Method and system for identifying data locations associated with real world observations
First Claim
1. A method for sensing physical parameter data and retrieving data locations relating to the physical parameter data, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) initializing a clock in a first device and storing a first synchronization time in a second device;
(b) upon activation by a user, storing in the first device physical parameter data including the interval of time between the first synchronization time and the activation by the user;
(c) transmitting the interval of time and the physical parameter data stored in step (b) to the second device;
(d) receiving from the second device supplemental information related to the physical parameter data.
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Abstract
A method and system for identifying data locations or uniform resource locators associated with physical observations in the real world. The method and system includes selecting certain physical parameters based upon an observation of real world objects and events and associating such physical parameters with data locations on the Internet or other computer network. When the real world object is observed or a real world event occurs, physical parameters relating to the object or event are sensed and recorded. These stored physical parameters are then communicated to a database, which returns a data location corresponding to the observed physical parameters. Thus, the present invention allows a user to “click” on objects or events in the real world in order to find data locations related to the objects or events in the on-line world.
84 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for sensing physical parameter data and retrieving data locations relating to the physical parameter data, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) initializing a clock in a first device and storing a first synchronization time in a second device;
(b) upon activation by a user, storing in the first device physical parameter data including the interval of time between the first synchronization time and the activation by the user;
(c) transmitting the interval of time and the physical parameter data stored in step (b) to the second device;
(d) receiving from the second device supplemental information related to the physical parameter data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for sensing physical parameter and retrieving data locations relating to the physical parameter data, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) initializing a clock in a first device and storing a first synchronization time in a second device;
(b) upon activation by a user, storing in the first device physical parameter data including the interval of time between the first synchronization time and the activation by the user;
(c) upon each subsequent activation by a user, storing in the first device corresponding physical parameter data including the interval of time between activations;
(d) transmitting, upon activation of the user, the intervals of time and the corresponding physical parameter data stored in steps (b) and (c) to the second device;
(e) receiving from the second device supplemental information related to the intervals of time and other physical parameter data transmitted in step (d). - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for sensing physical parameter and retrieving data locations relating to the physical parameter data, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) upon activation by a user, storing in a first device physical parameter data including the interval of time between a first synchronization of the first device with a second device and the activation by the user;
(b) upon each subsequent activation by a user, storing in the first device corresponding physical parameter data including the interval of time between activations;
(c) transmitting, upon activation of the user, the intervals of time and the corresponding physical parameter data stored in steps (a) and (b) to the second device;
(d) receiving from the second device supplemental information related to the intervals of time and other physical parameter data transmitted in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for providing supplemental information based on remote sensing of physical parameter data, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) recording a first synchronization time;
(b) receiving physical parameter data including a first physical parameter and a time interval;
(c) deriving an activation time based on the first synchronization time and the time interval;
(d) scanning a database to retrieve supplemental information based on the activation time and the first physical parameter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 18)
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15. A method for providing supplemental information based on remote sensing of physical parameter data, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) recording a first server synchronization time;
(b) receiving at least one physical parameter data set and a remote device synchronization time interval, said physical parameter data set including a first physical parameter and a corresponding time interval;
(c) recording a second server synchronization time;
(d) deriving activation times corresponding to each physical parameter data set received in step (b) based on the time intervals in the physical parameter data sets, the first and second synchronization times, and the synchronization time interval received in step (b); and
,(e) scanning a database to retrieve supplemental information related to the activation times derived in step (d) and the first physical parameters received in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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19. A method for transmitting physical parameter data to retrieve data locations related to the physical parameter data, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting physical parameters;
(b) storing encrypted representations of the physical parameters, wherein the encrypted representations of the physical parameters are encrypted with an encryption key; and
(c) transmitting the encrypted representations of the physical parameters to a server to retrieve a data location related to the physical parameters. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for retrieving a data location based on the observation of real world events, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sensing unit to a user, said sensing unit encrypting representations of physical parameter data with an encryption key;
(b) receiving encrypted representations of physical parameter data from said sensing unit;
(c) decrypting the encrypted representations of said physical parameter data; and
,(d) retrieving a data location related to said physical parameter data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for identifying an explicit data location on a computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said apparatus comprising
a database having a list of data locations, said database storing associated first and second physical parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations; -
a processor coupled to said database, said processor also being coupled to receive a data location request containing said first and second physical parameters, said processor accessing said database according to said first and second physical parameters in said data location request to retrieve the data location corresponding to said first and second physical parameters;
a user account database storing user accounts including user identifications and data locations;
wherein said processor stores said data locations in said user account database; and
,a monitoring agent responsive to said data locations stored in said user account database and operable to retrieve additional data locations based oh said data locations stored in said user account. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for detecting the frequency to which a broadcast receiver is tuned, comprising:
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a controller, an active frequency detection module operably connected to said controller, a passive frequency detection module operably connected to said controller, and an activation button operably connected to said controller, wherein depression of said activation button activates said controller;
wherein, upon such activation of said controller, said controller operates a predetermined one of said active frequency detection module or said passive frequency detection module to detect the frequency to which said broadcast receiver is tuned; and
, wherein, if no frequency is detected, said controller operates the other of said frequency detection modules to detect the frequency to which said broadcast receiver is tuned. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An apparatus for detecting the frequency to which a broadcast receiver is tuned, comprising:
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a controller, an active frequency detection module operably connected to said controller, wherein said active frequency detection module comprises a transmitter for transmitting a signal over a carrier frequency to the receiver; and
, means for detecting whether the receiver output corresponds to said signal;
a passive frequency detection module operably connected to said controller, wherein said active frequency detection module comprises means for receiving the first demodulated signal from the receiver;
means for receiving said first modulated signal in the modulated domain and producing a second demodulated signal in the demodulated domain; and
means, coupled to each of the receiving means, for detecting a correlation between the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal;
and an activation button operably connected to said controller, wherein depression of said activation button activates said controller;
wherein, upon such activation of said controller, said controller operates a predetermined one of said active frequency detection module or said passive frequency detection module to detect the frequency to which said broadcast receiver is tuned; and
, wherein, if no frequency is detected, said controller operates the other of said frequency detection modules to detect the frequency to which said broadcast receiver is tuned. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for resolving geographic location based on the frequency spectrum signature of a broadcast band in said geographic location, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning a broadcast band in a geographic location;
(b) for at least one carrier frequency in said broadcast band, recording a signal value to derive a broadcast band signature; and
,(c) transmitting said broadcast band signature to a server, said server storing broadcast band signatures corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for resolving geographic location based on the frequency spectrum signature of a broadcast band in said geographic location, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning a broadcast band in a geographic location;
(b) for at least one carrier frequency in said broadcast band, recording a signal value to derive a broadcast band signature; and
,(c) storing in a database said broadcast band signature in association with said geographic location. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification