US6076734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and systems for providing human/computer interfaces
Assignee: Western Digital Fremont LLC
•
Filing: 1997-10-10
•
Granted: 2000-06-20
•
Expires: 2017-10-10
Abstract
Abstract The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user. The encoded physical medium may have text and/or graphic illustrations that draw the user in or provide meaningful clues or instructions perhaps related to the encoded information. The sensor may have at least one identification number (ID) providing information such as user identity, sensor type, access type, or language type. The sensor can transmit the certain decoded information together with the at least one ID to the computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Dougherty
- 👤 S. Joy Mountford
- 👤 Jesse L. Dorogusker
- 👤 James H. Boyden
- 👤 Philip A. van Allen
- 👤 Daniel E. Cummings
- 👤 Brygg A. Ullmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G06K7/10; G06K7/12; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for interfacing a user and a computer system using an encoded physical medium, the encoded physical medium suitable for having at least one region wherein information has been encoded, the method comprising the steps of: a) measuring information present in a first region of the encoded physical medium; and b) determining whether the measured information present in the first region includes a marker indicating that certain information has been encoded in the first region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for interfacing a user and a computer system using an encoded physical medium, the encoded physical medium suitable for having at least one region wherein information has been encoded, the method comprising the steps of: a) measuring information present in a first region of the encoded physical medium; and b) determining whether the measured information present in the first region includes a marker indicating that certain information has been encoded in the first region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer interface for interfacing a user and a computer system using an encoded physical medium, the encoded physical medium suitable for having at least one region wherein certain information has been encoded, the computer interface comprising a sensor operable for measuring information present on the encoded physical medium, the sensor storing at least one identification number (ID), the sensor operable to transmit the certain decoded information and the at least one ID to the computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer interface for interfacing a user and a computer system using an encoded physical medium, the encoded physical medium suitable for having at least one region wherein certain information has been encoded, the computer interface comprising a sensor operable for measuring information present on the encoded physical medium, the sensor storing at least one identification number (ID), the sensor operable to transmit the certain decoded information and the at least one ID to the computer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one ID uniquely identifies a specific user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 3 wherein the at least one ID is one of a plurality of IDs stored in the sensor, each one of said plurality of IDs uniquely identifying a user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 3 wherein the ID includes detailed information regarding the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 2 wherein the ID is a sensor type arranged to define characteristics of the sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 2 wherein the ID is an access type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 7 wherein the access type includes a data field defining the sensor's permitted level of access to a certain type of information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 8 wherein the certain type of information is sexual content.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 8 wherein the certain type of information is violence content.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 8 wherein the certain type of information corresponds to a purchasing authorization level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 2 wherein the sensor is operable to store decoded data for subsequent transmission to the computer system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 6 wherein the computer system is coupled to the Internet, and the certain information corresponds to a uniform resource locator (URL).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 13 wherein the URL points to a registration web site wherein the user can register the at least one ID.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 13 wherein the URL points to a transaction web site and the ID is arranged for billing purposes such that the user can perform transactions at the transaction web site.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer interface as recited in claim 15 wherein the user must enter a PIN associated with the ID in order to effectuate transactions at the transaction web site.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3894756A
Cited
US4131367A
Cited
US4345011A
Cited
US4414635A
Cited
US4325083A
Cited
US4547074A
Cited
US4679068A
Cited
US4751571A
Cited
US4855725A
Cited
US4917500A
Cited
US4965449A
Cited
US5047614A
Cited
US4990092A
Cited
US4990092B1
Cited
US5484292A
Cited
US5303388A
Cited
US5059126A
Cited
US5452414A
Cited
US5486686A
Cited
US5886337A
Cited
US5341293A
Cited
US5202828A
Cited
US5229841A
Cited
US5339095A
Cited
US5650608A
Cited
US5459489A
Cited
US5586216A
Cited
US5337358A
Cited
US5385803A
Cited
US5413486A
Cited
US5545883A
Cited
US5437552A
Cited
US5841978A
Cited
US5631686A
Cited
US5461711A
Cited
US5466158A
Cited
US5537336A
Cited
US5592561A
Cited
US5862321A
Cited
US5624265A
Cited
WO1996001464A1
Cited
US5597307A
Cited
WO1996003736A1
Cited
US5640193A
Cited
US5869819A
Cited
US5525798A
Cited
US5693693A
Cited
WO1996019795A1
Cited
WO1996019821A1
Cited
US5848413A
Cited
WO1996029749A1
Cited
US5569549A
Cited
US5587784A
Cited
WO1997002552A1
Cited
US5572643A
Cited
US5660115A
Cited
US5694102A
Cited
US5804803A
Cited
US5862429A
Cited
WO1998003923A1
Cited
US5903729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-20 | 2003-12-20 | 2004-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | 2008-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-20 | 2011-12-20 | 2012-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |