A method and system of connecting printed media to electronic information as a response to a request, using an optical glyph and an electronic finder

摘要

Methods and systems for providing requested information over a computer network are presented. The invention uses machine-readable codes and electronic finders to generate requests for information, which are directed to a first service to interpret the request and then to a second service for filling the request. Information is supplied to a customer through message services such as e-mail, instant-messaging or other mail systems that work over computer networks, preferably the Internet. Optical glyphs and portable electronic finders provide flexibility to the system by allowing for incorporating the glyphs on common printed media and allowing for the easy acquisition and automatic transmittal of the request to the second service. The invention provides for flexibility and expansion by using a glyph capable of being used to store a very large number of different codes and by providing a method of payment for services. Several embodiments of the invention are presented including a reader-response embodiment, a business card embodiment, and a personalized catalog embodiment.