Electronic book having several keys for changing pages and underlining certain portions of text

• US 5,239,665 A
• Filed: 11/23/1992
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hiuka Kosan Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Hiuka Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha System Gijyutsu Kenkyuusho
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Haruki
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRELL, ROBERT B
• Application Number:
  US07/980,091
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1 MS File, 364/ DIG. 2 MS File, 395/200, 395/100, 395/118, 395/144, 395/145, 395/146, 395/150, 395/155, 395/600, 395/800, 395/500
• US Class Current: 715/776
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

An electronic book which permits retrieval and visual presentation of information from memory such as floppy disks or laser cards in the same fashion as books, magazines or newspapers. Renewal of information in the paperless book may be effected by changing, for instance floppy disks or by receiving information on the air or over the telephone and putting the so-received information in the inner memory of the paperless book. The paperless book permits an individual reader to read sequential visual presentations of information at a speed at which he can read books, magazines or newspapers.

Claims

1. Apparatus for retrieving and displaying information contained in an electronic book, comprising:

memory means for storing the information as sentences composed of standard characters and extra characters, and as separate pages of the book, said memory means including electronic inner memory means for storing the standard characters and electronic exterior memory means for storing the extra characters;

means for displaying the information stored in said memory means as a page of the book;

first key means for displaying subsequent pages of the book stored in said memory means;

second key means for returning the display to a preceding page of the book stored in said memory;

third key means for indicating the display of each sentence displayed by said means for displaying, such that access is permitted to a desired page of the book store din said memory means and such that the pages of the book can be displayed in sequence;

timer means for automatically displaying subsequent pages of the book at a predetermined length of time;

fourth key means for positioning a cursor at a selected position on the displayed page;

fifth key means to locate said selected position; and

sixth key means for underlining a part of the displayed page from said selected position to a desired ending position, with the underlining drawn being stored in said memory means.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said memory means includes means for receiving information transmitted by air, said received information transmitted by air being identified by code numbers, thereby permitting addressing said memory means with said code numbers.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said memory means includes means for receiving information transmitted by telephone, said received information transmitted by telephone being identified by code numbers, thereby permitting addressing said memory means with, said code numbers.