Internet-based system for managing and delivering consumer product information to consumers along points of presence along the world wide web (WWW), using consumer product information (CPI) requesting and graphical user interface (GUI) displaying subsystems, driven by server-side components embodying universal product numbers (UPNS) and driven by UPN/URL links managed by product manufacturer team members and/or their agents

摘要

Method of and system for delivering consumer product related information to consumers over the Internet. The system and method involves creating an UPN-encoded Consumer Product Information (CPIR) enabling Serviet for each consumer product registered within a manufacturer-managed UPN/URL database management subsystem. Each CPIR-enabling Serviet is encapsulated within an executable file and then stored in the UPN/URL database management system. Each CPIR-enabling Serviet is searchable and downloadable by, for example, (1) retailers purchasing products from an electronic-commerce enabled product catalog, (2) advertisers desiring to link consumer product information to Web-based product advertisements, or (3) anyone having a legitimate purpose of disseminating such information within the stream of electronic commerce. After downloading and extraction from its encapsulating file, the CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded within an HTML-encoded document associated with, for example, an EC-enabled store, on-line auction site, product advertisement, Internet search engine or directory, and the like. Upon encountering such a Servlet-encoded HTML document on the WWW, the consumer need only perform a single mouse-clicking operation to automatically execute its underlying CPIR-enabling Servlet, causing a UPN-directed search to be performed against the manufacturer-defined UPN/URL database management subsystem, and the results thereof displayed in an independent Java GUI, without disturbing the consumer's point of presence on the WWW. Preferably, the CPIR-enabling Servlets are realized using Java™ technology, although it is understood that alternative technologies can be used to practice the system and methods of the present invention.