SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PORTABLE DEVICE FOR MIXED MEDIA SYSTEM

• US 20070052997A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Piersol, Kurt, Hart, Peter, Hull, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/225 based on a marking or identifier characterising the area
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/414 Extracting the geometrical structure, e.g. layout tree; Block segmentation, e.g. bounding boxes for graphics or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3216 of a job size, e.g. a number of images, pages or copies, size of file, length of message
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types, such as printed paper as a first medium and a digital photograph, digital movie, digital audio file, or web link as a second medium. Furthermore, the MMR system facilitates business methods that take advantage of the combination of a portable electronic device, such as a portable video player or a portable audio player, and a paper document for the portable electronic device to provide information.

Claims

1. A method of providing information related to a portion of a printed document, the method comprising:

storing information related to a printed document in a portable device;

displaying on the portable device a plurality of selectable portions of the printed document;

providing information related to a portion of the printed document in response to a user selection of a selectable portion of the printed document.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of selectable portions of the printed document include indicators of hotspots in the printed document.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable device includes an audio player and wherein providing the information includes playing audio of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing information includes displaying text of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable device includes a video player and wherein providing the information includes playing video of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user audio command;

converting the user audio command into a signal indicative of the user selection of a selectable portion of the printed document.

7. A portable information device for providing information related to a portion of a printed document, the system comprising:

a communication mechanism for receiving information related to a printed document;

a memory to storing information related to the printed document;

a display providing a plurality of selectable portions of the printed document; and

a mechanism for providing information related to a portion of the printed document in response to a user selection of a selectable portion of the printed document.

8. The portable information device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of selectable portions of the printed document include indicators of hotspots in the printed document.

9. The portable information device of claim 7 wherein the mechanism includes an audio player that plays audio of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

10. The portable information device of claim 7 wherein the mechanism displaying text of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

11. The portable information device of claim 7 wherein the mechanism includes a video player that plays video of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

12. A method of providing information related to a portion of a printed document, the method comprising:

storing said information related to a printed document in a portable device;

providing hot spot location information to a capture device;

detecting using the capture device a hot spot in the printed document;

providing to the portable device a retrieval signal in response to a user selection of the detected hotspot;

providing on the portable device information related to a portion of the printed document in response to the retrieval signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein providing to the portable device a retrieval signal is via a wireless communication mechanism.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein providing to the portable device a retrieval signal is via an infrared communication mechanism.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein providing to the portable device a retrieval signal is via an inaudible audio communication mechanism.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the portable device and the capture device are formed as an integrated device.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving user selection of printed documents that the user subscribes to; and

downloading information and hotspot information related to the printed documents that the user subscribes to.

18. A mixed media information device comprising:

a first communication mechanism for receiving information related to a printed document;

a memory to storing information related to the printed document;

a second communication mechanism for providing hotspot location information to a capture device

a display providing a plurality of selectable portions of the printed document;

a third communication mechanism for receiving a retrieval signal from the capture device indicative of a user selection of a selected hotspot;

a fourth communication mechanism for providing information related to a portion of the printed document in response to the retrieval signal.

19. The mixed media information device of claim 18 wherein the fourth communication mechanism provides the retrieved information related to a portion of the printed document to the capture device for communication to the user.

20. The mixed media information device of claim 18 wherein the first communication mechanism receives information and hotspot information related to the printed documents in response to user selection of said printed documents that user has access to.

21. The mixed media information device of claim 18 wherein the fourth communication mechanism includes an audio player that plays audio of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

22. The mixed media information device of claim 18 wherein the fourth communication mechanism displaying text of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.

23. The mixed media information device of claim 18 wherein the fourth communication mechanism includes a video player that play video of the information related to the selected portion of the printed document.