Apparatus and method for deploying an information retrieval system

• US 20040067777A1
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salmon Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Salmon Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Salmon, Peter C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,415,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/563
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

An information retrieval system includes a base station and multiple display stations. A user gives a voice command to one of the display stations and information is retrieved from the base station and displayed in real time; the information may be presented to the user both visually and aurally. The source of the information may be data stored at the base station, or data relayed by the base station from network sources such as the Internet, or from radio or television broadcast stations. The display station has a pull-down screen that can operate like a shade; it retracts using the energy in a wound-up spring.

Claims

1. information retrieval system comprising:

a base station having stored information;

wireless communication links between said base station and one or more display stations;

speech recognition circuits at each of said display stations; and

control means such that said system will respond to a user'"'"'s voice command by retrieving requested information from said base station and displaying it on said display station.

2. The information retrieval system of claim 1 wherein said wireless communication links are bi-directional channelized links that can operate simultaneously without interfering with one another.

3. The information retrieval system of claim 1 wherein said retrieved information includes both visual and aural information.

4. The information retrieval system of claim 1 and including the ability to authenticate users by their voice signature, and further to withhold the display of information if a user is not authenticated.

5. The information retrieval system of claim 1 and including information that is received and relayed to said display stations via said base station, said relayed information including broadcast information and information available on external networks.

6. A display station having a wireless link to an information source comprising:

a flexible substrate having light emitting circuits imprinted thereon to form a flexible display screen; and

electronic circuits mounted on said flexible substrate including speech recognition circuits, display drivers, and a radio frequency transceiver to implement said wireless link.

7. The display station of claim 6 wherein said electronic circuits are contained in a box that hangs below said display screen, causing it to hang straight.

8. The display station of claim 6, including means for winding up said flexible display screen.

9. The display station of claim 8 wherein said means for winding up includes a spring that winds up and stores energy as said display screen is extended from its stored position to an extended position, and can be activated to retract said display screen from said extended position to said stored position.

10. The display station of claim 6 wherein said electronic circuits also include the ability to drive sound-generating devices.

11. A method for retrieving visual information comprising the following steps:

providing a base station having stored information;

providing one or more display stations in wireless communication with said base station;

commanding one of said display stations by voice to request information; and

viewing said requested information on said commanded display station.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12 and including the step of listening to aural information provided by said base station and delivered at said display station.

12. A method for retrieving visual information comprising the following steps:

providing a base station having stored information;

providing one or more display stations in wireless communication with said base station, said display stations having retractable displays;

extending one of said retractable displays to an operating position;

commanding by voice said display station to request information;

viewing said requested information on said extended display; and

,

retracting said extended display into said display station.