Microprocessor based simulated book

• US 4,855,725 A
• Filed: 12/28/1988
• Issued: 08/08/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1987
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: NuvoMedia, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emilio A. Fernandez
• Inventors: Fernandez, Emilio A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fatahiyar, M.
• Application Number:
  US07/291,433
• Time in Patent Office: 223 Days
• Field of Search: 341/23, 341/31, 340/706, 340/802, 40/365, 40/571, 362/98, 362/99, 362/155, 364/410, 358/254, 358/194.1, 434/178, 434/307, 434/308, 434/317, 434/323, 434/365
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels

Abstract

A user interactive mass storage data access system includes a personal computer (10) and a simulated book (30). A mass storage device, such as a compact disk (CD) read only memory (ROM) (22), is connected to the personal computer, and the computer and the simulated book are connected by an infrared (IR) data communications link including IR transceivers (26, 48). The simulated book includes a display screen (34) and a microprocessor (43) with memory (44, 46). The microprocessor is programmed for storing data received and decoded by its IR transceiver (48) in memory (46) and responsive to user input for displaying a page of data on the display screen. In addition, the microprocessor is programmed to cause its IR transceiver (48 l ) to transmit to the IR transceiver (26) connected to the personal computer (10) a data request command, and the personal computer is in turn programmed to transmit data from the CD ROM (22) to the simulated book (30). Data can be loaded in the simulated book and accessed at a later time when out of the proximity of the personal computer.

Claims

1. An interactive user interface device for accessing data from mass storage media means which provides a user with the look and feel of a book, said mass storage media means being connected to computer means programmed to access data from said mass storage media means and said computer means being connected to first transceiver means for encoding and transmitting data to and receiving and decoding commands from said user interface device, said user interface device comprising:

a book-shaped housing having mounted thereon display screen means for displaying page data and messages, key means for paging back and forth between displayed pages;

second transceiver means within said housing for receiving and decoding data transmitted by said first transceiver means and for encoding and transmitting commands to said first transceiver means;

memory means within said housing for storing a plurality of page data; and

microprocessor means within said housing and connected to said display screen means, said key means and said second transceiver means, said microprocessor means being programmed for storing data received and decoded by said second transceiver means in said memory means and responsive to said key means for causing page data to be displayed by said display screen means and for causing said second transceiver means to transmit a data request command to said first transceiver means.

2. The user interface device as recited in claim 1 wherein said mass storage media means employs an optical storage media.

3. The user interface device as recited in claim 2 wherein said mass storage media means is a compact disk read only memory.

4. The user interface device as recited in claim 1 wherein said key means is further operable for entering a page number of a page to be displayed.

5. The user interface device as recited in claim 4 wherein said key means comprises a keypad for entering page numbers and tactile pad switch means for paging back and forth between displayed pages.

6. The user interface device as recited in claim 4 wherein said display screen means is a touch screen allowing user input by touching the screen and said key means comprises programmed areas on said screen which allow a user to input choices or selections by touching the screen.

7. The user interface device as recited in claim 1 further comprising power means for supplying electrical power and switch means for connecting said power means to said display screen means, said second transceiver means, said memory means and said microprocessor means.

8. The user interface device as recited in claim 7 wherein said book-shaped housing includes a movable cover which may be opened to reveal said display screen means, said switch means being responsive to said cover being opened or closed.

9. The user interface device as recited in claim 7 wherein said switch means is orientation sensitive and operable when said interface device is in a vertical position, as when placed on a shelf, to disconnect said power means.

10. The user interface device as recited in claim 7 wherein said switch means has a first mode of operation in which said power means is connected to said display screen means, said second transceiver means, said memory means and said microprocessor means, a second mode of operation in which said power means is connected to said memory means for maintaining data stored therein, and a third mode of operation in which said power means is disconnected from said display screen means, said second transceiver means, said memory means and said microprocessor means, said second mode of operation being used to store data for later access out of the range of said first transceiver means.

11. A user interactive mass storage data access system comprising:

mass storage media means for storing data;

computer means connected to said mass storage media means and programmed to access said data;

first transceiver means connected to said computer means for encoding and transmitting and receiving data;

a book-shaped housing having mounted thereon a display screen means for displaying page data and messages and key means for paging back and forth between displayed pages;

second transceiver means within said housing for receiving and decoding data transmitted by said first transceiver means and for encoding and transmitting commands to said first transceiver means;

memory means within said housing for storing a plurality of page data; and

microprocessor means within said housing and connected to said display screen means, said key means and said second transceiver means, said microprocessor being programmed for storing data received and decoded by said second transceiver means in said memory means and responsive to said key means for causing page data to be displayed by said display screen and for causing said second transceiver means to transmit a data request command to said first transceiver means.

12. The user interactive mass storage data access system recited in claim 11 wherein said mass storage means is a compact disk read only memory device.

13. The user interactive mass storage data access system recited in claim 11 wherein said display means is a touch screen allowing user input by touching the screen and said key means comprises programmed areas on said screen means which allow a user to input choices or selections by touching the screen.

14. The user interactive mass storage data access system as recited in claim 11 further comprising power means in said book-shaped housing for supplying electrical power and switch means for connecting said power means to said display screen means, said second transceiver means, said memory means and said microprocessor means, said book-shaped housing includes a movable cover which may be opened to reveal said display screen means, said switch means being responsive to said cover being opened or closed.

15. The user interactive mass storage data access system recited in claim 14 wherein said switch means has first, second and third modes of operation, power being supplied to said display screen means, said second transceiver means, said memory means and said microprocessor means in said first mode of operation, power being supplied to said memory means in said second mode of operation to maintain data stored therein for later access out of the range of said first transceiver means, and power being turned off in said third mode of operation.