Patent Publication Number: US-2004054627-A1

Title: Universal identification system for printed and electronic media

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/410,716, filed Sep. 13, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The invention of the printing press, the discovery of electricity, the concentration of the population in urban areas, the expansion of international trade, and the recent growth of the world economy have all led to the development of a sophisticated international media industry. For example, virtually every significant industry in the world is now represented by at least one trade journal, and virtually every medium to large city in the developed world has a newspaper. Television and radio coverage is common in most of the developed world. Most businesses and many households now have access to electronic information published on the Internet.  
       [0003] The recent development of the computer industry is providing important new technology that has been adopted by the business community and is now accelerating the creation of printed and electronic media. Similarly, the development of distributed networks (including the Internet) and the development of satellite systems are providing important new platforms and conduits for media distribution. A truly global and sweeping media distribution system exists today.  
       [0004] Because of these and other factors, a proliferation of media has occurred. The last twenty years has brought an explosion in the quantity and variety of printed and electronic media. The amazing growth rate in new magazines, newspapers, books, Internet web sites, advertisements, songs, and video is partly due to an increasing audience.  
       [0005] Each day millions of media articles are printed, and millions of media articles are published electronically. These printed and electronic media articles are distributed to readers in the form of magazines, newspapers, books, scientific journals, Internet web pages, compact discs, digital video, and a multitude of other formats. Printed media is here defined in the ordinary sense of the words in the field of printing (e.g. printing a newspaper or printing a magazine). Likewise, electronic media is here defined in the ordinary sense of the words in the field of computers and technology (e.g. publishing an electronic news article on a web page or releasing a digital video etc.).  
       [0006] Information from these numerous articles of printed and electronic media are currently a poorly organized system primarily because there is no consistent media identification system. In fact, most articles of media bear no identification tag whatsoever. Because of this, a considerable amount of time is wasted searching for media articles that lack ID tags, and a considerable amount of time is wasted storing physical copies of media, when the storage of a media ID tag would in most cases suffice. For instance, it is often very difficult for a person to locate an electronic or printed media article that he or she read or otherwise interacted with six months ago. The person must correctly recall where the article of media appeared, and must correctly recall the approximate date of the publication. Once recalled, the person seeking the article of media must then interface with publishers, distributors, or others who often lack a sophisticated and convenient system to locate and distribute copies of their own media, or the media they distribute. Even worse, the person seeking the article of media is forced to locate it in a collection of newspapers, magazines, etc. stored at their own house.  
       [0007] The explosion of printed and electronic information combined with the meager development of information management tools has important implications for productivity. This combination directly leads to one of the key problems facing modem society; our inability to properly address the proliferation of printed and electronic media. So much information is being created and distributed that the average person no longer has the necessary tools to meaningfully and artfully interact with it. The development of information management tools has not kept pace with the development and distribution of information. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a comprehensive and definitive identification system that produces consistent and unique IDs for articles of printed and electronic media, couples these ID tags to articles of media, and that has associated software to manage the media identification tags or media IDs, and the associated media. This provides a mechanism for ID tags from articles of media to be easily collected, properly cataloged, and logically organized. It also provides users the toolset to easily retrieve the original article of media at a later time and to perform sophisticated media searches. The establishment of a universal ID system for printed and electronic media is the first step in developing a method, system, and software that people can use to increase productivity, and intelligently and gracefully interact with the staggering amount of printed and electronic media surrounding them.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] The various aspects of the present invention can be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and by reference to the appended drawings and claims. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] The invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 shows the universal media ID system of the present invention plus the current fragmented identification systems;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 shows the elements of the universal identification system for printed and electronic media;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 shows the basic elements of the universal printed media ID system;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the media ID intermediary or other entity and the clients that are both using the universal media identification system;  
     [0014]FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the media ID intermediary or other entity and the users that are both using the universal media identification system;  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the attachment of a media ID to an article of printed media;  
     [0016]FIG. 7 shows a printed newspaper that has been modified with a graphics program to illustrate universal printed media IDs of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 8 shows a printed newspaper that has been modified with a graphics program to illustrate universal printed media IDs;  
     [0018]FIG. 9 shows some aspects of the relationship between a media ID and its associated media;  
     [0019]FIG. 10 shows a high-level schematic of the handheld electronic media ID scanner;  
     [0020]FIG. 11 shows a detailed schematic of the scanning mechanism of the handheld electronic media ID scanner;  
     [0021]FIG. 12 shows a detailed schematic of the memory architecture of the handheld electronic media ID scanner;  
     [0022]FIG. 13 shows a detailed schematic of the data transmission mechanism of the handheld electronic media ID scanner;  
     [0023]FIG. 14 shows technology used for attaching, printing, or otherwise affixing media IDs to printed media;  
     [0024]FIG. 15 displays the handheld electronic media ID scanner and various communication systems and users;  
     [0025]FIG. 16 shows the elements of the universal electronic media ID system of the present invention;  
     [0026]FIG. 17 shows the interaction of media IDs with a user computer system, a distributed network, and remote computer systems;  
     [0027]FIG. 18 shows a media ID user computer diagram;  
     [0028]FIG. 19 shows the basic concepts of the electronic media ID and its interaction with media and the media ID software;  
     [0029]FIG. 20 shows aspects of the electronic media ID data field structure;  
     [0030]FIG. 21 shows the interaction of a media ID with a local computer system and a remote computer system;  
     [0031]FIG. 22 shows the transfer of a media ID from a web browser to the media ID software;  
     [0032]FIG. 23 shows the transfer of a media ID from a web browser to a storage device located on, or connected to a local computer system;  
     [0033]FIG. 24 shows the transfer of a media ID from a web browser to a remote computer system;  
     [0034]FIG. 25 shows the transfer of a media ID from a web browser to a media ID transport file;  
     [0035]FIG. 26 shows the transfer of a media ID from a web browser to a user account by means of a distributed network;  
     [0036]FIG. 27 is a flow chart that shows the transfer of an electronic media ID from an article of electronic media to the media ID software;  
     [0037]FIG. 28 is a diagram that shows the transfer of a media ID from a web server to the media ID software;  
     [0038]FIG. 29 is a flow chart that shows the transfer of an electronic media ID from a remote device to the media ID software;  
     [0039]FIG. 30 is a screen illustration of the drag and drops capabilities of electronic media IDs;  
     [0040]FIG. 31 is a screen illustration of the media ID mitt;  
     [0041]FIG. 32 shows a media ID transfer process from the media ID scanner to a media ID user computer system;  
     [0042]FIG. 33 is a diagram that shows the basic components of the media ID software;  
     [0043]FIG. 34 is a screen illustration of the media ID software that shows the media ID viewer and the media ID database;  
     [0044]FIG. 35 is a screen illustration of the media ID software database viewer;  
     [0045]FIG. 36 is a screen illustration of the media ID software and media ID viewer;  
     [0046]FIG. 37 is a screen illustration of the media ID software quick facts window;  
     [0047]FIG. 38 is a screen illustration of the media ID software media ID sortable database viewer;  
     [0048]FIG. 39 is a screen illustration of the media ID software that shows the media ID radial subject viewer, the graphical search engine, the media ID icon viewer, the online bulletin/discussion forum, and the subject icon viewer;  
     [0049]FIG. 40 is a screen illustration of the media ID software graphical search engine;  
     [0050]FIG. 41 is a screen illustration of the media ID software text search engine;  
     [0051]FIG. 42 show is a screen illustration of the media ID software subject classification radial viewer;  
     [0052]FIG. 43 is a screen illustration of the media ID software icon viewer;  
     [0053]FIG. 44 is a screen illustration of the media ID software subject icon viewer;  
     [0054]FIG. 45 is a screen illustration of the media ID software online bulletin/discussion forum window;  
     [0055]FIG. 46 is a diagram of the media ID subject layer classification system;  
     [0056]FIG. 47 is a screen illustration of the media ID software that shows the media ID layer control, the layer search tool, the layer search parameters, the layer search results, and the layer search timeline tool; and  
     [0057]FIG. 48 shows the creation and application of intelligence media IDs. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0058] The present invention satisfies the above-described need by providing a method, system, and software for identifying, organizing, and cataloging printed and electronic media information. This is accomplished through the introduction of a universal media identification system that entails the placement of an identification tag (or media ID) on each article of printed and electronic information. In one embodiment, each copy of an individual article of media bears the exact same ID, regardless of how it is distributed (i.e. how many newspapers containing it are distributed). For example, if a person in New York purchases the same Wall Street Journal newspaper on the same day as a person in San Francisco, and each person collects a media ID from the same story in the newspaper, then they will each possess the exact same media ID.  
     [0059] The media ID of the present invention is broad and encompassing, and implements a common language for identification of articles of printed and electronic media. This common media ID language eliminates much of the ambiguity, turbulence, and distortion currently associated with user identification and negotiation of articles of media. In general, a media ID of the present invention from the same article of media is the same for each and every user.  
     [0060] In one embodiment, a media ID is a set of information fields that collectively define and isolate an individual article of media. These information fields provide a comprehensive and exact identification of the article of media that the media ID is bonded with. In most instances, a media ID offers a thorough and beyond all dispute identification of an article of media.  
     [0061] For printed media, a media ID consists of a code symbology or graphic encoded with or otherwise referencing a set of information that is associated with an article of printed media. A user can acquire the printed media ID by scanning it with an electronic scanner or other electronic device.  
     [0062] For electronic media, a media ID consists of a graphic or hyperlink encoded with or otherwise referencing a set of information. A user can acquire the electronic media ID that is associated with an article of media by clicking on it, dragging and dropping it, or otherwise selecting it.  
     [0063] In an additional embodiment, media IDs can also contain the associated article of media as an information field, or as an attachment.  
     [0064] In the case of printed media, the media IDs are “printed”, placed, or otherwise affixed with each article of printed media and contain relevant information about the article and in some cases, the entire content of the article.  
     [0065] For example, relevant information encoded within the “printed” ID tag associated with the media could include but is not limited to the author, the media ID version, the name of the publication, the title of the article, the date of the publication, the page number, the primary subject classification, the secondary subject classifications, the subject (theme) of the article (e.g., investing, cooking, health, computers) etc.  
     [0066] In another embodiment of the invention, an easy mechanism is provided to users for collecting, scanning, or otherwise “reading” the identification tag associated with the printed media of interest. The reader of the article of media scans this printed media ID tag with a simple and inexpensive wireless handheld electronic scanner or other electronic device. The electronic device then decodes and stores the unique information about the media article provided by the ID tag. In one embodiment, this is stored in digital format. The reader can then download the information from an electronic media ID scanner into a personal computer or other suitable electronic device.  
     [0067] Media ID software running on the platform of a personal computer or other suitable electronic device receives the media IDs from the scanner. Once received, the software automatically organizes the various scanned media identifications into user-defined groups and provides powerful media and media ID management tools.  
     [0068] In the case of electronic media, media IDs are embedded in or otherwise located with articles of electronic media. Each electronic media ID comprehensively and definitively identifies the associated article of electronic media. This electronic media ID is easily transferred from the article of electronic media by the user to media ID software. For example, a user initiates the transfer of an electronic media ID from an electronic news article located on a client web page by clicking on or otherwise selecting the media ID icon or graphic that is associated with the article of electronic media. In another example, the reader of the electronic media can drag and drop the electronic media ID symbol or graphic associated with each article of electronic media into the media ID software or some other intermediary. This electronic media ID contains all necessary information such that the article is definitively identified and can be then be cataloged and organized. In some cases, the electronic media ID also contains the associated article of media.  
     [0069] Relevant information encoded within the electronic media ID associated with the article of electronic media can include the author, the media ID version, the name of the publication, the title of the article, the date of the publication, the total number of pages, the primary subject classification (e.g., investing, cooking, health, computers etc.), and the secondary subject classifications.  
     [0070] Media ID software running on the platform of a personal computer or other suitable electronic device receives the media IDs once the user has dropped them into the media ID software or otherwise activates a transfer. Once received, the software automatically organizes the various scanned printed and electronic media identifications into user-defined groups and categories.  
     [0071] A sophisticated database in the media ID software organizes media IDs and offers powerful search capabilities that can be conducted on media IDs within the software as well as media IDs located elsewhere (contained on other computers etc.).  
     [0072] The user can browse through the software database(s) to review the media IDs that they have collected. In one embodiment, the associated article of media is stored in the database along with the media ID that identifies it, or alternately is located elsewhere. The user can browse through the software databases(s) to review the media IDs that they have collected. For example, these media IDs can be from articles, scientific papers, songs, photographs, intelligence reports, or other media.  
     [0073] For articles of media that the full text and graphics could not be retrieved along with the media ID, an embodiment of the invention provides a method and a system for the user to retrieve the full text and graphics of the original work through the Internet, from a library, directly through the original publisher, or through a media ID intermediary or other entity. The media ID software is equally capable of handling electronic media IDs and printed media IDs.  
     [0074] As an example of one embodiment of the invention, a user reads an article about the slide of the dollar against the euro in a business newspaper and finds it of significant interest as to want to keep a record of the article without actually saving the physical article. Because the article has a “printed” media ID as described herein, it is no longer necessary for the user to actually save the physical article in order to retain a record of the article. The user simply scans the “printed” media ID associated with, and located with the media article of interest, thereby capturing its unique identification tag (also known as a media ID). To do this, the user deploys a small electronic scanner or other device and scans the media ID tag that is unique to that article of news.  
     [0075] This handheld scanner converts the identification tag or media ID into an electronic digital identification stored inside of the memory component of the scanner. Throughout the same day, the user might find other articles of interest in different newspapers, periodicals, housekeeping magazines, etc. The same small electronic scanner that captured the unique media ID about the slide of the dollar against the euro will be deployed by the user of the present invention to scan the identifications of these other media articles of interest. At the end of the day the user transfers these identifications from the portable electronic scanner to a personal computer or other electronic device through a wireless connection or through a direct connection.  
     [0076] A media ID software resident on the user&#39;s computer or other suitable electronic device automatically categorizes and organizes the various media IDs that have been downloaded from the portable media ID scanner. The software also catalogs and organizes media IDs from other sources. The software is equipped with a standard catalog system, and a user-definable catalog system. The user-definable system provides tools that organize the media identifications or IDs per the users input. In each case, media IDs are organized into meaningful groupings that provide a mechanism for quick retrieval now, or at a later date, and help the user build a media topography that facilitates the easy retrieval of articles of media and the recognition of complicated information patterns. For cases where only the media ID is available for scanning (and not the entire content of the article of media), the media software will have the capability to retrieve the full content of the article of media based upon the unique ID for that media article.  
     [0077] The user of the method, system, and software discussed in this patent is provided with an orderly and consistent media identification system that stamps articles of printed and electronic information with ID tags. Additionally, the user of the present invention is able to collect, store, and organize these media ID tags from articles of printed and electronic media and in some cases collect, store, and organize the full content of the original article of media. The present invention transforms media information from newspapers, magazine articles, scientific journals, etc. from a poorly organized system into an organized system. Users of the present invention can collect and store media ID tags from articles of printed and electronic media in an organized software database, and possess software tools that act as a private staff of researchers, analysts, and librarians.  
     [0078] The various aspects of the present invention can be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and by reference to the appended drawings and claims.  
     [0079]FIG. 1 shows a universal media ID system according to an embodiment of the present invention in contrast to the current fragmented identification systems. The universal media ID system for printed and electronic media is shown at  100 . Items  102  through  116  show representative types of printed and electronic media that the universal media ID system encompasses.  
     [0080] Those skilled in the art will realize that items  102  through  116  are intended to generally illustrate the various types of electronic and printed media that are unified and definitively identified by the media ID method and system described herein. Items  102  through  116  are not meant to be all encompassing and do not comprise all printed and electronic media covered by the universal media ID system presented herein.  
     [0081] For example the universal media ID identification or tag can be applied to DVDs  102 , CDs  104 , MP3s  106 , printed and electronic books  108 , printed and electronic newspapers  110 , printed and electronic magazines  112 , printed and electronic scientific journals  114 , and miscellaneous printed and electronic media  116 .  
     [0082] The application of a common and universal media identification language and identification system to these different types of printed and electronic media gathers disparate media under one system. This common media ID language has a unifying effect by organizing and cataloging all media under one universal media identification system, rather than the current fragmented and specialized identification systems.  
     [0083] The unified media ID system  100  can be contrasted with the existing fragmented ID systems  118  for printed and electronic media. The existing ID systems  118  encompass many different identification technologies and different media identification techniques. In most cases, there is no formal relationship between these different identification technologies. Furthermore, each existing identification technology is very limited in the information encoded in it.  
     [0084] For example, books  140  are cataloged by ISBN numbers from the ISBN system  138 . The ISBN number associated with the book  140  does not contain information about the title, publication date, author, and number of pages, etc. The ISBN associated with the book  140  is simply a single unique number that represents the book.  
     [0085] Another example of the fragmented and incomplete nature of the existing ID systems is the UPC system  142 . UPCs  142  are linear bar codes symbologies that uniquely represent physical products with a simple alphanumeric ID. This UPC identification is often simply a number or a very short string of text and numbers. Again, unlike the universal media ID as presented here, UPCs  142  are limited in the descriptive information encoded within. UPC codes  142  are typically used for products such as tools or items in a grocery store. Perhaps the biggest use of UPCs  142  is for merchandise control where a simple alphanumeric number is sufficient to catalog a product for inventory control.  
     [0086] Items  120 ,  124 ,  130 ,  138 , and  142  represent different identification and classification systems associated with existing identification technology. These technologies are largely heterogeneous and incompatible. FIG. 1 illustrates the limited technology currently available to identify printed and electronic media and the disparate state of the different systems.  
     [0087]FIG. 2 shows the elements of a universal identification system for printed and electronic media. The clients of the media ID system are located at  156 . Clients of the media ID system are defined as entities that publish, create, manage, distribute, archive, store, or otherwise interact with media. In one embodiment, clients create and publish media that are then identified and tagged with a media ID as described in an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, these media with attached media IDs are located at  158 . The media located at  158  are definitively identified by their associated media ID tags. Users can download, scan, or otherwise acquire the media IDs associated with the media IDs located at  158  in order to have a record and comprehensive summary of the article of media. The media ID tags or markers can be used to retrieve the original article of media at a later date.  
     [0088] The users of the media ID system and associated devices are located at  184 . The users form a broad group and can include diverse participants. A user is generally anybody or anything that downloads, scans, or otherwise acquires media IDs and then uses software and hardware to manage them. Media IDs are generally acquired because users wish to save a record of media that they have encountered without storing or collecting the entire original article of media.  
     [0089] The devices located at  184  are used to print media IDs or original articles of media, to scan media IDs, to play or view media IDs and associated media, and otherwise interact with media. A user is shown at  172  using a portable handheld scanner to scan a media ID associated with an article of printed media that is located at  158 .  
     [0090] A media ID intermediary or other entity is located at  174 . The media ID intermediary manages the media ID system and engages in ongoing research and development to continually improve the components, processes, and software associated with the media ID system. A feedback loop is located at  178  that exists between  174  and  156 . Client feedback is provided to the media ID intermediary or other entity between  174  and  156 .  
     [0091] The media ID intermediary develops user preferences at  176 . In one embodiment, the media ID intermediary hosts media and media IDs for user to download at  174 . Due to its unique location between the users at  184  and the clients at  156 , the media ID intermediary is ideally suited to develop user profiles based upon their interaction with media and media IDs. The clients  156  receive the user preferences  182  from the media ID intermediary or other entity  174 .  
     [0092] The media ID software and tools that clients use to publish media with media IDs are located at  180  in FIG. 2. The media ID intermediary or other entity  174  continually develops these tools  180  for the benefit of the clients and others that publish or distribute or otherwise interact with media.  
     [0093]FIG. 3 displays several components to this system: a media ID intermediary or other entity, a set of clients, and a set of users. FIG. 3 displays the basic elements of the universal media ID system and illustrates how they interact. The central element of the universal identification system for printed media is the media identification tag or marker and its data structure. An embodiment of the media ID system provides a common language that forms an umbrella under which unique identifications for all types of printed and electronic media are established.  
     [0094] A media ID intermediary or other entity  186  is a business or other entity that manages the media ID system and data structure and develops software to support its clients and users. Additionally, the media ID intermediary  186  hosts media IDs and printed and electronic “originals” of all printed and electronic media that possess an associated media ID. The media ID intermediary or other entity  186  makes these media IDs and printed and electronic “originals” available for download through varying arrangements negotiated with its clients (generally vendors of printed and electronic media) and with its users.  
     [0095] The client  188  consists of large and small vendors of printed and electronic media, publishing houses, libraries, universities, scientific agencies, the government, etc. The client  188  usually purchases or licenses media ID software and other tools from the media ID intermediary  186 . The purchase of media ID software and tools enables the client to deploy media IDs with their articles of printed media. In some cases, the client pays the media ID intermediary or other entity a royalty for the use of the media ID system. In one embodiment, the client  188  receives ongoing professional support from the media ID intermediary  186 .  
     [0096] The user  190  of the universal media ID system can be any person, any company, any government, or any other entity that wishes to utilize the universal printed media system. When the user  190  of this media ID system is a person, they are in the habit of carrying a small electronic scanner that can “read” the printed media IDs that are collocated with articles of media. Once “read”, the user  190  has a variety of options. For instance, the media ID is downloaded to the media ID software running on a computer or other device. The media ID software automatically organizes and catalogs all downloaded media IDs and provides sophisticated retrieval and analysis tools. The user  190  is concerned with timesavings and convenience, and enjoys the productivity gains realized from using the art associated with the media ID system described herein.  
     [0097] The media ID intermediary  186 , the client  188 , and the user  190  together have a sophisticated and mutually beneficial relationship illustrated in the interactions of blocks  192  through  218 . At  194 , the media ID intermediary  186  provides global management of the universal media ID system. The media ID intermediary  186  has been empowered to manage, modify, and otherwise maintain the media ID language. At  196 , the media ID intermediary  186  is engaged in the ongoing development and creation of media ID software developer tools and other tools for the clients  188  to use in association with “printing” or otherwise locating media IDs with their articles of printed media.  
     [0098] Media ID software and supports services are transferred from the media ID intermediary  186  to the clients  188  between items  196  and  198 . At  198 , a client  188  installs the media ID software developer tools. These tools include software, hardware and protocols that allow the client  188  to print or otherwise place media IDs with the articles of printed media associated with their publications. At  200 , the client  188  installs the media ID tools and develops a media ID production system. The result of this integration is the establishment of a method and a system for the client  188  to distribute unique media IDs with articles of printed media.  
     [0099] At  202 , the client  188  publishes and distributes printed media articles. Note that a copy of the material is sent to the media ID intermediary or other entity between  202  and  192 . Each article or other media type has an associated media ID that can be scanned and “read” or otherwise acquired with the aid of a handheld electronic device. The printed media ID contains a unique identification that consists of fields or blocks of information. For instance, these fields might include (but are not limited to) the media ID version, the publisher, the year of publication, the media author, the title, the icon type, the number of graphics, the song title, etc. At  204 , the printed media with the collocated media ID is distributed to users  190 .  
     [0100] At  206  of FIG. 3, a user  190  reads the printed media. Here reading can be generally interpreted to mean with the use of human eyesight. It is reasonable to assume that a user  190  finds certain articles of media of sufficient interest as to want to save the unique media identification associated with it. At  208 , a user  190  deploys his or her handheld electronic media ID scanner and “reads” the media ID associated with the printed article. The scanner has a memory component and saves a copy of the media ID in electronic digital form. At  210 , a user  190  downloads the media ID to the media ID software. The media ID software receives the media ID through a wireless connection or direct connection with the handheld scanner. At  212 , the media ID software decodes the media ID that it just received from the handheld media ID scanner. The media ID software now has the full content of the media ID as published by the client  188  and in conformity with the media ID system (and in this embodiment managed by the media ID intermediary  186 ).  
     [0101] This media ID is unique and contains enough relevant information about the original printed media article for sophisticated cataloging and storage to occur. At  214 , the media ID software takes the decoded media ID and catalogs and organizes it in its internal database. The organization system that the media ID software utilizes is described in detail below. The media ID software comes standard with a default directory structure, or a user-definable structure. Once cataloged and stored, a user  190  can easily find the media ID at some future time by using the media ID software.  
     [0102] At  216 , a user  190  can obtain the full content of the original printed media. At  218  a user  190  contacts the media ID intermediary  186  through the media ID software to obtain the original article of media. The original article of media can be obtained in electronic or printed form. The original article of media is transmitted to the user between  218  and  192 . The media ID intermediary or other entity  186  manages media IDs and the associated media at block  192 . This management also includes the archival and hosting of media IDs and associated media.  
     [0103]FIG. 4 displays the relationship between the media ID intermediary  222  and the clients  242 . A mutually beneficial relationship exists between the media ID intermediary  222  that manages the media ID system and the clients  242  that deploy media IDs with their printed media. The clients  242  include publishers, universities, libraries, the US government, foreign governments, independent authors and artists, hardware manufacturers, and others.  
     [0104] Items  224  through  234  display the services that the media ID intermediary  222  provides on behalf of the clients  242 . The clients  242  are in the business of providing superior media products to users  220 . The media ID intermediary  222  advances this primary business interest of the clients  242  by providing a universal identification system for printed media articles, among other things. At  224 , the media ID intermediary  222  provides media ID development software and tools to the clients  242 . Item  224  is connected to  242  with a two-way arrow  256  to indicate the ongoing interaction between the media ID intermediary  222  and the clients  242  with regard, to media ID software development and other support. It is inevitable that the media ID system will grow and evolve as its clients  242  develop new media formats and delivery systems, and as new technology becomes available.  
     [0105] The interaction of the media ID intermediary  222  and the clients  242  between  224  and  242  provides an ongoing mechanism for the media ID intermediary to continually support the clients  242  as they deploy unique media IDs for each article of media that they produce.  
     [0106] At  226 , the media ID intermediary  222  maintains media ID standards for its clients  242 . The media ID intermediary  222  manages and develops the standards that govern the use and placement of the media IDs that are collocated with the articles of media distributed and sold by the clients  242 . The media ID intermediary  222  mediates any disputes that might arise over the structure, use, or placement of media IDs.  
     [0107] At  228 , the media ID intermediary  222  provides professional support to the clients  242  pertaining to the use and deployment of media IDs. This support includes professional services related to hardware, firmware, and software related to the deployment and management of the universal media identification system described herein.  
     [0108] At  230 , the media ID intermediary  222  actively promotes the interests of its clients  242 . In one embodiment, the media ID intermediary  222  is in a unique and powerful situation as the manager of the universal media ID system. Its role as a host from which users download media establishes it as a “hub” in the information world. The media ID intermediary  222  has unique information about the types of information its user-base is interested in. The media ID intermediary  222  also has access to the users  220  through the download mechanism. The strategic position the media ID intermediary  222  occupies vis-à-vis its hosting of articles of media that that users  220  access enhances its ability to promote media that its clients  242  create or otherwise distribute. At  232 , the intermediary engages in ongoing research and development.  
     [0109] At  234 , the media ID intermediary  222  compiles statistics on the media preferences of its users  220  and in some instances how these preferences intersect with demographics. In some cases these statistics are being provided to the media ID intermediaries clients  242  for their ongoing sales and marketing strategies. In other cases, the media ID intermediary  222  uses this information to advance its own sales and marketing strategies.  
     [0110] At line  240 , the articles of media that have associated media IDs leave the various clients  242  and are received by the media ID intermediary  222 . The media ID intermediary  222  hosts these “original” copies of the media in anticipation that its user base  220  will contact the media ID intermediary  222  for access to the “original” article of media. A user  220  who has read a particular article of media and finds it of interest deploys his or her handheld scanner and “reads” the unique media ID associated with the article. The user then transfers it to the media ID software. The media ID software automatically catalogs and organizes the media ID in its database.  
     [0111] A user  220  can then purchase the full text and graphics of the original article of media from the media ID intermediary  222 . At line  238  the user  220  contacts the media ID intermediary  222  through the media ID software and purchases the original article, plus a closely related article that the media ID intermediary  222  suggests based upon its statistical and heuristic analysis of what other articles the user  220  would be interested in. The article is transferred from the media ID intermediary  222  to the user  220  along line  240 . At line  236 , the user  220  transfers money to the media ID intermediary  222 , which in turn transfers money to the appropriate clients  242  that published the article of media.  
     [0112] The following examples are presented as an illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 4. A publisher  244  of a printed magazine obtains and installs the media ID development software and tools located at  224  from the media ID intermediary  222 . The publisher  244  installs the necessary software and hardware to begin “printing” or otherwise locating media IDs with its printed media. In addition to providing the publisher  244  of the magazine with the necessary software and hardware tools at  224 , the media ID intermediary  222  also supports the publisher  244  at  228  with professional services. The publisher  244  publishes a magazine with unique media IDs for each media article. Coincident with the physical distribution of the printed magazine, the publisher  244  of the magazine sends a copy of the entire magazine and each article of media within it and the associated media IDs to the media ID intermediary  222 .  
     [0113] The media ID intermediary  222  receives the magazine from the magazine publisher  244  and prepares the information so that the media ID user  220  can download portions of it, or all of it. The media ID intermediary  222  catalogs and organizes the magazine and all sub-components (including articles of media, advertisements, etc.) in preparation for user  220  requests. The universal media ID system provides a common identification language that these three entities each “speak”. The media ID intermediary  222  readies all aspects of the magazine printed by the publisher  244  for user  220  access. At line  238  a user  220  contacts the media ID intermediary  222  through their media ID software to purchase an article of media from the media ID intermediary  222 . The user  220  request for this article of information is based upon the media ID that he or she scanned from the original article of printed media. The user  220  also requests information from an advertisement located in the magazine that had an associated unique media ID. The media ID intermediary  222  receives the user request along line  238 , verifies that the user  220  has an account with the media ID intermediary  222 , and then processes the request. The original media is sent to the user  220  along line  238 . Alternately, the original media can be sent to the user by physical mail in printed form.  
     [0114] In another example, an independent author  252  of a printed book obtains and installs a subset of the media ID development software and tools  224  from the media ID intermediary  222 . The independent book author  252  installs the necessary software and hardware to begin “printing” media IDs with his newly released book. In addition to providing the independent publisher  252  of the book with the necessary software and hardware tools at  224 , the media ID intermediary  222  also supports the independent publisher  252  with limited professional services  228  to assist the author  252  in “printing” media IDs with the soon-to-be-released book. The author  252  publishes the book with a unique media ID for the book as a whole, and a unique media ID for each chapter of the book.  
     [0115] Coincident with the physical distribution of the printed book, the independent author/publisher  252  of the book utilizes the media ID development software and tools  224  purchased from the media ID intermediary to publish media IDs with his book. He then sends a copy of the entire book and each chapter within it and the associated media IDs to the media ID intermediary  222 . The media ID intermediary  222  receives the book from the independent author/publisher  252  and prepares the information so that users  220  can download individual chapters of the book, or the entire book. The media ID intermediary  222  catalogs and organizes the book and its chapters in preparation for user  220  requests.  
     [0116] The media ID system allows the media ID intermediary  222 , the author  252  and the user  220  to interact in concert. The universal media ID system provides a common language that the author  252  can utilize to identify his work with media IDs so that the media ID intermediary or other entity  222  will recognize it. The media ID intermediary  222  readies all aspects of the book printed by the publisher  252  for user  220  access. A user  220  contacts the media ID intermediary  222  through their media ID software to purchase a chapter from the media ID intermediary  222 . The user  220  request for this chapter is based upon the media ID that he or she scanned from the original printed media ID, or is based upon other media IDs, related media, information conveyed by friends, information from the Internet, etc. The media ID intermediary  222  receives the user  220  request along line  238 , verifies that the user  220  has an account with the media ID intermediary  222 , and then processes the request. The original media (in this case a chapter of a book) is sent to the user  220  along line  238 . This original media can also be sent in printed form.  
     [0117] In another example, the US Government  250  obtains and installs a subset of the media ID development software and tools from the media ID intermediary  222 . The Government  250  installs the necessary software and hardware to begin “printing” media IDs with a new report on radon in the United States. In addition to providing the Government  250  with the necessary software and hardware tools located at  224 , the media ID intermediary  222  also supports the Government  250  with professional services  228  to assist the government in “printing” media IDs with the soon-to-be-released report on radon. The Government  250  publishes the report on radon with a unique media ID for the report as a whole, and a unique media ID for each chapter of the report.  
     [0118] Coincident with the physical distribution of the printed report, the Government  250  sends a copy the entire report and each chapter within it and the associated media IDs to the media ID intermediary  222  along line  240 . The media ID intermediary  222  receives the report from the Government  250  and prepares the information so that users  220  can download individual chapters of the report, or the entire report. The media ID intermediary  222  catalogs and organizes the report and its chapters in preparation for user  220  requests.  
     [0119] The universal media ID system provides a common language that the US Government  250  can use to identify its work so that the media ID intermediary  222  and other entities will recognize its identification tags. The media ID intermediary  222  readies all aspects of the report printed by the US Government  250  for user  220  access.  
     [0120] A user  220  contacts the media ID intermediary  222  through their media ID software to purchase the report on radon. The user  220  request for this report is based upon the media ID that he or she scanned from the original article of printed media. The media ID intermediary  222  receives the user  220  request, verifies that the user  220  has an account with the media ID intermediary  222 , and then processes the request. Additionally, the media ID intermediary  222  allows the users  220  to subscribe to US Government  250  reports that are delivered to them when they become available and are related to the users  220  specified interests.  
     [0121] The original media (in this case the entire report on radon) is sent to the user  220  along line  240 , or along line  238 . This original media can be sent in electronic form or printed form. In this example, the demographics of the users  220  who are interested in radon are also recorded and analyzed. The media ID intermediary  222  is continually gathering statistical and other information  234  about the demographics and makeup of users  220  who are downloading the report on radon. The US Government  250  can access this demographic and statistical information and, if desired, include it in its next report on radon.  
     [0122] In another example, a university  246  obtains and installs a subset of the media ID development software and tools  224  from the media ID intermediary  222 . The university  246  installs the necessary software and hardware to begin “printing” media IDs for all of the Ph.D. dissertations at the end of the academic year. In addition to providing the university  246  with the necessary software and hardware tools  224 , the media ID intermediary  222  also supports the university with professional services  228  to assist the university in “printing” media IDs for the Ph.D. dissertations. Coincident with the physical distribution of the printed Ph.D. dissertations, the university  246  sends a copy of all of the dissertations and the associated media IDs to the media ID intermediary  222 . The media ID intermediary  222  receives the dissertations from the university  246  and prepares the information so that users  220  can download the individual dissertations.  
     [0123] In this example, the university  246  can place copies of the dissertations in libraries at the university  246  and at other libraries around the country. It is reasonable to conclude that student users  220  engaged in research at the library might prefer to scan the media ID and transfer it to a library printer rather than checking the book out, or waiting in a line to physically copy the dissertation.  
     [0124] The media ID intermediary  222  catalogs and organizes the dissertations in preparation for user  220  requests. The universal media ID system provides a common language that the university  246  can use to identify its academic work so that the media ID intermediary  222  and other entities will recognize its identification tags. The media ID intermediary  222  readies all aspects of the Ph.D. dissertations printed by the university  246  for user  220  access. A user  220  contacts the media ID intermediary  222  through their media ID software to purchase a university  246  dissertation from the media ID intermediary  222 . The user  220  request for this report is based upon the media ID that he or she scanned from the original article of printed media, or search results based upon advanced media ID searches. The media ID intermediary  222  receives the user request from line  238 , verifies that the user  220  has an account with the media ID intermediary  222 , and then processes the request. The original media (in this case the complete dissertation) is sent to the user  220  along line  238 . This original media can also be sent in printed form.  
     [0125]FIG. 5 displays the relationship between the media ID intermediary  270  and the users  290  of the media identification system. A mutually beneficial relationship exists between the media ID intermediary  270  that manages the media ID system and the users  290  that utilize the universal media ID system presented in this invention. The users  290  include individuals, businesses, libraries, governments, universities, and a multitude of others. Items  272  through  282  display the services that the media ID intermediary  270  provides on behalf of the users  290 .  
     [0126] According to an embodiment of the invention, the media ID intermediary  270  provides a variety of services to the users  290  and clients  268  by managing the universal identification system for printed media articles. The media ID intermediary  270  creates user preferences  272  for each user  290  of the media ID system. These user preferences  272  allow the media ID intermediary  270  to provide customized service for each and every media ID user  290 . Item  272  is connected to item  290  with a two-way arrow to indicate the ongoing interaction between the media ID intermediary  270  and the users  290  with regard to providing the user preferential treatment. The interaction of the media ID intermediary  270  and the users  290  provides an ongoing mechanism for the media ID intermediary  270  and it clients  268  to consistently make appropriate media suggestions to its user base  290 .  
     [0127] The media ID intermediary  270  organizes and catalogs media  274 . The media ID intermediary  270  provides sophisticated media search and retrieval functions  276  related to articles of media with associated media IDs. These services  276  include rapidly finding the media associated with the media IDs that the user  290  submits, as well as performing complex searches to find related media or related media IDs.  
     [0128] The media ID intermediary  270  hosts the client media  278  created or distributed by its clients  268 . These media include magazines, books, newspapers, songs, digital video, etc. The media ID intermediary  270  provides automatic notification  280  to its users  290  when media of interest to the users  290  becomes available. Again, the media could include magazines, books, newspapers, songs, video, or a multitude of other printed and electronic formats.  
     [0129] In a further embodiment, the media ID intermediary  270  hosts sophisticated bulletin boards  282  and other online information services for the benefit of its users  290  and its clients  268 . The bulletin boards and other services constitute a meeting place for users  290  to discuss media.  
     [0130] The articles of media that have associated media IDs originate at the various clients  268  and are received by the media ID intermediary  270 . The media ID intermediary  270  hosts these “original” copies of the media in anticipation that its user  290  base will contact the media ID intermediary  270  for access to the “original” article of media. A user  290  who has read a particular article of media and finds it of interest deploys his or her handheld electronic scanner and “reads” the unique media ID associated with the article. The user  290  then transfers it to their media ID software. The media ID software automatically catalogs and organizes the media ID in its database.  
     [0131] The user  290  can then purchase the full text and graphics of the original article of media from the media ID intermediary  270 . The user contacts the media ID intermediary  270  through the media ID software and purchases the original article, plus a closely related article of media that the media ID intermediary  270  suggests based upon its statistical and heuristic analysis  272  of what other articles the user  290  would be interested in. The article of media is transferred from the media ID intermediary  270  to the user along line  288  or along line  286 . The user transfers money to the media ID intermediary  270  along line  284 , which in turn transfers money to the appropriate clients  268  who originally published the article of media.  
     [0132]FIG. 6 helps illustrate some of the aspects of the application of a universal media identification system. At  314  a media ID intermediary or other entity creates the media ID development tools that clients will use to “print” or otherwise affix a unique media identification to printed articles of media. At  316  a client purchases and installs the media ID development tools. At  318  the client implements a media ID system whereby articles of printed media distributed by the client will have unique media identification tags.  
     [0133] At  320 , the client publishes printed articles of media with associated media IDs that are in compliance with the universal media ID system. At  322  the publications with the media IDs are distributed and sold. At  324  a user reads an article of printed media and finds the article of media of interest. Because of this interest, the user deploys a handheld portable electronic scanner at  326  and “reads” or scans the media ID that is associated with the article. The media ID is stored in the memory component of the scanning device.  
     [0134] At  328  in FIG. 6, the user interfaces the handheld electronic scanner with the media ID software and downloads the media ID to the media ID software. At  330  the media ID software receives the media ID and performs a complete decode on it. At  332 , the media ID software organizes and catalogs the media ID into its sophisticated database. Sometime in the future, the user can obtain the “original” article of media in electronic or printed format. The user makes this decision at  334 . At  336 , the user instructs the media ID software to contact the media ID intermediary that manages media IDs and hosts the original documents for sale or at no charge. At  338  the media ID intermediary receives the request from the user and initiates the transaction. At  340  the article of media is made available to the user in printed or electronic format.  
     [0135]FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show scanned images of two pages from a newspaper illustrating several of the many embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 7, a printed media ID  348  has been placed in the lower left section  344  of the front page of the newspaper  342 . In this embodiment, the printed media ID  348  utilizes a matrix bar code symbol, such as a PDF-417 format matrix symbol, that can be “read” or scanned by a handheld electronic scanner. Any other machine-readable format for encoding information can also be used. Further, printed media IDs may be encoded so that the media ID is normally invisible to the human eye, for example by using magnetic or fluorescent inks. This particular matrix symbol  348  is only one example of a header media ID as described, and has the following information encoded in it:  
               TABLE 1                          Example Data Structure for “Header” Media ID 348                                 Field Name   Contents   Decodes To                                         Field 1   MediaIDVersion   ENG1.00000   MediaID Version                   English 1.00000       Field 2   MediaIDType   00002   Header MediaID       Field 3   PublicationName   WSJ   Wall Street Journal       Field 4   PublicationType   00001   Newspaper       Field 5   Publisher   00001   Dow Jones &amp; Co.                   Inc.       Field 6   Author   N/A   N/A       Field 7   DatePublished   082102   Aug. 21, 2002       Field 8   Edition   ME   Morning Edition       Field 9   TotalPages   00045   45 pages       Field 10   TotalArticles   00128   128 articles       Field 11   TotalAdvertisements   00067   67 advertisements       Field 12   IconType   00001   Wall Street Journal                   Newspaper Icon                  
 
     [0136] The media ID  348  is just one example of a header or primary media ID. In this example, a media ID  348  is placed at the beginning of a document such as a newspaper, a magazine, or a book, and contains a global ID for the entire newspaper or magazine.  
     [0137] The portable handheld electronic scanner previously discussed in this invention can scan this media ID  348  and store it in its memory. Once it is stored in the scanner, it can be transferred to software running on computers, other electronic devices, hardware, etc. As an example, the media ID  348  is read by an electronic scanner, is stored in the scanner memory, and is transferred to the media ID software described herein via a wireless connection or through a direct connection. The media software will decode the example media ID  348  as follows:  
     [0138] MediaID Version English 1.00000/Header MediaID/Wall Street Journal/Newspaper/Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc.//Aug. 21, 2002/Morning Edition/45 pages/128 articles/67 advertisements/Wall Street Journal Newspaper Icon  
     [0139] In this example, the media ID identification information provides the media ID software with a unique set of data that it can use to classify and organize the newspaper  342  from Aug. 21, 2002 within its media ID database.  
     [0140] Similarly, FIG. 8 displays an image  350  from the inside page of a newspaper. Six matrix symbol type, two-dimensional media IDs have been placed at the end of six separate articles. The interested reader in any of these six articles who wishes to retain, catalog, and organize the media identifications for the printed articles can deploy his or her electronic handheld scanner and “read” the universal media IDs for each of the six articles. For each article scanned, the reader has captured the unique media ID of the article in the handheld scanner and has captured its universal media ID identification.  
     [0141] For instance, the media ID  354  at the bottom of column two could be encoded with the following information:  
               TABLE 2                          Example Data Structure for Media ID 354                                 Field Name   Contents   Decodes To                                         Field 1   MediaIDVersion   ENG1.00000   MediaIDVersion                   English 1.00000       Field 2   MediaIDType   00002   Standard MediaID       Field 3   PublicationName   WSJ   Wall Street Journal       Field 4   PublicationType   00001   Newspaper       Field 5   Publisher   00001   Dow Jones &amp; Co.                   Inc.       Field 6   Author   Joann Luvlin   Joann Luvlin       Field 7   Co-Author   N/A   N/A       Field 8   Title   Tyco Holders Plan   Tyco Holders Plan               Proxy Fight to Oust   Proxy Fight to Oust               Directors   Directors       Field 9   PublicationDate   082102   Aug. 21, 2002       Field 10   Edition   ME   Morning Edition       Field 11   StartPage   A3   Page A3       Field 12   ArticleNumber   12   Article 12       Field 13   TotalArticles   55   Total of 55 articles       Field 14   MediaTheme   00001   American Business                   News       Field 15   MediaGenre   N/A   N/A       Field 16   IconType   00002   Wall Street Journal                   American Business                   News Icon                  
 
     [0142] In this example, the user scans and “reads” the information contained in the media ID  354  (and shown enlarged  368  at blowup  366 ) from the “Tyco Holders Plan Proxy Fight” story and then downloads it to the media ID software. The media ID software will decode the unique ID  354  and will have all necessary information to organize and catalog the article in its database.  
     [0143] This provides an electronic archive of the media ID  354  from the newspaper story until such time that the user needs the media ID  354  information, or the entire text and graphics from the original article, or needs to perform a search for similar articles of media and therefore similar media IDs. The media ID software will decode the media ID  354  for the “Tyco” story as follows:  
     [0144] MediaID Version English 1.00000/Standard MediaID/Wall Street Journal/Newspaper/Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc./Joann Luvlin//Aug. 21, 2002/Morning Edition/Page A3/Article 12/Total of 55 articles/American Business News//Wall Street Journal American Business News Icon  
     [0145] The universal media ID method and system assigns a unique ID to each printed media article such as the one above for the “Tyco” story. Once the media ID has been decoded and stored in the media ID software database, the media ID software will provide the vehicle to retrieve the entire article at a later date and even retrieve articles with related subject content.  
     [0146] Table 3 displays the data structure of another example media ID  364  that is also located on FIG. 8 and has been “printed” on the very bottom of column six of the newspaper. This media ID  364  has a slightly different data structure in order to reflect the field “building block” structure for the universal media ID system, which allows for numerous variations of the media ID tag. An example data structure for the media ID  364  for the newspaper article “First Guilty Plea In Enron Case Expected Today” is presented below in Table 3.  
               TABLE 3                          Example Data Structure for Standard Media ID 364                                 Field Name   Contents   Decodes To                                         Field 1   MediaIDVersion   ENG1.00001   MediaID Version                   English 1.00001       Field 2   MediaIDType   00001   Standard MediaID       Field 3   PublicationName   WSJ   Wall Street Journal       Field 4   PublicationType   Newspaper   Newspaper       Field 5   Publisher   Dow Jones &amp; Co.   Dow Jones &amp; Co.               Inc.   Inc.       Field 6   Author   Jonathan Weil   Jonathan Weil       Field 7   Co-Authors   Kathryn Kranhold   Kathryn Kranhold       Field 8   Title   First Guilty Plea   First Guilty Plea In               In Enron Case   Enron Case               Expected Today   Expected Today       Field 9   PublicationDate   082102   Aug. 21, 2002       Field 10   Edition   ME   Morning Edition       Field 11   StartPage   A1   Page A1       Field 12   ArticleNumber    4   Article 4       Field 13   TotalNumberofArticles   55   Total of 55 articles       Field 14   MediaTheme   US Business   US Business News               News       Field 15   MediaGenre   N/A   N/A       Field 16   IconType   00002   Wall Street Journal                   American Business                   News Icon                  
 
     [0147]FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, combined with Tables 1 through 3, illustrate how an embodiment of the present invention provides a method and a system for a reader of printed media (in this case a printed newspaper) to catalog and organize printed media without having to store and manually organize a physical copy of the printed media.  
     [0148]FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 provide graphical representations of an embodiment of the invention. This example assumes that Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc. has adopted the media ID system described in this patent for their Wall Street Journal publication. As a competitive and publicly traded company, they would have an advantage over their competitors who have not adopted the universal media ID system. Readers of other papers that lack the media ID system presented in this patent will have to continue to manually organize physical copies of newspapers and archive them in physical file cabinets instead of with electronic software. Such an imbalance will naturally confer to the Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc. a competitive advantage. By providing readers with media encoded with media IDs, publishers provide additional value to their users and inure substantial competitive benefit.  
     [0149]FIG. 9 shows various aspects of the media ID structure and its relationship to the associated article of media. A media ID software database window  392  contains a media ID  394  with or without attached media, an article of media with an attached media ID  396 , and an article of media  398 . The media ID software can contain, organize, manage, import, export, and design and execute searches with all of these media forms.  
     [0150] An article of media  372  contains multimedia content  374 . An article of media  398  usually is associated with a media ID but can exist without one in the media ID software database window  392 .  
     [0151] A media ID  376  that uniquely represents an article of media consists of information fields  378  that contain information about the article of media it is associated with. These media ID information fields  378  uniquely define and identify the article of media that the media ID  376  is associated with. In many cases, a user of the universal identification system for printed and electronic media is concerned with the media ID only, and not the original article of media that it identifies. This is logical because the media ID and the media ID software provides a mechanism for the user to easily retrieve the original article of media at anytime. This is due to the comprehensive identifying nature that is inherent with the universal media identification system. Media can also be included within the media ID, residing at a specified building block or information field (e.g.  380 ) within the media ID  376 .  
     [0152] An article of media is shown at  382  with attached media ID information. The media ID  384  consists of information fields (e.g.  386 ) that uniquely define and identify the article of media  388  that the media ID is associated with. In this example, the media ID  384  is an integral part of the media  388  that it identifies. In many cases the user wishes to download the media ID that uniquely identifies an article of media and the article of media itself at the same time. This is especially true of electronic media where users are often downloading media IDs from web pages that display the article of media on a web page that is loaded in system memory on the user&#39;s computer.  
     [0153]FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a handheld electronic media ID scanner  400 . The media ID scanner  400  consists of three fundamental components and many secondary components. These fundamental components are a media ID scanning mechanism  402  (e.g. a charged-coupled-device (or CCD) or laser scanner technology) for scanning media identification tags or media IDs, a central memory architecture  404 , and a data transmission mechanism  406 .  
     [0154] Items  402  through  416  represent the three central components of the media ID scanner plus the memory blocks within the memory architecture, the LCD or other display, and the CPU. The remaining items in FIG. 10 represent articles of printed or electronic media that the media ID scanner scans or “reads” and other electronic devices that the media ID scanner interfaces with. The electronic media ID scanner  400  contains computer firmware that can be upgraded as needed through a direct connection or a wireless connection. The LCD display  408  and the CPU  410  can interact with items  402 ,  404 , and  406  independently of each other or in any combination thereof.  
     [0155] A scanning mechanism  402  is that part of the media ID scanner that “reads” or scans the media ID that is located on the printed media. The scanning mechanism  402  uses technology like optical character recognition (or OCR) and charge-coupled-technology (or CCD) to scan and identify the media ID located on the printed media. This scanning technology is capable of “reading” media IDs such as the ones located in association with the scientific journal  426 . Once a media ID is “read”, the scanning mechanism  402  hands the media ID off to the memory architecture component  404 . The media ID is then stored in one of the memory architecture  404  memory blocks (items  412 ,  414 , and  416 ).  
     [0156] The memory architecture  404  can contain many media IDs in digital format. When the user transfers his or her collected media IDs to a computer or other electronic device, the memory architecture  404  hands the media IDs to the data transmission mechanism  406 . The data transmission mechanism  406  is the interface mechanism to send and receive media IDs between other hardware and software.  
     [0157] For example, a media ID is sent from the data transmission mechanism  406  of the electronic media ID scanner to a printer  440 . The printer  440  then prints out the full text and graphics of the original article of media or some subset of the original information. In this example it is assumed that the printer  440  is connected to a network and has communication and an account with the media ID intermediary or other entity, or the media information is embedded or otherwise locally referenced in the media ID contained in the handheld electronic scanner.  
     [0158] Alternately, a personal data assistant (or PDA)  430  is instructed to send a media ID to the data transmission mechanism  406  of the media ID scanner  400 . The media ID is received at the data transmission mechanism  406  and stored at memory block  414  in the memory architecture  404 . This media ID (now stored at memory block  414  of the media ID scanner  400 ) is sent to the printer  440 . The media ID that originated at with the PDA  430  is received from the media ID scanner  400  by the printer  440  and then printed. The original article of media associated with the media ID can also be printed. The following examples illustrate the interaction of the media ID scanner  400  with printed media IDs and other electronic devices.  
     [0159] A media ID for an MP3 song  422  is transferred to the media ID scanner  400 . The scanning mechanism  402  of the handheld scanner is deployed to capture the MP3  422  media ID. Once the media ID for the MP3  422  is scanned or “read”, the scanning mechanism  402  hands the media ID off to be stored at memory block  412  in the memory architecture  404 .  
     [0160] The media ID for the MP3  422  is stored in memory at block  412 . The user of the handheld electronic scanner  400  can transfer the media ID for the MP3 song  422  to his or her car stereo,  442 . This is accomplished by the memory architecture  404  handing the MP3  422  media ID over to the data transmission mechanism  406 . The MP3  422  media ID is readied for transmission and is then sent to the car stereo  442  through a wireless, cable, or other transfer method. In some embodiments of the present invention, the media ID for the MP3  422  will have the complete sound file necessary for the car stereo  442  to play the song. In other cases the media ID will only have the necessary ID information for the car stereo  442  to download the MP3  422  from another source (like the media ID intermediary).  
     [0161] The media ID for an article of news in a magazine  420  is transferred from the printed media to the media ID scanning mechanism  402  of the media ID scanner  400 . The scanning technology  402  is deployed to capture the magazine article  420  media ID. Once scanned or “read”, the media ID is sent to the memory architecture  404 . The media ID is stored at memory block  416  in the memory architecture  404 .  
     [0162] The user of the handheld electronic scanner  400  can transfer the media ID for the magazine article  420  to his or her media ID software  436  on a personal computer. This is accomplished by the memory architecture  404  handing the magazine article  420  media ID over to the data transmission mechanism  406 . The magazine article  420  media ID is readied for transmission and is then sent to the media ID software  436  through a wireless, wired, optical, or other transfer method. The media ID software  436  receives the media ID for the magazine article  420  and automatically catalogs and organizes it.  
     [0163] The media ID from an article in a scientific journal  426  is transferred from the printed media of the scientific journal  426  by the media ID scanning mechanism  402  of the media ID scanner  400 . The scanning mechanism  402  is deployed to capture the media ID from the article in the scientific journal  426 . Once scanned or “read”, the media ID scanning mechanism  402  hands the media ID off to the memory architecture  404  to be stored at memory block  412 .  
     [0164] In an example, the user of the handheld electronic scanner  400  can transfer the media ID for the article in the scientific magazine  426  to an electronic kiosk  434 . This is accomplished by the memory architecture  404  handing the scientific journal  426  media ID over to the data transmission mechanism  406 . The scientific journal article  426  media ID is readied for transmission and is then sent to the electronic kiosk  434  through a wireless, cable, or other transfer method. The media ID software loaded at the kiosk  434  receives the media ID from the media ID scanner  400  and displays the full text and graphics of the original article on an electronic kiosk screen for the user to see. The kiosk  434  also automatically provides the user with a list of similar articles from other scientific journals on the same subject. The user has already established an account with the kiosk provider and can print the full text and graphics of the original article plus two related articles that the kiosk  434  presented.  
     [0165] The media ID from a chapter in a college textbook  428  is transferred from the printed media of the college textbook  428  to the media ID scanning mechanism  400  of the media ID scanner. The scanning mechanism  402  is deployed to capture the media ID from the chapter in the college textbook  428 . Once scanned or “read”, the media ID scanning mechanism hands the media ID off to the memory architecture  404  to be stored in a memory block.  
     [0166] The user of the handheld electronic scanner  400  can transfer the media ID for the chapter in the college textbook  428  to another media ID scanner  432  owned by a fellow student at the same college. This is accomplished by the memory architecture  404  handing the media ID from the chapter from the college textbook  428  over to the data transmission mechanism  406 . The media ID from the chapter from the college textbook  428  is readied for transmission and is then sent through a wireless media ID scanner  400  to media ID scanner  432  transfer. The other media ID scanner  432  receives the media ID from the chapter from the college textbook  428  and stores it in its own memory. The colleague who has received the media ID can print it out and study it, or otherwise interact with it. The media ID for the chapter in the college textbook  428  is sent from the media ID scanner  432  to an electronic kiosk  434  that is located on the college campus. The colleague has an account on the kiosk  434  and the kiosk displays the full text and graphics of the chapter from the college textbook  428 . The colleague prints the chapter out for study at the kiosk  434 .  
     [0167] A media ID from a newspaper article is transferred from another user&#39;s electronic handheld media ID scanner  432  into the data transmission mechanism  406  of the media ID scanner  400 . Once the media ID transmission is accepted, the data transmission mechanism  406  then hands the media ID off to the memory architecture  404  of the media ID scanner  400 . The media ID is stored in memory  412 .  
     [0168] If the user of the handheld electronic media ID scanner  400  decides at some later time to review the article of media that was transferred from the media ID scanner  432  to his or her own media ID scanner  400 , the user can download this media ID to the media ID software  436 . This is accomplished by the user instructing the handheld electronic media ID scanner memory architecture  404  to hand over the media ID over to the data transmission mechanism  406 .  
     [0169] The media ID is readied for transmission and is then sent to the media ID software  436  through a wireless or other transfer method. Once the media ID is at the media ID software  436 , it is decoded and organized and cataloged by the media ID software  436 . The media ID software  436  offers many research and retrieval methods that the user takes advantage of. These services provide the user with ten related newspaper and magazine articles. The user requests that the media ID software  436  send all ten media IDs for the related media articles to the handheld electronic scanner  400 . The media IDs are sent from the media ID software  436  to the handheld media ID scanner  400 . The data transmission mechanism  406  hands the ten media IDs to the memory architecture  404  where they are stored in memory block  414 . At some later date, the user is at school and can retrieve and study the original full text and graphics of the ten related articles. The media IDs are sent from the memory architecture  404  to the data transmission mechanism  406 , and finally to the electronic kiosk  434 . At the kiosk  434  the full text and graphics of the original media is printed out for the user to study.  
     [0170]FIG. 11 displays a generalized media ID scanning mechanism  446  as discussed in an embodiment of the present invention. The inset diagram  478  is intended to display that the media ID scanning mechanism  446  is one of the three primary components of the electronic media ID scanner from FIG. 10.  
     [0171] The scanning mechanism  446  is composed of several items that illustrate how a typical electronic scanner operates. An article of printed media  474  has an associated media ID  476 . This media ID  476  can be placed on the printed media  474  in a multitude of ways. Several of these methods for media ID placement are illustrated at  466 .  
     [0172] The media ID scanning mechanism  446  has a multi-spectrum energy-emitting component  448  that directs light or another energy form towards the media ID  476  associated with the printed media  474 . This light or energy is reflected to a detector  450  at the media ID scanning mechanism  446 . A photo-diode array, charge-coupled video device, camera, or other detector  450  receives the reflected energy. This light/energy detector  450  is capable of detecting numerous wavelengths in order to support many different scanning technologies.  
     [0173] An amplifier  452  receives the signal from the detector  450 . The amplifier  452  can perform contrast reversal and other applicable processes for preparation of the conversion of the signal to digital form. The signal is sent to a binary coding circuit  454  for conversion to digital format. The signal is processed by a binary coding circuit  454  and converted to digital format. Following this, the digital media ID signal is sent to image memory  456 . The signal undergoes automatic optical character recognition (or OCR) processing  458  of the binary data or another applicable character recognition technique. Following this, the digital media ID signal is sent to an interface circuit  460  within the electronic media ID scanning mechanism  446 .  
     [0174] This interface circuit  460  provides a bridge to the memory component  464  of the electronic handheld media ID scanner (see FIG. 12). The interface circuit  460  also provides a bridge to the LCD or other display unit  462  built into the handheld electronic scanner. Immediately before, coincident with, or after the signal is sent to the scanner memory  464 , a notification message is sent to the scanner display unit  462 . This message alerts the user that the scan of the media ID was successful, and also provides pertinent information about the media ID and other relevant transfer information.  
     [0175] Three sub-blocks are located at  466  and are representative of several of the technologies that can be utilized to “print” or otherwise affix media IDs to printed media. At  468 , a multitude of different shapes and patterns can be used to “print” media IDs. For example, a 2-D matrix bar code symbology like PDF-417, or a linear bar code symbology such as Code  128 .  
     [0176] A variety of media ID printing technologies are represented at  470  that utilize optical ink. These technologies can be utilized to “print” the media IDs contained in this art. This can include the use of fluorescent inks that are visible at different wavelengths. Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) technology is located at  472  and can be used to “print” media IDs on printed media. This also encompasses MICR attributes that are embedded in indicia. The handheld electronic scanner can scan these MICR indicia  472 .  
     [0177]FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the memory architecture  480  of the universal media ID scanner as illustrated herein. The inset diagram  496  is intended to display that the media ID memory architecture  480  is one of the three primary components of the electronic media ID scanner from FIG. 10.  
     [0178]FIG. 12 shows the relationship of the memory section  480  to the handheld electronic media ID scanner as a whole. Items  482 ,  484 , and  486  show examples of the media ID scanner memory components. A media ID is forwarded from an interface circuit  488  or similar component (see FIG. 11) to the media ID scanner memory  480 .  
     [0179] This media ID is received by the media ID scanner memory  480  and is stored in memory at  484 , for instance. An information query  490  is sent to the electronic media ID memory section  480 . This query originates from the user of the handheld media ID scanner (see FIG. 10). The media ID scanner memory  480  responds and sends information on its stored media IDs to a display mechanism  492 . A user can view information on the display  492  regarding the number of media IDs stored, available memory left, etc.  
     [0180]FIG. 12 also shows a data transmission component  494 . This data transmission component  494  provides a mechanism for the media IDs to be transmitted to other electronic devices. For example, a user downloads a media ID that is stored in memory  482  inside of his electronic media ID scanner memory  480 . The user can download this media ID into his media ID software that is located on an external computer platform. The user initiates the download either through user input at the scanner or by request through the media ID software. The media ID is sent or routed from the memory  480  of the handheld media ID scanner to the media ID software located on the external computer via  494 .  
     [0181]FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the data transmission mechanism  500  of the electronic media ID scanner as illustrated herein. The inset diagram  498  is intended to display that the media ID data transmission mechanism  500  is one of the three primary components of the electronic media ID scanner from FIG. 10.  
     [0182]FIG. 13 shows the relationship of the data transmission mechanism  500  to the electronic media ID scanner as a whole. A media ID or memory block  502  containing media IDs is forwarded from the memory section (see FIG. 12). This media ID memory block  502  is received and is handled by the transfer management protocol or mechanism  504 .  
     [0183] The transfer management protocol  504  is capable of transferring the media ID or block of media IDs in a variety of ways, including wireless transfer technologies  506  such as infrared, Bluetooth, and wireless LAN, and wired or direct connect transfer technologies  508  such as universal serial bus (or USB), serial port, Firewire, IEEE1394, or similar cable port technology. For example, a user can transfer a media ID received from the memory component  502  to an external computer running the media ID software by using Bluetooth technology  506 .  
     [0184]FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating exemplary methods used to “print” or locate media IDs with articles of printed media. FIG. 14 displays linear bar code symbologies  510 , composite bar code symbologies  512 , and 2-dimensional bar code symbologies  514 . It should be understood that methods described herein are for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting in any sense.  
     [0185] A stacked linear bar code  524  is one embodiment of the present invention and can be used to “print” media IDs on printed media. A radio frequency identification (or RFID)  522  technology can be used to “print” media IDs on printed media. A magnetic ink character recognition (or MICR) technology  520  can be used to “print” media IDs. A multi-spectrum code  518  can be used to “print” media IDs. A hue or multicolor code  516  can be used to “print” media IDs. All of these linear bar code methods  510  can be used in the deployment of media IDs for printed media.  
     [0186] A composite matrix code  526  can be used to “print” media IDs on printed media. A composite hue/multi-color code  528  can be used to “print” media IDs. A composite dot code  530  method can be used to “print” media IDs. A composite multi-spectrum code  532  can be used to “print” media IDs. A composite MICR code  534  can be used to “print” media IDs. A composite radio frequency identification (or RFID) code  536  can be used to “print” media IDs. A composite dataglyph code  538  can be used to “print” media IDs. A composite stacked linear code  540  can be used to “print” media IDs.  
     [0187] A 2-dimensional matrix code  542  is one embodiment of the present invention and can be used to “print” media IDs on printed media. A 2-dimensional hue/multi-color code  544  method can be used to “print” media IDs. A 2-dimensional dot code  546  can be used to “print” media IDs. A 2-dimensional multi-spectrum code  548  can be used to “print” media IDs. A 2-dimensional MICR code  550  can be used to “print” media IDs. A 2-dimensional RFID code  552  can be used to “print” media IDs. A 2-dimensional dataglyph code  554  can be used to “print” media IDs.  
     [0188]FIG. 15 is diagram that shows the relationship and compatibility between the handheld electronic media ID scanner and various communication systems and devices. The media ID scanner can interact with wireless devices  558  such as PDA&#39;s, cellular phones, cellular modems etc. Similarly, the media ID scanner can interact with mobile computing users  564 . The media ID scanner can interact with distributed networks  566  and wireless communications infrastructure  568 .  
     [0189] An important component of the present invention is the data structure of the media ID for the printed and electronic media ID system. This media ID data structure has been intentionally designed to be modular and consists of media ID field building blocks that can be added or subtracted as needed and arranged in countless ways. Table 8 displays an example list of the media ID field building blocks (or fields). This building block system imparts a flexibility and power to the media ID system and ensures that media IDs can be quickly adapted to any changes in the way printed or electronic media is handled. It is reasonable to assume that the future will bring change, and because of this the media ID data structure is designed to accommodate change. The media ID structure established in an embodiment of the present invention will work for matrix bar code symbology, composite bar code symbology, linear bar code symbology, magnetic ink character recognition, or any other method used to “print” or place the media ID on the printed media. The media ID data structure established in an embodiment of the present invention will also work with the electronic media IDs that are discussed later.  
     [0190] There can be numerous released media ID versions. This imparts a special significance for the MediaIDVersion media ID field and its location within the media ID data structure. The field MediaIDVersion contains information about what version of the media ID system is being used for a given media ID. In other words, MediaIDVersion alerts the decoding hardware or software what data structure to expect.  
     [0191] In some applications of the present invention, the MediaIDVersion field will be the first field of any media ID. Placement of the MediaIDVersion in the media ID allows the media ID decoding hardware and software to instantly recognize the media ID version and ensure that it will be decoded correctly. This is an effective mechanism to support the flexibility of the media ID building blocks that can be arranged and re-arranged in many ways. The MediaIDVersion field consists of an alphanumeric value that will immediately indicate to any decoding software/hardware what field structure can be expected in the media ID code.  
     [0192] The MediaIDVersion field will sometimes be at the header of each media ID and, in one embodiment will follow the format “LAN#.#####”—where LAN equals an assigned alphanumeric abbreviation for the language of the media and #.##### is a numerical value representing the version. The following example would be a valid MediaIDVersion header field for an English language media ID in its 12 th  minor revision state: ENG1.00012. Please note that the media ID version can be represented in other ways within the present invention.  
     [0193] This media ID field building block architecture provides a mechanism for the media ID system established herein to evolve as future demands are made. Additionally, each released media ID version will have an immediately recognizable field data structure that appropriate hardware and or software scanners will recognize and decode. The data structure of the released media ID versions will be managed by the media ID intermediary or other entity and will be made available to the various clients and users of the media ID system.  
     [0194] Several examples are listed below to explain how the data fields presented in Table 8 interact and combine to form media IDs. These examples can be considered to be released media ID versions. For any given data field, the field structure and length can vary from media ID data structure to media ID data structure. Also, the field can be populated with the actual alphanumeric text, thereby requiring little translation in the media ID software and/or hardware. Further, the field can be populated by a numeric value that requires translation by the media ID software or other hardware/software. For instance, in Table 5 the Publisher field is populated by DJCI. This will be translated to Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc. This is contrasted to Table 4, where the Publisher field is populated with Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc. Because the complete text is actually encoded in the Publisher field in Table 4 example 1, very little translation is required by the media ID software or other hardware/software.  
     [0195] A media ID from an article in a newspaper is presented in Table 4. The newspaper is published by Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc. and is called the Wall Street Journal. The article is titled “First Guilty Plea in Enron Case Expected Today” and was written by Jonathan Weil and Kathryn Kranhold. The media ID associated with the newspaper article consists of 17 data fields of varying length and type. A description of the field is provided as well as an example of how the field is populated for this released media ID version.  
               TABLE 4                          Example Newspaper Article Media ID Structure                         Field   Description   Example               MediaIDVersion   Media ID Version   ENG1.12000       MediaIDType   Media ID type   Standard       PublicationName   Title of publication   Wall Street Journal       Edition   Description of edition   Morning Edition       Publisher   Name of Publisher   Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc.       Title   Title of media article   First Guilty Plea in               Enron Case Expected               Today       ArticleNumber   Publishers article   00004           number       PrimaryAuthor   Primary author&#39;s name   Jonathan Weil       Co-Author   Co-author&#39;s name   Kathryn Kranhold       PageStart   A1   A1       TotalPages   Total number of pages    65       DatePublished   Date article of media   08212002           published       Theme   Theme of media   US Business News           article       MediaGenre   Genre of article of   Business           media       IconType   Icon type for media   00012           article       TotalArticles   Total number of   155           articles in media       TotalAdvertisements   Total number of    65           advertisements in           media                  
 
     [0196] The complete field structure for the media ID displayed in Table 4 is as follows:  
     [0197] MediaIDVersion/MediaIDType/PublicationName/Edition/Publisher/Title/ArticleNumber/Pri maryAuthor/CoAuthor/PageStart/TotalPages/DatePublished/Theme/MediaGenre/IconType/T otalArticles/TotalAdvertisements  
     [0198] The media ID software or other hardware/software will decode this media ID in a manner similar to this:  
     [0199] ENG1.12000/Standard/Wall Street Journal/Morning Edition/Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc./First Guilty Plea in Enron Case Expected Today/00004/Jonathan Weil/Kathryn Kranhold/A1/65/08212002/US Business News/Business/00012/00155/00065  
     [0200] The same article is presented in Table 5, but with a different media ID field structure. Again, the newspaper is published by Dow Jones &amp; Co. Inc. and is called the Wall Street Journal. The article is titled “First Guilty Plea in Enron Case Expected Today” and was written by Jonathan Weil and Kathryn Kranhold. The media ID consists of 18 fields of varying length and type. A description of the field is provided as well as an example of how the field is populated for this released media ID version. In this example, the same article is being identified with a completely different media ID field structure or media ID version.  
               TABLE 5                          Example Newspaper Article Media ID Structure                         Field   Description   Example               MediaIDVersion   Media ID Version   ENG1.15000       MediaIDType   Media ID type   00001       PublicationName   Title of publication   WSJ       Edition   Description of edition   00002       Publisher   Name of Publisher   DWCI       Title   Title of media article   First Guilty Plea in               Enron Case Expected               Today       ArticleNumber   Publishers article   00004           number       PrimaryAuthor   Primary author&#39;s name   Jonathan Weil       Co-Author   Co-author&#39;s name   Kathryn Kranhold       PageStart   A1   A1       TotalPages   Total number of pages    65       DatePublished   Date article of media   08212002           published       Theme   Theme of media   00251           article       MediaGenre   Genre of article of   00630           media       IconType   Icon type for media   00012           article       TotalArticles   Total number of   155           articles in media       TotalAdvertisements   Total number of    65           advertisements in           media       BulletinAddress   Address of bulletin   www.wsj.com/bulletin/           where article can be   082102/A1/4           discussed                  
 
     [0201] The complete field structure for the media ID displayed in Table 5 is as follows:  
     [0202] MediaIDVersion/MediaIDType/PublicationName/Edition/Publisher/Title/ArticleNumber/Pri maryAuthor/CoAuthor/PageStart/TotalPages/DatePublished/Theme/MediaGenre/IconType/T otalArticles/TotalAdvertisements/BulletinAddres  
     [0203] The media ID software or other hardware/software will decode this media ID in a manner similar to this:  
     [0204] ENG1.12000/00001/WSJ/00002/DJCI/First Guilty Plea in Enron Case Expected Today/00004/ Jonathan Weil/Kathryn Kranhold/A1/00065/08212002/00251/00630//00012/00155/00065/www.wsj.com/bulletin/082102/A1/4  
     [0205] A media ID from a chapter in a book is presented in Table 6. The book is published by Touchstone and is called “Secrets of the Temple.” The chapter that the media ID has been applied to is titled “A Car With Two Drivers” and was written by William Greider. The media ID consists of 25 fields of varying length and type. A description of the field is provided as well as an example of how the field is populated for this released media ID version. In this example, the media ID can be applied to an individual chapter in the book as well as being applied to the entire book.  
               TABLE 6                          Example Book Media ID Structure                         Field   Description   Example               MediaIDVersion   Media ID Version   ENG1.00012       MediaIDType   Media ID type   Header       PublicationTitle   Publication title   Secrets of the Temple       Author   Author   William Greider       PublicationSubtitle   Publication subtitle   How the Federal               Reserve runs the               Country       PublicationType   Publication type   Book       PrintedMediaEdition   Printed media edition   00001       PartNumber   Part number   00003       PartTitle   Part title   The Liquidation       ChapterNumber   Chapter number   00011       ChapterTitle   Chapter title   A Car With Two               Drivers       PageNumber   Page number   Page 351       Publisher   Publisher   Touchstone       PublisherAddress   Publisher address   1230 Avenue of the               Americas       PublisherAddressCity   City publisher is   New York           located in       PublisherAddressCountry   Country publisher is   United States           located in       PublisherAddressState   State publisher is   New York           located in       DatePublished   Date published   Wednesday, Feb. 24,               1988       Theme   Theme   Investing       MediaGenre   Genre of media   Monetary Policy       MediaCopyright   Media Copyright   1987 by William               Greider       MediaDesignedBy   Media designed by   Helen Granger       MediaCategory   Media category   Economics       TotalPages   Total number of pages   00798       Notes   Notes   Portions of this book               appeared originally in               the New Yorker                  
 
     [0206] The complete field structure for the media ID displayed in Table 6 is as follows:  
     [0207] MediaIDVersion/MediaIDType/PublicationTitle/Author/PublicationSubtitle/PublicationT ype/PrintedMediaEdition/PartNumber/PartTitle/ChapterNumber/ChapterTitle/PageNumber/P ublisher/PublisherAddress/PublisherAddressCity/PublisherAddressCountry/PublisherAddress State/DatePublished/Theme/MediaGenre/MediaCopyright/MediaDesignedBy/MediaCategory/TotalPages/Notes  
     [0208] The media ID software or other hardware/software will decode this media ID in a manner similar to this:  
     [0209] ENG1.00012/Header/Secrets of the Temple/William Greider/How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country/Book/00001/00003/The Liquidation/00011/A Car With Two Drivers/Page 351/Touchstone/1230 Avenue of the Americas/New York/United States/New York/Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1988/Investing/Monetary Policy/1987 by William Greider/Helen Granger/Economics/00798/Portions of this book appeared originally in the New Yorker  
     [0210] A media ID from a MP3 format song is presented in Table 7. In this example, a song was published by MCA Records and is called “I Miss You”. The artist is Incubus. The media ID consists of 25 fields of varying length and type. A description of the fields is provided as well as an example of how the field is populated for this released media ID version. In this example, note that the media ID can be applied to a song on the album as well as being applied to the entire album.  
               TABLE 7                          Example MP3 Song Media ID Structure                         Field   Description   Example               MediaIDVersion   Media ID version   ENG1.00012       MediaIDType   Media ID type   Song       PublicationType   Publication type   Compact Disc       SongTitle   Song title   I Miss You       SongTrackNumber   SongTrack   00005           number       SongTrackLength   Song track length   2:58       SongLyrics   Song lyrics or   www.lyrics.com           Link to song lyrics       SongMood   Song mood   Mellow       SongNotes   Song notes   N/A       SongTempo   Song tempo   Slow       Artist   Artist   Incubus       ArtistWebpage   Artist Web page   www.enjoyincubus.com       AlbumTitle   Album title   Make Yourself       TotalTracks   Total tracks   00012       MediaType   Media type   MP3       MediaQuality   Media quality   128 Kb/s       MediaGenre   Media genre   Alternative       Publisher   Publisher   MCA Records       PublisherAddress   Publisher address   70 Universal City Plaza       PublisherAddressCity   City publisher is   Universal City           located in       PublisherAddressCountry   Country publisher   United States           is located in       PublisherAddressState   State publisher is   California           located in       PublishedMediaEdition   Type of media   00001       MediaCopyright   Media copyright   1999 By MCA Records       IconType   Type of icon   01452                  
 
     [0211] The complete field structure for the media ID displayed in Table 7 is as follows:  
     [0212] MediaIDVersion/MediaIDType/PublicationType/SongTitle/SongTrackNumber/SongTrackLe ngth/SongLyrics/SongMood/SongNotes/SongTempo/Artist/ArtistWebpage/AlbumTitle/Total Tracks/MediaType/MediaQuality/MediaGenre/Publisher/PublisherAddress City/PublisherAdressCountry/PublisherAddressState/PublishedMediaEdition/MediaCopyrigh t/IconType  
     [0213] The media ID software or other hardware/software will decode this media ID in a manner similar to this:  
     [0214] ENG1.00012/Song/Compact Disc/I Miss You/00005/2:58/www.lyrics.com/Mellow//Slow/Incubus/www.enjoyincubus.com/MakeYorself/00012/MP3/ 128Kbs/Alternative/MCA Records/70 Universal City Plaza/United States/California/00001/1999 By MCA Records/01452  
     [0215] Table 8 lists example field building blocks for the universal identification system for printed and electronic media as put forth in an embodiment of the present invention.  
               TABLE 8                          Example Field “Building Blocks” for Media ID Tags                     Field Name   Description               Abstract   Abstract of media content       AlbumAssociateProducer   Album associate producer       AlbumComposer   Album Composer       AlbumCopyright   Album Copyright       AlbumProducer   Album Producer       AlbumReview   Album Review       AlbumTitle   Album Title       Accreditation   Accreditation of Media ID       Agreement   Indicates agreement media content       AgreementTitle   Title of agreement       Annotation   Annotation       Application   Embedded or referenced application       Archive   Archive associated with media       ArticleNumber   Article number       ArticleCategory   Article category       ArticleClass   Class of article       ArticleGenre   Genre of article       ArticleContent   Content of article       ArticleMedia   Article media type       ArticleFragmentNumber   Fragment number of article       ArticleTheme   Theme of article       ArticleTitle   Title of article       ArticleNotes   Notes associated with article       ArticleSeries   Article series       ArticleSeriesNumber   Article series number       ArticleVolume   Article volume       Artist   Artist       ArtistBio   Artist biography information       ArtistBirthday   Artist&#39;s birthday       ArtistComments   Artists comments       ArtistE-mail   Artist&#39;s e-mail       ArtistE-mail2   Artist second e-mail       ArtistFaxNumber   Artist&#39;s fax number       ArtistFirstName   Artist&#39;s first name       ArtistFTPSite   Artist&#39;s FTP site       ArtistHomeAddress   Artist&#39;s home address       ArtistIMAddress   Artist&#39;s IM address       ArtistJobTitle   Artist&#39;s job title       ArtistLastName   Artist&#39;s last name       ArtistMiddleName   Artist&#39;s middle name       ArtistMobilePhone   Artist&#39;s mobile phone       ArtistNotes   Artist notes       ArtistPOBox   Artist post office box       ArtistPostalCode   Artist postal code       ArtistPrefix   Artist prefix       ArtistSuffix   Artist suffix       ArtistWebpageURL   Artist web page URL       ArtistWorkPhone   Artist work phone       AspectRatio   Video aspect ratio parameter       Attributes   Attributes of media       Audio   Indicates audio type       Author   Author       AuthorBio   Author&#39;s background information       AuthorBirthday   Author&#39;s birthday       AuthorComments   Author&#39;s comments       AuthorE-mail   Author&#39;s e-mail       AuthorE-mail2   Author&#39;s second email       AuthorFaxNumber   Author&#39;s fax number       AuthorFirstName   Author&#39;s first name       AuthorFTPSite   Author&#39;s FTP site       AuthorIMAddress   Author&#39;s IM address       AuthorJobTitle   Author&#39;s job title       AuthorLastName   Author&#39;s last name       AuthorMiddleName   Author&#39;s middle name       AuthorNotes   Author&#39;s notes       AuthorPOBox   Author&#39;s PO box       AuthorPostalCode   Author&#39;s postal code       AuthorPrefix   Author&#39;s prefix       AuthorSuffix   Author&#39;s suffix       AuthorWebpageURL   Author web page URL       AuthorWorkPhone   Author work phone       Bibliography   Bibliographic references       BulletinAddress   Address of online bulletin       Catalog   Indicates catalog media content       CatalogTitle   Title of catalog       Category   Category       Chapters   Defines number of chapters in media       Citation   Indicates citation media content       CitationInfo   Information related to citation       Class   Class       Classified   Classified status       ClassificationLevel   Classification level       Closed   Signifies media closed to revision       CODEC   Defines compression/decompression parameters       Co-Author   Co-author       Co-Author2   Co-author2       Co-Author3   Co-author3       Co-Authors   Co-authors       Co-AuthorBio   Co-author biography       Co-AuthorBirthday   Co-author birthday       Co-AuthorComments   Co-author comments       Co-AuthorContributions   Co-author contributions       Co-AuthorE-mail   Co-author e-mail       Co-AuthorE-mail2   Co-author email 2       Co-AuthorFaxNumber   Co-author fax number       Co-AuthorFirstName   Co-author first name       Co-AuthorFTPSite   Co-author FTP site       Co-AuthorHomePhone   Co-author home phone       Co-AuthorIMAddress   Co-author IM address       Co-AuthorJobTitle   Co-author job title       Co-AuthorLastName   Co-author last name       Co-AuthorMiddleName   Co-author middle name       Co-AuthorMobilePhone   Co-author mobile phone       Co-AuthorNotes   Co-author notes       Co-AuthorPOBox   Co-author PO Box       Co-AuthorPostalCode   Co-author Postal Code       Co-AuthorPrefix   Co-author prefix       Co-AuthorSuffix   Co-author suffix       Co-AuthorWebpageURL   Co-author Web page URL       Co-AuthorWorkPhone   Co-author work phone       Comments   Comments field       CompactDisc   Indicates compact disc media source       CompactDiscInfo   Information related to published medium       Company   Company       CompiledBy   Defines who the media ID was compiled by       Compression   Defines media compression parameters       Confidential   Defines confidentiality settings       Content   Media content       Context   Context of media ID       ContractNumber   Contract number       ContractTitle   Contract title       ContractAuthor   Contract author       Contract   Indicates contract media content       ContractTitle   Title of contract       Country   Country       CreatedDate   Date of media ID creation       Culture   Culture with closest relation to media       DateCompleted   Date completed       DateExpiration   Date of expiration       DatePublished   Data published       DateRevision   Date of revision       Department   Department associated with source of Media ID       Description   Description information       Development   Signifies development stage of media       Diagram   Diagram information       Dissertation   Indicates dissertation media content       DissertationTitle   Title of dissertation       DocumentManager   Document manager       DownloadDate   Date of download       DownloadTime   Time of download       Draft   Draft indicator       Edition   Edition       Editor   Editor       EditorComments   Editor comments       EditorE-mail   Editor e-mail       EditorE-mail2   Editor e-mail 2       EditorFaxNumber   Editor fax number       EditorFirstName   Editor first name       EditorFTPSite   Editor FTP site       EditorIMAddress   Editor IM address       EditorJobTitle   Editor job title       EditorLastName   Editor last name       EditorMiddleName   Editor middle name       EditorMobilePhone   Editor mobile phone       EditorNotes   Editor notes       EditorPOBox   Editor PO Box       EditorPostalCode   Editor postal code       EditorPrefix   Editor prefix       EditorSuffix   Editor suffix       EditorWebpageURL   Editor Web page URL       EditorWorkPhone   Editor work phone       EducationalCode   Educational code       ElectronicMediaTheme   Electronic media theme       ElectronicSeriesNumber   Electronic series number       ElectronicSeries   Electronic series       ElectronicMediaEdition   Electronic media edition       ElectronicMediaSize   Electronic media size       ElectronicMediaVolume   Electronic media volume       ElectronicMediaNumber   Electronic media number       ElectronicMediaFragmentNumber   Electronic media fragment number       ElectronicMediaType   Electronic media type       ElectronicMediaContent   Electronic media content       ElectronicMediaFormat   Electronic media format       ElectronicMediaGenre   Electronic media genre       ElectronicMedia   Electronic media       Encoding   Defines media encoding parameters       Encryption   Encryption information       EncrptionType   Encryption type       Entity   Entity       Era   Era closely associated with media       Exhibit   Indicates exhibit media content       ExhibitTitle   Title of exhibit       Expired   Indicates expiration of media       Family   Family of information related to media       FieldReportName   Name of field report       FieldReportNumber   Field report number       FieldReportTopic   Field report topic       FieldReportTitle   Field report title       FieldReportSubject   Field report subject       FieldReportTheme   Field report theme       FieldReportKeyword1   Field report keyword 1       FieldReportKeyword2   Field report keyword 2       Form   Indicates media content form       Format   Formatting information       FPS   Defines frames per second in video media       Frames   Defines total frames in media content       FTP   FTP information       Gallery   Gallery associated with media       General   General information       Graph   Indicates graph media type       Graph Title   Title of graph       Group   Group of information related to media       IconSource   Icon source information       IconName   Icon name       Icon   Icon       IconType   Icon type       IconLink   Icon link information       Identifier   Unique media identifier       Illustration   Illustration field       Image   Image associated with published media       ImportDate   Date of import to reading software/hardware       ImportTime   Import time of reading software/hardware       ISBN   Record of corresponding ISBN       Itinerary   Indicates itinerary media content       ItineraryTitle   Title of itinerary       Journal   Indicates journal media content       JournalTitle   Title of journal       Kbps   Indicates kilobyte/sec data quality setting of           media       Keyword   Keyword       Keyword2   Keyword 2       Keyword3   Keyword 3       Language   Language       LastAuthor   Last author       Layout   Media layout format       Lease   Indicates lease document content       LegalDocument   Legal document reference       Link   Contains information necessary to link media ID           to other media       Location   Field location information       Manual   Indicates manual document content       ManualTitle   Title of manual       Magazine   Indicates magazine document content       MagazineTitle   Title of magazine       Mail   Attached mail       MediaTheme   Media theme       MediaSeries   Media series       MediaSeriesNumber   Media series number       MediaVolume   Media volume       MediaType   Media type       MediaFragmentNumber   Media fragment number       MediaContent   Media content       MediaEdition   Media edition       MediaFormat   Media format       MediaClass   Media class       MediaCategory   Media category       MediaNumber   Media number       Media   Media       MediaGenre   Media genre       MessageClass   Message class       MediaIDType   Media ID type       MediaIDVersion   Media ID version       Memorandum   Indicates memorandum media content       Message   Message       Model   Model field       MP3   Indicates MP3 media format       MP3 Title   Title of MP3       Modified   Modified status       ModifiedDate   Modified date       NestedMediaID   Nested Media ID       NestedMediaIDNumber   Nested Media ID number       Newsletter   Indicates newsletter media content       NewsletterTitle   Title of newsletter       News   Indicates news media content       NewsSeriesTitle   Title of unique news series       NewsSeriesNumber   Number of media within news series       NewsSeriesSubtitle   Subtitle of media within news series       NewsWireArticle   News wire article       Notes   Notes       OriginofArticle   Origin of article       PageStart   Start page       PageEnd   Page end       Pamphlet   Indicates pamphlet media content       PamphletTitle   Title of pamphlet       Password   Password protection field       Patent   Indicates patent media content       PatentNumber   Patent number       Poetry   Indicates poetry media content       PrimarySubjectClassification   Primary subject classification       PrimarySubjectClassificationUserAttached   Primary subject classification user attached icon       Icon   information       PrintedEdition   Printed edition       PrintedMedia   Printed media       PrintedMediaContent   Printed media content       PrintedMediaSeries   Printed media series       PrintedMediaSeriesNumber   Printed media series number       PrintedMediaGenre   Printed media genre       PrintedMediaFragmentNumber   Printed media fragment number       PrintedMediaVolume   Printed media volume       PrintedMediaTheme   Printed media theme       PrintedMediaType   Printed media type       Privacy   Privacy settings       Project   Project associated with media       ProjectTitle   Title of project       PublicationName   Publication name       PublicationType   Publication type       Publisher   Publisher       PublisherAddress   Publisher address       PublisherAddressCountry   Publisher address country       PublisherE-mail   Publisher e-mail       PublisherFaxNumber   Publisher fax number       PublisherNotes   Publisher notes       PublisherPOBox   Publisher PO box       PublisherPostalCode   Publisher postal code       PublisherWebpageURL   Publisher Web page URL       PublisherWorkPhone   Publisher work phone       PublisherFTPSite   Publisher FTP site       Quality   Value depicting quality of data       Read   Indicates that contents have been read       ReadDate   Read date       Reference   Reference       Reference2   Reference 2       Region   Region       Registered   Indicates registration of media       Report   Indicates report media content       ReportTitle   Title of report       Resolution   Resolution of media       Resume   Indicates resume media content       ResumeTitle   Title of resume       Retired   Indicates retired status of media content       ReviewDate   Review date       ReviewComments   Review comments       RevisedBy   Revised by       Revision   Media ID revision information       RevisionDate   Date of revision       RevisionNumber   Revision number       ScanTime   Scan time       ScanDate   Scan date       SecondarySubjectClassification   Secondary subject classification       SecondarySubjectClassification1   Secondary subject classification 1       SecondarySubjectClassification2   Secondary subject classification 2       SecondarySubjectClassification3   Secondary subject classification 3       SecondarySubjectClassification4   Secondary subject classification 4       SecondarySubjectClassification5   Secondary subject classification 5       SecondarySubjectClassification6   Secondary subject classification 6       SecondarySubjectClassification7   Secondary subject classification 7       SecondarySubjectClassification8   Secondary subject classification 8       SecondarySubjectClassification9   Secondary subject classification 9       SecondarySubjectClassificationUserAttached   Secondary subject classification user attached       Icon   icon information       Section   Section       Sensitivity   Sensitivity value       SeriesNumber   Series number       SeriesTitle   Series title       Signature   Digital signature       SignedBy   Signed by       Size   Size of media ID in bytes       Software   Software used to generate media       SoundQuality   Sound quality       Source   Source of media ID       Stream   Specifies location of streaming data source       SubClass   Sub class       Subject   Subject       Subject2   Subject 2       SubTitle   Sub title       SubTitle2   Sub title 2       Summary   Defines the media summarized in present media       Synopsis   Synopsis of media content       Text   Text associated with media       TextContent   Text content       Theme   Theme       Thesis   Indicates thesis media content       ThesisTitle   Title of thesis       TrackAssociateProducer   Track associate producer       TrackComposer   Track composer       TrackProducer   Track producer       TrackTitle   Track title       Title   Title       Topic   Topic of media       TotalAdvertisements   Total advertisements       TotalArticles   Total articles       TotalPages   Total pages       Trace   Information tracing media ID       Transcription   Indicates transcription media content       TranscriptionSource   Specifies source of transcription       Trust   Indicates trust media content       UPC   Record of corresponding UPC       URL   URL       UserDefined   User defined block       UserDefined2   User defined block 2       Video   Indicates video type       Volume   Volume       WebpageURL   Web page URL       Will   Indicates will document media content       Words   Number of words in media content                  
 
     [0216] The example fields presented in Table 8 are in no way meant to be restrictive, and are presented for illustrative purposes only.  
     [0217]FIG. 16 shows the elements of an embodiment of the universal electronic media ID system. In FIG. 16, items  800  through  804  display the entities involved in the media ID system as described herein. Items  806  through  832  illustrate some of many ways that the media ID system can be implemented, maintained, and managed.  
     [0218] At  806  a media ID client obtains and installs media ID “developer tools” and at  808  the client implements a media ID system. Implementation of a media ID system can here be inferred to mean the establishment of a system for the client to generate and “affix” electronic media IDs for each article of electronic media that they create and/or distribute. At  810  the client publishes and distributes electronic media with associated electronic media IDs.  
     [0219] At  812  the client&#39;s electronic media with its associated unique electronic media ID is accessed by a user. For example, accessed here can mean using a web browser to access a remote web page server. At  814  a user reads the electronic media and can save the unique media ID associated with the article of electronic media. The user does this because he or she wants to save a record of the article of media. At  816  the user clicks on the media ID which is represented as a graphic, and/or character hyperlink, or by other methods. At  818  a script or control is activated by the user&#39;s action. This script or control negotiates the transfer of the electronic media ID to the user&#39;s local media ID software or other media ID software. The entire text and graphics of the original article of media can also be transferred to the media ID software along with the electronic media ID.  
     [0220] At  820 , the media ID software receives and processes the media ID. This processing can involve parsing, decoding, and even repairing a damaged media ID. At  822  the media ID software catalogs and organizes the media IDs. The media ID software has a sophisticated database that allows the user to organize his or her media IDs. The media ID software has a graphical-user-interface that enables the user to quickly find media IDs located in the database.  
     [0221] At  824  the user can search for related media IDs and associated media. The user utilizes the media ID software as a vehicle to find related media IDs and associated media. The media ID software has a graphical-user-interface and software functionality that provides a mechanism for the user to develop a query, to develop filters, and to execute a search to find related media. Searches launched from the media ID software search the user&#39;s local media ID database as well as remote databases, such as the database located at the media ID intermediary.  
     [0222] At  826  the media ID software contacts a media ID intermediary or other entity with the search query that has been developed to locate related media through the conduit of the media ID system. In this example, the media ID intermediary or other entity will host electronic and other media that have associated media IDs, as well as hosting the media IDs themselves. At  828 , the media ID intermediary or other entity receives the request from the user through the media ID software. The query or other request is processed and the media ID intermediary responds with the transfer of the requested media or media IDs. If an agreement is negotiated between the user at  826  and the media ID intermediary or other entity at  828 , it is reasonable to presume that related electronic media will be transferred between  828  and  826 .  
     [0223] At  830  the media ID intermediary or other entity provides global management of the media ID system. Additionally, at  830  the media ID intermediary or other entity provides sophisticated archiving and storage of articles of electronic media that have associated media IDs, and archiving and storage of the electronic media IDs. The media ID intermediary or other entity hosts these electronic media and media IDs and possesses state-of-the-art cataloging and retrieval tools.  
     [0224] At  832  the media ID intermediary or other entity creates and develops the media ID developer tools and associated software. These developer tools taken together provide the clients with the means to “publish” their electronic articles of media with electronic media IDs as described in the present art.  
     [0225]FIG. 17 shows the interaction of media IDs with a user computer  834 , a distributed network  840 , a media hosting server  838  and computers and other devices  839  that host or contain media IDs. The media ID software  858  is located on the user computer system  834  along with different media applications  842 . Various distributed network applications  850 , and a media ID database archive  848  are located on the user computer  834 . A printer  872  is shown attached to the user computer system  834 , and a media ID scanner or PDA  874  is also shown interfacing with the user computer system  834 . A multitude of other device can also interface with the user computer system  834  and the media ID software  858 .  
     [0226] The media ID software  858  is resident on a user&#39;s local computer system  834  and provides media ID cataloging and management services as well as other services. The media ID database archive file  848  is exported from the media ID software  858 . It can consist of an export of all media IDs contained in the media ID software, or a subset of the media IDs contained in the media ID software located at  858 .  
     [0227] The distributed network applications  850  provide conduits for the media ID software  858  to communicate with other media ID software packages, other computers and servers, and other electronic devices. The media applications at  842  consist of other applications that produce and/or view media. Periodically these applications need to publish an article of media with an associated media ID. Applications at  842  can also be used to view media.  
     [0228] A variety of distributed network types are located at  840 . These networks provide a communication path from the media ID software  858  and other distributed network applications  850  on the user platform  834  to other computers and other electronic devices located at  836 ,  838 , and  839 . For example, a web page server  836  that is hosting a web page  860  can be accessed from the media ID software  858  via a distributed network  840 . An article of electronic media with an associated media ID is also located at  876 . A remote computer or other device is located at  839 . The remote computer  839  is also a platform for the media ID software, which is located at  868 . An e-mail manager program is shown located at  870 .  
     [0229] A media hosting and management server is located at  838 . In one embodiment of the present invention, this server  838  would be located at a media ID intermediary or other entity that maintains the standards for media IDs and also hosts electronic and printed media for users to download or otherwise acquire. A media ID bulletin message service is located at  862 . A new media ID processing service is located at  864 , and an existing media archive service is located at  866 . The media ID bulletin service  862 , the new media ID service  864 , and the existing media service  866  can be maintained by a media ID intermediary or other entity and provides many services and resources to users of the media ID method, system, and software, as described herein.  
     [0230]FIG. 17 illustrates several aspects of an embodiment of the present invention. For example, a user can access the Internet through his computer  834  and view news information on a web page server  836 . A web page server  836  hosts a web page  860  that contains electronic news media  876  with associated media IDs. The user accesses the electronic news media  876  via a connection between the media ID software  858  and a distributed network connection (e.g. Internet)  840 , and then through an Internet connection between  840  and  836 .  
     [0231] After reviewing the media content located at  860  through a web browser on his local computer  834 , the user can save a record of the electronic news media  876  he has just viewed. This is accomplished by clicking on the electronic media ID icon associated with the electronic media  876  that is being hosted by the web server  836 . This initiates a transfer of the media ID from the web page  860  through the Internet network connection  840  and ultimately to the media ID software  858 . The media ID software  858  will decode the media ID, catalog and organize it, and thereafter provide the user access to the media ID, provide related media management tools associated with the media ID, and provides the user with a mechanism to download the original article of media  876  (if it was not downloaded with the media ID).  
     [0232] In another example, a user can forward to a colleague a media ID associated with an article of media that he produced using a media producing software  846  on his local user computer system. Using the media ID software  858  on his user computer system  834 , the user checks to see if his colleagues computer system  839  is logged onto the Internet  840  and his media ID software  868  is actively accepting connections. After determining that his colleague&#39;s media ID software  868  is not actively connected to the Internet  840  and consequently is not available for direct transfer of the media ID from the media ID software  858  on his local user computer system  834 , the user instructs his media ID software to export the media ID of interest to a media ID database import/export transport file  848 . The user then launches an e-mail manager program  854  and composes an e-mail addressed to his colleague. Upon completing the e-mail, the user attaches the media ID database transport file  848  and sends the e-mail.  
     [0233] At a later time the colleague, using the e-mail manager program  870  on his computer system  839 , reads the e-mail and can save the media ID database transport file to his computer system  839 . The colleague instructs the software  868  to import the media ID database transport file, now resident on his system  839 . The media ID software  868  decodes the media ID transport file, catalogs and organizes it, and thereafter provides access to it and related media ID management tools. Finding the media ID and associated media of great interest, the colleague at computer  839  can conduct a search for related media. Utilizing the search functionality in his media ID software  868 , the colleague conducts a detailed search of existing media  866  located at the media hosting and management center  838 .  
     [0234] In another embodiment, a user of the local computer  834  can transfer a media ID that he has already collected and is stored on his media ID software  858  to a remote user who is in possession of the media ID software. At  834  the local media ID software user identifies a media ID in his local media ID software  858  (through the media ID GUI) that he wants to transfer to a remote user and user computer located at  839 . The user instructs the media ID software at  858  to utilize a distributed network  840  to transfer the media ID to the remote computer  839  and then to the remote user&#39;s media ID software at  868 .  
     [0235] The media ID software located at  858  processes the user request and opens an Internet connection at  840  to access the user&#39;s remote computer  839 . It is assumed that the remote computer  839  is already connected to the Internet at  840 . Once the Internet connection at  840  is established, the media ID software  858  sends the media ID over the Internet at  840  to the user&#39;s remote computer  839 . The remote computer  839  receives the media ID and hands it to the media ID software at  868 . The media ID software  868  decodes the media ID, catalogs and organizes it, and thereafter provides the remote user access to it and related media ID management tools. The local media ID user at  834  can transfer media IDs directly to remote computers like the one at  839 , and vice versa.  
     [0236] In another embodiment, a user with a local computer  834  can download the original article of media associated with a media ID. In FIG. 17, the original article of media is located at the media hosting and management center  838 . In some cases media ID users will collect only the media ID, and in other cases users will download both the media ID and the full text, graphics, sound, video, etc. of the original article of media. In this example, it is assumed that the user has only downloaded the electronic media ID and now wishes to obtain the original printed or electronic article of media. Because the media ID is a unique representation of each article of media, it can be used at any point in the future to retrieve the original media.  
     [0237] For example, the user instructs the media ID software  858  to retrieve the original article of media for a particular media ID resident in the media ID software. The media ID software  858  processes the request from the user and opens a connection to the Internet  840 . The media hosting and management center  838  already has a connection to the Internet  840 . The media ID software at  858  contacts the existing media archive  866  on the hosting and management server  838  and requests the original article of media for the media ID in question. In this example, it is assumed that the local user computer  834  already has an account with the media ID intermediary or other entity that manages the media hosting and management server at  838 . The media hosting and management server  838  receives the request from the user media ID software  858 , processes it, and sends the original article of media via the distributed network  840  to the media ID software at  858 . The media ID software  858  receives the original article of media, processes it, and catalogs and stores it. The user of the computer  834  now has the original article of media and its associated media ID.  
     [0238]FIG. 18 shows an example computer platform for the media ID software. The media ID software is located at  918  and is stored on the computer hard drive  896 . When the media ID software  918  is started, it is loaded into system memory  884 . Once started, the media ID software  918  is resident in system memory  884 .  
     [0239] A media ID software user can send commands and instructions to the media ID software  918  through the keyboard  904  and through the mouse  902 . Media IDs can be received from remote computers such as the one located at  907 . A distributed network or other remote connections is represented at  930 . A modem connection is represented at  932 . Media IDs can also originate or be transferred from removable media sources such as the optical disk  926 , and the removable magnetic disk located at  924 . In an additional embodiment, media IDs can be preloaded on hard drives at the factory.  
     [0240] The computer system  878  includes a processing unit  880 , a system memory  884 , and a system bus  928  that couples the system memory  884  to the processing unit  880 . The system memory  884  includes read only memory (ROM)  910  and random access memory (RAM)  914 . A basic input/output system  912  (BIOS) is stored in ROM  910 . The computer system  878  also includes a hard disk drive  896 , a magnetic disk drive  898 , a removable disk  924 , and an optical disk drive  900  for reading a CD-ROM disk  926  or to read from or write to other optical media. The hard disk drive  896 , magnetic disk drive  898 , and optical disk drive  900  are connected to the system bus  928  by a hard disk drive interface  886 , a magnetic disk drive interface  888 , and an optical drive interface  890 , respectively.  
     [0241] The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage for the client on the computer system 878. Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk and a CD-ROM disk, and other types of media which are readable by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, and the like, may also be used in the computer operating environment. A number of program modules may be stored in the drives and RAM  914 , including an operating system  916 , one or more application programs, such as media ID software  918 , email management software  920 , and a database  922 .  
     [0242] A user may enter commands and information into the computer system  878  through a keyboard  904  and pointing device, such as a mouse  902 . Other input devices (not shown) may include a pen, touch-operated device, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, image scanner, fax machine, cellular phone, PDA, or the like.  
     [0243] Additional devices that may interact with the serial interface  892  are printed media ID scanners, PDAs with associated media ID capability in the form of software or hardware as well as other media ID hardware devices that contain media IDs. Such devices can transfer media IDs to the media software on the user system by means of the serial port interface  892  in the form of infrared, Bluetooth, or other wireless data transfer or by means of a direct data transfer by cable. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  880  through a serial port interface  892  that is coupled to the system bus  928 , but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a game port, a universal serial bus (USB), Firewire, or similar port.  
     [0244] A database  922  in memory  914  includes the possible use of the database as part of the software  918  and/or separate software residing beside the media ID software in system memory  884 . Additionally, the e-mail program module  920  provides a mechanism for creating, addressing, sending, receiving, and forwarding media IDs. The use of the database  922  is described in greater detail in connection with FIG. 22. A monitor  934  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  928  via an interface, such as a video adapter  882 . In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices such as speakers or printers, which are not displayed in this simple figure.  
     [0245] The computer system  878  operates in a distributed or networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  907 . The remote computer  907  may be a media ID hosting server, a peer user computer workstation, a router or other common network node. The remote computer  907  includes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer system  878 , although only a memory storage device  908  has been illustrated in FIG. 18. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 18 include a distributed local area network connection  930  and a distributed wide area network or Internet connection  932 . Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet, and serve as a medium by which media IDs can be downloaded, processed, acquired, forwarded, or otherwise transferred.  
     [0246]FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the basic concepts of an embodiment of the universal electronic media identification system (or media ID system). A vendor or distributor of electronic media is located at  936 . For the purposes of this illustration it is assumed that the vendor or distributor of the electronic media has implemented a system to electronically affix or otherwise place an electronic media ID on articles of electronic media (such as electronic documents, web pages articles, etc.). Furthermore, it is understood that the media ID is from the present invention. A web page  956  provides a canvas to illustrate several methods of uniquely identifying electronic media with electronic media IDs. In this example, the electronic media can generally be considered to be electronic news articles published on a web page  956 .  
     [0247]FIG. 19 is comprised of a visible media ID  962  in the form of an icon (animated or otherwise) and/or a hyperlink incorporated in a control or script. For example, a script  960  written in ECMAScript (formally referred to as JavaScript), interacts with the media ID icon and/or hyperlink  962 . When a user clicks on or otherwise selects the media ID icon  962 , the script  960  directs the execution of a client or server based control  964  or Java applet or servlet  964  in response to the users requested action.  
     [0248] This control, applet, or servlet  964  negotiates the transfer of the media ID data it references or contains to the media ID software  976  running on a local user platform  978 . The media ID software  976  receives the electronic media ID  958  and decodes it. The media ID software  976  catalogs and organizes the input media IDs. The entire text, graphics, and sound of the electronic media can also be transferred to the media ID software  976  along with the electronic media ID  958 . The media ID software  976  can receive and process the entire content of the electronic media ID  958  as well as its associated electronic article of media.  
     [0249] The identification of all articles of electronic media with an electronic media ID (as described herein) provides a powerful tool for users that allows them to easily catalog and store media identification information in a local (or remote) media ID software. As mentioned earlier, the overall productivity of society will increase as time that is currently spent searching for media is released for more productive enterprises as people organize articles of media of interest in the media ID software  976 .  
     [0250] Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 19. Item  966  is comprised of an electronic media ID  970  implemented through the use of a CGI script  968 . When the user clicks on the electronic media ID icon and or hyperlink  970 , a CGI script  968  is called to transfer all of the electronic media ID information  966  to the media ID software  976 .  
     [0251] Yet another embodiment is shown at item  972 . An electronic media ID  972  is shown encapsulated in a Flash or Shockwave application  974 . Alternatively, an electronic media ID  972  is encapsulated as an ActiveX™ control. When the user clicks on or otherwise selects the electronic media ID icon  974 , the associated Flash or Shockwave application or ActiveX™ control  972  executes and negotiates the transfer of the electronic media ID to the media ID software  976 .  
     [0252] In another embodiment of the present invention, a vendor of electronic media  936  in FIG. 19 encodes a media ID  940  into a portable electronic document  938  or similar platform independent document. The media ID  940  is represented in the electronic document  938  as an icon, button, hyperlink, or other text or symbol. This electronic media ID  940  has an underlying script  942  in JavaScript or similar control script. When the user clicks on the media ID icon  940  located inside the portable document  938 , the script  942  executes and negotiates the transfer of the electronic media ID information from the electronic document  938  to the media ID software  976 . The media ID software  976  will automatically decode the electronic document media ID  940  and organize and catalog it in the database. In one embodiment, the media ID software will also add the entire contents of the electronic document  938  to the database along with the associated media ID  940 .  
     [0253] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a vendor of electronic media  936  encodes an electronic media ID  946  into a digital audio file  944 . For illustrative purposes, this digital audio file  944  can be considered an MP3 file. Item  944  graphically shows the digital audio file/MP3 file with the attached electronic media ID  946 . The electronic media ID  946  associated with the MP3  948  uniquely and definitively identifies the MP3 file and can be transferred to the media ID software  976  in a similar fashion as other electronic media IDs. In one embodiment of the present invention, when the user loads, copies, or downloads the MP3 digital audio file  944  onto the local platform  978 , the Media ID software  976  running on the computer platform  978  will prompt the user as to whether the media ID  946  for the MP3  948  should be added to the media ID software  976 . If the user can add the electronic media ID  946  that uniquely identifies the MP3  948  to the Media ID software database, the media ID software  976  will automatically decode it, organize it, and catalog it in the media ID software database. The user can also catalog and organize the entire MP3 file  948  in the media ID software  976  as well as its unique electronic media ID  946 .  
     [0254] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a vendor of electronic media  936  in FIG. 19 encodes a digital media ID  952  into a digital video file  950 . For illustrative purposes this digital video file  950  is a DIVX file format; however, any other digital video format can also be used. Item  950  graphically shows the digital video file/DIVX file  954  with the attached media ID  952 . When the user loads the DIVX file plus media ID  950  on to the local platform  978 , the media ID software  976  will prompt the user as to whether the media ID  952  for the DIVX video  954  should be added to the media ID software  976 . If the user can add the DIVX video  954  to the media ID software database, the media ID software  976  will automatically decode its media ID  952  and organize and catalog it in the database. In one embodiment, the media ID software  976  will also add the entire contents of the DIVX video  954  to the database along with the associated media ID  952 .  
     [0255]FIG. 20 shows the data field structure for one embodiment of a universal electronic media ID. A media ID as it might appear in association with an article of electronic media is located at  980 . In this embodiment, the universal electronic media ID  980  is composed of media ID field building blocks.  
     [0256] Field building blocks  982  are presented for illustrative purposes. These building blocks are typical, interchangeable media ID building blocks, similar to those described in Table 8. The media ID structure is comprised of a system of building block fields. These building block fields can be arranged and rearranged to form different media IDs for different versions of the media ID system and for different articles of media. Different articles of media as described herein can be interpreted to mean online newspaper articles, online magazine articles, videos, music, etc.  
     [0257] For instance, the version of the electronic media ID at  984  alerts the media ID software as to what structure to expect when it processes or decodes the media ID. The field building block that contains information about the publisher of the article of media is located at  1016 . When the media ID software decodes the media ID, the user will know who the publisher of the media is based upon how  1016  in FIG. 20 is populated.  
     [0258] The field building blocks provide a sophisticated way to create media IDs that uniquely identify articles of printed and electronic media. These media IDs populate the media ID software database with meaningful and comprehensive information about the origin, history, subject, and other significant information about the article of media, whether it is of the printed or electronic variety.  
     [0259]FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of the electronic media ID tag of the present invention in relation to a commercial web site. This web page is being hosted at a remote system  1032  on a web server  1034 . The web page  1040  is being viewed with a web page browser  1038  on a media ID user&#39;s local system  1036 .  
     [0260] An electronic media identification (or media ID)  1044  as described has been associated or placed with the article of media  1042  on the web page  1040  to illustrate how a single article of electronic media presented or published on an web page is uniquely identified. In this example, the media article  1042  is entitled “Oil Prices hit one-year high” and the media ID  1044  has been coupled with the article of electronic media  1042 .  
     [0261] This electronic media ID  1044  in FIG. 21 is encoded with fields of data that together constitute a complete and unique identification tag for this electronic media article, and only this electronic media article. When the user clicks on the media ID  1044 , comprehensive and unique identification information will be sent to the local media ID software  1052 , or will be transferred or copied to a local device  1054 , or will be transferred or copied to a computer or other remote system  1056 , etc.  
     [0262] In one embodiment, a user can collect or save the media ID  1044  of FIG. 21 that uniquely defines the article of electronic media  1042  located on the web page  1040 . The user clicks on the media ID icon  1046  or hyperlink  1048  to collect and store the media ID  1044 . This user action activates a software prompt at  1050 . This prompt  1050  can originate on the local machine or on a remote machine. The prompt serves to guide and instruct the user who wishes to save a record of, or otherwise collect the media ID  1044 . The prompt presents several options that the user can choose in order to download or otherwise save the media ID  1044 .  
     [0263] At  1052  the user can download the media ID  1044  to software on the local computer. For example, the user can download the media ID  1044  into the media ID software as described herein located at  1052 . The media ID software at  1052  running on the user&#39;s system  1036  will decode, catalog, and organize the media ID automatically once the user has decided at  1050  to download it to local software  1052 .  
     [0264] At  1054  the user can route, send, and store the media ID  1044  to a storage device attached or otherwise connected to the user&#39;s local system  1036 . This storage device at  1054  can be removable storage media or non-removable storage media. For example, the user could save the media ID  1044  to a removable memory card, such as a PCMCIA card, or could save the media ID  1044  onto a hardrive. In both cases, the media ID  1044  is stored in such a way as to make it portable. For example, the media ID  1044  is stored on the PCMCIA card at  1054  in such a way that it can be transferred from the PCMCIA storage media to a copy of the media ID software located on a remote machine.  
     [0265] At  1056 , the user can route or otherwise send the media ID  1044  to a remote system by means of a distributed network. In one embodiment, the remote system at  1056  would be hosting the media ID software as described herein. In some cases the remote system at  1056  might be the users own personal computer system. For example, a media ID user leaves his office and travels to London on business. The user borrows a computer in London that belongs to a business colleague. The user utilizes this computer for research and finds several articles of media that he wishes to save a record of. The local computer happens to have a copy of the media ID software loaded, but the user would prefer to save the media IDs associated with the articles of media on his own system back in the office. At  1056  a remote connection to his own computer and his own media ID software is established and the media ID  1044  is saved to his own system as opposed to the local system in London.  
     [0266] In another embodiment, the remote computer at  1056  provides a temporary storage place for the media ID  1044 . The user would then log onto this remote computer at a later time in order to retrieve his media ID  1044 .  
     [0267] At  1058 , a user can download the media ID  1044  onto the local system in a media ID transport file. The media ID transport file at  1058  is a portable file format that stores one or more media IDs and can be transported from computer to computer regardless of platform type. A media ID transport file is designed so that the user is able to work on any computer, anywhere, and save media IDs to be transported back to his own computer. The media ID transport file at  1058  can be moved from computer to computer and saves media IDs in a compressed, compact format, or in an uncompressed format, in binary or ASCII. When the user returns to his own computer, he simply imports the transport file(s) to his media ID software. This loads all media IDs that he collected as transport files while on travel into his local media ID software. This embodiment provides another mechanism for the user to use computers other than his own to collect media IDs and then to transport them back to his own computer and to his own copy of the media ID software.  
     [0268] At  1060  a user can send, route, or otherwise transfer the media ID  1044  to a user account via a distributed network. A user can setup a media ID account at a media ID intermediary or other host to deposit and later collect media IDs. For example, a user sets up an account at a media ID intermediary that hosts media and media IDs. This account establishes a mechanism for the user to download original articles of media from the media ID intermediary or other entity, but also creates a user account where the user can deposit media IDs while on travel or otherwise away from his local system.  
     [0269] For example, a user is on business travel to Ankara and in the process of using a colleague&#39;s computer for research finds several media IDs that he would like to save. At  1050 , the user is prompted to choose a media ID transfer method. The user can transfer the media ID  1044  to a user account located at  1060 . Once the media ID  1044  is located at the user account  1060 , the user can retrieve it at any time and transfer it to his local media ID system.  
     [0270]FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of the electronic media ID tag of the present invention in relation to a commercial web site. In this example, a web page is hosted by a web server, and is being viewed through a standard web browser at  1064  on a local user computer  1062 . An electronic media identification (or media ID) as described has been placed at  1070  to illustrate how a single article of electronic media  1068  presented or published on an web page  1066  is uniquely identified. In this example, the media article  1068  is entitled “Oil Prices hit one-year high” and the media ID tag  1070  has been placed at the lower right of the web page  1066  in conjunction with the article of electronic media  1068 .  
     [0271] This electronic media ID  1070  in FIG. 22 is encoded with fields of data that together constitute a complete and unique media identification for this electronic media article  1068 , and only this electronic media article  1068 . In this example, when the user clicks on the media ID  1070 , comprehensive and unique identification information will be sent to the media ID software  1080 .  
     [0272] In this embodiment, the media ID software  1080  is running on the same platform as the local web browser  1064 . A user can save a record of the article of media  1068  by collecting its media ID  1070  by clicking on the media ID icon  1072 . At  1076  the user is prompted to select a media ID transfer process. At  1078  the user transfers the media ID  1070  to the media ID software  1080  running on his local computer  1062 . The media ID  1070  is transferred from the web page  1066  to the media ID software  1080 .  
     [0273] At  1082  the article media ID  1070  is received from the web server (e.g. from the remote web server) or from the web browser on local system and is decoded. During the decoding process located at  1082 , some translation and decompression can occur. Repair of damaged media IDs can also occur at  1082  in FIG. 22.  
     [0274] Once decoded at  1082 , the media ID software  1080  will store the media ID  1070  in an integrated and sophisticated database  1084 . This database  1084  will catalog and organize the media IDs that the user collects from electronic and printed media (such as the media ID  1070  from the electronic article in this example). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the user can click on the “MEDIA ID” hyperlink located below the icon at  1074  to transfer the unique electronic media ID  1070  to the media ID software  1080 .  
     [0275] The media ID software has a sophisticated graphical-user-interface (or GUI)  1086  that allows the user to navigate through the locally stored media IDs, initiate complicated search queries for local and remote media and media IDs, and retrieve articles of media and media IDs. This graphical-user-interface  1086  provides functionality for the user to accept the default media ID organization structure or to configure a custom media ID organization structure. The graphical-user-interface  1086  represents the media IDs graphically and/or with text. Each media ID has complete information about the media article such as publisher, date published, number of pages, media type, author, title, icon type, etc. In many cases the electronic media ID and the original media are stored together (the entire text, graphics, sound, video, etc) in the media ID software. In other embodiments, the media ID and the media ID software contain the necessary information required to transfer the entire text and graphics of the original article of media between the web server and the media ID software  1080 . In one embodiment of the present invention, when the user clicks on a media ID such as the one located at  1070  in FIG. 22, the entire text and graphics of the media article  1068  will be transferred along with the media ID  1070  to the media ID software  1080 .  
     [0276] A print process at  1087  allows the user of the media ID software  1080  to “publish” or print the media or media ID to different formats. The print process located at  1082  also allows the user to send the electronic media or the media ID to a plotter or to a printer or to software to create portable electronic documents.  
     [0277] An interface process located at  1088  of FIG. 22 interacts with software, hardware, and other entities located outside of the media ID software  1080 . For example, a user can download a media ID  1070  from a source such as a web site and at a later time obtain the full text and graphics of the original electronic media  1068  from a media ID intermediary  1090 , the original publisher, or some other entity. In an embodiment, this is accomplished through the process at  1088  interfacing with a media-hosting center located at  1090 . In this example, the media-hosting center  1090  contains a repository of printed and electronic media articles with unique media IDs that have been downloaded or otherwise obtained from numerous vendors of printed and electronic media.  
     [0278] The media ID software can access these media and can request a printed or electronic copy of the original media or media ID. In one embodiment of the present invention, the media ID software user would establish an account with the entity that hosts the original articles of media. In another embodiment of the present invention, a user account would not be necessary.  
     [0279] The media ID software interface process  1088  can utilize a distributed network to establish a connection to the media hosting center or other entity located at  1090  and request the original media article  1068  and or media ID  1070  or some combination thereof. This transaction can occur with or without the user having an account established, and can occur with or without the transfer of money. The media ID software  1080 , therefore, has several functions as illustrated above. One function is to organize and catalog media IDs, and another is to search for and retrieve new media IDs or supplemental media information at the user&#39;s request. This supplemental media information can be retrieved from an intermediary or other entity such as the one located at  1090 . In an embodiment, the retrieval function accomplished between the interface process  1088  and the media and media ID hosting center  1090  will be unnecessary. This is because in the original download or acquisition of the media ID  1070 , the complete text, graphics, and sound of its associated article of media  1068  will accompany it.  
     [0280] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the interface process  1088  interacts with libraries, universities, and other institutions at  1092  that contain printed and electronic media with associated unique media IDs. The media ID software  1080  can send and retrieve media information between the interface process at  1088  and the libraries, universities etc. located at  1092 . The media ID software  1080  can perform complicated searches between the interface process at  1088  and the libraries, universities etc. at  1092  based upon user input into the media ID software at  1086 .  
     [0281] For example, a user clicks on the media ID  1070  in FIG. 22 and transfers it to the media ID software  1080 . This media ID  1070  is decoded at  1082  and stored, cataloged, and organized at  1084 . At  1086 , the user scans through the organized media IDs using a graphical-user-interface  1086  and decides that he wants more information about the article  1068  entitled “Oil Prices hit one-year high”. The user can use the graphical-user-interface  1086  to construct and perform a search on media related to the “Oil Prices hit one-year high” electronic article  1068 . This search query starts at the media ID software on the local computer platform  1080  and is then sent to the interface process at  1088  and then is sent to the media and media ID intermediary or other entity  1090 , to the libraries, universities, etc.  1092 , and to the other media ID users  1094 , or any combination thereof. For example, in response to the search query, the media and media ID hosting center  1090  replies with 27 articles of electronic and printed media related to the “Oil Prices hit one-year high” article  1068 . The user of the media ID software  1080  can then decide if he wishes to download any of these related articles of media.  
     [0282] In yet another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated by FIG. 22, users of the media ID software  1080  can interface and interact with other users of the media ID software located at  1094 . Media ID software users can swap media IDs and associated graphics, text, video, sound, etc. between the local media ID software user  1080  and the other media ID users  1094 .  
     [0283] For example, a user logs on a web site and can download the unique electronic media ID  1070  that is associated with the article entitled “Oil Prices hit one-year high”  1068 . The user talks with a colleague later in the day that expresses interest in the article about oil prices  1068 . At  1086  and then at block  1088 , the user whom originally downloaded the media ID  1070  sends it to his colleague who is located at  1094 . The user at  1094  receives the media ID  1070  through his local media ID software running on his own local personal computer. This example illustrates how media IDs can be transferred from one user to another through the vehicle of the media ID software and the associated media ID language as presented herein.  
     [0284]FIG. 23 shows a media ID transfer process from a web page  1100  to a storage device located or connected to a local computer system according to an embodiment of the invention. The web page  1100  is being viewed by a local user with a standard web browser  1098 . A media ID  1104  uniquely identifies the article of media  1102  that is presented in the web page  1100 . A user can save a record of the article of media  1102  by collecting its media ID  1104 . The user does this by clicking on the media ID icon at  1106 . At  1110  a user is prompted to select a media ID transfer process. At  1112  the user decides to transfer the media ID  1104  to a local media ID storage device. At  1114 , the local system  1096  where the storage device is located or accessed negotiates the transfer of the media ID  1104  from the web page  1100  to the selected local storage device. The media ID resides in a memory block at  1116  on the local storage device or media.  
     [0285] The local storage device can be a fixed or removable storage media  1118  such as a hard drive or a PCMCIA card. The local storage device could also be a handheld electronic media ID scanner  1120  that is connected to the local user system  1096 . The local storage device could also be a personal data assistant or PDA  1122  that is connected to the local user system  1096 . The media ID  1104  can be saved on the local storage media in compressed or uncompressed format and in a binary or ASCII format.  
     [0286]FIG. 24 shows a media ID transfer process from a web page to a remote system or remote hardware. A web page  1128  is being hosted on a web browser  1126 . The user has the web browser  1126  loaded on a local user system  1124 . The media ID  1132  that uniquely identifies the article of media  1130  is shown associated with it on the web page  1128 .  
     [0287] A user can save a record of the article of media by collecting its media ID  1132 . This is accomplished by clicking on the media ID hyperlink at  1136 . At  1138  the user is prompted to select a media ID transfer process. At  1140  the user can transfer the media ID  1132  to a remote system  1148 . At  1142  the user is prompted to enter information on what remote system to store the media ID  1132  on, and is prompted to provide information about the location and access protocols associated with the remote system  1148 . At  1144  the media ID  1132  is transferred from the web page  1128  to the remote computer  1148  that was specified by the user. At  1146 , a confirmation is sent that the media ID  1132  was successfully received by the remote system  1148 .  
     [0288]FIG. 25 shows a media ID transfer process from a web page to a media ID transport file. A web page  1154  is being viewed with a web browser  1152 . The user has the web browser  1152  loaded on a local user system  1150 . The media ID  1158  that uniquely identifies the article of media 1156 is presented in the web page  1154 .  
     [0289] A user can save a record of the article of media  1156  by collecting its media ID  1158 . This is done by clicking on the media ID icon at  1160 . At  1164  the user is prompted to select a media ID transfer process. At  1166  the user decides to transfer and store the media ID  1158  to a media ID transport file  1172 . At  1168  the user is prompted to enter information as to where to store the media ID transport file  1172  on the local system  1150 , or on a remote system. At  1170  the media ID  1158  is converted to a media ID transport file  1172  and stored on the local system  1150  or on a remote system. The media ID transport file  1172  can be compressed or uncompressed, and can be in binary or ASCII format.  
     [0290]FIG. 26 shows a media ID transfer process from a web page to a user account accommodated through a distributed network or other connection. A web page  1178  is being viewed with a web browser  1176 . The user has the web browser  1176  loaded on a local user system  1174 . The media ID  1182  is presented on the web page  1178  in conjunction with the article of media  1180  that it uniquely identifies.  
     [0291] A user can save a record of the article of media  1180  by collecting its media ID  1182 . This is done by clicking on the media If hyperlink  1186 . At  1188  the user is prompted to select a media ID transfer process. At  1190  the user decides to transfer and store the media ID  1182  to a user account located on a remote computer or other device  1198 . At  1192  the user is prompted to enter information as to where the user account is located and is asked to provide access information to the user account. Additionally, tools are provided sophisticated navigation to the user account.  
     [0292] At  1194  the user is provided dynamic software tools to facilitate navigation within the structured user account. At  1196  the media ID  1182  is routed and delivered to the account on the remote system  1198  that the user specified. At  1200  a confirmation message is sent to the users local system  1174 . The user can access his user account at a later time and download the media ID  1182  to his local software or view the media ID directly thorough the user account.  
     [0293]FIG. 27 shows several aspects of the transfer of an electronic media ID. The transfer of an electronic media ID starts at  1202 . At  1204 , an electronic media ID transfer is initiated by a user at the electronic media and its associated media ID (e.g. Internet web page). For example, the user clicks on an electronic media ID associated with an article of electronic media that is hosted on a web page. At  1206  a script, control, or other process is launched as a result of the user interacting with the media ID. This script, control, or other process searches for media ID software located on the local user system. At  1208 , the media ID software is either found or is not found on the local system.  
     [0294] If the media ID software is not found at  1208 , an error message is displayed at  1210  indicating that the media ID software was not found and that the transfer was not executed. At  1212  the user is prompted to download the media ID software, or open a user account, or save a media ID transport file to disk. If the media ID software is not found at  1214  after the download prompt, an error message is displayed at  1216 . This error message contains information about how to get help installing the media ID software. For example, the error message might display a URL that leads to a web page providing information about the media ID software and how to obtain it.  
     [0295] If the media ID software is found at  1214 , then the process starts again at  1202 . If the media ID software was originally found at  1208 , then the process proceeds to  1218  as opposed to  1210 . At  1218  the media ID is transferred from the media source to the media ID software and its associated database located on the users computer. At  1220  the media ID software acknowledges the successful receipt of the media ID and prompts the user with additional options. These options can include transferring the original article of media in addition to the media ID. These options can also include joining an online discussion group or bulletin board or performing searches for related media.  
     [0296]FIG. 28 displays a media ID transfer process from an Internet web server to the media ID software. FIG. 28 displays a web server  1246  that is hosting a web page  1248  that contains an article of electronic media  1262  with an associated media ID that is incorporated in an ActiveX™ control  1250 .  
     [0297] The media ID located on the web server  1246  has been published in an ActiveX™ control  1250 , or other control that contains, is encoded with, or references data fields  1252  that uniquely define and identify the article of electronic media  1262  on the web server  1246 . The control also contains electronic media content links  1254  enabling the ActiveX™ control to manage a download of the original article of electronic media in portable format  1263 , or hand-off the necessary information for a transfer to be executed by the media ID software  1226  or other process. Additionally, the ActiveX™ control  1250  is graphically represented  1256  by a media ID graphic  1258  and/or character hyperlink  1260 . The original article of media that the media ID uniquely identifies is located at  1262 .  
     [0298] A user computer system  1222  has the media ID software  1226  and the web browser software  1228  loaded in system memory at  1224 . A web browser  1228  is shown with a web page  1230  that contains a media ID that is incorporated in an ActiveX™ control  1232  and an associated article of electronic media  1264 . In this embodiment, the web page  1230  loaded in the web browser  1228  has been obtained using the Internet  1244  from the host web server  1246 . The user of the local computer  1222  can save the media ID and the associated article of media  1264  presented on his web page  1230  and hosted from the web server  1246 . To do this, the user clicks on the media ID graphic  1236  to initiate a transfer. The ActiveX™ control or other control or mechanism  1232  initiates communication with the local media ID software  1226  and negotiates transfer of the media ID data fields  1242 . If the user specifies that they wish to obtain the associated original electronic media content  1263 , then the ActiveX™ control  1232  or media ID software  1226  can utilize the link information located within the ActiveX™ control at  1240  to download the original electronic media hosted on the web server at  1246 . This download can be accomplished using a distributed network connection  1244 .  
     [0299] These transfers are initiated by the user and facilitated by the media ID software  1226  or ActiveX™ control  1232  and a distributed network browser  1228 . The user can activate the transfer of a media ID simply by clicking on the graphic representation of the ActiveX™ control  1234  associated with the article of electronic media  1264  that is presented through the web browser  1228  on the user computer system  1222 . The media ID software  1226  then receives the incoming media ID data fields  1242  or electronic media article content in portable format  1263  that is being transferred.  
     [0300] Alternatively, the article of electronic media  1264  displayed on the web page  1230  of the users computer system  1222  can be converted to a portable document format through a process executed by the ActiveX™ control  1232  or media ID software  1226 . This method eliminates the need for the ActiveX™ control to contain electronic media content links  1240  and the web server  1246  to host electronic media article content in portable format  1263 .  
     [0301]FIG. 29 shows the transfer of a media ID from media ID software to a remote computer or other device. The process of transferring an electronic media ID starts at  1266 . At  1268 , a media ID transfer is initiated by the user from his media ID software. For example, the user opens his media ID software and decides to transfer a media ID from a remote source to his local media ID software on his local computer platform.  
     [0302] At  1270  the media ID software processes the transfer request from the user and opens a connection to a remote computer or other device selected by the user that is hosting the target media ID. At  1272 , the response status of the remote computer, or other device, or software is determined. If the remote computer or other device does not respond, a “no” state is reached and an error message is displayed at  1274 . The process returns to start at  1266 .  
     [0303] If the remote computer or other device does respond at  1272 , the media ID software initiates a session with the remote computer, software, or other device and receives media ID content information and media content information from the remote computer or other source at  1276 .  
     [0304] At  1278  the user specifies what media ID content he wishes to transfer. If at  1282  the media ID transfer request is denied, then at  1284  the media ID software making the transfer request determines if sufficient security rights and access protocols are in place to download the media ID. If it is determined that sufficient rights and access protocols are in fact in place to download the media ID from the remote media ID software, the process proceeds to  1288  for further diagnostics.  
     [0305] Alternately, at  1284  it is determined that the necessary transfer rights are not in place. At  1286  the necessary transfer rights and access protocols are negotiated and acquired. Following the successful negotiation of transfer rights and access protocols, the process returns to  1276  and the process starts again.  
     [0306] If the original transfer request at  1276  is acknowledged, or if access rights were negotiated at block  1286 , the user specifies which media IDs to transfer at  1278 , and the media IDs are transferred from the remote media ID software to the local user media ID software at  1280 . After the media ID has been successfully transferred, the local media ID software prompts the user at  1290  to determine if the user wishes to transfer more media IDs. If the user wishes to transfer more media IDs, the process returns to  1270 . If the user does not wish to transfer more media IDs, the process ends at  1292 .  
     [0307]FIG. 30 is a screen illustration showing media IDs being dragged from articles of media and being dropped into the media ID software  1296  that is located on a local user computer system  1294 . For example, a word processor  1302  contains an article of media  1304  that has an associated media ID  1306 . FIG. 30 shows the media ID  1306  being dragged from the word processor  1302  to the media ID software  1296 . Media IDs can be dragged from articles of media directly into the media ID software  1296 . The media ID software  1296  receives the media ID  1306  from the word processor  1302 , decodes it and then catalogs and organizes it into its database.  
     [0308] A media ID  1312  located on a web page browser  1308  uniquely defines and identifies an article of media  1310  that is being displayed on the web page browser  1308 . FIG. 30 shows the media ID  1312  being dragged from the web page browser  1308  to the media ID software  1296 . The user is dragging the media ID  1312  into the database viewer  1298  of the media ID software  1296 . Media IDs can be dropped into many different windows within the media ID software  1296 . Once dropped in the media ID software  1296 , the software automatically decodes the media ID  1312  and stores it in the media ID database. In an embodiment, the media ID  1312  is a media ID only and does not contain the associated article of media  1310 . Alternatively, media IDs can be encoded with the identifying text of the article of media and the original article of media itself.  
     [0309] A media ID  1314  is shown being dragged from the web page browser  1308  and dropped in the media ID software  1296 . The media ID  1314  contains the original article of media  1310  and is dropped into the database viewer window  1298  where the media ID software  1296  receives the media ID  1314  decodes it, organizes it, and manages it. The media ID software now contains the media ID  1314  that uniquely represents the article of media  1310  plus the article of media  1310 . The media ID software  1296  provides sophisticated tools to interact with both the media ID  1314  and the article of media  1310 . In this embodiment, the only difference between media ID  1312  and media ID  1314  is the inclusion of media item  1310  within media ID  1314 .  
     [0310] In yet another embodiment, the graphical representation and manipulation of media and media IDs and the related ability in the media ID software  1296  provides the user with the ability to quickly transfer media IDs to the media ID software.  
     [0311]FIG. 31 shows a media ID  1320  being dragged from a web page browser  1318  to the media ID mitt  1328 . The media ID mitt  1328  is placed on the desktop  1316  so that the user does not have to open the media ID software to drag and drop media IDs from articles of media to the media ID software. The media ID mitt  1328  is available on the desktop  1316  to “catch” any media IDs that the user wants to save to the media ID software. The media ID mitt  1328  is capable of storing media IDs and then automatically transferring them to the media ID software once it has been opened. The media ID mitt  1328  can also be configured to automatically send the media IDs to the media ID software database even when the media ID software is closed.  
     [0312] For example, a media ID  1320  is shown being dragged from a web page browser  1318  to the media ID mitt  1328 . This media ID  1320  uniquely identifies the article of media  1330  that is being displayed on the web page browser  1318 . The media ID mitt  1328  catches the media ID  1320  and stores it until the media ID software is opened. Alternately, the media ID mitt  1328  catches the media ID  1320  and automatically stores it in the media ID software database. The media ID mitt can be used whether the media ID software is active or not, providing users the option of dragging media IDs to the mitt  1328  as opposed to the minimized, or even closed media ID software.  
     [0313]FIG. 31 also shows a media ID mitt  1326  that is located in the task bar  1332 . The media ID mitt can be located in the task bar  1332  or on the desktop  1316 . A media ID  1320  is shown being dragged from the web page browser  1318  to the media ID mitt  1326  located in the task bar  1332 . The media ID mitt  1326  catches the media ID  1320  and automatically stores it in the media ID software database. Like media ID mitt  1328 , the media ID mitt  1326  in the task bar  1332  can be used whether the media ID software is active or not.  
     [0314]FIG. 32 displays a media ID transfer process from a handheld media ID scanner to a user computer system. The media ID scanner  1342  is a portable hand-held electronic device like a cellular phone that stores media IDs that have been scanned. The media ID scanner  1342  is used to scan and collect printed and electronic media IDs and store them in memory  1348 . Once stored in memory  1348 , the user has a record of articles of media and can download them to the media ID software  1338 , to a media ID transport file  1340 , etc. that are located on a user computer system  1334 .  
     [0315] In response to a user&#39;s request, an embodiment of the media ID scanner transmission mechanism  1350  sends the media ID(s) stored in the electronic scanner  1342  to a user computer system  1334 . The transfer from the media ID scanner  1342  is received at the user computer system  1334  via a serial port, or other interface (e.g. infrared, Firewire, USB)  1336 . After being received at the serial port or other interface  1336 , the media IDs from the electronic scanner  1342  are sent to the media ID software  1338 . The media IDs could alternately be sent to a media ID transport file  1340  on the user computer system  1334 . The media ID transport file  1340  is a platform independent file that contains media ID(s) that can be moved between different user platforms and loaded into the associated media ID software. In yet another embodiment, a media ID transport file  1340  that contains media ID(s) can be sent from the user computer system  1334  to the media ID scanner  1342 . Additionally, a media ID can be sent directly from the media ID software  1338  on the user computer system  1334  to the media ID scanner  1342 . This two-way communication allows the user to move media ID(s) back and forth between the media ID scanner  1342  and the user computer system  1334 .  
     [0316] The media ID software  1338  catalogs and organizes the media IDs sent from the electronic media ID scanner  1342 . The interaction between the electronic media ID scanner  1342  and the user computer system  1334  provides a mechanism for a user to collect media IDs in the absence of the media ID software  1338 . The handheld scanner  1342  provides a storage place  1348  for the media IDs until such time that they are loaded into the media ID software  1338  on a user computer system  1334 . The handheld scanner can also send the media IDs to other hardware and electronic transport files.  
     [0317] In another embodiment, a system and software for managing media IDs and associated media using a database for the storage, management, and communication of media IDs and media associated with media IDs. This embodiment efficiently manages media IDs using software with an integrated database located at a client or other computer that organizes and catalogs an archive of media IDs and associated media. Additionally, the software negotiates the communication and transfer of media IDs from various sources. For example, the media ID software receives the media ID when a user activates a transfer from a web page electronic news article that has an associated media ID. Alternately, the media ID software can send a media ID from a local user platform to a remote user platform.  
     [0318] An embodiment of the present invention operates in a distributed computer environment, which includes, but is not limited to servers, client computers, PDAs, media ID scanners, LANs, WANs, the Internet, and wireless device connections. This embodiment provides software for managing media IDs. The media ID software can interface with a multitude of media that have, contain, or are linked to associated media IDs. Some examples include printed newspaper articles, music videos, MP3 songs, electronic news, videos, etc. Additionally, the media ID software can interface with media ID scanning devices, PDAs, electronic media documents, electronic mail, media ID database archives, media hosting servers, and a multitude of other devices.  
     [0319] The media ID software program manages media IDs and their content, provides advanced query tools for searching and sorting of media ID content, manages the download and transfer of media IDs and associated electronic documents, and includes screens, windows or other facilities for quick and easy previewing of electronic documents. The media ID software includes advanced tools for export of media IDs and/or their associated electronic media via numerous transfer mechanisms. For example, these can include SMTP, instant messaging software, and computer I/O ports.  
     [0320] The media ID application program also includes the proper software tools to allow a user to publish or otherwise create and implement their own electronic and printed media IDs. This embodiment may be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications link or network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. Execution of the program modules may occur locally in a stand-alone manner or remotely in a client/client or client/server manner. Examples of such distributed computing environments include device/computer connections, local area networks of an office, enterprise-wide computer networks, and the Internet.  
     [0321]FIG. 33 shows components of an embodiment of the media ID software. The media ID software  1356  is comprised of components or elements  1358  through  1372 . An import/export component or process is located at  1358 . This import/export process allows media IDs to be imported and exported from the media ID software. For example, a user could export his media IDs to a media ID export file. This user could then give this media ID export file to a colleague who could subsequently import it into his media ID software. The colleague (or importer) would now have his own collection of media IDs in addition to his friends. The import/export process at  1358  can be utilized for a variety of other import/export processes such as file exchange, file conversion, and to perform work on a collection of media IDs.  
     [0322] A media ID database component is located at  1360 . This database is capable of cataloging and organizing the media IDs and associated media that the user or other entity inputs, downloads into, or otherwise transfers into the media ID software. The database is an active component of the software that is accessed for simple and advanced media ID searches, to organize groups of media IDs, to archive media IDs, and to perform searches and filtering of media IDs. The database  1360  has a sophisticated default organization structure. Additionally, the database structure can be customized based upon user input. The database can be configured to suit the personal tastes of each user. An aspect of the media ID database located at  1360  is its ability to store, catalog, and organize articles of media as well as media IDs. For example, a user can download a media ID from an article of electronic media and store it in the database located at  1360 . The user can then download the original article of media that the media ID identifies and represents and can store that in the media ID database located at  1360 .  
     [0323] An e-mail component is located at  1362 . The e-mail component provides the media ID software with a connection to the world of electronic mail. Users of the media ID software described herein can e-mail media IDs to friends directly from the media ID software. The e-mail component can also be used as a tool that the media ID software can use to perform work associated with local media IDs and remote media IDs.  
     [0324] A media and media ID viewer is located at  1364  in FIG. 33. This media ID viewer provides a quick and simple mechanism for the user to view text, graphics, sound, and video associated with media IDs and to view the media IDs themselves. This capability allows the user to click on or otherwise select a media ID and quickly see relevant text, graphics, and play sound and video associated with the media ID. In some cases the media ID viewer at  1364  will allow the user to view not only a subset of the media ID, but the entire contents of the media ID. For example, the viewer at  1364  allows the user to play movies such as MPEG and DIVX files.  
     [0325] A media ID publishing tools component is located at  1366 . The publishing tools allow the user to “publish” their own media IDs. For example, an author might finish a mystery book and wish to publish it with a unique media ID. The publishing tools at  1366  can be used to publish a unique media ID on the mystery book that is in all respects in conformity with media ID standards. The user&#39;s local media ID publishing tool is capable of operating in concert with a media ID intermediary or other media ID entity that has been established to maintain and provide oversight for media ID creation.  
     [0326] A media ID graphical user interface component is located at  1368 . This graphical-user-interface is the front-end through which the media ID user accesses most other aspects of the media ID software. For example, if a media ID software user wants to look for a particular media ID, the graphical user interface provides simple yet powerful tools to interface with the database component that is located at  1360 . The graphical-user-interface provides the user with a graphical representation and text representation of media IDs and has tools like drop-down menus and pop-up boxes etc. that facilitate the users needs. The graphical-user-interface is the local users primary interface with the media ID software.  
     [0327] A media ID discussion forum tool is located at  1370 . The media ID discussion forum provides support for users to log on to discussion forums, and to support discussion forums on their local platform. For example, a user downloads an electronic media ID about the slide of the dollar against the euro. In addition to downloading the media ID, the user downloads the entire article of electronic media. The media ID software will catalog and organize the media ID and the associated article of media. At  1370  the media ID software also provides the interface for the user to join any online discussion forums that exist and are related to the article of media (in this case the slide of the dollar against the euro). Additionally, the media hosting forum at  1370  allows the user to host an online or bulletin board discussion related to media IDs and associated media. The media ID software has built in capability that allows the user to host his own small forum that other media ID users can join.  
     [0328] A media hosting tool is located at  1372 . The media ID software provides support for the user to host media IDs and related articles of media. A user can share a media ID with a friend through the tools and functionality associated with  1372 . For example, a user can configure the media ID software to allow a set of users to access one or more media IDs or associated article of media using the tools located at  1372 . The user can also provide anonymous access to media and media IDs as well.  
     [0329]FIG. 34 shows a screen display that illustrates several aspects of an embodiment of media ID software. The media ID software contains many features and is designed to be user-configurable. Because the user can easily configure the software to his liking, many alternate variations of the screen display are possible. In this example, a media ID database navigation tool  1376  is used for accessing the information in the media ID software database. The user can create directories and folders as required, or the media ID software can automatically create directories and folders as media IDs are loaded into the software. The media ID software as presented in the current invention has a default media ID organization structure. This default media ID structure will automatically organize the media IDs into logical groupings without input from a user.  
     [0330] A user can either accept the default media ID database organization structure, or establish their own organization structure. The media ID database navigation tool  1376  shows several folders and sub-folders to illustrate a simple media ID database structure. In this example, the business folder  1378  is currently highlighted. When a database folder that contains media IDs is highlighted, the media IDs are displayed in the sortable database viewer  1380 .  
     [0331] The sortable database viewer  1380  displays a list of the media IDs contained in the business folder  1378  that is located in the database navigation tool  1376 . The first media ID  1382  is a newspaper article and the second media ID  1384  is a chapter from a book. In this example, the media ID  1384  is shown with text and an associated graphic icon  1386 . Although the media IDs are primarily represented by text in screen display  1374  of the media ID software, numerous other representations of the media IDs within the media ID software are possible. For example, the media IDs can be represented primarily by graphics with supporting text.  
     [0332] Each media ID contains unique information about the article of printed or electronic media that they are associated with. Each media ID also contains at least one subject classification that identifies it with a theme or subject matter. An alternate embodiment establishes a suite of subject classifications for each media ID that represent the different subject classifications and groupings that a single article of media can “belong” to, or be associated with.  
     [0333] The sortable database viewer  1380  shows two media IDs that are being represented graphically and with text. In this example, the sortable database viewer  1380  displays the contents of the business database folder  1378 . The first media ID  1382  has an American flag/dollar sign graphic  1388  associated with it. This American flag/dollar sign graphic  1388  is a graphical representation of a primary subject classification. Subject classifications can also be represented with text and by other means. This American flag/dollar sign graphic  1388  visually alerts the media ID user that the primary subject content of this article of media is American business. A user of the software can place their mouse or other pointer over the graphic to activate a hint box that displays text information that is equivalent to the graphic.  
     [0334] The second media ID  1384  has an International economics graphic  1386  associated with it. This International economics graphic  1386  is a graphical representation of a primary subject classification and indicates that this article of media is principally related to international economics. In this example, media ID  1384  from the sortable database viewer  1380  is currently highlighted. When a media ID is highlighted in the sortable database viewer  1380 , detailed information about it will be displayed in other areas of the media ID software. Media IDs can be quickly sorted and arranged by the sortable database viewer  1380 . For example, the media IDs can be sorted by author  1392 , by subject icons  1390 , by media theme  1396 , by publication date  1398 , etc. As an example, the publication date column header  1398  in the sortable database viewer  1380  can be clicked on by the user to quickly sort media IDs displayed in the sortable database viewer by publication date.  
     [0335] The quick facts window  1404  of FIG. 34 shows relevant information associated with the currently highlighted media ID  1384  from the sortable database viewer  1380 . The quick facts window  1404  provides the user with a collection of useful information about the currently selected media ID. The following information is provided in the quick facts window  1404 : the media ID theme  1406 , the media ID media type  1412 , the presence of an attached file  1418 , the media type  1424 , the theme  1426 , the publication title  1428 , the author  1430 , the chapter number  1432 , the chapter title  1434 , the part number  1436 , the part title  1438 , and the media source  1440 .  
     [0336] The quick facts window provides the media ID software user with a set of convenient facts about the article of media associated with the media ID currently selected. This information can come directly from the information encoded within or otherwise associated with the media ID that is uniquely identifying the article of media. The information that is encoded in a media ID that renders each article of media unique is used to populate most or all of the quick fact section.  
     [0337] Information can be represented graphically or with text in the quick facts window  1404 . For example, the primary subject classification of the article of media uniquely represented by the media ID  1384  that is currently selected in the sortable database viewer  1380  is international economics. This primary subject classification information from the currently selected media ID  1384  is represented at  1406 . Block  1406  is composed of text  1408  and an international economics subject classification graphic  1410 . The text  1408  consists of the word “Theme” and the graphic  1410  is a graphical representation of the primary subject classification international economics. A user of the software can place their mouse or other pointer over the graphic  1410  to activate a hint box that displays text information that is equivalent to the graphic. In this example the equivalent text would be international economics. The information at block  1406  in the quick facts window provides a fast and simple method for the user to visually determine the primary subject classification of the currently selected media ID  1384 .  
     [0338] This graphical and text representation of aspects of a media ID provides a mechanism where the user can simply glance at the quick facts window  1404  and immediately see information about the article of media associated with the media ID. For example, Block  1418  is composed of text  1420  and a file graphic  1422  that indicates whether or not an article of media is attached to the currently selected media ID  1384 . The presence of the graphical representation of a file (paper clip)  1422  in the quick facts window  1404  indicates that a file is currently attached to the media ID  1384 . In this example, the attached file is an electronic version of the original article of media associated with the media ID  1384  currently selected in the sortable database viewer  1380 .  
     [0339] Information about the currently selected media ID  1384  is also presented with text only in the quick facts window  1404 . For example, The chapter title  1434  of the article of media associated with the currently selected media ID  1384  is displayed in the quick facts window  1404 . The chapter title  1434  is “A Car with Two Drivers”.  
     [0340] Another aspect of the quick facts window  1404  is the additional information button  1442  located near the bottom of the window. This additional information button  1442  will open another window when the user clicks on or otherwise selects the button that contains comprehensive information about the currently selected media ID  1384 . For example, the additional information window can contain all of the information fields from a media ID  1384 . In other cases, the additional information window could contain all of the information from the media ID fields plus additional information provided by the media ID software. Configuration controls are also made available that allow for user defined customization of the quick facts window.  
     [0341] In a further embodiment, an embedded media player/viewer enables users of the media ID software to open the media ID and/or article of media and interact with it. Screen display  1374  shows a media ID viewer/player  1443  that a user of the media ID software can utilize to view attached media or media IDs. In this case, the media associated with the currently selected media ID  1384  from the sortable database viewer  1380  is being shown. In this example, the media ID  1384  and the original article of media that the media ID identifies are two separate entities.  
     [0342] The original article of media in this case is a chapter from a book and is an attachment to the media ID  1384 . The top section of the media viewer window  1443  is divided into information display areas and shows information about the article of media currently being played or viewed. For example, the publication title area  1444  is “Secrets of the Temple.” In addition, the top section of the media viewer  1443  contains media navigation and display tools  1446  that allow the user to pan or precisely move through the media, enlarge or reduce the media view, and to set the view scale etc.  
     [0343] The media viewing tools and methods of interacting with the media automatically change depending on the type of media ID selected and the different types of media that media IDs can represent. For instance, if a chapter from a book is selected, a book or text viewer is appropriate. If the user selects a media ID from an MP3 song, a sound player would be activated. If the user had selected a media ID from a video, a video player would be activated instead of a viewer. If the user had selected a media ID from a photo, a photo viewer would be activated etc.  
     [0344] Screen display  1374  of FIG. 34 shows additional aspects of the media ID software. A graphical representation  1450  of the media that the media ID identifies is displayed in the media viewer  1443 . In this case a graphic  1450  represents the front cover of the original article of media (book) that the media ID  1384  uniquely identifies. In this case, the media ID  1384  that is currently selected in the sortable database viewer  1380  and is being viewed in the media viewer window  1443  is from a chapter from the book whose front cover is shown as a graphic  1450 .  
     [0345] Immediately below the graphic  1450  are thumbnail preview pages  1452  from the article of media associated with the media ID  1384  that is currently selected. The user can click on any of these preview pages  1452  and the page clicked on will be displayed in the media viewer window  1448  to the right. In this example, the first preview page  1454  is currently selected and is being displayed in the viewer window  1448 . The chapter title is “A Car With Two Drivers” and it is chapter eleven. This information is currently being viewed in the media ID viewer  1448  to the right.  
     [0346] Screen display  1374  of FIG. 34 shows additional aspects of an embodiment of the media ID software. A media ID software acquisition tool  1456  is shown that the user can utilize to acquire additional media or media IDs related to the currently selected media ID  1384 . In this example, the media ID software contains only chapter eleven from the book entitled “Secrets of the Temple”, as indicated by it being solid black text  1458  in the acquire tool  1456 . The other chapters in the acquisition tool  1456  are grayed out, indicating that they are not currently present in the media ID software database. For example, chapter four  1460  is grayed out indicating that is not currently present in the media ID software.  
     [0347] In this embodiment, the right side of the media ID acquire tool  1456  provides a mechanism for the user to acquire the chapters of the book that are not present. These chapters are shown in active black, which indicates that the user can click on them for acquisition. For example, the user can acquire chapter 6 by clicking on the black active download text  1462 . Once the user clicks on a chapter to acquire it, the media ID software will process the request and retrieve the media and associated media ID. This is accomplished through a distributed network connection or other connection as discussed above.  
     [0348] The acquisition tool will change form depending upon the type of media ID that is currently selected in the media ID software. For example, if a media ID for a single song from an album is selected, then the acquisition tool might show the balance of the songs on the album and allow the user to download them if the proper authorization is in place. Hot buttons for the media ID software are displayed at  1402 . Hot buttons allow the user to open a particular window or configuration screen with one click. Hot buttons also allow the user to starts processes, access the database, and perform other tasks related to the management of media IDs.  
     [0349]FIG. 35 shows a screen display of the database viewer  1464  from FIG. 34 that contains additional information. The database viewer  1464  allows the user of the media ID software to view, access, and manage the media IDs stored in the local media ID database(s) or remote media ID database(s) associated with the media ID software. A top-level local media ID database folder  1466  defines and encompasses a discrete media ID database. The local media ID database  1466  is the local database for the local user&#39;s media ID software.  
     [0350] The top-level local media ID database  1466  shown in FIG. 35 is composed of sub-folders that contain media IDs and provide a sophisticated organization structure. For example, a business folder  1470  is located immediately beneath the top-level local media ID database folder  1466 . A research folder  1472  is also located beneath the top-level local media ID database folder  1466  and contains a  2001  sub-folder  1474 . A status indicator  1468  provides an immediate visual indication (green light) that the database folder is currently on-line and accessible. Media IDs and associated articles of media can be accessed through the database viewer when the database is on-line.  
     [0351] A remote media ID database  1476  is shown in FIG. 35 that the user can also view through the local media ID software and database viewer  1464 . The remote media ID database  1476  is located on a remote system that the local media ID software is currently connected to. A status indicator  1478  provides an immediate visual indication (green light) that the remote database is currently on-line and accessible. The remote media ID database  1476  is composed of folders and sub-folders that contain media IDs and associated media. For example, an intelligence folder  1479  contains a  2002  sub-folder  1480 .  
     [0352] The business folder  1470  is currently highlighted or selected in the database viewer  1464 . Highlighting or selecting a database folder in the database viewer  1464  will result in information about the media IDs contained in that folder being displayed elsewhere in the media ID software.  
     [0353]FIG. 36 shows a screen display of the media viewer window  1484  from FIG. 34 that contains additional information. A media/player display area  1486  displays media associated with media IDs that the user has currently selected. The media display area  1486  will change in appearance and functionality depending upon what type of media ID is currently selected. For example, the media display area  1486  is currently displaying information from a chapter of a book. If a media ID associated with a digital video file was selected, a player capable of playing the digital video file would be presented in area  1486  instead of a viewer for a chapter of a book.  
     [0354] Media viewer navigation and management tools  1488  are also displayed in the media viewer window  1484 . These tools provide media management capabilities to the user and change based upon the type of media ID and associated media currently selected. Information about the currently selected media ID and associated media is displayed at  1490 ,  1492 , and  1494 . In this example, the information is the publication title  1490 , the chapter title  1492 , and the chapter number  1494 .  
     [0355] A media and media ID acquisition tool  1496  provides a mechanism for users to download media or media IDs associated with the currently selected media ID. A graphic  1506  of the media associated with the media ID provides a visual representation for the user to see. A preview pane or viewer  1508  allows the user to see additional media content that is not currently displayed in the view area  1486 . In this example, the media viewer  1484  is flexible and changes appearance and form based upon the media type selected.  
     [0356]FIG. 37 shows a screen display of the quick facts window  1512  from FIG. 34. The quick facts window  1512  provides a quick information summary of the currently selected media ID. For example, three graphics are presented at the top of the quick facts window  1512  that each have text immediately above the graphic. These graphic/text combinations provide useful visual information about the currently selected media ID. For example, the theme of the currently selected media ID is presented at block  1514  which contains text  1516  and a graphic  1518 . The text  1516  reads “Theme” and the graphic  1518  is an international economics icon. The user can quickly process this information and understand that the theme of the currently selected media ID and associated media is international economics.  
     [0357] Text fields below the graphic/text combinations provide the user with additional information about the currently selected media ID and associated media. For example, a media part title  1560  has an associated field  1562  that is currently populated with the text “The Liquidation.” These text fields in the media ID software quick facts window  1512  provide the user with a quick summary of relevant information about the article of media associated with the currently selected media ID.  
     [0358]FIG. 38 shows a screen display of the sortable database viewer window  1570  from FIG. 34. The sortable database viewer  1570  provides the user with a display of media IDs and associated media from the currently selected folder in the database viewer. The sortable database viewer  1570  in FIG. 38 shows two media IDs. The first media ID  1584  represents a newspaper article and has a primary subject classification graphic  1586 . Items  1572  through  1582  are dockable information fields that control what information is displayed for each media ID. The information fields also can be used to quickly sort the list of media IDs that are currently shown in the media ID sortable database viewer  1570 .  
     [0359] For example, if the user clicks on publication type  1582 , the media IDs will automatically be sorted in a logical order based upon their associated publication type. The second media ID  1588  is shown highlighted in FIG. 38. When a user highlights a media ID in the sortable database viewer, additional information about the media ID becomes available in other media ID software windows.  
     [0360]FIG. 39 shows a screen display  1592  that illustrates several aspects of the media ID software. The media ID software contains many features and is designed to be user-configurable. Because the user can easily configure the software to his liking, many software screen variations are possible. In this example, the screen display generally follows standard windows formatting.  
     [0361] A database navigation tool  1594  (or database viewer) allows the user to access the information in the media ID software database or other media ID databases. The user can create directories and folders as required, or the media ID software can automatically create directories and folders based upon imported media and media ID content. The media ID software as presented in the current invention has a default media ID organization structure. This default media ID structure will automatically organize the media IDs into logical groupings.  
     [0362] An embodiment of the media ID subject classification viewer  1602  provides a radial view of the selected media ID and its associated subject classifications. The media ID subject classification viewer  1602  (or radial viewer) is covered in detail in FIG. 42. Several aspects of the radial viewer  1602  as it relates to the media ID software will be discussed here. The media ID radial viewer  1602  provides users of the media ID software with a graphical and text representation of the subject content or subject classification(s) of the currently selected article of media that is represented by a media ID  1604 . The radial viewer  1602  can be turned on and off at the users discretion. The radial viewer  1602  shows 1 primary subject classification  1606  being represented by graphics and text, and 5 secondary subject classifications (for example,  1608 ) being represented by graphics and text. The system of attaching multiple subject classifications to a media ID  1604  accurately captures the many subject hues of the article of media, as opposed to the current system of attaching a single subject classification. In this embodiment, the primary and secondary subject classifications are being represented with graphics and with text.  
     [0363] A secondary subject classification graphic  1608  associated with the media ID  1604  is shown being dragged from the radial viewer  1602  and dropped in the media search matrix  1624 . The currently selected media ID  1604  uniquely defines and represents “Security Analysis” by Benjamin Graham and the primary and secondary media ID subject classifications in the radial viewer  1602  help to comprehensively define the subject content of the media ID  1604  and the article of media it represents. The secondary subject classification graphic  1608  that is being dragged from the radial viewer  1602  to the media search matrix  1624  indicates that the article of media associated with the media ID  1604  contains subject content related to American business.  
     [0364] In this example a user can visually see by the arrangements of primary and secondary subject classifications that a secondary theme of Benjamin Graham&#39;s book is American business. The media ID software allows the user to drag and drop any aspect of the media ID subject classification structure into the search matrix  1624 . When this secondary subject classification is dragged into the search matrix  1624 , it will influence the media search with the subject it represents, American business, and it will influence the search by its attachment to the media ID  1604 .  
     [0365] An online bulletin/discussion forum window  1638  provides users of the media ID software with tools to support online bulletins and discussion groups. A media ID  1634  can be dragged from the media search results window  1632  into the online bulletin/discussion forum window  1638 . This allows the user to easily populate the online bulletin/discussion forum window  1638  with a topic media ID. The online bulletin discussion forum window  1638  is discussed at length in FIG. 45.  
     [0366] A media ID subject icon viewer  1612  contains primary  1618  and secondary  1620  media ID subject classifications. The media ID subject icon viewer  1612  contains subject classification information that is similar in nature to the information presented in the radial viewer  1602 . The media ID subject icon viewer  1612  organizes the subject icon information in a horizontal or vertical orientation and separates the media ID subject content into primary  1614  and secondary  1616  subject classification categories.  
     [0367] Like the media ID radial viewer  1602 , the subject viewer  1612  contains graphic and text descriptions of each media ID. In this window display  1612 , the subject classifications are placed in a vertical fashion and the subject icon viewer that contains them is placed immediately adjacent to the media search engine  1624 . This facilitates the dragging and dropping of the primary  1614  and secondary  1616  subject classifications associated with a media ID from the media ID subject icon viewer  1612  to the to the media search matrix  1624 .  
     [0368] A secondary media ID subject classification  1620  is shown being dragged from the subject icon viewer  1612  to the media ID search matrix  1624 . The secondary media ID subject classification  1620  that is being dragged from the subject icon viewer  1612  and dropped in the search matrix  1624  is the history subject classification. When this secondary subject classification  1620  is dragged into the search matrix  1624 , it will influence the media search with the subject it represents, history, and it will influence the search by its attachment to the media ID  1604  that is associated with. Alternatively, the history subject classification could have been dragged from the media ID radial viewer  1602  as well.  
     [0369] The media ID software contains sophisticated media and media ID search tools as well as sophisticated media and media ID filtering tools. A media ID search engine window  1622  in FIG. 39 provides powerful and flexible search capabilities. The media ID search engines window  1622  contains a search matrix  1624  that the user can utilize to design and execute searches for media IDs and associated media. The radial subject classification window  1602  and the media subject icon viewer window  1612  visually establish the subject content and subject relationships of a media ID  1604  and the article of media that it represents. Once the subject content is established the user can then drag all of the subject identifiers or some sub-set of them to the media ID search matrix  1624  to develop sophisticated searches with little effort.  
     [0370] A media search results window  1632  shows the results from a media ID search executed from the media search engine  1622 . In this example, three search results were returned in the media search results window  1632 . The user of the media ID software can click on one or more of these search results to access the media ID associated with it and or the original article of media.  
     [0371] A media ID icon viewer  1598  displays the contents of the currently selected database folder  1596  from the database viewer window  1594 . In this example, the media ID  1600  in the upper left is currently selected. When a media ID  1600  is selected in the media ID icon viewer  1598 , it will appear in detail in the media ID view windows such as the media ID radial viewer  1602  and the subject icon viewer  1612 .  
     [0372] Hot buttons  1636  allow the media ID software user to open a particular window or configuration screen with one click. Hot buttons  1636  also allow the user to start processes, access the database, and perform other tasks related to the management of media IDs.  
     [0373]FIG. 40 shows a screen display of the media ID search tool  1640  from FIG. 39. An embodiment of the present invention introduces the concept of graphical searches for locating articles of printed and electronic media. A graphical search is made possible in part because each media ID has a primary subject classification graphic associated with it as well as a suite of secondary subject classification graphics.  
     [0374] In an embodiment, more than one subject classification graphic is associated with each article of media because articles of media are complicated and rarely one-dimensional. Because of this, any given article of media tends to fall into several subject categories rather than Just one subject category. This embodiment addresses this complexity by assigning each article of media a suite of subject classification graphics rather than just one subject classification graphic (or icon). This graphical subject classification suite also enables the user to visually see the subject categories that an article of media belongs to or is associated with, as opposed to having to read text to identify the subject classification categories.  
     [0375] Because the user can see the subject categories or themes associated with each article of media graphically, it is logical to allow the user to design searches based upon graphics in addition to text. FIG. 40 shows a graphical search engine  1644  that performs this task. This graphical search engine  1644  allows the user to drag media IDs and different sets of primary and secondary subject classification graphics into a search area or matrix  1654 . The user can drag and drop multiple subject classification graphics and text into the search matrix  1654  and then perform a search.  
     [0376] Media ID software graphical/text searches are defined and guided by the media IDs, subject classification graphics, and text placed in the search matrix  1654 . For example, a media ID  1646  from an article of media is located in the search matrix  1654 , an American currency graphic  1648  is located in the search matrix  1654 , an American business graphic  1650  is located in the search matrix  1654 , and the text “economics”  1652  is located in the search matrix  1654 . This combination of graphics and text constitutes a unique search that the media ID software user can execute. The user can click on the search button  1660  and the media ID software will begin a search based upon the four items in the search matrix  1654 . The search can occur on the local platform as well as remote platforms.  
     [0377] The introduction of a graphical search engine  1644  empowers the media ID software user in several ways. First, the introduction of the association of subject classification and other graphics with articles of media and media IDs provides a more meaningful identification of media than text alone. People process visual information through text as well as graphics, and attaching both to media and media IDs allows a more sophisticated identification system. It is reasonable to assume that more advanced search processes can be designed with the combination of graphic information and text information that help define an article of media.  
     [0378] Second, the association of graphics with media and media IDs facilitates media searches because the associated icons are easily dragged and dropped into the search matrix  1654 . Dragging and dropping graphics such as icons is far less cumbersome than typing strings of text into a box. Instead of having to type in text for searches, a user can simply drag and drop media IDs, associated icons, and generic subject icons into the search matrix  1654  and then click on search. Because this process is visual, and easy, users are more apt to search for related media and even more apt to perform sophisticated searches that are easy for them to imagine visually, but difficult to imagine with text only.  
     [0379]FIG. 40 shows a window display of a media and media ID search window  1640 . This search engine window is activated inside of the media ID software and is user-configurable. Window display  1640  of FIG. 40 contains a graphical plus text search engine, a text search engine, advanced search parameters, and other tools for the media ID software user. These different search engines and options are activated by clicking on the tabs located at the top and bottom of the search engines window  1642 . In FIG. 40, the graphical plus text engine  1644  has been activated by clicking on the graphical search tab at the top of  1644 , and is currently shown. The search matrix area  1654  is where media IDs, primary and secondary subject classification graphics associated with media IDs, and text are dragged or otherwise placed in order to define a search. Four items have been placed in the search matrix  1654  of the media ID software search engines window  1642  in this example. Three of the search items are graphical subject classifications and one is text. The search matrix  1654  contains a media ID  1646 , an American currency graphic  1648 , an American business graphic  1650 , and the text economics  1652 .  
     [0380] Generic subject classification graphics  1674  provide a library that the user can access to drag media subject classifications into the graphical plus text search engine  1644 . The different categories of subject classification graphics are accessed by a series of subject tabs  1668 . In this case the business tab  1670  has been activated. The user can drag any of these business subject classification graphics  1674  into the search matrix  1654  to further define the search. There is a difference between the generic subject classification graphics  1674  and the primary and secondary subject classification graphics associated with a media ID. The primary and secondary media ID subject classification graphics will always remain associated to the media ID they identify and will influence any search with their relationship to the media ID that they are associated with. These media ID subject classification graphics have an ID located at the lower right of the graphic. The generic subject classification graphics  1674  of FIG. 40 have no associations with a particular media ID, and will influence any media ID or media search only with the generic subject matter that they represent.  
     [0381] In this embodiment, an American business subject classification graphic  1672  is shown being dragged from the generic subject classification library  1674  to the search matrix  1654 . The insert text feature  1656  allows the user to type search terms in the search window  1654 . The user adds this text by clicking on the add button  1658 .  
     [0382] In this embodiment, the search matrix  1654  is currently configured for a simple graphical and text search. A user can execute the search by clicking on the search button  1660 . In this example the user has populated the search matrix  1654  with a media ID, generic subject classification graphics, and text. This embodiment of the media ID search engine  1642  illustrates the ease with which a user can conduct a sophisticated search and the visual dimensions of graphical searches.  
     [0383] Search extents parameters  1676  for the media ID and media search engines provide a mechanism for the user to define the range and dimensions of the media and media ID search. For example, the search can be conducted on the local machine only, on remote platforms only, or on the local machine and remote machine(s). The define buttons  1680 / 1684  allow the user to comprehensively define the local and remote search parameters for media and media ID searches.  
     [0384] A search results window  1688  provides a mechanism for the user to view the search results from searches originating at the search engines  1642 , or other media ID software search engines. In this example, three search results have been returned based upon a search that originated from the search engines  1642 . The search results window  1688  can display the search results from searches conducted on the local system, or can display the search results from searches conducted on media and media IDs located on remote platforms. The search results can represent searches designed to locate media, to locate media IDs, or to locate combinations thereof. The media ID software user can download the media and associated media IDs that are returned in the search window. This is accomplished by clicking on an item located in the search window and following the media retrieval instructions.  
     [0385]FIG. 41 shows a window display of the media ID software media ID search engine  1698  from FIG. 39. The user can click on the tabs at  1714  to move back and forth between the different search engines and the advanced search options. The text search engine  1702  is straightforward and includes a data entry box  1703  that the user can populate with text to define a search. More than one word can be entered into the text box  1703  in the text search engine  1702  to form searches. The user can define whether the search is for all types of media or for select types of media, such as audio only  1706 , or video only. The search extents  1716  provides a mechanism for the user to define the local and remote search range and the dimensions of the search for the media ID and media search. For example, the search can be conducted on the local machine only, on remote platforms only, or on the local machine and remote machine(s).  
     [0386] An advanced options window  1708  is available for each type of media that are selected for search. In this illustration the advanced options  1708  are for fine tuning an audio  1706  media search. An additional options button  1712  provides more options for the user to design searches. The search results window  1726  displays the results of searches generated by the text search engine  1702 . In this example, no search results are displayed in the search results window  1726  based upon a search originating from the test search engine  1702 . The search results window  1726  can display the search results from searches conducted on the local system, or can display the search results from searches conducted on media and media IDs located on remote platforms.  
     [0387] The media ID software user can download media and associated media ID(s) that are displayed in the search window. This is accomplished by clicking on an item located in the search window and following the media retrieval instructions.  
     [0388] A shortcoming of current media identification systems is the tendency to identify articles of media by placing them in a single subject category. For example, the book “Security Analysis” by Benjamin Graham is typically classified as an investment book, where investment is the subject classification of the book. Furthermore, the classification is usually represented by text only. For instance, the identification of “Security Analysis” by Benjamin Graham as an investing book is usually accomplished with text only, and not text and graphics.  
     [0389] An embodiment of the present invention identifies and classifies articles of media with reference to more than one subject classification or theme. Furthermore, in addition to classifying articles of media into more than one subject field, this embodiment uses text and graphics to identify and classify articles of media. This comprehensive classification system better represents articles of media that almost always fall into more than one subject category or subject classification.  
     [0390] For example, “Security Analysis” by Benjamin Graham is better represented by not one subject classification but at least four subject classifications: investing, philosophy, business, and history. This embodiment recognizes that media content is rarely one-dimensional and utilizes multiple graphics and regular text to identify the various subject classifications and categories that media belong to. For instance, “Security Analysis” by Benjamin Graham is represented by a unique media ID, in addition to one or more subject classification icons that symbolize the different subjects or categories that the work pertains to. In our example “Security Analysis” has a primary subject classification that identifies it as an investing book and three secondary subject classifications representing philosophy, business, and history.  
     [0391] A further embodiment of the invention utilizes text and graphics in presenting subject classifications which identify, classify, and catalog articles of media. The association of multiple graphical icons with individual articles of media offers several unique and non-obvious benefits. The visual and graphical representation of the multiple subject categories that an article of media belongs to enables the user to literally see the subject categories rather than reading the subject categories. This helps enable the user to form complicated thoughts about the content and subject matter of the book or other media and better relate it to other articles of media. This is a direct result of the article of media being represented by subject classification icons symbolizing the many facets of the subject content of the article of media and the presentation in a graphical manner. The association of multiple subject categories with an article of media also provides a convenient system for the user of the media ID software to design and execute powerful searches based upon graphical information associated with an article of media as well as text information associated with an article of media.  
     [0392]FIG. 42 shows a window display of the media ID radial viewer  1728  from FIG. 39. FIG. 42 displays primary and secondary media ID subject classifications that are represented through the use of graphics and text. These subject classifications are used to illustrate the underlying subject content associated with an article of media and encoded within each media ID. A media ID subject radial viewer  1728 , as it would appear in the media ID software, comprehensively displays the subject classifications associated with a media ID. FIG. 42 is an embodiment of the radial and graphical presentation of the subject classifications of media IDs.  
     [0393] A media ID  1730  as outlined in an embodiment of the present invention uniquely identifies an individual article of media with a set of comprehensive data about the associated article of media. The media ID  1730  of FIG. 42 can represent printed or electronic media. For the purposes of this illustration it is assumed that a user is viewing this media ID radial  1728  inside of the media ID software as described herein. In this example, the media ID icon  1730  is composed of a graphic  1732  and text  1734 . This text  1734  describes the unique media ID  1730  with alphanumeric characters.  
     [0394] A primary subject classification icon  1736  can be immediately recognized due to its close proximity to the media ID icon  1730  that it represents and further classifies. Primary media ID subject classification icon  1736  occupies the innermost radial or orbit around the media ID icon  1730 . The primary subject classification icon  1736  is immediately identifiable as a media ID subject classification icon by the ID graphic  1740  at the lower right. This ID  1740  draws a distinction between subject classification icons related to and attached to media IDs and generic subject classification icons.  
     [0395] Media ID subject classifications always retain a reference to the media ID that they are attached to. When the user drags a primary media ID subject classification icon into the media ID software search matrix, the primary media ID subject classification icon will influence the search process through the content and identity of the original article of media that the media ID identifies, plus the subject matter represented by the subject matter classification graphic. When the user drags a generic subject matter icon into the search matrix, only the subject matter of the generic subject classification icon will influence the search. Media ID subject matter icons are represented here with an ID graphic  1740  in the lower right to distinguish them from generic subject matter icons that do not have an ID graphic in the lower right corner.  
     [0396] In this example, the subject matter or classification of the primary media ID icon  1736  is investing. The close proximity of this icon  1736  to the media ID icon  1730  establishes that this is a primary media ID subject classification icon and identifies the subject content of the article of media that the media ID represents as being principally concerned with investing. The primary subject classification icon  1736  is composed of a graphic  1738 , text  1742 , and an ID graphic  1740 . This text  1742  describes the primary subject classification with alphanumeric characters. In this case the text reads “Subject: Investing.” A hint box  1744  is activated when the user positions the mouse over the Investing subject classification icon  1736 . The hint box  1744  can contain additional information about the subject classification icon  1736  and the media ID  1730 . In this example, the hint box  1744  identifies the investing primary subject classification icon  1736  as being a primary subject classification icon, identifies it as an investing subject icon, and identifies the author and title of the work.  
     [0397] Secondary media ID subject classification icons provides additional information about the subject content of the media ID  1730  and its associated article of media. Multiple secondary subject classification icons can be associated with an article of media and its associated media ID  1730 . These secondary media ID subject classifications transform the classification of the media ID  1730  and its associated media from a one-dimensional subject classification to a multi-dimensional subject classification. Secondary subject classification media icons are used to reflect the subject spectra that articles of media occupy.  
     [0398] For example, an American business secondary subject classification icon  1746  also has an ID graphic or mark  1751  located at the lower right. This distinguishes the media ID subject classification icon  1746  from a generic subject classification icon. In fact, there is a generic investing subject icon in FIG. 39 that looks identical to subject classification icon  1746  except that it does not have the ID graphic in the lower right.  
     [0399] In addition to the graphical representation of the subject matter, text  1750  is located just below the American business graphic  1748 . This text  1750  describes the media ID subject icon with alphanumeric characters. In this case the text  1750  reads “Subject: American Business.” In this example, the primary subject icon occupies the innermost radial and the secondary subject icons occupy the next radial out.  
     [0400] A secondary media ID subject classification icon  1752  is the American currency subject classification icon and indicates that the media ID  1730  is related to American currency as well as investing and American business. An embodiment is the comprehensive identification of the subject matter of an article of media. The media ID subject radial  1728  from FIG. 42 provides comprehensive information about the subject matter of the media ID  1730  at the center of the radial  1728  and provides it in a graphical format as well as a text format. Text  1754  describes the media ID subject classification  1752  with alphanumeric characters. In this case the text reads “Subject: American Currency.” 
     [0401] A secondary media ID subject classification icon  1756  indicates that the media ID  1730  is related to American history as well as investing, American business, and American currency. Text  1758  describes the media ID subject classification  1756  with alphanumeric characters. In this case the text  1758  reads “Subject: American History.” A hint box  1760  is activated when the user positions the mouse over the History subject classification icon  1756 . The hint box  1760  can contain additional information about the media ID subject classification icon  1756  and the media ID  1730 . In this example, the hint box  1760  identifies the American history icon as being a secondary subject icon, identifies it as a American history Subject icon, and identifies the author and title of the work.  
     [0402] A user definable secondary subject classification icon  1762  provides a mechanism for the user to attach a subject matter graphic or icon to a media ID  1730  and further define and personalize the media ID subject classification. Because classification is subjective at some level, an embodiment of the present invention provides a mechanism for a user to attach media ID subject matter icons to individual media IDs.  
     [0403] A user would attach a media ID subject icon  1762  by going to a library of generic subject icons, finding the appropriate one, and then instructing the media ID software to attach it to the target media ID. Once attached to a media ID, the icon&#39;s status would change from a generic subject icon to a media ID subject icon. This user attached icon is recognizable as not being an original attached subject media ID subject icon, but will influence a user designed search in a similar way as an original media ID subject icon. A user attached subject icon  1762  will have an ID  1764  in the lower right that is similar to the ID of an original media ID subject icon.  
     [0404] A psychology secondary subject classification icon  1768  indicates that the media ID  1730  is related to psychology as well as investing, American business, American currency, and American history. Text  1770  describes the media ID subject with alphanumeric characters. In this case the text  1770  reads “Subject: Psychology.” 
     [0405]FIG. 43 shows a window display of the media ID icon viewer  1772  from FIG. 39. The media ID icon viewer  1772  is located in the media ID software and displays the media IDs in a graphic plus text format. The icon viewer  1772  displays the contents of media ID folders that are located in local or remote media ID database(s). A media ID  1774  is composed of graphics  1776  and with text  1778 . When the user clicks on the fly-out box tab  1784  on a media ID, a fly-out box  1780  appears that displays summary information about the media ID selected. The fly-out box  1780  stays out until the user clicks on the fly-out box tab  1784 . The fly-out box contains numerous information fields and expands and contracts based upon user input.  
     [0406] Because many media IDs can be contained in a single folder, a sliding bar  1782  allows the user to scroll up and down through the media IDs located in a media ID software database folder. When a database folder (see FIG. 39) is selected in the media ID software, the media ID icon viewer located at block  1772  in FIG. 43 displays the contents of that folder.  
     [0407]FIG. 44 shows a window display of the media ID subject icon viewer  1786 . The media ID subject icon viewer  1786  displays the primary and secondary subject classification graphics or icons associated with individual media IDs and the underlying articles of media that they represent. The media ID subject icon viewer  1786  is divided into a primary subject icon section  1788  and a secondary subject icon section  1790 .  
     [0408] A secondary subject graphic or icon  1792  located in the secondary subject icon section  1790  indicates that the selected media ID has subject content that relates to history. The history subject classification  1792  is represented with a graphic  1794  and with text  1798 . If the user positions the mouse over the secondary subject icon  1792 , a hint box  1800  will appear that displays summary information about that particular subject icon  1792 .  
     [0409]FIG. 45 shows a window display of the media ID software online bulletin/discussion forum  1802  from FIG. 39. The online bulletin/discussion forum  1802  provides a mechanism for the user to log onto a local or remote bulletin or other discussion format and to discuss articles of media that are identified by media IDs. For example, a media ID  1808  has been selected by the user with the select media ID button  1810 . Media IDs can also be dragged into the media ID source box  1806  from other windows within the media ID software.  
     [0410] Once the user selects a media ID  1808 , the online bulletin/discussion forum  1802  provides many tools that the user can take advantage of to access bulletins that contain related media content to the selected media ID  1808  and associated article of media. In this example, the article of media that the media ID  1808  identifies is “The Making of an American Capitalist” by Roger Lowenstein. This information is displayed in a text box  1812 .  
     [0411] The online bulletin/discussion forum  1802  provides many tools that the media ID software user can utilize when accessing additional information about a particular media ID  1808 . The user can access a centralized media hosting center  1816  or access additional bulletin servers  1818 . The user can configure the connection parameters  1820 , and can select the desired language at  1822 .. The user can also create a new bulletin at  1824 . New bulletins can be created on the local machine or on remote servers or data centers.  
     [0412] A bulletin area  1826  shows bulletin topics and user responses. The bulletin area  1826  contains a topics field  1828 , a posted on field  1830 , a posted by field  1832 , an instant communication field  1834 , and a variety of other control and management mechanisms. The user can click on any of these fields and post responses, create new topics, etc.  
     [0413] A text entry area  1842  allows the local media ID software user to type in text associated with the online forums and discussions. For example, user LauraR  1838  wrote on Jun. 20, 2000 “Does Anyone know how long Buffett worked for Benjamin Graham?” in the text entry area  1842 . The name of a user  1838  who posts a response or creates a new topic is displayed in the bulletin area  1826 . In this example, user LauraR  1838  posted on Jun. 2, 2000. By clicking on the hyperlink text LauraR  1838 , the media ID software user accesses a window that opens a communication path between the local user and user LauraR  1838 .  
     [0414] A status indicator  1840  beneath the instant communication field  1834  displays if a user is currently available through an instant communication mechanism. In this example, the colored online text or graphic  1840  indicates that the user LauraR  1838  is currently online. By clicking or otherwise selecting the graphic at  1840 , the user of the media ID software initializes an instant communication with user LauraR  1838 . Media ID  1844  is attached to a bulletin message. Media IDs can be dragged and dropped or otherwise placed in bulletin messages. Readers of the bulletins have the option of retrieving the media ID  1844  from the bulletin message  1842  if they wish.  
     [0415]FIG. 46 shows several aspects of an embodiment of the media ID subject layer database system  1846  for the universal identification system for printed and electronic media and associated media ID software. Each media identification or ID can have primary and secondary subject classifications that can be represented by alphanumeric text or graphical icons and that help define the subject matter of the media attached to the media ID. These subject classifications define the subject matter for a given article of media that is represented by a media ID. For example, a media ID might have a primary classification that establishes the media as being primarily related to investing. The same media ID might then be represented by 4 secondary subject classifications (e.g. business, history, psychology, and statistics) that further define the subject content of the article of media. These primary and secondary subject classifications are represented in the media ID software with text and/or graphics (e.g. icons) in association with media IDs.  
     [0416]FIG. 46 shows a simple diagram of an example media ID database structure that contains media ID subject layers and is populated with media IDs and their associated suite of subject classifications. Media IDs  1848  define columns in the media ID layer database. These media IDs  1848  can be represented by alphanumeric text or by graphical means such as icons. In this embodiment they are shown represented as text.  
     [0417] Media ID subject classification layers  1852  can account for a nearly infinite number of subject classification slots within the database. Subject classification layers  1852  are automatically created when media IDs with associated primary and secondary subject classifications are imported into the media ID software. For example, if a media ID with a primary subject classification of investing is imported into the media ID software, then the media ID software will automatically create an investing subject layer  1854  (assuming it has not already been created). Individual subject layer blocks (for example  1858 ) are either populated or not depending on whether or not a media ID (for example  1862 ) has that subject classification associated with it.  
     [0418] For example, the investing subject classification layer  1854  contains six subject classification layer slots or blocks  1864 . Five of these subject classification slots are populated or activated, indicating that the media IDs and associated articles of media belong to these subject classifications. The slot to the far right  1865  is not populated because the international economics media ID  1866  directly above it does not have investing as a primary or secondary subject classification. Investing block  1860  contains a “P” to indicate that this is a primary subject classification for the “Security Analysis” media ID  1850 .  
     [0419] In other words, the primary subject classification of the media ID “Security Analysis”  1850  is investing as evidenced by the subject classification slot being populated with the text “P”  1860 . Primary subject classifications determine the primary or principal subject category to which an article of media belongs. Investing block  1858  contains an “S” to indicate that this is a secondary subject classification for the “The Essays of Warren Buffett” media ID  1862 . In other words, a secondary subject classification of “The Essays of Warren Buffett” media ID  1862  is investing because the investing slot  1858  is populated with an “S” for secondary. Secondary subject classifications determine secondary subject categories to which an article of media belongs.  
     [0420] By putting the subject classifications of media IDs on layers, an orderly subject classification system is created. Furthermore, the organization of media ID subject classifications on layers provides the user with the ability to construct powerful media and media ID searches. The subject classification layer database also allows the user to visually see the relationships amongst the subject content of the different media and associated media IDs located in the database.  
     [0421] For example, a user could tell the media ID software to display all media IDs that are on the investing and psychology subject classification layers. The results of this search would be to show all of the media IDs and associated articles of media that are common to both layers. This is the same as displaying all articles of media with primary/secondary subject classifications of investing and psychology. In another example, the user of the media ID software could instruct the media ID software to display all media IDs whose primary subject classification is economics and whose secondary subject classifications are history and philosophy.  
     [0422] The layer database, the concept of a layer database, and the visual presentation of a layer database provide an easy mechanism for a user to understand the complex relationships between different articles of media. An embodiment of the present invention provides a graphical-user-interface through which the layer database concept can be utilized by users to analyze media IDs and the associated media.  
     [0423] The attachment of primary and secondary subject icons to media IDs provides sophisticated subject classification tools. This, combined with the creation of subject classification database layers, allows the user to form complicated searches based upon media subject content and to visually see the various relationships between different media.  
     [0424]FIG. 47 shows screen display  1868  that illustrates several aspects of an embodiment of the media ID software. Screen display  1868  presents several aspects of the media ID software search capability related to media ID subject classifications and the layer database system. As previously discussed, each media ID has a suite of associated subject classifications that comprehensively define the subject content of the article of media and can be represented with text and or with graphics. These subject classifications exist and are presented on subject classification layers in the media ID software in order to facilitate searches designed to identify media IDs that have similar subject content. Each subject classification layer contains all media IDs that have that particular subject classification.  
     [0425] Screen display  1868  in FIG. 47 illustrates the media ID software configured to do layer searches that are centered around the subject classifications of media IDs. Layer searches can be performed on other aspects of a media ID besides the media ID subject classifications. FIG. 47 only illustrates layer searches associated with subject classifications. A layer search hot button  1932  allows the user to quickly open layer search windows by clicking on the hot button.  
     [0426] The layer control window  1872  is for subject classification and other searches and displays the subject classification layers for the media IDs located in the local media ID software database(s). The layer control window  1872  also displays the subject classification layers for any remote media ID databases that the local media ID software is currently interfaced to.  
     [0427] Media ID databases  1888  are displayed along with an indication of connection status. When a database is connected, subject classification layers from that database will be displayed in the layer control window  1872 . In this example, the local media ID software database  1890  for a Minneapolis field office is being displayed as well as a remote database  1892  in Langley, Va. that is being accessed through a remote connection. A remote media ID database  1894  associated with Interpol is also displayed, but the media ID software is not currently connected to it.  
     [0428]FIG. 47 shows eight subject classification layers that have been dragged from the layer control window  1872  into the layer search tool  1898 . These eight subject classification layers are from the currently connected databases  1888 . The media ID software provides an easy mechanism for the user to view the subject classification layers associated with all of the media ID databases  1888  currently open and then to drag a set of them into the layer search tool  1898 . Once they are in the layer search tool  1898 , the user can begin performing searches, look for subject relationships, and perform a variety of other searches based upon the comprehensive subject content of the media IDs from the actively connected databases.  
     [0429] The layer search tool  1898  currently contains nine subject classification layers that have been dragged from the layer control window  1872  and dropped in the layer search tool  1898 . The subject classifications layers are: flight schools, flight simulators, international terrorists, region: America, suspicious activity, terrorists groups, terrorist meetings, covert surveillance, and CIA report. The media ID user in this example is looking for media IDs that possess subject content similar to these nine layers  1900 . Once the user has defined the subject classification layers  1900  for the search, the search process begins. In this example, the CIA report subject classification layer  1904  has been clicked to inactive which temporarily removes it from the search.  
     [0430] A search parameters window  1906  provides a mechanism for the user to define the search parameters. For example, the user can search the local database only or search all active databases  1908 . The search parameters  1906  also allow the user to search for primary subject classifications only, for secondary subject classifications only, or for primary and secondary subject classifications  1910 . In this example, the search parameters window  1906  allows the user to use primary and secondary subject classifications when defining a search.  
     [0431] A sliding layer match bar  1912  slides from 1/n to n/n where 1/n instructs the software to show all media IDs that have a subject classification on at least one of the n layers, to n/n which instructs the software to show all media IDs that are present on all n of the n layers. For example, eight subject classification layers are active in the layer search tool  1898 . The layer match bar  1912  slides from ⅛ to 8/8 where ⅛ instructs the software to show all media IDs from the connected databases that have a subject classification on at least one of the eight layers, to 8/8 which instructs the software to show all media IDs that are present on all eight of the eight layers. When the user moves the sliding layer match bar  1912 , the search results are immediately displayed in the layer search results window  1914 .  
     [0432] The search results window  1914  displays detailed results from the subject classification layers  1900  that were dragged into the layer search tool  1898 . For example, the layer matches window  1918  indicates that there are 1,537 media IDs that are associated with at least one of the eight subject classification layers that have been placed in the layer search tool  1898 . An association here means that at least one of the media ID subject classifications (primary or secondary) from the actively connected databases  1888  is on one of the active subject classification layers  1900  in the layer search tool  1898 .  
     [0433] The layer matches window  1918  displays the total number of media IDs that match one of eight through eight of the eight subject classification categories from the current search as defined in the layers search tool  1898 . For example, two media IDs match seven of the eight subject classification layers.  
     [0434] The fifth field down in the layer matches window  1918  displays the total number of media IDs that match five out of eight subject classification categories, in this case seven media IDs. In this example, the fifth field in the layer matches window  1918  is highlighted. A media ID software user can highlight layer match fields  1918  and they will immediately be displayed in the layer search results viewer  1922 . The user can then click on any of the media IDs displayed in the layer search results viewer  1922  to see the full contents of the media ID and in some cases the original article of media that the media ID represents.  
     [0435] A media ID timeline tool  1928  provides a tool for the media ID software user to determine the chronological order of media IDs. For example, the layer search tool  1898  is used to design a search that returns seven media IDs that match five of eight subject classification layers. These seven media IDs that comprise the search results can be dragged and dropped into the timeline tool  1928  that automatically organizes them into a chronological order.  
     [0436]FIG. 48 shows a diagram illustrating the application of a universal media identification system as described herein to intelligence gathering. This example is an embodiment using the media ID system to tag and uniquely identify field reports created by field intelligence agents or others. The creation of an intelligence field report with a media ID with multiple subject classifications and comprehensive identification information begins at  1936 . At  1938 , a field agent compiles a field report on a word processor. The intelligence agent uses a version, module, or component of the media ID software at  1940  in conjunction with his local word processor to embed or otherwise associate a media ID with the field report. At this point the field report is now uniquely defined and can be distinguished from all other field reports, all other articles of media. The field agent submits the field report with the media ID to FBI intelligence headquarters at  1942 . The field report with the media ID is received and cataloged at the FBI headquarters at  1944 . The field report that originated with the field agent at  1938  is now located at FBI headquarters at  1944  and has been uniquely identified with a media ID.  
     [0437] Other intelligence field agents at  1948  and  1958  also compile intelligence field reports and submit them to FBI headquarters at  1952  and  1962 , respectively. These intelligence field reports are received and cataloged at FBI headquarters at  1954  and  1964 . Incoming field reports are collected together and hosted by the FBI headquarters for other agents to access and download at  1966 .  
     [0438] A field report search by a special agent begins at  1968 . At  1970  the special agent uses the media ID software of this embodiment to search for subject classification patterns, or other patterns in field agent reports and other reports located and hosted at  1966 . In one embodiment, the layer search tool from FIG. 47 is used for this purpose. The special agent designs the media ID search at  1972  and the search is executed at  1974 . At  1976  the special agent contacts the media ID database at FBI headquarters located at  1966  via her media ID software. The field agent will be able to rapidly filter and search the information in the database at  1966  because the various field reports and other articles of media hosted at  1966  contain unique media IDs that have sophisticated information about their subject classification and content. This is because the field agents at  1940 ,  1950 , and  1960  encode each media ID with multiple subject classifications and other information. These subject classifications comprehensively identify the subject content of the field reports and allow the special agent to quickly filter and search media IDs and their underlying articles of media.  
     [0439] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention establishes a universal identification system for printed and electronic media. The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments that are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Therefore, it should be understood that the method and apparatus of the present invention could be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the claims herein. Furthermore, the invention may be implemented in any combination of hardware and/or software. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.