US 6199048

A comprehensive analysis of U.S. Patent 6,199,048 reveals a foundational system for linking physical products to the digital world, a concept that has become ubiquitous in today's interconnected economy. As of April 28, 2026, a search for ongoing litigation in the dockets of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for the year 2026 reveals no pending cases specifically citing this patent.

Summary of U.S. Patent 6,199,048

• Title: System and method for automatic access of a remote computer over a network
• Assignee: The patent's ownership has a detailed history, originally assigned to Neomedia Technologies Inc. According to available records, the current assignee is listed as NM LLC. However, given the complex history of assignments and security agreements, a thorough check of the USPTO's assignment database is recommended for the most current legal status.
• Inventors: Frank C. Hudetz, Peter R. Hudetz
• Filing Date: January 15, 1999
• Issue Date: March 6, 2001
• Abstract: The patent details a system where identification codes on commercial items, such as UPC barcodes, are used to access remote computers over a network. A user can input the code, for example by scanning a product's barcode. A database then links this code to a specific network address, like a URL, and directs the user's computer to the corresponding online resource.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 6,199,048 has three independent claims (claims 1, 36, and 71), which are the broadest statements of the invention.

• Claim 1: This claim outlines a method for connecting a user's device to a remote computer. It involves reading an "index" from a data carrier (like a barcode), using that index to look up a "pointer" (such as a URL) in a database that links indexes to pointers, and then using that pointer to connect to the remote computer.

• Claim 36: This claim describes the system that performs the method of the first claim. It includes a user's computing device, an input device to read the index from the data carrier, and a means for storing the database that links the index to the pointer. The user's device has the capability to access this database and use the retrieved pointer to establish a connection with the remote computer.

• Claim 71: This claim focuses on the user's computing device itself. It specifies a device with an input for reading the index and a processor running software. This software is designed to use the index to access the database, retrieve the corresponding pointer, and then initiate communication with the remote computer identified by that pointer.

While a search of the CAFC dockets for 2026 did not yield any specific litigation for U.S. Patent 6,199,048, it's important to note that this does not preclude the existence of litigation in other courts or potential future filings. The patent has been asserted in district court litigations in the past, as indicated by historical data.