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US5748895A
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System for remotely programming a portable information device using visible optical pattern transmitted from a display device while concurrently displaying human-readable explanation of the pattern
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1997-01-17
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Granted: 1998-05-05
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Expires: 2017-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A system and method is provided for remotely and optically programming a portable information device, such as a programmable watch, using a visual display device, such as a CRT monitor. The monitor displays a sequence of changing optical patterns used to optically transmit a serial stream of data. The optically programmable watch has an optical sensor which detects the sequence of optical patterns to optically receive the data stream. The optical patterns transmit machine-readable information that can be detected by the optical sensor, but no meaningful information to a user. The visual display device therefore also displays a human-readable image that explains to a user the sequence of optical patterns being used to transmit the data stream. The human-readable image is displayed in a manner that renders it undetectable by the optical sensor of the programmable watch.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Shiff
- 👤 Neil S. Fishman
- 👤 Philip Brzezinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:16
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G21/00; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/02; G06F15/0225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for remotely programming a programmable portable information device using optical data transmission from a visual display device, the portable information device having an optical sensor, the method comprising the following steps: displaying, on the visual display device, a sequence of changing optical patterns in a first color that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data; and displaying, on the visual display device concurrently with the sequence of optical patterns, a human-readable image in a second color different from the first color that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns in the first color and the human-readable image in the second color are visible to a human eye.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for remotely programming a programmable portable information device using optical data transmission from a visual display device, the portable information device having an optical sensor, the method comprising the following steps: displaying, on the visual display device, a sequence of changing optical patterns in a first color that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data; and displaying, on the visual display device concurrently with the sequence of optical patterns, a human-readable image in a second color different from the first color that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns in the first color and the human-readable image in the second color are visible to a human eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual display device comprises a scanned-pixel monitor, and the step of displaying a sequence of optical patterns comprises the step of displaying sets of serially and contiguously scanned lines that extend across the scanned-pixel monitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a human-readable image comprises the step of displaying text.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for remotely programming a programmable portable information device using optical serial data transmission from a display device having a scanning light source, the portable information device having an optical sensor, the method comprising the following steps: displaying, on the visual display devices a sequence of changing optical patterns of long scanning duration that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data; and displaying, on the display concurrently with the sequence of optical patterns, a human-readable image in discrete scanning bursts of comparatively short scanning duration that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns and the human-readable image are visible to a human eye.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for remotely programming a programmable portable information device using optical serial data transmission from a display device having a scanning light source, the portable information device having an optical sensor, the method comprising the following steps: displaying, on the visual display devices a sequence of changing optical patterns of long scanning duration that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data; and displaying, on the display concurrently with the sequence of optical patterns, a human-readable image in discrete scanning bursts of comparatively short scanning duration that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns and the human-readable image are visible to a human eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the visual display device comprises a scanned-pixel monitor, and the step of displaying a sequence of optical patterns comprises displaying sets of serially and contiguously scanned lines that extend across the scanned-pixel monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying the discrete bursts in a form of alphanumeric characters that are intelligible to humans.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
A system comprising: a portable information device having an optical sensor; a display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns in a first color that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to transmit a serial stream of data to the portable information device; and the display device also displaying a human-readable image in a second color different from the first color that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns in the first color and the human-readable image in the second color are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
118 words
A system comprising: a portable information device having an optical sensor; a display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns in a first color that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to transmit a serial stream of data to the portable information device; and the display device also displaying a human-readable image in a second color different from the first color that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns in the first color and the human-readable image in the second color are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
106 words
A system comprising: a portable information device having an optical sensor; a display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns of long scanning duration that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data; and the display device also displaying a human-readable image in discrete scanning bursts of comparatively short scanning duration that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patters and the human-readable image are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
A system comprising: a portable information device having an optical sensor; a display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns of long scanning duration that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data; and the display device also displaying a human-readable image in discrete scanning bursts of comparatively short scanning duration that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patters and the human-readable image are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the visual display device comprises a scanned-pixel monitor that displays sets of serially and contiguously scanned lines that extend across the scanned-pixel monitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the discrete bursts are displayed in a form of alphanumeric characters intelligible to humans.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium to be used in a computer for programming a portable information device that is equipped with an optical sensors comprising: code to direct a visual display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns in a first color that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data to the portable information device; and code to direct the visual display device to display a human-readable image in a second color different from the first color that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns in the first color and the human-readable image in the second color are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium to be used in a computer for programming a portable information device that is equipped with an optical sensors comprising: code to direct a visual display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns in a first color that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data to the portable information device; and code to direct the visual display device to display a human-readable image in a second color different from the first color that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns in the first color and the human-readable image in the second color are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium to be used in a computer for programming a portable information device that is equipped with an optical sensor, comprising: code to direct a visual display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns of long scanning duration that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data to the portable information device; and code to direct the visual display device to display a human-readable image in discrete scanning bursts of comparatively short scanning duration that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns and the human-readable image are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium to be used in a computer for programming a portable information device that is equipped with an optical sensor, comprising: code to direct a visual display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns of long scanning duration that is detectable by the optical sensor of the portable information device to optically transmit a serial stream of data to the portable information device; and code to direct the visual display device to display a human-readable image in discrete scanning bursts of comparatively short scanning duration that cannot be detected by the optical sensor to explain to a user the data being optically transmitted through use of the optical patterns, wherein the optical patterns and the human-readable image are concurrently displayed and are visible to a human eye.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-04 | 2001-11-03 | 2002-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-04 | 2005-11-03 | 2006-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-04 | 2009-11-03 | 2010-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |