Prior art — US Patent US7383209

Analysis of Relevant Prior Art for US7383209

Based on the patent's priority date of June 20, 1995, the following patents, cited during the examination of US7383209 and its parent applications, are considered the most relevant prior art. This analysis focuses on how each reference potentially anticipates the independent claims of US7383209 under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

1. U.S. Patent No. 5,305,195: "Method for distribution of data and software"

Full Citation: US Patent 5,305,195, "Method for distribution of data and software," assigned to AT&T Corp.
Publication Date: April 19, 1994
Filing Date: September 3, 1992
Brief Description: This patent describes a system for distributing information, such as software or data, to a customer's computer. The system involves providing the customer with a machine-readable "key" (like a bar code or magnetic stripe) on a physical item, such as a postcard or product packaging. The user reads this key with an input device connected to their computer. The computer then uses the key to dial into a remote distribution center, which validates the key and downloads the corresponding information. The key itself contains an access code and routing information (like a telephone number) for the distribution center.
Potential Anticipation of Claims:
- Claim 1 & 23: This patent appears to disclose many elements of the core claims.
  - (a) "machine-read a data carrier modulated with an index": The '195 patent describes reading a machine-readable key, such as a barcode, which functions as an index.
  - (b) "communicating with routing computers... having a table... associating an index to a pointer": The '195 patent's "distribution center" acts as the routing and information computer. The key itself contains the "pointer" (the telephone number), but the distribution center's system must necessarily associate the access code part of the key with the specific data to be downloaded, which implies a table-like lookup. While the routing and information computers are not explicitly separate entities as claimed in some dependent claims of US7383209, the fundamental concept of using a scanned code to access a remote computer which then provides data is present.
  - (c) & (d) "establish communication with the information computer... and... transmitting information": The '195 patent clearly describes the user's computer using the information from the key to connect to the distribution center and receive the requested data or software.
The key distinction is that in the '195 patent, the routing information (phone number) is encoded directly in the key, whereas US7383209 teaches using a standard product code (like a UPC) as an index to look up the routing information (a URL) in a remote database. This lookup step is a central element of the '209 patent's invention.

2. U.S. Patent No. 5,128,525: "System for providing information about a product to a consumer"

Full Citation: US Patent 5,128,525, "System for providing information about a product to a consumer," assigned to Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Publication Date: July 7, 1992
Filing Date: March 13, 1991
Brief Description: This patent describes a system where a consumer in a retail store can use a handheld scanner to read a product's barcode (UPC). The scanner terminal then connects to a store-level or remote computer that stores product-related information (e.g., price, ingredients, promotions, recipes). This information is then displayed to the consumer on the terminal's screen. The system is designed to provide consumers with more detailed information than is available on the product packaging itself.
Potential Anticipation of Claims:
- Claim 1 & 23: This patent discloses a system that uses a standard product code to retrieve information from a database, which aligns closely with the claims of US7383209.
  - (a) "machine-read a data carrier modulated with an index": The '525 patent explicitly describes scanning a UPC barcode on a product.
  - (b) "communicating with routing computers... having a table... associating an index to a pointer": The handheld terminal communicates with a store computer or remote server which contains a database. This database directly associates the UPC index with the corresponding product information. The system performs the essential function of an index-to-data lookup. The "pointer" in this case is effectively the database record containing the product information.
  - (c) & (d) "establish communication... and... transmitting information": The terminal establishes communication with the database computer, which then transmits the relevant product information back to the terminal for display.
The primary difference is the network context. The '525 patent envisions this system operating within a retail environment over a local or proprietary network, whereas US7383209 explicitly claims a system operating over a broader, distributed "computer network" like the Internet, using pointers such as URLs to identify information computers. However, the core process of scanning a UPC to trigger a remote database lookup for related information is a strong antecedent.

3. U.S. Patent No. 5,446,273: "System for ordering goods and services"

Full Citation: US Patent 5,446,273, "System for ordering goods and services," assigned to Online Interactive, Inc.
Publication Date: August 29, 1995
Filing Date: March 2, 1994
Brief Description: This patent discloses a system for ordering items from a printed catalog using a barcode scanner. A user scans the barcode associated with an item in the catalog. The scanned code, which identifies the item, is sent from the user's computer via a modem to a central ordering computer. The central computer looks up the item information and price in a database, processes the order, and confirms it with the user.
Potential Anticipation of Claims:
- Claim 1 & 23: This reference is highly relevant as it describes using a barcode scan to initiate a transaction with a remote computer over a network (the telephone network).
  - (a) "machine-read a data carrier modulated with an index": The system uses a barcode in a catalog, which serves as an index for a specific product.
  - (b) "communicating with... computers... having a table... associating an index to a pointer": The user's computer communicates with a central ordering computer. This central computer has a database (a "table") that associates the scanned item index with product details and pricing information.
  - (c) & (d) "establish communication... and... transmitting information": The user's computer establishes a connection with the ordering computer to send the index and receive confirmation and other data.
Similar to the other references, the '273 patent describes the fundamental process claimed in US7383209. The distinction lies in the application (ordering from a catalog vs. accessing general information) and the specific nature of the "pointer" and "network." The '273 patent focuses on a direct modem connection for a specific transaction, while US7383209 claims a more general system for navigating a computer network like the internet, where the pointer is a network address (URL).