Internet access via smartphone camera
First Claim
1. A method of utilizing a written universal resource locator (URL) to communicate with the internet, comprising the steps of:
- using a camera unit to acquire a raw visual light image that contains the written URL, converting the raw visual light image to an electronic image, locating glyphs of at least one particular standardized set of URL characters in the electronic image, extracting an extractable URL from the electronic image, sending the extractable URL in a request signal to a web server in order to access an internet site, processing a reply from the web server, presenting the internet site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device, system, method, and software for communicating with the internet utilizing a written universal resource locator (URL). A camera unit is used to receive a raw visual light image containing a written URL, the raw visual light image is converted to an electronic image, and the device locates glyphs of at least one particular standardized set of URL characters in the electronic image, for example glyphs corresponding to www. Then the URL characters are extracted from the electronic image, the URL is sent in a request signal to a web server, and in response an internet site is presented. The mobile device includes initiation means for sending an instruction to obtain a raw visual light image that includes glyphs of at least one particular set of characters, such as www, and further includes a camera, a display, and an internet interface. The mobile device processes an electronic image signal provided by the camera, in order to obtain the web site signal from the internet interface.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of utilizing a written universal resource locator (URL) to communicate with the internet, comprising the steps of:
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using a camera unit to acquire a raw visual light image that contains the written URL, converting the raw visual light image to an electronic image, locating glyphs of at least one particular standardized set of URL characters in the electronic image, extracting an extractable URL from the electronic image, sending the extractable URL in a request signal to a web server in order to access an internet site, processing a reply from the web server, presenting the internet site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 35)
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15. A system for utilizing a written universal resource locator (URL) to communicate with the internet, comprising:
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a camera, responsive to a raw visual light image containing the written URL, for providing an electronic image signal indicative of the raw visual light image;
URL extraction means, responsive to the electronic image signal, for finding glyphs of at least one particular standardized set of URL characters in the electronic image, and also for providing a URL request signal indicative of an extractable URL that is extracted from the electronic image signal;
an internet interface, responsive to the URL request signal, for providing a web site signal indicative of an internet site accessed via the internet; and
a display, responsive to the web site signal, for presenting the internet site. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A mobile device for utilizing a written universal resource locator (URL) to communicate with the internet, the mobile device comprising:
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initiation means for sending an instruction to obtain a raw visual light image which includes glyphs of at least one particular standardized set of URL characters, a camera, responsive to the instruction from the initiation means, for receiving the raw visual light image and for providing an electronic image signal indicative of the raw visual light image;
a display for presenting the web site, the display being responsive to a web site signal indicative of an internet site corresponding to an extractable URL that has been extracted from the raw visual light image; and
an internet interface, for providing the web site signal to the display after communicating with the internet;
wherein the mobile device is for processing the electronic image signal provided by the camera, in order to obtain the web site signal from the internet interface. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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36. A computer-readable medium, for use with a mobile device, encoded with a software data structure comprising:
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a URL locator software module, for locating standardized URL glyphs in an electronic image;
a scan and text recognition software module for extracting an extractable URL from the electronic image;
a browser-based user interface module, for allowing the user to decide whether to send the extractable URL to the internet in order to immediately access a web site, or alternatively bookmark the extractable URL. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification