Method of printing a voucher based on geographical location

• US 20050200637A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of using a mobile device to print onto a print medium, the mobile device comprising: a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving data via a telecommunications network; and a printer; the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a geographical location of the mobile device; (b) determining a product or service available at, in or within a predetermined distance of, the geographical location; (c) formatting a voucher containing information associated with the product or service; and (d) printing the voucher using the printer.

Claims

1. A method of using a mobile device to print onto a print medium, the mobile device comprising:

a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving data via a telecommunications network; and

a printer;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) determining a geographical location of the mobile device;

(b) determining a product or service available at, in or within a predetermined distance of, the geographical location;

(c) formatting a voucher containing information associated with the product or service; and

(d) printing the voucher using the printer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information is indicative of a location of a commercial entity.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information is indicative of an inducement to buy the product or service.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the inducement is a price discount.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the price discount is only valid at an outlet of a commercial entity at the location.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the price discount is valid at any of a number of outlets of the commercial entity.

7. A method according to claim 1, including the step of using the mobile device to determine the geographical location.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the mobile device includes a GPS receiver, the method comprising determining the geographical location using the GPS receiver.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a wireless receiver for receiving radio-frequency data from a transmitter, step of determining the geographical location including the step of receiving, via the transmitter, radio-frequency data the geographical location.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the providing step includes sending the information to an electronic address associated with at least one of the user of the mobile device.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the geographical location is an area.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the area is defined by a postal or zip code.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the area is a city, suburb or town.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the area is at least partially defined by a transmission footprint of one or more cells of a telecommunications network.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the area is at least partially defined by a transmission footprint of one or more cells of the telecommunications network.

17. A method according to claim 1, including the steps of:

using a sensor in the mobile device to sense a data track during printing of the voucher, the data track being disposed on a face of the print medium being printed on to generate the voucher;

generating a fire control signal from the sensed data track; and

synchronizing the printing of the voucher using the fire control signal.

18. A mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the data track is printed with infrared ink, the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum and the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.

19. A mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the method including the step of generating a clock signal generated from the sensed data track, the fire control signal being based on the clock signal.

20. A mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the method including the step of extracting a clock signal from the sensed data track, the fire control signal being based on the clock signal.

10. A method according to claim 25, including deriving the geographical location using an Uplink Time Difference of Arrival technique.