the network (306), the user PC (302) passes the unique ID/bar code to the vendor server (2504). The vendor server (2504) sends the unique ID/bar code to the registration server to obtain user profile information which matches the unique ID/bar code. As the user accesses the vendor server (2504), the user activities are logged and returned to the registration server (2500) for updating the user information stored therein.

Abstract: A system for accessing a remote processor on a network The system includes a data set relating to a commercial event, embedded in a broadcast. A receiving device responsive to a non-video portion of said broadcast is operable to detect the data set and extracting received data therefrom. A local processor, having an input for receiving the received data, a first memory for storing the received data and an output is operable for accessing a program stored in a second memory for processing the received data. A communication device is coupled to the output and responsive to the program and the received data for facilitating connection of the local processor with the remote processor via said network.