Navigation device

• US 20020124058A1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cypak AB
• Original Assignee: Cypak AB
• Inventors: Ehrensvard, Jakob
• Application Number:
  US09/972,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124058A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A device for use to automatically navigate to a pre-programmed address in a network. The navigation device includes an interface coupling circuit, a microprocessor, a memory device and an input device. The navigation device may be easily transported by the holder and is preferably in the shape of a card or token. The navigation device is programmed to store a unique identification number and at least one network address. In operation, the holder places the navigation device in contact with or in proximity to an interface, whereby the stored network address is automatically retrieved from the memory device and a web browser application is accessed and navigates to the particular address. If more than one address is stored in the memory device, then the navigation device selects the appropriate address based on a condition or event. In addition to automatically navigating the holder to a desired address in the network, the device can be used to automatically navigate to favorite addresses, each being assigned to a corresponding key or sequence of keys on the input device. Accordingly, the holder may access a favorite address in the network, without each time having to enter the appropriate text, by selecting the associated key or sequence of keys via the input device.

Claims

1. A navigation device for automatically navigating to at least one application in a software environment, comprising:

a memory device for storing at least one preprogrammed identifier, each identifier being uniquely associated with an application;

interface coupling circuitry adapted to transmit information; and

a processor for automatically accessing the application associated with a selected preprogrammed identifier from the identifiers stored in said memory device, said identifiers being universally selectable via more than one terminal.

2. The navigation device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the software environment is a network.

3. The navigation device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the network is one of the Internet, the world wide web, an Intranet, a local area network, a wide area network, and a wireless network.

4. The navigation device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the application is one of an Internet browser, file system driver, object, document, personal folder, and personal file.

5. The navigation device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the application is a an Internet browser and the identifier is a universal resource locator.

6. The navigation device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of preprogrammed identifiers are stored in said memory device, one of the stored preprogrammed identifiers being automatically selected by said processor based on a condition of one of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

7. The navigation device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the condition is one of a physical state of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

8. The navigation device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the physical state of the product is one of opened and closed.

9. The navigation device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the physical state of the product is one of “

tampered”

, “

physically damaged”

, “

tilted”

, and “

storage temperature exceeding acceptable range”

.

10. The navigation device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the physical state of the product is one of “

present”

0 and “

removed”

.

11. The navigation device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a detector for detecting the condition.

12. The navigation device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said detector detects a change in conductivity between electrical conductors.

13. The navigation device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an input device for receiving a user'"'"'s input of an associated preprogrammed identifier, said processor automatically accessing an application and the associated preprogrammed identifier entered by the user.

14. The navigation device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said input device comprises one of a keyboard, a key pad, an individual key, a touch screen display device, and a voice activated input device.

15. The navigation device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the preprogrammed identifiers stored in said memory device correspond to one of favorite Universal Resource Locator addresses, favorite folders, and favorite files.

16. The navigation device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said input device is used to select and retrieve one of the stored favorite Universal Resource Locator addresses, favorite folders, and favorite files, from said memory device.

17. The navigation device in accordance with claim 1, said device being integral with one of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

18. The navigation device in accordance with claim 1, said device forming a component of one of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

19. The navigation device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the navigation device is in the shape of one of a credit card and a token.

20. A system for automatically navigating to at least one application in a software environment, comprising:

p1 a terminal;

p1 an interface connected to said terminal; and

p1 a navigation device as defined in claim 1, said navigation device being in communication with said terminal via said interface.

21. The system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the software environment is a network.

22. The system in accordance with claim 21, wherein the network is one of the Internet, the world wide web, an Intranet, a local area network, a wide area network, and a wireless network.

23. The system in accordance with claim 21, wherein the application is one of an Internet browser, file system driver, object, document, personal folder, and personal file.

24. The system in accordance with claim 21, wherein the application is a an Internet browser and the identifier is a universal resource locator.

25. The system in accordance with claim 21, wherein a plurality of preprogrammed identifiers are stored in said memory device, one of the stored preprogrammed identifiers being automatically selected by said processor based on a condition of one of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

26. The system in accordance with claim 25, wherein the condition is one of a physical state of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

27. The system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the physical state of the product is one of opened and closed.

28. The system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the physical state of the product is one of “

tampered”

, “

physically damaged”

, “

tilted”

, and “

storage temperature exceeding acceptable range”

.

29. The system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the physical state of the product is one of “

present” and

“

removed”

.

30. The system in accordance with claim 25, further comprising a detector for detecting the condition.

31. The system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said detector detects a change in conductivity between electrical conductors.

32. The system in accordance with claim 20, further comprising an input device for receiving a user'"'"'s input of an associated preprogrammed identifier, said processor automatically accessing an application and the associated preprogrammed identifier entered by the user.

33. The system in accordance with claim 32, wherein said input device comprises one of a keyboard, a key pad, an individual key, a touch screen display device, and a voice activated input device.

34. The system in accordance with claim 32, wherein the preprogrammed identifiers stored in said memory device correspond to one of favorite Universal Resource Locator addresses, favorite folders, and favorite files.

35. The system in accordance with claim 34, wherein said input device is used to select and retrieve one of the stored favorite Universal Resource Locator addresses, favorite folders, and favorite files, from said memory device.

36. The system in accordance with claim 20, said device being integral with one of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

37. The system in accordance with claim 20, said device forming a component of one of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

38. The system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the navigation device is in the shape of one of a credit card and a token.

40. The method in accordance with claim 39, further comprising detecting an occurrence of one of a condition of one of a product and the product'"'"'s packaging.

41. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein said accessing step further comprises automatically accessing one of the identifiers from among the preprogrammed identifiers stored in said memory device based on the condition.

42. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein the stored preprogrammed identifiers represent one of favorite Universal Resource Locator addresses, favorite folders, and favorite files.

43. The method in accordance with claim 42, wherein said navigation device comprises an input device.

44. The method in accordance with claim 43, wherein said retrieving step comprises receiving a user'"'"'s selected identifier via said input device.

39. A method for using a navigation device to automatically navigate to at least one application in a software environment, comprising the steps of:

positioning the navigation device proximate an interface;

automatically retrieving a selected identifier from at least one preprogrammed identifier stored in a memory device of the navigation device; and

automatically accessing an application associated with the selected preprogrammed identifier from the identifiers stored in said memory device, said identifiers being universally selectable via more than one terminal.