US6446871B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for storing reference codes in a writing instrument and for retrieving information identifed by the reference codes
Assignee: AT Cross Co
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Filing: 1999-06-17
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Granted: 2002-09-10
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Expires: 2019-06-17
Abstract
Abstract An interactive data transfer system and method is provided. In embodiments of the invention, the data transfer system includes a computing device, and a data well for interfacing with an elongate instrument, the elongate instrument having a data transfer end with a data transfer tip. The data well has a housing with an opening for receiving the data transfer tip of the elongate instrument. The data well also has a communications port operatively coupled to the computing device to provide data to the computing device, and the data well has a data communication device contained in the housing for interfacing with the data transfer tip when the data transfer end of the elongate instrument is received in the opening The computing device is programmed to receive data from the data well. The received data includes data indicative of at least one address on a global communications network. The computer device is also programmed, upon receipt of the at least one address, to launch an application to retrieve information related to the at least one address from the global communications network and transmit such information to the computing device.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Buckley
- 👤 Thomas H. Peterson
- 👤 Paul E. Linderson
- 👤 Frank Mercurio
- 👤 Robert O. Southworth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03545; G06F3/002; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0022; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10712; G06K7/10762; G06K7/10772; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An elongated implement for use in writing and data recordation having first and second end portions, the first end portion being a writing end and having a writing tip at an end ,of the first end portion, the second end portion being a data transfer end and having a scan tip at an end of the second end portion, wherein the writing tip and the scan tip are disposed on diametrically opposite ends of the implement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An elongated implement for use in writing and data recordation having first and second end portions, the first end portion being a writing end and having a writing tip at an end ,of the first end portion, the second end portion being a data transfer end and having a scan tip at an end of the second end portion, wherein the writing tip and the scan tip are disposed on diametrically opposite ends of the implement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implement of claim 1 , the writing tip includes a cartridge adapted to supply ink to the writing tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The implement of claim 2 , wherein the writing tip is adapted to be retractable within the first end portion and extensible from the first end portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implement of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion includes electronic circuitry adapted to record indicia positioned upon a surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implement of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry adapted to record indicia is bar code reader circuitry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implement of claim 5 , wherein the indicia to be recorded is a bar code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implement of claim 6 , further including a power supply to power the electronic circuitry located in the second end portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The implement of claim 7 , wherein the scan tip includes an optically transparent tip, the optically transparent tip being adapted to permit the recordation of the bar code positioned upon the surface by the electronic circuitry located in the second end portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The implement of claim 8 , wherein the scan tip further includes a proximity means for allowing the scan tip to scan the indicia when the scan tip is proximate the bar code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implement of claim 9 , wherein the optically transparent tip includes a polycarbonate window.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implement of claim 10 , wherein the optically transparent tip further includes a sapphire ball.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The implement of claim 11 , further including a speaker and an optical indicator to indicate to a user the implement commencement and completion of recordation of the bar code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The implement of claim 8 , wherein the second end portion further includes electronic circuitry adapted to transfer the recorded bar code through the optically transparent tip to a computing device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The implement of claim 13 , wherein the second end portion further includes a communication mechanism for wireless communication with the computing device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The implement of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is coupled to a data well that is operative to interface with the implement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
140 words
The implement of claim 15 , wherein the data well includes: a housing with an opening dimensioned to receive the data transfer end of the implement; a communications port operatively coupled to the computing device to provide data to the computing device; a data communication device contained in the housing for interfacing with the scan tip when the data transfer end of the implement is received in the opening, wherein the computing device is programmed to receive data from the data well, the received data including data indicative of at least one address on a global communications network, the computer device also being programmed, upon receipt of the at least one address, to launch an application to retrieve information related to the at least one address from the global communications network and to transmit such information to the computing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The implement of claim 16 , wherein the global communications network includes the Internet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implement of claim 17 , wherein the computing device includes a display device to display information retrieved over the Internet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implement of claim 16 , wherein the data well is contained within the computing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
The implement of claim 16 , wherein the computing device includes: a communication mechanism for communicating with the elongated implement, the communication mechanism having a receiving assembly for receiving the indicia from the scan tip of the elongated implement; and, wherein the computing device is programmed to receive indicia from the communication mechanism, the received indicia including data indicative of at least one address on a global communications network, the computing device also being programmed, upon receipt of the at least one address, to launch an application to retrieve information related to the at least one address from the global communications network and to transmit such information to the computing device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The implement of claim 20 , wherein said communication mechanism provides for wireless communication links, including an infra-red link or a radio-frequency link.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
An elongated implement for use in writing and data recordation having a first end and a second end diametrically opposite the first end, the first end having a writing tip, the it second end including means for scanning and transferring data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
An elongated implement for use in writing and data recordation having a first end and a second end diametrically opposite the first end, the first end having a writing tip, the it second end including means for scanning and transferring data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The implement of claim 22 , wherein the writing tip includes means for supplying ink to the writing tip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The implement of claim 23 , wherein the writing tip includes means for retracting the writing tip within the first end and means for extending the writing tip from the first end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The implement of claim 22 , wherein the second end includes means for recording indicia positioned upon a surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implement of claim 25 , wherein the indicia is bar code indicia.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implement of claim 26 , further including means for supplying power to the means for recording bar code indicia located in the second end.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The implement of claim 27 , wherein the means for scanning further includes means for controlling the means for scanning to scan the bar code indicia when the means for scanning is proximate the bar code indicia.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The implement of claim 28 , further including means for communicating to a user the implement commencement and completion of recordation of the bar code indicia positioned upon the surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implement of claim 29 , wherein the second end further includes means for transferring the recorded bar code indicia to a means for computing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implement of claim 30 , wherein the means for computing includes means for interfacing with the implement.
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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) | 2005-09-09 | 2006-03-11 | 2006-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-09 | 2010-03-11 | 2010-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-09 | 2014-03-11 | 2014-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |