Granted Patent B2

US 8,069,098 · App. 12/235,456 · Granted Nov 29, 2011

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A method for interconnecting a first location on a global communication network with a second location thereon, wherein the first location has associated therewith an input device, the input device having associated therewith a unique input device ID that is permanently associated with the input device and independent of the first location, comprising the steps of:

receiving at the first location a representation of a unique code provided by the input device, which representation of the unique code represents a unique value as an output received from the input device;

associating the unique value with the unique input device ID in a message packet as a data content portion thereof, such that the unique input device ID is associated with the data content portion of the message packet for transmission over the network and wherein the second location has a predetermined association with the combination of the unique value and the unique input device ID, such predetermined association associates the second location with both the unique input device ID and the unique value; and

in response to the step of receiving and the step of associating, connecting the first location to the second location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of connecting to the second location comprises:

in response to the step of receiving and the step of associating, accessing a database having stored therein a plurality of unique values, each associated with routing information over the global communication network to one of the plurality of second locations;

comparing the output unique value with the stored unique values in the database; and

if a match exists between the output unique value and any of the stored unique values:

retrieving from the database the associated routing information to the second location, and

connecting the first location to the second location on the global communication network in accordance with the retrieved routing information.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique value comprises a binary value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique code comprises a universal product code (UPC) as associated with a product indicating information regarding the product for use in commercial transactions associated with that product.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of accessing the database comprises the steps of:

accessing a remote location on the global communication network at an intermediate node thereon;

forwarding the unique value and unique input device ID to the intermediate node;

wherein the database is disposed at the intermediate node; and

retrieving the associated routing information from the database in the event of a positive match and forwarding the retrieved routing information back to the first location and connecting the first location to the second location in accordance with the retrieved information.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second location represents product information associated with a product.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the first location, information from the second location in response to connecting the first location to the second location.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

presenting the information received from the second location to a user.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of presenting comprises displaying the information received from the second location via a display at the first location.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of connecting the first location to the second location is performed using a browser program.

11. An apparatus for interconnecting a first location on a global communication network with a second location thereon, the apparatus comprising:

an input device having associated therewith a unique input device ID that is permanently associated with the input device and independent of the first location, the input device configured to provide a representation of a unique code which represents a unique value;

a processor configured to:

receive at the first location the representation of a unique code provided by the input device as an output received from the input device;

associate the unique value with the unique input device ID in a message packet as a data content portion thereof, such that the unique input device ID is associated with the data content portion of the message packet for transmission over the network and wherein the second location has a predetermined association with the combination of the unique value and the unique input device ID, such predetermined association associates the second location with both the unique input device ID and the unique value; and

in response to the receiving and associating, connect the first location to the second location.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to the receiving and the associating, access a database having stored therein a plurality of unique values, each associated with routing information over the global communication network to one of the plurality of second locations;

compare the output unique value with the stored unique values in the database; and

if a match exists between the output unique value and any of the stored unique values:

retrieve from the database the associated routing information to the second location, and

connect the first location to the second location on the global communication network in accordance with the retrieved routing information.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the unique value comprises a binary value.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the unique code comprises a universal product code (UPC) as associated with a product indicating information regarding the product for use in commercial transactions associated with that product.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to as part of accessing the database:

access a remote location on the global communication network at an intermediate node thereon;

forward the unique value and unique input device ID to the intermediate node;

wherein the database is disposed at the intermediate node; and

retrieve the associated routing information from the database in the event of a positive match and forward the retrieved routing information back to the first location and connect the first location to the second location in accordance with the retrieved information.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second location represents product information associated with a product.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, at the first location, information from the second location in response to connecting the first location to the second location.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

present the information received from the second location to a user.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor as part of the presenting is further adapted to display the information received from the second location via a display at the first location.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a browser program configured to perform the connecting the first location to the second location.

Assignments (12)