System and method for composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols while ...

United States Patent

Wilz, Sr. et al.

[19]

US006045048A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

6,045,048 Apr. 4, 2000

[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPOSING MENUS OF URL-ENCODED BAR CODE SYMBOLS WHILE SURFING THE INTERNET USING AN INTERNET BROWSER PROGRAM

[75] Inventors: David M. Wilz, Sr., Sewell; Carl

Harry Knowles, Morristown, both of
N.J.

[73] Assignee: Metrologi Instruments, Inc.,
Blackwood, N.J.

[21] Appl. No.: 09/231,239 [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1999

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of application No. 08/846,219, Apr. 25, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/645, 331, May 13, 1996, Pat. No. 5,844,227, application No. 08/615,054, Mar. 12, 1996, application No. 08/573,949, Dec. 18,1995, abandoned, application No. 08/292,237, Aug. 17, 1994, Pat. No. 5,808,285, application No. 08/365,193, Dec. 23, 1994, Pat. No. 5,557,093, application No. 08/293, 493, Aug. 19, 1994, Pat. No. 5,525,789, application No. 08/561,479, Nov. 20, 1995, Pat. No. 5,661,292, application No. 08/278,109, Nov. 24, 1993, Pat. No. 5,484,992, application No. 08/489,305, lun. 9,1995, abandoned, application No. 08/476,069, lun. 7, 1995, Pat. No. 5,591,953, application No. 08/584,135, lan. 11, 1996, Pat. No. 5,616,908, and application No. 08/838,501, Apr. 7, 1997, Pat. No. 5,869, 819, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/820,540, Mar. 19, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/753,367, Nov. 25, 1996, abandoned.

[51] Int. C I. G06K 7/10

[52] U.S. CI 235/472.01; 235/462.01;

235/375

[58] Field of Search 235/462.01, 472.01,

235/494, 375, 462.07, 462.09, 462.25, 383

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

A computer-based system is provided for composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols specifying the location of Internet-based information resources on the Internet. In the illustrative embodiment, the system comprises a computer system operably connectable to the Internet and including a visual display screen, a keyboard, and printer. The system also includes a GUI-based Internet browser program and a URL-menu composition program supported by the computer system. The function of the GUI-based Internet browser program is to enable a user to access and display Internet-based information resources stored on an Internet information server at a location specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The function of the URL-menu composition program is to enable the user to compose a menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols while surfing the Internet using the GUI-based Internet browser program. After the menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols has been composed, it may be edited and then printed on a selected print medium. By virtue of the present invention, any Internet-based information resource can be automatically accessed and displayed by reading its URL-encoded bar code symbol from the printed menu using a bar code symbol reader operably connected to an Internet-enabled computer system supporting a bar code driven Internet browser program.

5,869,819 2/1999 Knowles et al.

235/375

16 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets