Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is a revolutionary new device for bridging the gap between the virtual multimedia-based Internet world and the physical world of print media. More particularly, the invention relates to communicating multimedia information across a network using a scanner capable of receiving data such as machine-readable code from a printed medium, the data containing a link information corresponding to a provider information; a receiver in communication with the scanner that is capable of receiving the link information and user input information, and of receiving and playing a multimedia information sequence from the network; and a portal server in communication with the scanner and the receiver via the network, the portal server being capable of selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Scanner technology has been used for many years in many contexts. By way of example, scanners are used in supermarkets, with personal computers, and in inventory, manufacturing, and resource control systems. However, scanner technology has not previously been thought of as a means to bridge the gap between static printed media and the “virtual world” of interactivity, which includes the Internet, advertising, entertainment, and electronic commerce.  
           [0003]    Printed media have been the primary source of communicating information, including news and advertising information, for centuries. The-advent of the Internet over the past few decades has expanded the concept of printed media by making it available in an electronically readable and searchable form and by introducing interactive multi-media capabilities unparalleled by traditional printed media. Unfortunately, many users of printed media do not possess the requisite technical expertise to use the Internet as an efficient source of information. Thus, although almost everyone in the world has access to printed media on a daily basis, only a small percentage of those people possess the requisite technical expertise to use the Internet.  
           [0004]    There exists a need for a system that can link all users of printed media to the “virtual world” and that can deliver desired information to the user without regard to the user&#39;s technical expertise. The present invention provides such a system by using scanner technology to bridge the gap between printed media and the virtual world of interactivity and the Internet. Moreover, such a system enables those controlling the print media to enhance their presentation of information to their customers by providing them with a multimedia experience unavailable in traditional printed media.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention comprises a system for communicating multimedia information via a network, such as the Internet, an intranet, or an extranet, wherein the communication is initiated from a printed medium. The system includes a scanner, a receiver, and a portal server, all interconnected via the network. In one embodiment, the scanner and the receiver comprises a single device. In another embodiment, the scanner communicates with the portal server directly, and customer premises equipment (“CPE”), serving as the receiver, plays multimedia sequence information received from the portal server. In a further embodiment, the CPE operates as both a scanner and a receiver. The multimedia sequence information may be advertising or transaction information and may contain one or more of textual, audio, or video information.  
           [0006]    In a preferred embodiment, the scanner includes a memory, a user interface, and a communications bridge. The scanner may be, for example, a remote control, a mouse, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a pager, or a two-way pager. The scanner detects and reads data, such as machine-readable codes containing link information corresponding to provider information from the printed medium. A plurality of codes may be stored in the scanner, the receiver, and the portal server. The link information corresponding to the provider information may include, for example, a universal resource locator, an Internet address information, trademark information, a source of origin, an organization name, a product name, a service name, benefit redemption information, provider defined information, user personal profile information, user interest information, server command information, and customer premises equipment preference information.  
           [0007]    The user interface obtains user input information, such as an advertising authorization, a transaction authorization, user personal profile information, and user interest information corresponding to the provider information. The user input information may be received and stored by either the scanner, the receiver, or the portal server. The scanner routes the link information and the user input information based upon a user request via the user interface. The user interface may be, for example, a voice-activated system, a keypad, or a keyboard. In one embodiment, the user interface may reside on any one or more of the scanner, the receiver, such as customer premises equipment for displaying the multimedia sequence information, or the portal server.  
           [0008]    The communications bridge sends the link information and the user input information to the receiver and, via the network, to the portal server. An infrared communications system, a mobile radio communications system, or an IP-based communications system are exemplary of the communications bridge.  
           [0009]    The portal server is in communication with the scanner or the receiver via the network. In one embodiment, the portal server is accessible via the Internet to any Internet user. In another embodiment, the portal server is accessible only by the provider of information. The portal server is capable of receiving the link information and the user input information, selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information, and sending the multimedia information sequence via the network to the receiver. The portal server is further capable of tracking link information corresponding to a user, including a universal resource locator, Internet address information, a trademark information, a source of origin, an organization name, a product name, a service name, a benefit redemption information, a provider defined information, a user personal profile information, a user interest information, a server command information, and a customer premises equipment preference information. In a preferred embodiment, the portal server is further capable of tracking a percentage of a fee to be charged to the information provider based on, for example, the selected multimedia information sequence, the number and frequency of the link information received by the portal server corresponding to a particular information provider, or the transaction value in the event the selected multimedia information sequence generates a transaction. In another embodiment, the portal server is further capable of tracking a percentage of a fee to be charged to the information provider based on, for example, the selected multimedia information sequence and either of the user personal profile information or the user interest information. The portal server is further capable of auctioning the user interest information according to a user defined auction criteria in the user personal profile information to an information provider. The user personal profile information may be stored on the portal server.  
           [0010]    The receiver is in communication with the scanner and the portal server, and is capable of receiving the link and user input information, receiving a multimedia information sequence, and playing the multimedia information sequence. The receiver may be a CPE, such as a television, a set top box, a computer, a cell telephone, a remote control, a personal digital assistant, an integrated PC-TV device (e.g. Web TV) or a pager. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention using a receiver to communicate with both a scanner and a portal server.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the present invention wherein the scanner communicates with a portal server directly without a receiver.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the present invention wherein the scanner and the customer premises equipment are integrated into one device.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the present invention wherein the a customer premises equipment is separate from the receiver and the scanner. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention including three components: a scanner  100 , a receiver  180 , and a portal server  200 . In one embodiment, the scanner  100  and the receiver  180  comprise into a single device. In another embodiment, the scanner  100  communicates with the portal server  200  directly, and a customer premises equipment (“CPE”)  300 , serving as the receiver  180 , plays multimedia sequence information received from the portal server  200 .  
         [0016]    The scanner  100  may be a handheld device, preferably, but not necessarily, wireless. The scanner  100  may be, for example, an enhanced existing electronic device, a TV remote control, a mouse, a cell phone, a PC card device, a palmtop, a calculator, a key chain, a pen, an identification card, a smart card, a hand held GPS device, a desktop or laptop computer, a digital appliance, a microprocessor-based device., a personal digital assistant, a pager or a two-way pager.  
         [0017]    The scanner  100  is capable of reading data such as non-coded data and machine-readable code  10  from the printed medium  50 . The machine-readable code  10  may be a barcode, an enhanced barcode, a new enhanced code, or any type of code, including dynamic codes and high density barcodes.  
         [0018]    The code  10  contains a link information corresponding to a provider information from a printed medium  50 . The link information may correspond to a universal resource locator (“URL”), an Internet address information, network address information, a trademark information, a source of origin, an organization name, a product name, a service name, a benefit redemption information, a provider defined information, a user personal profile information (i.e., “a cookie”), a user interest information, a server command information, and a customer premises equipment preference information.  
         [0019]    The link information may be an alphanumeric sequence printed in form of the machine-readable code  10 . The alphanumeric sequence may be assigned to the printed medium  50  by the provider  600  and may be encoded according to the provider&#39;s  600  preference. The alphanumeric sequence may activate and result in the playing of the multimedia sequence information  500 . For example, a machine-readable code  10  on the printed advertisement for an automobile may translate into the following alphanumeric sequence “A001B0990799A5557ZQZ6898”. The “A001” designation may correspond to a template on the scanner  100  enabling Ford to present a person with a user input information asking whether the person is interested in advertisements, transactions, or both. The “B099” designation may refer to a type and name of the magazine which carried the ad. The “0799” designation may refer to July 1999 issue from advertiser A5557 which might be a local automobile dealer. The “ZQZ6898” designation may be the network code and could refer to a network address at the portal server  200  or to a link table. Existing UPC or ISBN numbers may serve as the alphanumeric sequence. At least one of the scanner  100 , the receiver  180 , or the portal server  200 , may extract the provider information from such alphanumeric sequence and translate it into a network address at the portal server  200  or a link table.  
         [0020]    The code  10  comprises at least one of the link information, and a publication information (i.e. where the information was published or located), along with a demographic and other advertising or message-specific information provided by a provider  600 . The code  10  may also comprise personal and provider security information.  
         [0021]    The system of the invention is also capable of collecting and managing code  10  that lacks link information This linkless code information may be added to the cookie along with any additional user input information. The code  10  is capable of being read by a scanner  100  or a transducer generating and transmitting the link information based upon a stimulus. The scanner  100  or transducer is capable of differentiating between information and data contained within code  10 . One type of the code  10  may be an information-only type that would link to an information page. A simple example of this would be a scanned universal product code (“UPC”) printed on a can of food linking a person using the system to the manufacturer&#39;s information on nutrition, recipe, or transaction information. The system can also process UPC codes by directing them to a link table to resolve the link without any added codes. The system is capable of processing the ISBN number codes, UPC codes and any codes currently in use.  
         [0022]    More complex interactive codes could be routed based on any of the scanned information in combination with user personal profile information (i.e. “a cookie”), user interactive responses from the user input information, the person&#39;s location or other demographic information and a portal server database  210  information. The cookie comprises a person&#39;s identifying information such as name, address, credit card(s) information, and other related information. Cookies may be stored on the scanner  100 , the receiver  180 , or the portal server  200 . Other information that may be combined with the code  10  includes executable code downloaded from the portal server  200  or provider  600 , and user input information that could further supplement the scanned information from code  10  by eliciting an interactive response from the person using the system  
         [0023]    One exemplary code corresponds to reordering information such that a reordering of a product may be activated by scanning the code  10 , recognizing it as a reorder, and maintaining a transaction via the portal server  200  such that a percentage of a fee for the reorder is maintained by a fee tracking module  220 . In an embodiment, the fee is shared with the person placing the transaction. In another example, an HMO pharmacy could encode patient information, medication information, and refill information onto a printed label of medication upon its dispensing. The information would be represented by code  10 . Scanner  100  would read the code  10  and validate the personal information contained in the code  10  against the user personal profile information stored on either the scanner  100 , the receiver  180 , the portal server  200 , or a provider  600 . Once the validation is complete, the system allows for secure transactions to proceed, including authenticated refills, recording the transaction and maintaining an accounting of a percentage of a fee for the refill using the tracking module  220 .  
         [0024]    The system of the present invention contemplates using additional code types such as phone numbers, business card, service information, benefit redemption information, rebate, coupon, literature, or any general information category of interest to a person or information provider  600 . The information contained in the additional code types may be uploaded to the scanner  100 , receiver  180 , or portal server  200  once or sent locally or with cookie and security information from anywhere in the network. The processing of codes  10 , including additional code types, may optionally but not necessarily be done at a time different from reading and scanning the printed medium  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the scanner  100  generates and stores a code file in memory  110  representing a collection of codes scanned by the operator in any given time period. The scanner  100  uploads the coded file in memory  110  to the receiver  180  according to a user initiated stimulus. For example, a user may find four advertisements of interest in a printed medium  50 , such as a magazine. The scanner  100  could read the four codes  10  from the magazine advertisements and store them in the memory  110 . Subsequently, at a time convenient to the user, the user can upload the information to the receiver  180  for processing.  
         [0025]    The information in the code  10  could be simple data or complex data-type-plus data, such as encoded, printed multimedia information. A UPC code is an example of simple data. The information used by the system can also be non-coded or raw. For example, a universal resource locator (“URL”) is non-coded data, but when encoded as a URL-type code  10 , the information in the code  10  may be processed.  
         [0026]    The system uses unique code templates for interactivity which contain transaction information, authorization information, references to the publisher, media originator, ad placement, date of publication, dealer, reseller or distributor. The system is capable of tracking the scans according to the code types used in scanning these ads and collecting the demographics. The system is also capable of tracking and redirecting the usage of the codes  10  by different information providers  600  based on the content of the printed information. For example, a person scans an identifying code  10  related to a brand of computer. The computer manufacturer would like to direct the person to its information site. However, the person who performed the scan or portal server  200  that processed the scan, may choose to auction off the instance of the scan to a competitor, thereby allowing the competitor to bid for the right to transmit more information to the person about the competitor&#39;s comparable product or a transaction, such as user interest information.  
         [0027]    The system of the invention can communicate with digital copyright databases bearing the code in tangible format. For example, an article that includes the code  10  may direct a person wanting to copy the article to the copyright database. The system is further capable of charging the person a fee and suggesting related articles based on the information in the code  10 . The system can monitor the commercial, office, and copying equipment connected to the network that processes the code, and can then activate the access to the copyrighted materials database. In that context, the code serves as an intelligent watermark capable of carrying the article identifying information, distribution information, and fee related information.  
         [0028]    Preferably, the code  10  features a small footprint, an attractive appearance, a high density of information, and ease of scanning. For example the footprint may be a triangle shaped code with a logo and an indicator of what type of code  10  it is (information, e-commerce, or both). The identifying characteristics of the presentation of the code  10  signify that the code is not an ordinary advertisement, but part of an enhanced information medium leading to multiple dimensions of multimedia information sequences  500 .  
         [0029]    The scanner  100  can transmit the code  10  to a receiver  180 , such as a television, a set top box, a computer, a cell telephone, a remote control, a personal digital assistant, an integrated PC-TV device (e.g., Web TV), a pager or two-way pager, or directly to the portal server  200 . The receiver  180  is in communication with a network, such as the Internet or other network, and can direct or link a person to a specific network address or site based on the machine-readable code or codes  10  contained in the scanned information from the printed medium  50 .  
         [0030]    For example, the provider information depicted on a printed medium  50  may be advertising information for an automobile. The manufacturer of the automobile would be provider  600 . The link information in code  10  from the printed advertisement may include network address information, such as for example the manufacturer&#39;s web site. Processing the link information may result in playing a multimedia information sequence  500  on the receiver  180  provided by provider  600 . Additionally or in the alternative, the network address information may point to a file containing executable computer code which could be downloaded or executed remotely then displayed on the receiver  180  or scanner  100 . One or more link table(s) (not shown) may also be used to facilitate a two-way communication between the provider  600  and receiver  180 . A link table containing network codes and associated network address information, for example, may be accessed to process link information containing only the network code. The link table associates the network code to a network address information to facilitate the connection between provider  600  and receiver  180 . Link information may also be cascaded via the link table(s). Link tables may be located on or be accessible to the receiver  180 , the portal server  200 , or the provider  600 . The machine-readable code  10  can also link the person directly to a specific Internet address without accessing a link table.  
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment, the scanner  100  includes a memory  110 , a user interface  120 , and a communications bridge  130 .  
         [0032]    The user interface  120  obtains user input information, such as an advertising authorization, a transaction authorization, a user personal profile information, and a user interest information corresponding to the provider information. The user input information may be received and stored in the scanner memory  110 , the receiver  180 , or the portal server  200 . The scanner  100  routes the link information and the user input information based upon a user request via the user interface  120 . The user interface  120  may be, for example, a voice-activated system, a keypad, or a keyboard. In one embodiment, the user interface  120  may reside on any one or more of the scanner  100 , the receiver  180 , such as a customer premises equipment (“CPE”)  300  for displaying the multimedia sequence information  500 , or the portal server  200 .  
         [0033]    The communications bridge  130  sends the link information and the user input information to the receiver  180  and, via the network, to the portal server  200 . An infrared communications system, a mobile radio communications system, or an IP-based communications system are exemplary of the communications bridge.  
         [0034]    The scanner  100  comprises a handheld component in a preferred embodiment. The handheld component may comprise an enhanced existing device like a TV remote control, a mouse, a cell phone, a REX device, a palmtop, a calculator, a key chain, a pen, an identification card, a smart card, a hand held global positioning system (“GPS”) device, a desktop or laptop computer or virtually any other digital appliance or a microprocessor based device. The scanner  100  could be a proximity-based device that would activate a smart button, which is a device having a memory and a communicator to upload the information in the memory to a network, or a contact-based device. For example, scanner  100  may be either an optical scanner or a transducer, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the scanner  100  has several modes, such as scan and process, scan and hold, and scan and display. The scanner  100  may also have a mode allowing copying of the code  10  for backup or review and edit. In another preferred embodiment, the scanner  100  may have a light and/or a sound indicator for confirming that a valid scan occurred. An embodiment may also have transmit and receive indicators for confirming that a valid scan occurred. Optionally, the scanner  100  could communicate with another scanner  100  to exchange link, code, or cookie information.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment in which the scanner  100  is part of an integrated dedicated unit  400  which includes a memory  420 , a microprocessor (not shown), stored templates containing the link and cookie information (not shown), a display  430 , a cable (not shown), and a wireless transmitting device  440 , such as infrared, visual or radio frequency. The dedicated unit  400  could contain any subset of these components or include other components as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4.  
         [0036]    The system of the invention enables scanning of encoded information from the embedded codes  10  and uploading these codes to the portal server  200  for immediate or delayed processing or for reference. The system is capable of allowing print advertisers to track their impressions to execution and to collect demographic information about the person performing the scan through a tracking module  220 ,. The tracking module  220  is illustrated in FIG. 1 as part of the portal server  200 , however, it may reside in any of the  100 ,  180 ,  400 ,  300 ,  200 , or  600  components of the system. The tracking module  220  is further capable of tracking the transaction value of e-commerce transactions originating from a specific publication, type of publication, or provider  600  and calculate fee percentages based on the transaction. For example, in one embodiment, the scanner  100  comprises a clock capable of tracking the time the ad was scanned. In an embodiment where scanner  100  is a GPS, the geographical location where the scan occurred may also be tracked. The system also contemplates transmitting bio-metric information according and to the extent permitted by the user personal profile information. The combination of all tracking information comprises ad read-scan context information which may be transmitted to the portal server  200  or to the provider  600  according to and to the extent permitted by the user personal profile information.  
         [0037]    The receiver  180  of the present invention is in communication with the scanner  100 , and portal server  200  via wire, or through wireless technology such as infrared, light based transmission, radio frequency, or satellite. The receiver  180  could be incorporated into or be a computer, a cell phone, a pager, a remote control, a personal digital assistant, a simple buffer, or use a direct link. The receiver  180  could also be incorporated into existing devices such as a television, a set top box, a Web TV device, a VCR, a Digital Versatile Disc (“DVD”) player, an appliance, a customer premises equipment (“CPE”)  300 , or any other electronic device. The receiver  180  may, but not necessarily, collect, sort and prioritize the transmissions of link and user input information. The receiver  180  could queue up these transmissions or process them immediately. The receiver  180  could also contain at least one cookie, and received time information, as well as other information including receiver or provider specific information.  
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the receiver  180  forwards the raw scanned codes  10  directly to the portal server  200  or other site such as a provider  600  via a portal server  200 . In another embodiment, the receiver  180  collects, stores, processes, and forwards the scanned code information along with the cookie and other state dependant information, such as time, temperature, and location, to the network.  
         [0039]    The receiver  180  may be multi-functional and include multiple inputs such as radio frequency and infrared. The receiver  180  may also incorporate X- 10 , wireless, wired, and power-line networking to link to multiple units or, for larger installations, at least one repeater. The receiver  180  may also incorporate wireless, wire-line, or power-line links to at least one local computer or CPE  300 .  
         [0040]    In embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the CPE  300  may function as a queue processor or pre-processor. Also a user may enter information using the CPE  300 , including user personal profile information. In another embodiment, scanned codes  10  are processed by the CPE  300  according to user preferences. By way of example, the CPE  300  could process the codes  10  automatically and sequentially as the codes  10  are received, or store the codes  10  in a queue to be processed at the convenience of the user. Cookies may be stored on one or more of the CPE  300 , the scanner  100 , and the receiver  180 . The CPE  300  receives the scanned code  10 , including the link information from scanner  100 , and transmits the code  10  to the portal server  200 . The portal server  200  resolves the link information and sets up a path from a location on the network, such as a specific web address, Internet site, or provider  600  location, to the receiver  180 . The location sends information, such as multimedia information sequences  500 , along the path to the receiver  180  for display and playback.  
         [0041]    The system of the present invention contemplates at least one portal server  200 . The portal server  200  may be a single site or multiple sites. The portal server  200  is in communication with the scanner  100  and the receiver  180  via the network and centrally manages, assigns, and controls the codes  10 , code types and information from the printed media  50 . The portal server  200  is capable of receiving the link information and the user input information, selecting a multimedia information sequence  500  corresponding to the link information and the user input information, and sending the multimedia information sequence  500  via the network to the receiver  180 .  
         [0042]    One advantage of the system is the minimal amount of information needed to be scanned to link to a specific location when using a link information database including cookies at the portal server  200 . The portal server  200  processes code  10  which may contain levels of embedded information, and references information, such as database information provided by providers  600 , advertisers, and information providers. The information contained in scanned code  10  may be combined with at least one of the user input information, the cookie, state dependant information, ad read-scan context information and other transmitted information to link the portal server  200  to at least one location on the network and complete a transaction, such as a request for information or an e-commerce transaction.  
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the portal server  200  is adapted to receive and process requests from a user who provides the portal server  200  with raw code  10  through a communications device such as a keyboard, a telephone, a voice activated system, or a modem. In this embodiment, a user can initiate the interactive communication of multimedia information without using scanner  100 . In a further embodiment, the scanner  100  may access the portal server via a telephone dial system. For example, after scanning, a user may use a telephone to communicate the scanner  100  to the network. Once data has been transferred, the user may use a voice menu system to control the remainder of the transaction, such as the receipt of sound only multimedia information, or engaging in a transaction. In another embodiment, the portal server  200  has a single common database of links for print and electronic transactions. The database of links may be accessed by users of the system, such as advertisers, print media owners, and information providers  600 .  
         [0044]    A tracking module  220  in the portal server  200  can track link information corresponding to a user, such as a universal resource locator, an Internet address information, a trademark information, a source of origin, an organization name, a product name, a service name, a benefit redemption information, a provider defined information, a user personal profile information, a user interest information, a server command information, and a customer premises equipment preference information.  
         [0045]    The tracking module  220  is also capable of tracking fees associated with every ad and every transaction originating on the network via the portal server  200 . Fees may be based on, for example, the selected multimedia information sequence, the number and frequency of the link information received by the portal server corresponding to a particular information provider, or the transaction value in the event the selected multimedia information sequence generates a transaction. The fee tracking module  220  can track fees relating to at least one e-commerce transaction originating from the scan.  
         [0046]    A provider management module  230  and a statistics module  240  in the portal server  200  maintain advertising information and transactions generated from the providers  600  that originate independent of a scan based on user personal profile information. Thus, the invention allows advertisers to broadcast to users of the portal server  200  according to the user personal profile information or portal server configuration. The provider management module  230  is capable of providing feed back to the providers regarding the effectiveness of the provider&#39;s printed media  50 , and allows for flexible, real-time message tuning.  
         [0047]    An indigraphics module (not shown) in the portal server  200  performs user personal profile information management functions, such as marking and publishing auction oriented information based on the user personal profile and interest information.  
         [0048]    A funds management module (not shown) in the portal server  200  manages and facilitates fund transactions between users of the system. The funds management module processes information from the other modules in the portal server  200 , such as the tracking module  220 . Preferably, the funds management module uses a form of electronic funds transfer, such as Ecash, to accept and distribute funds according to information received form the tracking module  220 .  
         [0049]    For example, according to the invention a person can scan an ordinary black and white car ad placed in a newspaper by a local dealer that is enhanced with code  10 . Shortly thereafter, the person experiences a full-featured multimedia presentation related to the car ad on the person&#39;s Web TV or computer. The tracking module  220  calculates a fee to be shared between the manufacturer, the dealer, and the person buying the car based on a percentage of the sale. The funds management module can accept Ecash from the person and either distribute it to all parties involved in the transaction or store the information as debits and credits in an account database.  
         [0050]    In another example of the invention, a person can go to the grocery store and scan UPC codes  10  off items and check the nutrition information or recipes at the end of the aisle in a kiosk with or without a printer. Alternatively, the person can take the UPC information home and upload it to their receiver  180  or a CPE, and get information on the product, a coupon, or other benefit redemption information. The store could optionally provide a link to the net so the user could upload the information to his home computer from the store via the Internet connection.  
         [0051]    In another example of the invention, stuffed animals could be linked to a location on the network by using a scanner  100 . The scanner  100 , according to this example can be a proximity-based device, such as a smart button (like those in Java rings), or almost any other kind of device including security cards and access devices.  
         [0052]    In another example, a person can scan a 5 year old computer monitor on the person&#39;s desk and be immediately routed to a web page that offers a list of local service centers for the monitor or technical information about the monitor, such as schematics, instruction manuals, or warranty manuals. The transaction could also result in the person receiving a rebate offer, a trade-in offer, or recall and safety information. The invention enables manufacturers to maintain contact with customers for extended periods of time beyond the traditional period of time manufacturers and customers interact. The contact enables the manufacturer to collect product usage information that was traditionally inaccessible. Manufacturers could also use incentive programs to get people to scan their products.  
         [0053]    The invention provides for allowing the information providers  600  to electronically receive codes  10  to embed in the advertisements. It also allows the publishers of the advertisements, such as newspaper and magazine companies, to print their own ad codes and share this information with the portal server  200 . The invention contemplates using an enhanced code in the ads containing information on the identity of the publication and the product. The system enables the publishers to share in the flow-through profits of a transaction even though they may not provide any products. The system further enables simple marketers and catalogue providers to operate with reduced infrastructure by including information in the code  10  which points to portal-operated e-commerce stores or to the manufacturer/distributor&#39;s e-commerce store.  
         [0054]    Reprints of copyrighted material could also be a service the portal server  200  provides to authors. Authors may embed a code  10  in their book or article. A user scanning the code  10  could receive a copy of the entire article or related articles or books or information for an appropriate fee. The invention provides authors with an inexpensive method for collecting fees that are typically very small. A copyright service portal server could credit the author&#39;s account by pennies or even fractions of pennies per downloaded page via an existing e-commerce service or another portal server. Fees associated with accessing and downloading moderately and expensively priced items, such as CDs and newsletters, can be handled in a similar fashion.  
         [0055]    The invention further contemplates setting up medical testing devices to operate with the system. A body monitor capable of tracking medical information regarding the person&#39;s then existing medical condition could communicate this information periodically or when a parameter is so indicated or satisfied. The system of the invention features the ability to combine wired and wireless raw data with user input, state information, and cookie information, at the portal server  200 . The portal server  200  directs and channels the information based on the user personal profile information. The base information could be a code that is scanned or is embedded in a device that adds the base information to information collected by the body monitor. The link at the portal server  200  may be dynamically moved and a new version of the body monitor&#39;s embedded code or a new set of parameters may be downloaded from a location on the network.  
         [0056]    The invention also contemplates using the system to collect alarm and appliance information from household items. The system includes a central receiver capable of receiving radio frequency or infrared signals. A raw data stream, pointer information, and state information may be transmitted from the household item to the receiver. The receiver communicates the information to the portal server. The portal server can combine the information with a cookie and use the pointer information to securely send it to the manufacturer&#39;s web site.  
         [0057]    The system of the invention has several modes of operation, including collect and store, collect and execute, and collect and process then execute. The user sets the mode according to the user personal profile information. The user interface of the scanner, settings on the receiver and software settings on the CPE  300  or the portal server  200  may also be combined with the user personal profile information to set the mode.  
         [0058]    Existing remote control devices such as television remote controls can be modified to scan and transmit the code  10  to a receiver  180  such as a set top box. In one embodiment, the code  10  would be scanned and embedded after a specific sequence of standard codes that could be stripped out by the receiver  180 . For example, in collect and store mode, pressing a predetermined sequence of buttons on a remote control will activate the scan mode of the remote. Once activated, the remote control can be used to collect and store a code  10  from a magazine advertisement, for example. The user would then point the remote at the set top box and depress a single key or sequence of keys to transmit the code information.  
         [0059]    Information such as multi-media information sequences  500 , may be transmitted to a CPE  300 , or any other receiver  180  connected to the network. The receiver  180  and a local CPE  300  could be combined into a single unit. The receiver  180  could be a dumb or smart device, embedded or stand alone. The CPE could be a PC or could be omitted or replaced by online processing or by a Web TV. The receiver  180  and scanner  100  of the invention can be combined and included as part of an enhanced WebTV.  
         [0060]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 3