US 7,430,528 B2
17
FIG. 4C is a schematic representation of the structure of a
relational database management subsystem (RDBMS) used
to carry out a best-mode embodiment of the IPI Registrant
Database represented in FIGS. 4A1 and 4A2 hereof;
FIG. 4C1 is a schematic representation illustrating the
information fields of the table entitled “Manufacturer' used
in the RDBMS shown in FIGS. 4A1 and 4A2 hereof;
FIG. 4C2 is a schematic representation illustrating the
information fields of the table entitled “Consumer Product’
used in the RDBMS shown in FIGS. 4A1 and 4A2 hereof;
FIG. 4C3 is a schematic representation illustrating the
information fields of the table entitled “Information
Resources on the WWW used in the RDBMS shown in
FIGS. 4A1 and 4A2 hereof
FIG. 4D is a schematic representation illustrating the infor
mation fields of the table entitled “Retailer used in the
RDBMS shown in FIGS. 4A1 and 4A2 hereof;
FIGS. 4E1 and 4E2, taken together, provide a high-level
flow chart describing the steps involved in the first illustrative
method of creating, loading, distributing, embedding, dis
playing, and executing "server-side' consumer product infor
mation request (CPIR) enabling Applets when using the sys
tem architecture and servlet-based search and display
mechanism schematically depicted in FIG. 2B1, enabling
consumers to automatically search the RDBMS for consumer
product information related to a particular UPN-specified
product while visiting EC-enabled stores and other WWW
sites without disturbing the point of presence of the con
Sumer,
FIG. 4F1 is a schematic representation illustrating the
method of FIGS. 4E1 and 4E2 being carried out using certain
subcomponents of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1,2-2, and
2B1, in particular;
FIG. 4F2 is a schematic representation illustrating in
greater detail the Applet-embedding step of the method of
FIGS. 4E1 and 4E2, carried out using certain subcomponents
of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2:
FIGS. 4G1 and 4G2, taken together, provide a high-level
flow chart describing the steps involved in the second illus
trative method of creating, loading, distributing, embedding,
displaying, and executing "client-side' consumer product
information request (CPIR) enabling Applets when using the
system architecture and Applet/CGI-based search and display
mechanism schematically depicted in FIG. 2B2, enabling
consumers to automatically search the RDBMS for consumer
product information related to a particular UPN-specified
product while visiting EC-enabled stores and other WWW
sites without disturbing the point of presence of the con
Sumer,
FIG. 4H1 is a schematic representation illustrating the
method of FIGS. 4G1 and 4G2 being carried out using certain
subcomponents of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1,2-2, and
2B2, in particular;
FIG. 4H2 is a schematic representation illustrating in
greater detail the Applet-embedding step of the method of
FIGS. 4G1 and 4G2, carried out using certain subcomponents
of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2:
FIGS. 4I1 and 4I2, taken together, provide a high-level
flow chart describing the steps involved in the second illus
trative method of creating, loading, distributing, embedding,
displaying, and executing "client-side' consumer product
information request (CPIR) enabling Applets when using the
system architecture and Applet/socket-based search and dis
play mechanism schematically depicted in FIG. 2B3,
enabling consumers to automatically search the RDBMS for
consumer product information related to a particular UPN
18
specified product while visiting EC-enabled stores and other
WWW sites without disturbing the point of presence of the
consumer,
FIG. 4J1 is a schematic representation illustrating the
method of FIGS. 4I1 and 412 being carried out using certain
subcomponents of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1,2-2, and
2B3, in particular;
FIG. 4J2 is a schematic representation illustrating in
greater detail the Applet-embedding step of the method of
10 FIGS. 4I1 and 4I2, carried out using certain subcomponents
of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2:
FIGS. 4K1 and 4K2, taken together, provide a high-level
flow chart describing the steps involved in the fourth illustra
tive method of creating, loading, distributing, embedding,
15 displaying, and executing "client-side' consumer product
information request (CPIR) enabling Applets when using the
system architecture and Applet/RMI-based search and dis
play mechanism schematically depicted in FIG. 2B4,
enabling consumers to automatically search the RDBMS for
consumer product information related to a particular UPN
specified product while visiting EC-enabled stores and other
WWW sites without disturbing the point of presence of the
consumer,
FIG. 4L1 is a schematic representation illustrating the
25 method of FIGS. 4K1 and 4K2 being carried out using certain
subcomponents of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1,2-2, and
2B4, in particular;
FIG. 4L2 is a schematic representation illustrating in
greater detail the Applet-embedding step of the method of
30 FIGS. 4K1 and 4K2, carried out using certain subcomponents
of the system depicted in FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2:
FIG. 4M1 is a graphical illustration of an Internet browser
display screen that might be displayed on a client computer
subsystem hereof while browsing the Library of CPIR-En
35 abling Java Applet (HTML tags) maintained within the UPN/
URL RDBMS shown in FIGS. 2-1 through 2A, wherein the
user (e.g. retail purchasing agent, product catalog manager,
advertising agent, or whomever) is provided with the option
of viewing and downloading, for each UPN-specified product
40 in the system, an executable file containing the HTML tag for
either a client-side or server-side type CPIR-enabling Java
Applet associated therewith:
FIG. 4M2 is a graphical illustration of an Internet browser
display screen that might be displayed on a client computer
45 Subsystem hereof while browsing a product-specific page of
an on-line business-to-business consumer product catalog,
wherein the user (e.g. retail purchasing agent, product catalog
manager, advertising agent, or whomever) is provided with
the option of viewing and downloading, for each UPN-speci
50 fied product offered for sale in the on-line catalog, an execut
able file containing the HTML tag for either a client-side or
server-side type CPIR-enabling Java Applet associated with
the UPN-specified consumer product;
FIGS. 4N1 and 4N2 set forth graphical illustrations of
55 Internet browser display Screens that might be displayed on a
client computer subsystem hereof while browsing a WWW
information search engine or directory, such as Yahoo, Lycos,
or Excite, looking for information on the WWW related to a
particular consumer product, and launching a CPI search
60 enabling GUI in accordance with the principles of the present
invention by clicking on the (underlying) HTML tag of either
client-side or server-side Appletembedded within the HTML
code of the displayed WWW page associated with the search
engine/directory;
65 FIGS. 4O1 and 4O2 set forth graphical illustrations of
Internet browser display Screens that might be displayed on a
client computer Subsystem hereof while shopping/browsing