METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PAIRING READING MATERIAL AND AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT USING RFID TAGS

• US 20080129508A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Andrew R., Pomerantz, Ori, McConnell, Kevin C., Boss, Gregory Jensen
• Application Number:
  US11/565,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129508A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• 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

A method, system, apparatus, or computer program product is presented for using a book in conjunction with an electronic device. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader within the electronic device is operated to read an RFID tag identifier from an RFID tag in the book. The RFID tag identifier is employed by the electronic device to search memory in the electronic device in order to find audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data that is associated with the book. The audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data is retrieved from non-volatile memory in the electronic device. The audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data is then presented by the electronic device to a user of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for using a book in conjunction with an electronic device, the method comprising:

operating a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader within the electronic device to read an RFID tag identifier from an RFID tag in the book;

employing the RFID tag identifier by the electronic device to search memory in the electronic device in order to find audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data that is associated with the book;

retrieving the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data from non-volatile memory in the electronic device; and

presenting the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data by the electronic device to a user of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating the RFID reader by detecting close proximity of the RFID tag in the book with the RFID reader.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating the RFID reader by contact of the book with the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating the RFID reader by user-selection of an input mechanism on the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data in non-volatile memory in the electronic device through a network connection for the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data in non-volatile memory in the electronic device through a cartridge that is connected to the electronic device.

7. A computer program product on a computer-readable medium for use in an electronic device for using a book in conjunction with the electronic device, the computer program product comprising:

means for operating a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader within the electronic device to read an RFID tag identifier from an RFID tag in the book;

means for employing the RFID tag identifier by the electronic device to search memory in the electronic device in order to find audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data that is associated with the book;

means for retrieving the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data from non-volatile memory in the electronic device; and

means for presenting the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data by the electronic device to a user of the electronic device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

means for activating the RFID reader by detecting close proximity of the RFID tag in the book with the RFID reader.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

means for activating the RFID reader by contact of the book with the electronic device.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

means for activating the RFID reader by user-selection of an input mechanism on the electronic device.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

means for updating the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data in non-volatile memory in the electronic device through a network connection for the electronic device.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

means for updating the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data in non-volatile memory in the electronic device through a cartridge that is connected to the electronic device.

13. An apparatus for using a book in conjunction with an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

means for operating a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader within the electronic device to read an RFID tag identifier from an RFID tag in the book;

means for employing the RFID tag identifier by the electronic device to search memory in the electronic device in order to find audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data that is associated with the book;

means for retrieving the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data from non-volatile memory in the electronic device; and

means for presenting the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data by the electronic device to a user of the electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for activating the RFID reader by detecting close proximity of the RFID tag in the book with the RFID reader.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for activating the RFID reader by contact of the book with the electronic device.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for activating the RFID reader by user-selection of an input mechanism on the electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for updating the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data in non-volatile memory in the electronic device through a network connection for the electronic device.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for updating the audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data in non-volatile memory in the electronic device through a cartridge that is connected to the electronic device.