Archive for Physical and Digital Objects

• US 20080281851A1
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Stuart, Izadi, Shahram, Hodges, Stephen E., Banks, Richard M., Sellen, Abigail J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Existing tools for organizing family memories offer few possibilities for easily integrating both physical and digital materials in order to produce a single archive for a family (or other group of users). This also applies to archiving of physical objects and digital media in general (even for applications outside the field of family use). An archiving system is described which incorporates at least one image capture device, a display, a sensing apparatus arranged to detect user input associated with the display, a processor and memory, and a receptacle for holding digital media storage devices such as mobile telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants and the like. The image capture device is operable to capture digital images of physical objects for archiving. The receptacle comprises a data transmission apparatus for automatically transferring data with the digital media storage devices and optionally also a power charging apparatus.

Claims

1. An archiving system comprising:

an image capture device arranged to capture images of physical objects;

a receptacle arranged to hold at least one handheld digital media storage device;

a data transmission device, integrated in the receptacle and arranged to provide data transmission with the handheld digital media storage device;

a display;

a sensing apparatus arranged to detect user input to the archiving system comprising position of at least one physical object in relation to the display;

a processor having an associated memory, the processor being arranged to control operation of the archiving system and the memory being arranged to store at least captured images of physical objects and digital media items received from the digital media storage device.

2. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle is a drawer.

3. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 which is provided in the form of a table.

4. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image capture device is integral with the display.

5. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image capture device is a camera supported such that its field of view comprises at least part of the display.

6. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 which comprises a power charging apparatus, integrated in the receptacle and arranged to provide power charging to the handheld digital media storage device.

7. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image capture device comprises at least one camera mounted inside the receptacle.

8. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power charging apparatus and the data transmission device provide physical connectionless power charging and data transmission to the handheld digital media storage device.

9. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle is a drawer arranged to form a Faraday cage when closed.

10. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises one or more location sensors to sense location of objects in the receptacle.

11. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display is a touch panel display.

12. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display is a multi-touch panel display.

13. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display comprises a first polarizing filter overlay and the image capture device comprises a second polarizing filter overlay having a polarization substantially crossed with respect to the first polarizing filter overlay.

14. An archiving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display comprises a resistive touch overlay.

15. An archiving system comprising:

a table;

an image capture device arranged to capture images of physical objects;

a drawer in the table arranged to hold at least one handheld digital media storage device;

a data transmission device, integrated in the drawer and arranged to provide data transmission with the handheld digital media storage device;

a display integrated into a surface of the table;

a sensing apparatus arranged to detect user input to the archiving system comprising position of at least one physical object in relation to the display;

a processor having an associated memory, the processor being arranged to control operation of the archiving system and the memory being arranged to store at least captured images of physical objects and digital media items received from the digital media storage device, both the processor and the memory being integrated into the table.

16. An archiving system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the image capture device is supported over the surface of the table into which the display is integrated.

17. An archiving system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the image capture device is integrated with the display.

18. An archiving system as claimed in claim 15 which comprises a power charging apparatus, integrated into the drawer and arranged to provide power charging to the handheld digital media storage device.

19. An archiving system comprising:

an image capture device arranged to capture images of physical objects and having a first polarizing filter;

a receptacle arranged to hold at least one handheld digital media storage device;

a data transmission device, integrated in the receptacle and arranged to provide data transmission with the handheld digital media storage device;

a display having a second polarizing filter substantially crossed with respect to the first polarizing filter;

a sensing apparatus arranged to detect user input to the archiving system comprising position of at least one physical object in relation to the display;

a processor having an associated memory, the processor being arranged to control operation of the archiving system and the memory being arranged to store at least captured images of physical objects and digital media items received from the digital media storage device.

20. An archiving system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the display is a touch panel display.