Prior art

Prior Art Analysis for U.S. Patent 5,905,248

An analysis of the prior art cited by the examiner during the prosecution of U.S. Patent 5,905,248 reveals several key patents that were considered relevant to the invention. The following is a breakdown of these references and their potential impact on the claims of the '248 patent.

U.S. Patent 5,424,524: "System for transferring information between a host computer and a terminal using bar codes"

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent 5,424,524, filed June 4, 1993, and issued June 13, 1995.
• Description: This patent describes a system where a host computer can generate and print a barcode that contains data and command information. A terminal with a barcode scanner can then read this barcode. The terminal is programmed to interpret the command information and use the data accordingly, such as by displaying it, storing it, or transmitting it back to the host or another computer. This allows for a streamlined, two-way communication process initiated by scanning a barcode.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent is relevant to the general concept of using a barcode to initiate a process on a computer. However, it does not specifically disclose the use of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) within the barcode to automatically access a web document over the internet. Furthermore, the '524 patent does not teach the embedding of a transaction-enabling applet within that web document which is then automatically launched. Therefore, while it touches upon the idea of command sequences in barcodes, it likely does not anticipate the key elements of claims 1, 15, and 29 of the '248 patent, which are centered on internet-based transactions via URLs and applets.

U.S. Patent 5,602,377: "System and method for communication with a central computer using encoded indicia"

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent 5,602,377, filed June 7, 1995, and issued February 11, 1997.
• Description: This invention details a system where a user can use a scanner to read a barcode that contains product or service information. This information is then transmitted, often via a telephone network, to a central computer. The central computer can then process this information to, for example, place an order for the product or service. The system is designed to simplify remote ordering and information retrieval.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent moves closer to the '248 invention by linking a scanned barcode to a remote transaction. However, the communication method described is generally a direct dial-up or network connection to a specific central computer, not the open, standardized protocol of the internet using a URL and a standard web browser. The '377 patent also does not disclose the concept of accessing a web document containing a self-executing transaction applet. The core of the '248 patent's claims lies in leveraging the architecture of the World Wide Web, which is a distinct technological environment from the system described in the '377 patent. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the independent claims of the '248 patent.

U.S. Patent 5,794,210: "Attention brokerage"

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent 5,794,210, filed May 30, 1996, and issued August 11, 1998.
• Description: This patent focuses on a system for online advertising where users are compensated for their attention. It describes a method where advertisements are distributed over a computer network like the Internet, and users can be paid for viewing or interacting with them. The system manages the buying and selling of user "attention".
• Potential Anticipation: While the '210 patent operates in the environment of the internet and involves user interaction with online content for a commercial purpose, its focus is on the business model of "attention brokerage" and advertising. It does not describe the specific mechanism of initiating this interaction by scanning a URL-encoded symbol. The fundamental inventive step of the '248 patent—using a physical code symbol to bridge the real world with a specific online transaction applet—is not present in the '210 patent. Therefore, it does not anticipate the claims of the '248 patent.

Other Cited U.S. Patents:

The file history of the '248 patent also lists several other patents that were considered by the examiner. These include:

• U.S. Patent 4,939,354: Describes a system for ordering items from a catalog using a barcode scanner and a telephone line.
• U.S. Patent 5,304,786: Pertains to a portable bar code reader that can store data and later upload it to a computer.
• U.S. Patent 5,594,232: Details a method for using a barcode to automatically dial a telephone number.
• U.S. Patent 5,661,294: Relates to a system for reading barcodes and transmitting the data to a remote computer for processing.

These patents, similar to the '524 and '377 patents, describe elements of scanning barcodes to initiate some form of communication or data transfer. However, none of them disclose the complete system and method claimed in the '248 patent, specifically the use of a URL to access a web document over the internet and the automatic execution of a transaction-enabling applet embedded within that document. The novelty of the '248 patent appears to be the integration of these specific technologies to create a seamless link from a physical object to an interactive online transaction.