Abstract: A system and method for transferring information resources over a network from one source to another that reduces latency and bandwidth requirements on the network. The information resources are made up of at least a static and dynamic portion. A client requests information, and a server receives the request and then transmits to the requestor the desired information. The server may send both the static and dynamic portion of the information resource, or the server may sent only the dynamic portion of the resource, depending on the client's needs and the request made. By discriminating between the static and dynamic portions of an information resource in this way, less data must be sent from the server to the client on every access. Also, the computational load that is typical of servers on a network is shifted to the client, thereby reducing latency.

Abstract: A video-on-demand system comprises a server station and a user station. The server is adapted to transmit a selected television signal with operating data defining a selected one of various available sets of playback modi (normal, fast forward, slow forward, rewind, pause, etc.) in response to operating signals from the user station indicating the selected set of playback modi. Operating data which define the various available operating signals (the user interface) are fixed in the server and are transmitted by the server to the user station. Downloading of different sets of the user interface at different prices is possible. For example, a television program with commercials may be offered at a higher price if it includes the facility of fast forward during commercials.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating an on-line service community with a foreign service such as the Internet World Wide Web. To take advantage of the present invention, on-line service subscribers access a membership module to complete a membership process in which they join communities each of which represents a specific area of interest. The present invention operates as an extension to a user's preferred Web browser and is manifested as a toolbar comprised of control buttons and a viewer on a computer user's screen. By interacting with the control buttons of the toolbar and the menus of the viewer, on-line service content is delivered to the user in response to the URLs specified by the user as he or she browses the Web. In addition, control buttons on the toolbar present opportunities for interacting with other community members.

Abstract: A system for viewing digital video stored in a remote location allows a user to first request a visual summary of the video which consists of still images corresponding to the frames where scenes change and then allows the user to utilize this information to control the playback of the audio track using the keypad of a touch-tone phone. The first main component, a digital video pre-processor, extracts information from the original video. This is performed in advance of the user's access. The second main component, a phone-based video-playback attendant, receives remote instructions from the user via the telephone and presents the requested information.

Abstract: To provide a device for processing remote procedures that makes it possible to easily obtain a desired service by combining multiple remote procedures, and that allows a user of a client application to know the parameters provided to each remote procedure and the execution results from each procedure. A message entered by a user is sent to a remote procedure server, and a first procedure execution component is selected from a first remote procedure holding component and executed. If a parameter contains a hyperlink, a corresponding message is generated by a message generating component and the message is sent to a second remote procedure holding component. The second remote procedure holding component receives the hypertext and analyzes it with a hypertext analysis component. After the first procedure execution component is executed, the parameters and execution results are sent back as hypertext by a hypertext generating component to the client.

Abstract: An on-line multiple media viewer system provides a responsive interactive presentation at a client viewing station of multiple media content retrieved over a remote connection from a server at which the content resides using a set of client-initiated and server-driven remote services for anticipatory caching of media content. In response to an initial request for an item of media content from the server, the remote services predict additional items of media content likely to be requested and transmit these items in advance of their request. Transmitted items are cached by services at the client viewing station in a cache storage. The client checks the cache storage before making additional requests for transfer over the remote connection. The items are transmitted in multi-channel asynchronous operations over the remote connection.

Abstract: A method for establishing and maintaining a virtual outlet ("VO") relationship on the Internet between an entity that controls and manages a Web site constituting a VO and a merchant that controls and manages a different Web site. The VO presents a series of VO Web pages to customers that contain descriptive information about products from one or more merchants. Customers can link through the VO Web pages directly to a merchant Web page provided to the customer computer by the merchant computer for the purpose of obtaining more detailed information about the product and for ordering the product. When the customer has finished ordering a product, the customer computer returns to a VO Web page. To the customer, it appears that the entire ordering process is conducted entirely within the VO Web pages. The merchant then credits the VO for the sale of the product to the customer, charges the purchase to the customer, and sends the ordered product to the customer.

Abstract: A system for delivering information on a computer network and allowing the information to be accessed by terminals connected to the computer network, either directly or through intermediary devices such as local or proxy servers, including computer or web sites storing pages which are requested by terminals for display. The pages may include references for the display of banners. The terminal initiates access or connection to a desired computer or web site to access a desired page. After the desired page is downloaded and served to the terminal from the computer or web site, the terminal initiates and sends an initial banner request signal to an information server. The information server returns a redirect signal to the terminal telling the terminal the location of the desired banner on the computer network, which may be the information server, the computer site, or some other information server, computer site, or location accessible via the computer network.

Abstract: In the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) standard, availability of directory services is increased by apparatus and methods using agents inserted between requesting clients and servers. By using agents, additional functions are carried out which are not performed in a typical DCE environment. Each agent inserts itself between the requesters and servers by writing over the pointer to the server with information pointing to the agent, thus redirecting requests to themselves. The agent then receives incoming requests and forwards them on to its associated server and other agents. The agent handling requests for the master server is called the "master" agent and the agents handling requests for replica servers are "replica" agents. The agents make sure requests are performed before replying to the original requester. Agents also monitor themselves. If a master agent crashes, the remaining agents elect a new master agent.

Abstract: A method for displaying streamed digital video data on a client computer. The client computer is configured to receive the streamed digital video data from a server computer via a computer network. The streamed digital video data is transmitted from the server computer to the client computer as a stream of video frames. The method includes receiving a first plurality of video frames at the client computer. The plurality of video frames represents a subset of the stream of video frames. The stream of video frames comprises independent playable video frames and dependent playable video frames. The method further includes displaying the first plurality of video frames on a video display terminal associated with the client computer. There is further included issuing a rewind command from the client computer to the server.

Abstract: A system for adaptively transporting video over networks wherein the available bandwidth varies with time. The system comprises a video/audio codec that functions to compress, code, decode and decompress video streams that are transmitted over networks having available bandwidths that vary with time and location. Depending on the channel bandwidth, the system adjusts the compression ratio to accommodate a plurality of bandwidths ranging from 20 Kbps for POTS to several Mbps for switched LAN and ATM environments. Bandwidth adjustability is provided by offering a trade off between video resolution, frame rate and individual frame quality. The system generates a video data stream comprised of Key, P and B frames from a raw source of video. Each frame type is further comprised of multiple levels of data representing varying degrees of quality.

Abstract: A first computer sends a sequence of messages to a second computer using remote write operations to directly store each message in a corresponding memory location in the second computer, without performing remote read operations to confirm storage of each message in the second computer's memory. The first computer detects message transmission errors, if any, during the transmission of each message to the second computer and when a message transmission error is detected, resends the message to the second computer. The first computer also sends trigger messages to the second computer to prompt the second computer to process messages stored in the second computer's memory. The second computer processes each received message and uses a remote write operation to store an acknowledgment message in a corresponding memory location in the first computer.

Abstract: A system for delivering video data comprises a video server (1) including a video database (11) for storing video index information (13) defining a plurality of settings for a transfer bit rate of video data and indicating which data included in original video data (12) the video server should transfer to a client (2) through a network (3) when setting the transfer bit rate to one of the plurality of settings, a video data assembler (14) for extracting data from the original video data by referring to the video data index information so as to set the transfer bit rate to one of the plurality of settings, and for reassembling the extracted data to create video data to be transferred at the set transfer bit rate to the client, while maintaining consistency in contents of the original video data, and a video data delivery unit (15) for delivering a constant amount of data at certain intervals in accordance with the set transfer bit rate in order to transfer the video data reassembled by the video data assembler

Abstract: A method for restricting a client or user to refer to data of a WWW server by using a WWW browser. In the present method, when the WWW browser demands to refer to a page-descriptive file and a relevant data file of the WWW server, an auxiliary program of the server side generates, for example, new files which respectively have the same substantial contents as the above two files while directory-file names of character sequences for specifying each of the new files are respectively different from those of the above files to be referred to, each new file name including a character sequence specific to the user unit, so as to permit only a user unit (such as a client or a user of the client) to refer to the data. The WWW browser of the user side refers to the files of different names.

Abstract: When an access request is generated from a client in a network file server comprising a computer including a communication controller connected to at least one client through a network and transferring information on a plurality of addresses inside a main storage device as one packet to at least one client, the main storage device having a buffer, a central processing unit and an input/output bus for mutually connecting the communication controller, the central processing unit and the main storage device, and a secondary storage device connected to the computer, an area for storing the data corresponding to this access request is allocated into the buffer of the main storage device. The data corresponding to the access request is read out from the secondary storage device, is transferred to the buffer and is stored in the allocated area.

Abstract: A new uniform resource locator (URL) of file system attachment (FSA) is created on a web browser. The new URL combines features of the URLs of HTTP and "file". The new URL first attempts to attach the file system where the data is stored. If the client has access to the data base or the data storage where the requested information is stored, then the web server may be bypassed by using the URL of "file" and use of the server is not required. If the client does not receive access to the data base or the data storage where the requested information is stored, then the URL of FSA will act like the standard URL of HTTP and access data through the server.

Abstract: An Internet access device uses an automatic configuration process to handle the task of configuring the Internet access device at a customer site for communication with the Internet. Once configured, the customer has electronic mail and other access to the Internet from his local area network. A not yet configured Internet access device is shipped directly to a customer without having to be manually configured first. The customer enters a registration identification number and a telephone number onto the Internet access device. The Internet access device then automatically connects to the Internet, downloads configuration data from a configuration server containing customer site specific configuration data, and then automatically configures itself for communication with the Internet. The Internet access device is simple to install for a customer and provides valuable features such as a router, firewall, e-mail gateway, web server, and other servers.

Abstract: A technique, system, and computer program for using servlets to isolate the retrieval of data from the rendering of the data into a presentation format. Data retrieval logic is isolated to a data servlet, and presentation formatting is isolated to a rendering servlet. Servlet chaining is used to send the output of the data servlet to the rendering servlet. The data servlet formats its output data stream for transfer to a downstream servlet. This data stream may be formatted using a language such as the Extensible Markup Language (XML), according to a specific Document Type Definition (DTD). The rendering servlet parses this XML data stream, using a style sheet that may be written using the Extensible Style Language (XSL), and creates a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) data stream as output.

Abstract: A system for dispensing and redeeming the electronic discount coupons. The system includes a personal computer (PC) having hardware and software for receiving an electronic coupon from the system of computer networks, translating the received coupon into a binary format, and sending the binary-formatted coupon to a card-writing device. The card-writing device writes the coupon data onto a portable customer card ("smart card") approximately the size of a credit card. Subsequently, the customer goes to the store with the card. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, the customer is credited with the value of a coupon when UPC data from a bar code reader corresponds to a coupon stored on the card.

Abstract: A registration applet embedded in a registration page of a browser program allows a user to associate a user-specified group name with a plurality of UTRLs, HTTP POST or GET requests or other network service identifiers, such that the group name designates a category of information provided by corresponding network services. An access applet embedded in an access page of the browser allows a user to select one of several previously-registered group names, and an access mode for processing responses to service requests. A processor running the access applet automatically issues parallel requests to the network services associated with a selected group name in response to entry of a command by the user.

Abstract: In a multi-media communication terminal apparatus, when a slow reproducing operation is commenced, a supply of video data transmitted via a communication line is stopped. A video data decoding unit reproduces each image of screens plural times corresponding to the slow reproducing operation based upon the video data previously stored in a video data buffer memory. When the repeating reproduction for the respective screens by the plural times corresponding to the slow reproducing operation is accomplished and the reproducing operation of a new screen is commenced, a video data decoding unit issues an interrupt to a CPU. Upon issue of the interrupt, the CPU checks a data remaining amount of the video data stored in the video data buffer, and sends a request to transmit a predetermined amount of video data to a data transmission source when the checked data remaining amount is lower than, or equal to a reference amount.

Abstract: A video telecommunication server for use in providing a fast scan of a video telecommunication comprises a bitstream store for receiving and storing a coded input video telecommunication digital bitstream. The server further comprises a video decoder for decoding the received digital video bitstream and, in one embodiment, a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal is stored in a frame store depending on a desired speed-up rate, where n is greater than one. A video encoder reencodes the stored video telecommunication predictively such that every nth frame is predicted based on the preceding frame. A fast scan digital video bitstream is generated for output by the video encoder that represents the fast scan video telecommunication, either in a fast forward or fast reverse direction. A receiver for receiving a control input may receive data representing the direction of fast scan and the speed-up rate.

Abstract: A method for enabling an application program to communicate with a network server, includes the steps of downloading a document from a document server to the application program, downloading code from a code server associated with the document server to the application program, the code including a network protocol handler for the network server, and using the network protocol handler to communicate with the network server.

Abstract: A remote video delivery system transmits video and text from a hotel office to hotel rooms. A series of video players generates the video signals to modulators. The modulators transmit the signals on various frequencies. A system controller directs the signals from the modulators to the appropriate converter boxes within the rooms. An outside vendor runs a billing system to charge the guests for the video delivery without the need for involvement by the hotel staff.

Abstract: A customized advertising repository server is connected on the World Wide Web (WWW), which can be accessed by a registered user through his or her browser either by clicking on an icon, or by inputting the specific URL address of the particular server which stores that user's advertising repository. When the user accesses his or her customized ad repository through the browser, a composite advertising page is dynamically configured by the Customized Advertising Repository (CAR) server for that particular user based on that user's previously provided user profile. Furthermore, at least a portion of that composite advertising page can be dynamically configured on a context dependent basis determined from the particular Web site or sites that the user has accessed prior to accessing the CAR.

Abstract: A computer network (10) is provided that includes first and second computer systems (12 and 14). The first computer system (12) includes a software application (24) having a function call (26). The second computer system (14) communicates with the first computer system (12) and includes a function (34) corresponding to the function call (26). A function importation engine (28) identifies the function call (26) and copies the function (34) from the second computer system (14) to the first computer system (12). The function importation engine (28) enables the first computer system (12) to operate in a stand-alone configuration.

Abstract: A tightly integrated the palmtop computer system and personal computer system is disclosed. The palmtop computer system and personal computer system synchronize with each other to share information. The synchronization software recognizes different synchronization environments including: synchronizing multiple palmtop computer systems with a single personal computer system, synchronizing a single palmtop computer system with multiple personal computer systems, synchronizing a palmtop computer system with a remote personal computer system across a network using a local personal computer system, and remotely synchronizing with a personal computer system across a telephone line. The synchronization software handles each different synchronization environment appropriately with minimal user interaction.

Abstract: A method for delivering a message unit to a destination network resource within a transport communications layer includes the steps of configuring a mapping to the destination network resource based upon a source address of the message unit, and sending the message unit to the destination network resource based upon the mapping.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for bypassing a participating application that receives data from a client connection between a proxy and a client and receives data from a server connection between a proxy and a server is disclosed. The method includes deriving a client originated packet sequence synchronization factor. The client originated packet sequence synchronization factor is derived from the difference between a last data sequence number sent by the participating application to the server and a last data acknowledgment number sent by the participating application to the client. A server originated packet sequence synchronization factor is derived from the difference between a last data sequence number sent by the participating application to the client and a last data acknowledgment number sent by the participating application to the server.

Abstract: In a service providing system, a plurality of information acquiring computers for acquiring informations are connected via a network to a plurality of information providing computers for providing information. A service providing computer for executing an information providing service with respect to apparatuses for acquiring information is interposed between a plurality of in information acquiring apparatuses and a plurality of information providing apparatuses. The service providing computer receives a content of a request of the information acquiring computer, and determines a sort of information to be provided with a user based upon a quality of this request content, individual information and past historical information of the user, and also various sorts of conditions when the request is received. The service providing computer requests at least one of these information providing computers to provide the information.

Abstract: The system enables a user to dispose information such as an icon to identify the article that the user posts from the client computer, on the display screen thereof, for example, at the position closer to an icon of an article that another user posted if the former user intends to express the opinion positively to the latter user's posted article. The server computer where many client computers can post articles and read the articles posted from other client computers, manages the coordinate data of the icons respectively disposed at the client computers according to the respective intentions of the articles and reproduces the icons on the display screen of a client computer, at the respective disposed positions so that a user at the client computer can instantly understand the intentions of the posted articles without reading the contents thereof.

Abstract: A control information message is communicated from a control information generator and encoder (3) in a server installation (1) to one or more computer installations (2) by encoding the message into a single sequence of a relatively short duration, which is incorporated into an overall audio or video information carrying signal and transmitted to the user computer installation through a wired or wireless transmission media. In the user computer installations the received signal sequence is retrieved from the overall signal and decoded into the original message which is then used to initiate an action controlled by a prestored program in the user computer installation (2).

Abstract: According to principles of the invention, a distributed data processing system having a host computer coupled by way of a network to one or more peripheral devices is presented. In part, this distributed data processing system has advantages over current technologies because executables run on a host device can also be downloaded and executed on a target peripheral device. The virtual machine instruction processor located in the host machine and the peripheral device run the same instruction set and therefore readily share executables. This capability opens up robust communication between the peripheral device and the host machine and sophisticated peripheral device management and administration.

Abstract: A system whereby a receiving module, in a mixed network of hardware and software-emulated modules, requires an Interrupt before it can use a Get Message OP to access a message from a message queue and which also provides a Fast Empty of messages in a message queue by eliminating the need for an Interrupt before each succeeding message access.

Abstract: Mechanisms and methods for storing, dynamically reconstructing, and navigating a three-dimensional virtual world using a database are disclosed. A virtual world is described in a source text according to the grammar of a modeling language. The source text is read, parsed, and decomposed into a database schema in which characteristics of the world are represented in database tables. In an embodiment, nodes and fields of the world are associated with database queries. When the world is to be displayed, values in the database schema are recomposed into a source text. The database queries are executed against a database, yielding values, in real time based on the current state of the data in the database, for the nodes associated with the queries. Thus, a large virtual world are efficiently displayed and easily modified, and the size, shape, or other aspects of elements of the virtual world can change as data in the database changes.

Abstract: An interprise computing manager provides coordination between application programs by having each server program controlling the client executable program. In this manner, each client program communicates from the client to the server using a predefined protocol. A distributed computer system is disclosed with software for a client computer, a server computer and a network for connecting the client computer to the server computer which utilize an execution framework code segment configured to couple the server computer and the client computer via the network, by a plurality of client computer code segments resident on the server, each for transmission over the network to a client computer to initiate coupling; and a plurality of server computer code segments resident on the server which execute on the server in response to initiation of coupling via the network with a particular client utilizing the transmitted client computer code segment for communicating via a particular communication protocol.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system is provided including a multimedia server connected in a network configuration with client computer systems. The multimedia server includes various functional units which are selectively operable for delivering and effecting the presentation of multimedia files to the client such that a plurality of multimedia files are seamlessly concatenated on the fly to enable a continuous and uninterrupted presentation to the client. In one example, client selected video files are seamlessly joined together at the server just prior to file delivery from the server. The methodology includes the analog to digital encoding of multimedia segments followed by a commonization processing to ensure that all of the multimedia segments have common operating characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus is programmed with a video service for facilitating video communication with another remote apparatus, in accordance with a video communication protocol. The video service includes a still image function with logic for providing a plurality of progressive scans of one or more still images to the remote apparatus, in accordance with a still image communication protocol defined within the video communication protocol. In one embodiment, the still image function includes logic for instructing a local video capture driver to switch to a format of the still image function's choice for capturing video image frames, holding constant video image input to a video codec to generate the plurality of progressive scans of the still images, and implementing the still image communication protocol.

Abstract: An information distribution system for a digital network, includes a master communications unit for establishing communications with the network in order to receive a synchronous digital signal, a distribution amplifier unit for receiving and dividing the synchronous digital signal into a plurality of synchronous signals and a plurality of communications units for establishing communications with a plurality of receiving stations. The system also includes a master controller for controlling the plurality of communications units from a central location. The invention alternatively relates to an information disseminating system for a digital network and includes a plurality of video clip storing units, each storing data related to a particular subject matter, a plurality of distribution amplifiers associated with the video clip storing units and a plurality of communications units which establish communications between the plurality of distribution amplifiers and the digital network.

Abstract: A method and system for invoking by a client computer system of a function of an object of an object class provided by a server computer system. The client sends a request to a server that comprises a Universal Resource Locator ("URL") that identifies a script, an object class, and a function of the object class to invoke. In response to receiving the request, the server starts the script and transfers control to the script. The script instantiates an object of the object class identified in the URL of the received request and invokes the function identified in the URL of the received request. The invoked function performs the behavior of the function, creates a response to be sent to the client, and sends the response to the client. The response contains state information describing a state of the object after the behavior of the function is performed.

Abstract: An information transmit system includes a first communication element having a guaranteed quality required to transmit real-time information, and a second communication element different from the first communication element. The system also includes a transmission element for transmitting stored real-time information using the first communication element and for transmitting real-time data using the second communication element, where the real-time data using the second communication element has corresponding time stamps later in time than the real-time data transmitted by the first communication element. For example, a time stamp of the real-time data may be used to transmit the data in either a normal direction (using the first communication element), or in a retrospective direction (using the second communication element).

Abstract: A multimedia interface station (102) establishes a multimedia sensory data link between the Internet (108) and a subscriber premise (112) eliminating an Internet protocol. Visual and audio data received from the Internet (108) is converted to a multimedia sensory signal at the multimedia interface station (102) and transmitted to a sensory transmission device (150) such as a television (142) in the subscriber premise (112) without using the Internet protocol.

Abstract: A scheme for transferring files from a file server to a file requesting client, which enables request and transfer of files which are related to a user requested file at a time of transferring a user requested file. The file requesting client makes a file request indicating a desired file, and in response the file server transfers a file list of files related to the desired file indicated by the file request. Then, the file requesting client makes a transfer request requesting a transfer of files according to the file list, and in response the file server transfers the files requested by the transfer request. Alternatively, the file requesting client makes a request indicating a desired file, and in response the file server transfers a concatenated file formed by concatenating files related to the desired file indicated by the request. Then, the file requesting client extracts individual files from the concatenated file.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for dynamically loading a gateway server into a client machine if one is needed for the client machine to communicate directly with a program in another domain. In brief summary, when a new machine receives an object reference, this new machine must determine whether it can use the object reference as is for further communications or whether it must try to modify the object reference before using it. The new machine makes this determination by seeing if the front handle of the object reference points to a gateway object that is located on the new machine. If so, then the new machine can use the object reference as is. If the front handle pointer indicates that the designated gateway object is on another machine, then the task is to find or create a new gateway object on the new machine for use in further communications and to modify the object reference accordingly.

Abstract: A computer network communication system collects messages from multiple electronic sources comprising network service providers and presents them to a system user in a common format that is selectable by the user. The system receives charge account information from the user and thereby recoups costs associated with providing the computer network communication access. Charge account and associated identification information for a user are stored at a central control site, along with a user's preferred display settings. The central control site is connected to an interconnected computer network and to multiple remote sites comprising computer terminals that communicate with the central control site over the computer network. The remote user sites also are capable of direct communication with network service providers independently of the central control site over conventional telephone line connections.

Abstract: An Internet accessing system which allows automatic user login onto the Internet with the use of two cards and card readers. One card contains information about an Internet access point telephone number, the ID number of the user, and the password of the user. The second card contains information about the URL designating the location of the desired startup homepage. Upon insertion of the cards into the card readers, the user is automatically logged onto the Internet.

Abstract: A data capture system is disclosed as comprising a plurality of client data collection terminals, and a server station. Each terminal including a mechanism for collecting data, a dynamic addressable memory and a first controller operating on data formatted in a first style. The server station comprises mass memory, which is larger than the dynamic addressable memory of a terminal for storing data to be used by the data collection terminals, an addresser responsive to a memory altering request for addressing the mass memory and a second controller operating on data formatted in a second style different from said first style. The data stored in the dynamic addressable memory is formatted in the second style. A communication system interconnects the server station and each of the plurality of client data collection terminals.

Abstract: An integrated control system comprises one or more controllers each equipped to perform a control function and to gather data (ordinarily from sensors or a video camera) relevant to the control functions. Each controller contains computer storage for the relevant data and instructions, associated with the data, for causing a remote computer to generate a visual display incorporating the data in a predetermined format; and a communication module for establishing contact and facilitating data interchange with the remote computer. The remote computer, in turn, also includes a communication module compatible with the controller-borne module, and which enables the remote computer to download the data, including current video information and/or historical and/or reference video information, and associated instructions from one or more controllers. The remote computer also includes a facility for processing the instructions to create a user interface encoded by the instructions, and which incorporates the data.

Abstract: An integrated control system comprises one or more controllers each equipped to perform a control function and to gather data (ordinarily from sensors) relevant to the control function. Each controller contains computer storage means, such as computer memory, for storing the relevant data and instructions, associated with the data, for causing a remote computer to generate a visual display incorporating the data in a predetermined format; and a communication module for establishing contact and facilitating data interchange with the remote computer. The remote computer, in turn, also includes a communication module compatible with the controller-borne module, and which enables the remote computer to download the data and associated instructions from one or more controllers. The remote computer also includes a facility for processing the instructions to create a user interface encoded by the instructions, and which incorporates the data.

Abstract: A system and method for using identification codes found on ordinary articles of commerce to access remote computers on a network. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a computer is provided having a database that relates Uniform Product Code ("UPC") numbers to Internet network addresses (or "URLs"). To access an Internet resource relating to a particular product, a user enters the product's UPC symbol manually, by swiping a bar code reader over the UPC symbol, or via other suitable input means. The database retrieves the URL corresponding to the UPC code. This location information is then used to access the desired resource.