Abstract: A plurality of end users remotely access a network that includes a hub site and a number of provider sites. Information relating to the end user is associated with a non-externally identifying symbol. Public end-user information is shared with providers without permission from the end user. Private end-user information is shared with providers only upon receiving permission from the end user.

Abstract: An end-user is directed to a location on the Internet based on machine-readable codes scanned by the end user. The end-user is associated with at least one of the following: an end-user country selection, and end-user language selection, a service category, an access media type, and the presence of an access certificate. A database with a plurality of entries is provided. Each of the entries is associated with a machine-readable code and includes one or more different network addresses. Code information associated with the scans of machine readable codes made by the end-user is received at a network site. In response to the scan information, entries associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user are retrieved from the database. At least some of the entries include information irrelevant to the information associated with the end user. Only relevant entries are selected. The end user is connected with the network addresses selected.

Abstract: Information representative of scanned machine-readable codes is transmitted between network sites. Information associated with scans of machine-readable codes are received at a first site and stored within a database, along with a unique alpha-numeric identifier. The end user is directed from the first site to a second site with a URL that includes a symbol identifying an address of the second site on the network and the unique alpha-numeric identifier. A request (which includes a representation of the unique alpha-numeric identifier) for the information stored at the first site is received. The information stored at the first site is sent to the second site.

Abstract: Communication system and method for linking each of a plurality of tagged object to information services stored on a network. The system reads an object tag of one of the objects and retrieves information about the object stored on storage located at arbitrary places. To facilitate the retrieval of information, a directory is provided storing object data associating each of the objects with information services. In order to be able to handle a virtually arbitrary number of objects and information services, the directory includes a plurality of directory servers, each storing part of data base of the object data. The object data is distributed according to a defined scheme onto the plurality of directory servers in order to be able to identify the directory server storing object data associated with a particular read object tag.

Abstract: An end-user is directed to a location on the Internet based on machine-readable codes scanned by the end user. The end-user is associated with at least one of the following: an end-user country selection, an end-user language selection, a service category, an access media type, and the presence of an access certificate. A database with a plurality of entries is provided. Each of the entries is associated with a machine-readable code and includes one or more different network addresses. Code information associated with the scans of machine readable codes made by the end-user is received at a network site. In response to the scan information, entries associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user are retrieved from the database. At least some of the entries include information irrelevant to the information associated with the end user. Only relevant entries are selected. The end user is connected with the network addresses selected.

Abstract: An end user is directed to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end user. A database including records associated with a different machine-readable code is provided. One or more of the records includes a number of different network addresses associated therewith, each network address being associated with a different provider. Scans of machine-readable codes are received at a network site. In response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the user are retrieved from the database. At least one network address for each of the retrieved records is selected based on criteria specified by the provider, an express need of the user or property information of a session of the end-user on the network. At least one selected network address is transmitted from the network site to the end-user.

Abstract: A plurality of end users remotely access a network that includes a hub site and a number of provider sites. Information relating to the end user is associated with a non-externally identifying symbol. Public end-user information is shared with providers without permission from the end user. Private end-user information is shared with providers only upon receiving permission from the end user.

Abstract: Information representative of scanned machine-readable codes is transmitted between network sites. Information associated with scans of machine-readable codes are received at a first site and stored within a database, along with a unique alpha-numeric identifier. The end user is directed from the first site to a second site with a URL that includes a symbol identifying an address of the second site on the network and the unique alpha-numeric identifier. A request (which includes a representation of the unique alpha-numeric identifier) for the information stored at the first site is received. the information stored at the firs site is sent to the second site.

Abstract: A plurality of end users remotely access a network that includes a hub site and a number of provider sites. Upon the end user inputting code information, network address information corresponding to a location on the network of a provider that is associated with the codes is identified. The end user is directed to that location on the network. The user may annotate the code information, which is then stored in the hub site.