System and method for delivering information at inaccessible locations

• US 20020026455A1
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memory Medallion Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Memory Medallion Incorporated
• Inventors: Toothman, Glenn R. III, Chandhok, Ravinder P., Chandhok, Kimberly H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L

Abstract

Systems and methods of using the systems for delivering information related to an inaccessible location to individuals at the inaccessible location are disclosed. The system comprises a memory device affixed to the inaccessible location, the information related to the inaccessible location residing on the memory device, and a portable memory reading device, separate from the memory device, that retrieves the information from the memory device when positioned at the inaccessible location and communicates the information to a party located at the inaccessible location. The system may further comprise a database wherein the information residing on the memory device is replicated and the database can be accessed by a user of the system via a suitable communications medium or combination of mediums. The system may also comprise a portable memory reading device having a GPS receiver positioned at an inaccessible location and a database, such that the GPS coordinates of the inaccessible location are determined by the portable memory reading device and communicated to the database over a communications link, and the database communicates the information related to the inaccessible location back to the portable memory reading device over the communications link.

Claims

1. A system for providing instructions for equipment at an inaccessible location, comprising:

(A) a memory device affixed to the equipment, the instructions residing on the memory device; and

(B) a portable memory reading device, separate from the memory device, that retrieves the instructions from the memory device and communicates the instructions to a user of said portable memory reading device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a contact memory device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a programmable read only memory device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory device is permanently affixed to the equipment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a weather resistant memory device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information resides on the memory device in extensible markup language format.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the information resides on the memory device in hypertext markup language format.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the equipment is outdoor equipment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the equipment is indoor equipment.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(C) a database wherein the information on the memory device is replicated; and

wherein the memory device is uniquely associated with an identifying code.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the replicated information may be accessed upon receipt of the identifying code by the database.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the replicated information is accessed through an internet.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the replicated information is accessed through a telephone network.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the database is communicatively connected to the memory device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the replicated information may be revised at the database, and wherein the revised replicated information may be communicated from the database to the memory device via the communicative connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the memory device comprises a contact memory device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the memory device comprises a programmable read only memory device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the memory device is permanently affixed proximate to the dedication.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the memory device comprises a weather resistant memory device.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the information resides on the memory device in extensible markup language format.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said information resides on the memory device in hypertext markup language format.

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

(C) a database wherein the information residing on the memory device is replicated; and

wherein the memory device is uniquely associated with an identifying code.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the replicated information may be accessed upon receipt of the identifying code by the database.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the replicated information is accessed through an internet.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the replicated information is accessed through a telephone network.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the database is communicatively connected to the memory device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the replicated information may be revised at the database, and wherein the revised replicated information may be communicated from the database to the memory device via the communicative connection.

30. The information generator of claim 29, wherein the memory device comprises a contact memory device.

31. The information generator of claim 30, wherein the memory device comprises a programmable read only memory device.

32. The information generator of claim 30, wherein the memory device comprises a weather resistant memory device.

33. The information generator of claim 29, wherein the information resides on the memory device in extensible markup language format.

34. The information generator of claim 29, wherein the information resides on the memory device in hypertext markup language format.

35. The information generator of claim 29, further comprising:

(C) a database wherein the information residing on the memory device is replicated; and

wherein the memory device is uniquely associated with an identifying code.

36. The information generator of claim 35, wherein the replicated information may be accessed upon receipt of the identifying code by the database.

37. The information generator of claim 36, wherein the replicated information is accessed through an internet.

38. The information generator of claim 36, wherein the replicated information is accessed through a telephone network.

39. The information generator of claim 35, wherein the database is communicatively connected to the memory device.

40. The information generator of claim 39, wherein the replicated information may be revised at the database, and wherein the revised replicated information my be communicated from the database to the memory device via the communicable connection.

16. A system for providing information of at least one dedication, the information including details concerning reasons for the dedication, comprising:

(A) a memory device affixed proximate to the dedication, the dedication information residing on the memory device; and

(B) a portable memory reading device, separate from the memory device, that retrieves the dedication information from the memory device and communicates the dedication information to a user of said portable memory reading device.

29. An information generator for use at an inaccessible location, comprising:

a memory device affixed at the inaccessible location, wherein said memory device includes thereon a plurality of information related to the inaccessible location;

a portable memory reading device, wherein said portable memory reading device is physically separate from said memory device, wherein said portable memory reading device is communicatively connected to said memory device; and

wherein, upon establishing a communicative connection with said memory device at a request of at least one user, said portable memory reading device receives the plurality of information for display to the user.

41. A method for providing information related to an inaccessible location to the inaccessible location, wherein the inaccessible location is at least one selected from the group consisting of a cemetery site, a dedication site, an equipment site, and a historically notable site, comprising:

(A) storing the information on a memory device in a format that can be retrieved from the memory device and displayed to a user using a portable memory reading device separate from the memory device, upon request of the user on the portable memory reading device while in proximity to the memory device; and

(B) affixing the memory device at the inaccessible location.

42. The method of claim 41, comprising the additional step of:

(C) replicating the information stored on the memory device in a database.

43. The method of claim 42, comprising the additional step of:

(D) revising the replicated information at the database, and communicating the revised replicated information to the memory device over a communicable connection between the database and the memory device.

44. The method of claim 42, comprising the additional step of:

(E) providing the replicated information over a communication medium upon receipt by the database of an identifying code, the identifying code being uniquely associated with the memory device having the information stored thereon.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the information comprises memorial information.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the information comprises historical information.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the information comprises reasons for the dedication.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the information is at least one selected from the group consisting of a user'"'"'s manual, operation instructions, and warranties.