VIRTUAL FEATURES OF PHYSICAL ITEMS

• US 20080229194A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Boler, Sabrina D., Storrusten, Dane T., Coddington, Nicole Alexandra
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Displaying information about a physical object. Input is received at an interactive surface. The input includes a first physical object being placed on the interactive surface. The first physical object is detected. This includes detecting identifying information about the first physical object. Information is displayed about the first physical object on the interactive surface.

Claims

1. In a computing environment, a method of providing

information associated with physical objects, the method comprising:

receiving input at an interactive surface, the input comprising a first physical object being placed on the interactive surface;

detecting the first physical object, including detecting identifying information about the first physical object; and

displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input, the user input comprising interaction from a user with the information about the first physical object; and

in response to the user input, displaying additional information about the first physical object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying a video about the first physical object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying callouts describing features of the first physical object, wherein the callouts point to specific portions of the first physical object described about those portions in the information about the first physical object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying a virtual representation of the first physical object including a virtual interface of the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying at least one of ratings or reviews for the first physical object.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input at the interactive surface, the input comprising a second physical object being placed on the interactive surface;

detecting the second physical object, including detecting identifying information about the second physical object; and

displaying information on the interactive surface comparing the first physical object to the second physical object.

8. A computer system for displaying information about

physical objects, the computer system comprising:

a processor,

a computer memory coupled to the processor, the computer memory comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the following;

receive input at an interactive surface, the input comprising a first physical object being placed on the interactive surface;

detect the first physical object, including detecting identifying information about the first physical object; and

display information about the first physical object on the interactive surface.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the computer memory further comprises computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

receive user input, the user input comprising interaction from a user with the information about the first physical object; and

in response to the user input, display additional information about the first physical object.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying a video about the first physical object.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying callouts describing features of the first physical object, wherein the callouts point to specific portions of the first physical object described about those portions in the information about the first physical object.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying a virtual representation of the first physical object including a virtual interface of the object.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying at least one of ratings or reviews for the first physical object.

14. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the computer memory further comprises computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

receive input at the interactive surface, the input comprising a second physical object being placed on the interactive surface;

detect the second physical object, including detecting identifying information about the second physical object; and

display information on the interactive surface comparing the first physical object to the second physical object.

15. In a computing environment, a computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing the following acts:

receiving input at an interactive surface, the input comprising a first physical object being placed on the interactive surface;

detecting the first physical object, including detecting identifying information about the first physical object; and

displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer readable medium is a physical computer readable medium.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

receive user input, the user input comprising interaction from a user with the information about the first physical object; and

in response to the user input, display additional information about the first physical object.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying a video about the first physical object.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying callouts describing features of the first physical object, wherein the callouts point to specific portions of the first physical object described about those portions in the information about the first physical object.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on the interactive surface comprises displaying a virtual representation of the first physical object including a virtual interface of the object.