Physical object with memory tag and apparatus for use with such objects

• US 20050172216A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lawrence, Richard Anthony, Squibbs, Robert Francis
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls

Abstract

A physical object is provided that comprises a base medium, such as a paper sheet, and a memory tag embedded in it or attached to it. The memory tag stores at least one data item and location data relating each of one or more areas on the object'"'"'s surface to a corresponding data item. Preferably, the data item or items stored by the tag comprise a print data item representing an item printed on the object, and/or a meta data item representing an instruction, or data to be output, in response to user selection of the corresponding area on the object'"'"'s surface. Apparatus is provided for writing the data items and location data to the memory tag; apparatus is also provided for subsequently using the location data for interpreting user selections made by indicating positions on the object.

Claims

1. A physical object comprising a base medium with a memory tag embedded in it or attached to it, the memory tag storing at least one data item and location data relating each of one or more areas on the surface of the physical object to a respective data item stored by the memory tag.

2. A physical object according to claim 1, wherein at least one data item stored by the memory tag is a print data item representing data printed on a surface of the physical object.

3. A physical object according to claim 1, wherein at least one data item stored by the memory tag is a meta data item representing an instruction to be acted upon, or data to be output, in response to user selection of the corresponding area of the surface of the physical object.

4. A physical object according to claim 1, wherein the base medium is in the form of a sheet.

5. A physical object according to claim 1, wherein the memory tag is a radio frequency memory tag.

6. Apparatus comprising a memory-tag writing device for writing data to a memory tag associated with a physical object, and a control processor for collecting and organising data for writing by the memory-tag writing device;

the control processor being arranged to collect and organise both at least one data item and related location data that associates the or each data item to a corresponding area on the surface of the physical object, the control processor being further arranged to control the writing of the item data and location data to a memory tag that is embedded in or attached to a base medium of the object or that is to be so embedded or attached.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a printing assembly for printing said base medium of the object in correspondence to one or more print data items written, or to be written, by the memory-tag read/write device to the memory tag of the object.

8. Apparatus comprising:

a memory-tag read device for reading item data and location data from a memory tag embedded in or attached to a base medium of a physical object presented to the apparatus, the location data relating each of one or more areas on the surface of the object to a respective data item stored by the memory tag;

a user input arrangement for receiving user input indicative of a user-selected position on the object; and

a control arrangement arranged to use the location data read by the read device to identify the data item corresponding to a user-selected position indicated by user input to the user input arrangement.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control arrangement is arranged to cause the identified data item to be passed to a display device.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control arrangement is arranged to cause the identified data item to be passed to a printer.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control arrangement is arranged to read the identified data item and perform a task indicated thereby.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control arrangement is arranged to carry out said task in relation to a further one of the data items that is referenced by the identified data item.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control arrangement is arranged to carry out an enlargement task indicated by the identified data item in respect of the data item referenced by the latter, the control arrangement being arranged to carry out the enlargement task with a centre of enlargement as indicated by a further user-selected position input through the user input arrangement.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the user input arrangement comprises a display for displaying a graphical representation of the object, and a pointing device for selecting a position on the displayed representation of the object.

15. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the user input arrangement comprises a graphics tablet for receiving the object and determining a position on the object pointed to by the user using a stylus.

16. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the user input arrangement comprises a sensor arrangement for detecting a mark placed on the object by the user and determining the position of this mark.

17. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the memory-tag read device is a hand-held reader.

18. Apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a positioning assembly for moving the memory-tag read device and object relative to each other whereby to position the read device at the memory tag.