Method and system for identifying data locations associated with real world observations

Abstract

A method and system for identifying data locations or uniform resource locators associated with physical observations in the real world. The method and system includes selecting certain physical parameters based upon an observation of real world objects and events and associating such physical parameters with data locations on the Internet or other computer network. When the real world object is observed or a real world event occurs, physical parameters relating to the object or event are sensed and recorded. These stored physical parameters are then communicated to a database, which returns a data location corresponding to the observed physical parameters. Thus, the present invention allows a user to “click” on objects or events in the real world in order to find data locations related to the objects or events in the on-line world.

1 . A method for identifying an explicit data location on a computer network corresponding to a physical observation, wherein said physical observation includes at least one physical parameter, wherein said physical parameter(s) does not directly identify an explicit data location, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) associating a data location with a physical observation to allow selection of said data location based on said physical observation; and    (b) selecting said data location based on said physical observation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associating step (a) further includes the steps of 
 (a1) accessing a database including a designation of a physical observation and an indication of the data location; and    (a2) using the designation of the physical observation and the indication of the data location to associate the data location with the physical observation to allow selection of the data location based on the physical observation.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data location includes an Internet domain address.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for identifying an explicit data location on a computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said apparatus comprising 
 (a) data storage means for storing data locations and physical parameters corresponding to said data locations; and    (b) means for selecting a data location based on said corresponding physical parameters.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising means for receiving physical parameters.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising means for transmitting data location to a client computer.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising means for transmitting data locations to a client computer.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for identifying an explicit data location n a computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said apparatus comprising 
 a database having a list of data locations, said database storing associated physical parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations;    a processor coupled to said database, said processor also being coupled to receive a data location request containing physical parameters, said processor accessing said database according to said physical parameters in said data location request to retrieve the data location corresponding to said physical parameters.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said processor is coupled to transmit a data location in response to said data location request.  
   
   
       10 . A method of identifying an explicit data location based upon observed physical parameters corresponding to a broadcast, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) associating a data location with a first physical parameter and a second physical parameter to allow selection of said data location based upon said first and second physical parameters; said first physical parameter being broadcast frequency and said second physical parameter being time, and    (b) selecting said data location based upon said first and second physical parameters.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the associating step (a) further includes the steps of 
 (a1) accessing a database including a designation of first and second physical parameters and an indication of said data location;    (a2) using the designation of said first and second physical parameters and said indication of the data location to associate the data location with said first and second physical parameters to allow selection of said data location based upon said first and second physical parameters.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for identifying an explicit data location on a computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said apparatus comprising 
 a database having a list of data locations, said database storing associated first and second physical parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations;    a processor coupled to said database, said processor also being coupled to receive a data location request containing said first and second physical parameters, said processor accessing said database according to said first and second physical parameters in said data location request to retrieve the data location corresponding to said first and second physical parameters;    wherein said first physical parameter is broadcast frequency and said second physical parameter is time.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said database further stores associated third physical parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations; wherein said third physical parameters is geographic location, and wherein said processor accesses said database according to said first and second physical parameters in said data location request to retrieve the data location corresponding to said first, second and third physical parameters.  
   
   
       14 . A method for identifying an explicit data location on a computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) observing a physical event or object by sensing at least one physical parameter;    (b) transmitting said physical parameter(s) to a database, said database having a list of data locations, said database storing associated physical parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said observing step (a) further includes storing said at least one physical parameter.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said observing step (a) comprises the steps of 
 (a1) observing the broadcast frequency to which a radio receiver is tuned;    (a2) observing the time at which said broadcast frequency was observed.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said transmitting stop (b) comprises 
 (b1) transmitting said observed broadcast frequency and said observed time according to steps (a1) and (a 2 ), wherein said associated physical parameters of said database include broadcast frequency and time for corresponding ones of said data locations.    
   
   
       18 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35  A system for identifying an explicit data location a computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said system comprising 
 A physical parameter data sensing unit comprising 
 means for sensing a physical parameter, and  
 means for communicating a data location request including said physical parameter; and  
   a data location identifier operatively coupled to said data sensing unit comprising 
 a database having a list of data locations, said database storing associated physical parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations;  
 a processor coupled to said database, said processor also being coupled to receive a data location request containing physical parameters, said processor accessing said database according to said physical parameters in said data location request to retrieve the data location corresponding to said physical parameters.  
   
   
   
       36  The system of  claim 35  wherein said physical parameter data sensing unit further comprises means for storing said physical data parameter.  
   
   
       37  A system for identifying an explicit data location on a computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said system for use on an interactive network, comprising 
 a physical parameter data sensing unit comprising 
 means for sensing a physical parameter, and  
 means for communicating physical parameters to a remotely located terminal,  
   a remotely located terminal operatively connected to said data sensing unit,    said remotely located terminal including means for communicating a data location request including said physical parameter;    and a centrally located data location request processing unit,    a database provided at said data location request processing unit, said database having a list of data locations, said database storing associated physical parameters for corresponding ones of said locations;    a processor coupled to said database, said processor also being coupled to receive a data location request containing physical parameters, said processor accessing said database according to said physical parameters in said data location request to retrieve the data location corresponding to said physical parameters, and    a communication network which interfaces said remotely located terminal with said centrally located data location request processing unit, said communication network transferring said data location request from said remote terminal to said centrally located processing unit.