Image access system providing easier access to images

• US 4,994,987 A
• Filed: 12/15/1989
• Issued: 02/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Dwight G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US07/455,834
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518-521, 364/522, 364/525, 340/747, 340/732, 340/750, 340/752, 434/308-311, 434/314, 434/315, 434/316, 235/380, 235/383, 235/470
• US Class Current: 434/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

An image access, retrieval, and display system provides a simplified system for randomly accessing stored images. Image access documents having a human readable representation of an image and machine readable image access information are placed in an image access document reader which transmits the image access information to the image display system causing the image to be displayed.

Claims

1. A system for retrieving image information stored in a storage device and displaying images, said image information having a predetermined storage address in said storage devices, said system comprising:

an image access document, separate from said storage device, comprising a supportive substrate containing human readable information and machine readable information, said human readable information being representative of said image information stored in said storage device, and said machine readable information being associated with said predetermined storage address;

image access document reading means for reading said machine readable information;

image address correlation means for accepting said machine readable information from said image access document reading means and correlating said storage address associated therewith;

image retrieval means for accepting said storage address from said image address correlation means and retrieving said image information stored at that address; and

display means connected to said image retrieval means for displaying an image corresponding to said image information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said image access document reading means includes means for reading information provided in optically readable form.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said image access document reading means includes means for reading information provided in magnetically readable form.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said image access document reading means includes means for reading information provided in electronically readable form.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said display means produces an image capable of being projected by a projector for viewing by an audience.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said display means comprised a liquid crystal display, the images produced by said liquid crystal display being capable of being projected by an overhead projector.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said machine readable information is provided in optically readable form.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said machine readable information is provided in magnetically readable form.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said machine readable information is provided in electronically readable form.

10. A method of retrieving image information stored in a storage device and displaying images, said image information having a predetermined storage address in said storage device, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining image access information from an image access document, said image access document being separate from said storage device, and further having human readable information representative of said image information;

calculating said storage address from said image access information;

retrieving said image information stored at said storage address; and

displaying an image corresponding to said image information.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of determining whether a valid storage address has been calculated before retrieving said image information and only proceeding with subsequent steps if said storage address is valid.

12. An image access document for use in an image presentation system, said image access document comprising a supportive substrate containing machine readable information and human readable information, said human readable information being representative of an image stored in a separate storage device, said machine readable information being associated with a predetermined storage address in said storage device.

13. An image access document according to claim 12 wherein said machine readable information is provided in a form that can be read by means selected from the group consisting of optical means, electronic means, magnetic means or combinations thereof.

14. An image access document according to claim 12 wherein said substrate comprises paper.

15. An image access document according to claim 14 wherein said substrate comprises plastic.

16. An image access document according to claim 12 wherein said human read information and said machine readable information are on opposite sides of said substrate.

17. A system for producing visual images for an audience during a presentation by a speaker, comprising:

a plurality of image access documents, each said document having image retrieving, machine readable information and a visually readable image thereon, whereby said visually readable image may be previewed by the speaker;

a reading device having means for receiving one of said image access documents, means for reading said image retrieving information, and means for transmitting said information;

image storing and retrieving means for receiving said transmitted information and retrieving a stored image corresponding to said visually readable image on said one of said image access documents; and

display means for presenting a visual image to the audience, said visual image corresponding to said stored image.

18. A system for presenting visual images to an audience, comprising:

an image access document having a human readable, visual image printed thereon, and having image access information in machine readable form;

a storage medium having machine readable data corresponding to said visual image, said machine readable data residing at a known address on said storage medium;

means for reading said image access information on said image access card;

means for correlating said image access information to said address;

means for displaying an image to the audience; and

means for retrieving said machine readable data from said storage medium and transmitting it to said displaying means.