PRINTED ARTICLE

• US 20150091823A1
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novalia Ltd
• Original Assignee: Novalia Ltd
• Inventors: Stone, Kate
• Application Number:
  US14/377,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/0086 Sheets combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/025 LAN communication management
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/06 using controlled light sources

Abstract

A printed article (2), such as a poster or point-of-sale display is described. The printed article comprises a substrate (21), a touch- or proximity-sensitive switch (25) supported on the substrate, a processor (26) configured to generate, in dependence upon actuation of the switch, a message (50) and a wireless interface (26, 28) configured to transmit the message wirelessly.

Claims

1. A printed article comprising:

a substrate;

a touch- or proximity-sensitive switch supported on the substrate;

a processor configured to generate, in dependence upon actuation of the switch, a message; and

a wireless interface configured to transmit the message wirelessly.

2. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises conductive ink.

3. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises conductive foil.

4. A printed article according to claim 1, comprising at least two touch- or proximity-sensitive switches.

5. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises paper or card.

6. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises plastic.

7. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is compatible with Bluetooth.

8. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is compatible with IEEE 802.11.

9. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the printed article comprises a poster.

10. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the printed article comprises a point-of-sale display.

11. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message controls a mobile application.

12. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message controls a web browser.

13. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes an article identifier identifying the article.

14. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes at least one switch identifier, each switch identifier identifying a respective actuated switch.

15. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes information about an order in which one or more switches are actuated.

16. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes at least one command.

17. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes at least one complex command comprising multiple commands and/or computer code.

18. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes at least one content identifier, each content identifier indentifying respective content.

19. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes at least one universal resource identifier.

20. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes information about content.

21. A printed article according to claim 1, wherein the message includes a target identifier.

22. A printed article according to claim 1, further comprising a code which is visible to a user.

23. A system comprising:

a printed article according to claim 1;

a device in wireless communication with the printed article.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the device is a mobile device.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the device is configured to run a program which is controllable by a user operating the printed article.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein the device is configured, in response to receiving a message from the printed article, to retrieve or send data to or from an external source.

27. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a server for providing content to the device.

28. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

at least one other device in wireless communication with the printed article.

29. A method, in a printed article which comprises a substrate, a touch- or proximity-sensitive switch supported on the substrate, a processor for generating a message and a wireless interface for wirelessly transmitting the message wirelessly, the method comprising:

generating, in dependence upon actuation of the switch, the message; and

transmitting the message wirelessly.