Patent US4951203A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4951203A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Computer card
Assignee: Excite Inc
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Filing: 1988-05-31
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Granted: 1990-08-21
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Expires: 2008-05-31
Abstract
Abstract In combination with a digital computing machine the computer card is formatted by the user to include an audio portion and a visual portion of an interpersonal-social communication. The composite communication is transmitted by the user to a recipient through a computerized central mail exchange apparatus or created on removable, transportable magnetic media, such as a floppy disk, insertable into and readable by the recipient's audio and visual display device whereby a synchronized audio and visual display of the interpersonal-social communication is created.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Halamka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q99/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A computer greeting card created and readable by a digital computing machine comprising: a simple magnetic media means for storing (2) a plurality of messages a plurality of audio selections and (3) a control file to configure the digital computing machine to present said messages and said audio selections selected by the user in synchronization; the digital computing machine having an operating system, a visual display means, audio generation means and means to read said magnetic media means; said control file configured to be read by the digital computing machine from said magnetic media means upon initial operation of the machine, whereby the operating system of said digital computing machine directs the reading of said user preselected message and the output of said message on said display means and directs the reading of said audio selection and the output of said audio selection through said audio generation means synchronously with said output of said preselected message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A computer greeting card created and readable by a digital computing machine comprising: a simple magnetic media means for storing (2) a plurality of messages a plurality of audio selections and (3) a control file to configure the digital computing machine to present said messages and said audio selections selected by the user in synchronization; the digital computing machine having an operating system, a visual display means, audio generation means and means to read said magnetic media means; said control file configured to be read by the digital computing machine from said magnetic media means upon initial operation of the machine, whereby the operating system of said digital computing machine directs the reading of said user preselected message and the output of said message on said display means and directs the reading of said audio selection and the output of said audio selection through said audio generation means synchronously with said output of said preselected message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said magnetic media means comprises a floppy disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said user preselected musical selection comprises the setting of the frequency and duration of a plurality of tones to be generated by said audio tone generation means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said initial operation of said machine comprises the process of applying power to the digital computing machine and inserting said magnetic media into said means to read said magnetic media.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said initial operation of said machine comprises the process of inserting said magnetic media into said means to read said magnetic media and causing said machine to cycle through the reset mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said audio generation means comprises a pure tone generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said audio generation means comprises a speech synthesizer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said audio generation means comprises a variable tone generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said visual display means comprises a monochromatic monitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said visual display means comprises a color monitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer greeting card as described in claim 1 wherein: said visual display means comprises a graphics monitor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4712180A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-02-19 | 1994-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-20 | 1998-02-19 | 1998-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-20 | 2002-02-19 | 2002-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |