Instruction-wielding apparatus and method of presenting instructions thereon

• US 20080040955A1
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hoard, David W.
• Application Number:
  US11/507,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/124.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/00 Models for purposes not provided for in G09B23/00, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes model vehicles, tracks therefor, models in the nature of toys A63H
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0289 Pull- or fold-out labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information

Abstract

An instruction-wielding apparatus (1000, 3000) comprises two or more interaction points (1100), an instruction-holding mechanism (1200, 3200), and one or more on-product instruction cards (1300) capable of being supported by the instruction-holding mechanism. At least a first one of the on-product instruction cards (1310, 2310, 3310, 4310) comprises two or more instruction steps (1311) and two or more instruction pointers (1312). When the instruction-holding mechanism supports the first one of the on-product instruction cards, a first one of the instruction pointers (13121) points to a first physical location (1111) of a first one of the interaction points (1110), and correlates it to a first one of the instruction steps (13111). At the same time, a second one of the instruction pointers (13122) points to a second physical location (1121) of a second one of the interaction points (1120), and correlates it to a second one of the instruction steps (13112).

Claims

1. An instruction-wielding apparatus, comprising:

two or more interaction points;

an instruction-holding mechanism; and

one or more on-product instruction cards, at least a first one of which comprises;

two or more instruction steps;

a first instruction pointer that, when the first one of the one or more on-product instruction cards is supported by the instruction-holding mechanism;

points to a first physical location of a first one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlates the first physical location to a first one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the first instruction pointer; and

a second instruction pointer that, when the first one of the one or more on-product instruction cards is supported by the instruction-holding mechanism;

points to a second physical location of a second one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlates the second physical location to a second one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the second instruction pointer.

2. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the instruction-wielding apparatus is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network router;

a network switch;

a modem.

3. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the two or more interaction points are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a power plug;

a modem connection port;

a network element connection port; and

one or more status lights.

4. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

at least a portion of the instruction-holding mechanism is translucent.

5. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the two or more instruction steps provide setup advice.

6. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the two or more instruction steps provide troubleshooting advice.

7. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a second one of the one or more on-product instruction cards provides instructions in a non-English language; and

the first one of the one or more on-product instruction cards provides the instructions in English.

8. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

each of the one or more on-product instruction cards provides the instructions in a different language.

9. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more multi-card sheets removable from the instruction-wielding apparatus;

wherein each of the one or more on-product instruction cards are contained on the one or more multi-card sheets.

10. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more accordion-folded multi-card sheets removable from the instruction-wielding apparatus;

wherein each of the one or more on-product instruction cards is presented on a different folded section of the one or more accordion-folded multi-card sheets.

11. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more accordion-folded multi-card sheets removable from the instruction-wielding apparatus;

wherein each of the one or more on-product instruction cards is presented in a different language on a different folded section of the one or more accordion-folded multi-card sheets.

12. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the instruction-holding mechanism is a surface of the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

at least one of the one or more on-product instruction cards further comprises;

a sticker capable of adhering to the instruction-holding mechanism.

13. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the sticker is removable.

14. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the one or more of the one or more on-product instruction cards comprises a booklet.

15. An instruction-wielding apparatus, comprising:

two or more interaction points;

an electronic display mechanism; and

one or more on-product electronic guides, at least a first one of which comprises;

two or more instruction steps;

a first instruction pointer that, when the first one of the one or more on-product electronic guides is displayed by the electronic display mechanism;

points to a first physical location of a first one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlates the first physical location to a first one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the first instruction pointer; and

a second instruction pointer that, when the first one of the one or more on-product electronic guides is displayed by the electronic display mechanism;

points to a second physical location of a second one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlates the second physical location to a second one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the second instruction pointer.

16. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the instruction-wielding apparatus is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network router;

a network switch;

a modem.

17. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the two or more interaction points are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a power plug;

a modem connection port;

a network element connection port;

one or more status lights.

18. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the electronic display mechanism comprises an LCD.

19. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the two or more instruction steps provide setup advice.

20. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the two or more instruction steps provide troubleshooting advice.

21. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

a second one of the one or more on-product electronic guides provides instructions in a non-English language; and

the first one of the one or more on-product electronic guides provides the instructions in English.

22. The instruction-wielding apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

each of the one or more on-product electronic guides provides the instructions in a different language.

23. A method of presenting instructions on an instruction-wielding apparatus, the method comprising:

providing the instruction-wielding apparatus having two or more interaction points and an instruction-holding mechanism; and

providing one or more on-product instruction cards having two or more instruction steps and two or more instruction pointers;

presenting, when the first one of the one or more on-product instruction cards is supported by the instruction-holding mechanism;

a first one of the two or more instruction pointers;

pointing to a first physical location of a first one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlating the first physical location to a first one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the first one of the two or more instruction pointers; and

a second one of the two or more instruction pointers;

pointing to a second physical location of a second one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlating the second physical location to a second one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the second one of the two or more instruction pointers.

24. A method of presenting instructions on an instruction-wielding apparatus, the method comprising:

providing the instruction-wielding apparatus having two or more interaction points and an electronic display mechanism; and

providing one or more on-product electronic guides having two or more instruction steps and two or more instruction pointers;

presenting, when the first one of the one or more on-product electronic guides is displayed by the electronic display mechanism;

a first one of the two or more instruction pointers;

pointing to a first physical location of a first one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlating the first physical location to a first one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the first one of the two or more instruction pointers; and

a second one of the two or more instruction pointers;

pointing to a second physical location of a second one of the two or more interaction points on the instruction-wielding apparatus; and

correlating the second physical location to a second one of the two or more instruction steps adjacent to the second one of the two or more instruction pointers.