Patent ID: 8746560

Claim:
A system for indicating an existence of a link to information pertaining to an article of commerce, the system comprising: a mobile device comprising a portable handheld housing and a communication interface configured to enable the mobile device to communicate with a communication network, the mobile device further comprising a signal processing device and a visual input device, the visual input device affixed within the portable handheld housing; a local database associated with the mobile device, the local database configured to store data for use by the mobile device; a server in communication with the communication network, the server comprising a server database configured to store a look-up table that includes at least a plurality of Universal Product Code (UPC) numbers associated with a plurality of articles of commerce, the look-up table also storing a plurality of information link indicators, each information link indicator associated with a respective UPC number and article of commerce, and each information link indicator being configured as a status signal indicating the existence or absence of a link to information pertaining to a respective article of commerce, the link being made to the information via the communication network; wherein the visual input device is configured to scan a UPC symbol from an article of commerce and decode the UPC symbol to obtain a UPC number; wherein, in response to receiving the UPC number, the signal processing device is configured to look up the UPC number in the look-up table stored in the local database to determine from a respective information link indicator whether or not a link exists for accessing information pertaining to an article of commerce associated with the UPC number via the communication network, wherein the signal processing device determines whether or not the link exists without accessing the communication network.