Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium

• US 20070194101A1
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marshall Feature Recognition LLC
• Original Assignee: Marshall Feature Recognition LLC
• Inventors: Nevid, Jeffrey, Fichner-Rathus, Lois, Rathus, Spencer
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon

Abstract

The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media.

Claims

1. A system for displaying programming to a user, the system comprising:

a printed compact dist cover having at least one machine recognizable feature;

a feature recognition unit having associated therewith a means for recognizing said feature and a means for transmitting a coded signal in response to the recognition of said feature;

an intelligent controller having associated therewith a means for accessing said programming material in response to receiving said coded signal; and

a display unit for presenting said programming material.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said accessing programming material comprises a remote server.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said signal transmitting device transmits said signal upon receiving a signal.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said received signal is transmitted using said feature recognition unit.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for recognizing said signal comprises a radio frequency identification device reader.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said signal transmitting device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said compact disc cover is selected from a group consisting of an identification card, a business card, a tag, a license plate, a chart, an advertisement, a poster, a billboard, a sign, a book, a brochure, a report, a manual, a label, a directory, a product packaging, a ticket, a travel ticket, a ticket of admission, a boarding pass, and a photograph.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said printed compact disc cover is associated with an individual.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said programming material comprises information about said individual.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said user uses said feature recognition unit to access information about said individual.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of identification information, a driving record, a credit history, financial transactions, financial accounts, traveling history, and medical records.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said user uses said feature recognition unit to access information about said printed compact disc cover.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said information indicates whether the printed compact disc cover has been stolen.

14. A system according to claim 12 wherein said information indicates whether the printed compact disc cover has been lost.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein said programming material automatically establishes a communication link between the user of the system and another party.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said another party is selected from a group consisting of a vendor, an individual who made a reservation, a service provider, and an individual associated with said printed compact disc cover.

17. A system according to claim 15 wherein said communication link is selected from a group consisting of a telephone network, a wireless telephone network, and the Internet.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein said programming material automatically establishes a data link between said user and a webpage.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein said user uses said webpage to order merchandise.

20. A system according to claim 18 wherein said user uses said webpage to book a reservation.

21. A system according to claim 18 wherein said user uses said webpage to makes a payment.

22. A system according to claim 18 wherein said user uses said webpage to makes a financial transaction using account information stored in said signal transmitting device.

23. A system according to claim 1 wherein said feature recognition unit is selected from a group consisting of a handheld device, a wireless communication device, a cellular telephone, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a personal digital assistant, and an Internet telephone.

24. A system according to claim 1 wherein said feature recognition unit comprises said display unit.

25. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display unit is selected from a group consisting of a cellular telephone, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a television, an intelligent terminal, a web-based television, an Internet telephone.