SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USE OF VOICE MAIL AND EMAIL IN A MIXED MEDIA ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120086982A1
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Ridout, Kevin, Weyl, Stephen A., Hull, Jonathan J., Hart, Peter E., Piersol, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/62 Text, e.g. of license plates, overlay texts or captions on TV images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/18086 by performing operations within image blocks or by using histograms
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/274 Syntactic or semantic context, e.g. balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A mixed media reality (MMR) system includes an MMR user, a MMR computer, a user printer that produces a printed document, a networked media server, an office portal, a service provider server, an electronic display that is electrically connected to a set-top box, a document scanner, a network, a capture device, a cellular infrastructure, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology, Bluetooth® technology, infrared (IR) technology, wired technology, and a geo location mechanism. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types, such as printed paper as a first medium and a digital photograph, digital movie, digital audio file, or web link as a second medium. Furthermore, the MMR system facilitates business methods that take advantage of the combination of a portable electronic device, voice mail or email, and a paper document.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating hotspot information, the method comprising:

receiving an image of at least a portion of a document;

transmitting for display on a capture device at least one hotspot received as a result of a match between the received image and a stored document data structure, the document data structure comprising;

a representation of the document,

at least one media and

the at least one hotspot associated with the at least one media or at least one action;

receiving via the capture device a user selection of the at least one hotspot;

retrieving, with the processor, the at least one media or the at least one action associated with the at least one hotspot; and

performing the at least one action associated with a service provider.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action comprises emailing hotspot information to the capture device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action comprises emailing hotspot information to a user selected destination that is separate from the capture device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising sending a confirmation email to the capture device indicating sending of the email to the user selected destination.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising prompting a user to select the destination for emailing the hotspot information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action comprises purchasing a product.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the representation is displayed with the hotspot.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the selected hotspot in the capture device if the capture device is not in communication with an email server;

sending the selected hotspot from the capture device when the capture device is in communication with the email server;

storing a plurality of media associated with the selected hotspot; and

indexing the plurality of media.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

searching the plurality of indexed media to find media associated with the selected hotspot that is related to a query.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a user interface for purchasing the at least one media associated with the selectable portion of the representation; and

asynchronously providing the purchased media in response to a selection of the media by a user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the purchased media is asynchronously provided via a communication channel that is different than a communication channel of the capture device.

12. A system for providing hotspot information, the system comprising:

a storage medium for storing a plurality of document data structures, each document data structure comprising;

a representation,

at least one media and

at least one hotspot associated with the at least one media or at least one action; and

a processor coupled to the storage medium, the processor configured to receive an image of at least a portion of a document, transmit for display on a capture device at least one hotspot received as a result of a match between the received image and one of the stored document data structures, receive via the capture device a user selection of the at least one hotspot, retrieve the at least one media or the at least one action associated with the at least one hotspot and perform the at least one action associated with a service provider.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one action comprises emailing and further comprising an email server for emailing the hotspot information to the capture device.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one action comprises emailing and further comprising an email server for emailing hotspot information to a user selected destination that is separate from the capture device and sending a confirmation email to the capture device indicating sending of the email to the user selected destination.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one action comprises purchasing a product.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the representation is displayed with the hotspot.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium having a computer readable program for providing hotspot information, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive an image of at least a portion of a document;

transmit for display on a capture device at least one hotspot received as a result of a match between the received image and a stored document data structure, the document data structure comprising;

a representation of the document,

at least one media and

the at least one hotspot associated with the at least one media or at least one action;

receive via the capture device a user selection of the at least one hotspot;

retrieve the at least one media or the at least one action associated with the at least one hotspot; and

perform the at least one action associated with a service provider.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the at least one action comprises emailing hotspot information to the capture device.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the at least one action comprises purchasing a product.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the representation is displayed with the hotspot.