Data entry method and system

• US 20010023193A1
• Filed: 01/10/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, a wireless telephony device is equipped with an optical image sensor, and a lens for imaging an object onto the sensor. The optical sensor permits a variety of useful functionality, including decoding of bar codes, watermarks, etc., from objects imaged by the sensor. One application of such a device is to interact with a remote computer system using data decoded from a bar code or watermark. For example, the device can be used to scan image data from an item depicted in a catalog, and then to transmit an order for the item from the catalog'"'"'s on-line web store—using digital data decoded from the image to identify the desired item.

Claims

1. In a wireless telephony device including a microphone, a modulator, and an RF amplifier, the device serving to receive audio and transmit an RF signal conveying audio modulation, an improvement comprising an optical sensor having plural sensing elements and producing image signals, and a lens for imaging an object onto the sensor.

2. The device of

claim 1

that further includes decoder circuitry for decoding plural bit information steganographically conveyed by the object.

3. An apparatus including:

a wireless telephony device including a microphone, a modulator, a display screen, and an RF amplifier, the device serving to receive audio and transmit an RF signal representing a user'"'"'s voice;

an image capture device including an optical sensor having plural sensing elements, and a lens for imaging an object onto the sensor;

wherein the screen of the telephony device is used to present image data originating from the image capture device.

4. The apparatus of

claim 3

in which the wireless telephone device includes processing circuitry, and the same processing circuitry serves to process data from the image capture device for display by the display screen.

5. The apparatus of

claim 4

in which the processing circuitry comprises a CPU.

6. A method of initiating purchase of an item by a consumer, comprising:

step for optically identifying a desired item; and

step for communicating an identity of said item to a remote computer.