Patent US6164534A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6164534A
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Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium
Assignee: MARSHALL ELECTRONICS COMPANY LLC
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Filing: 1999-05-20
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Granted: 2000-12-26
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Expires: 2019-05-20
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media.
Inventors
- 👤 Spencer A. Rathus
- 👤 Jeffrey S. Nevid
- 👤 Lois Fichner-Rathus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0603
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for displaying programming to a user, the system comprising: a printed matter having at least one machine recognizable feature; a feature recognition unit having associated therewith a means for recognizing said feature and a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal in response to the recognition of said feature; an intelligent controller having associated therewith a receiver for receiving said coded signal and means for accessing programming material; and a display unit for presenting said programming material; wherein said recognition unit, in response to the recognition of said feature, causes said intelligent controller to access said programming material and said display unit to execute or display said programming material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for displaying programming to a user, the system comprising: a printed matter having at least one machine recognizable feature; a feature recognition unit having associated therewith a means for recognizing said feature and a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal in response to the recognition of said feature; an intelligent controller having associated therewith a receiver for receiving said coded signal and means for accessing programming material; and a display unit for presenting said programming material; wherein said recognition unit, in response to the recognition of said feature, causes said intelligent controller to access said programming material and said display unit to execute or display said programming material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said intelligent controller includes a microprocessor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said intelligent controller has associated therewith a memory means for storing programming material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said memory means comprises a magnetic disk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said memory means comprises a PCMCIA card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said memory means comprises a flash RAM.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said memory means comprises a cache.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said memory means comprises a CD-ROM.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said memory means comprises a DVD.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said memory means is housed on a remote server.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for accessing programming material operates via a data link.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said data link comprises a telephone line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said data link comprises a computer network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said data link comprises an ISDN network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said data link comprises an ethernet network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said data link comprises a CATV line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said data link comprises a wireless network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a video display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises an audio transducer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a flat panel display.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said flat panel display is a rigid flat panel display.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said flat panel display is a flexible flat panel display.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said flat panel display is embedded within said printed matter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit has associated therewith a buffer for temporarily storing programming material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit has associated therewith means for decompressing compressed programming material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a CATV converter, or wireless cable converter, and a television set coupled thereto.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a personal computer system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 27 wherein said personal computer system includes a CD-ROM for storing programming material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 27 wherein said personal computer system includes means for decompressing compressed programming material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said programming material is accessed via a network.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as defined in claim 30 wherein said network comprises a wireless network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said programming material is accessed via the Internet.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said feature recognition unit comprises a video camera.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said feature recognition unit comprises a digital PC camera.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said feature recognition unit comprises an optical or digital mouse.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said feature recognition unit comprises a mechanical mouse.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said feature recognition unit comprises a scanner.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said recognition means comprises a magnetic strip reader.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said recognition means comprises a voice recognition device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said recognition means comprises a CCD camera.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said recognition means comprises a keyboard.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said recognition means comprises a digital watermark reader.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said intelligent controller, said display unit and said feature recognition device each comprise components of a personal computer system.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a portable personal computer system.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a personal digital assistant.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises an Internet appliance.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a cellular telephone.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a wireless communication device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5932863A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-26 | 2004-06-26 | 2004-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-26 | 2008-06-26 | 2008-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-26 | 2012-06-26 | 2012-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |