Interactive enhancement for printed books

• US 6,275,142 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cohen, Benjamin, Paleiov, Ilan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DaLencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/153,203
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.42, 340/825.49, 345/156, 345/192, 345/348, 704/1, 704/7
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A device for storing data relating to a printed work, including an electronic memory, fixed to the printed work, containing at least a portion of the information in the printed work. The device additionally includes a communications port, coupled to the memory, through which a computer external to the printed work accesses the information stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A device for storing data relating to a printed work containing information, comprising:

an electronic memory, fixed to the printed work, in which at least a portion of the information in the printed work is stored, the portion including content of the printed work; and

a communications port coupled to the memory, to enable a computer external to the printed work to access the information stored in the memory,

wherein the communications port comprises a wireless communications link, and

wherein the communications port is arranged to communicate with the external computer at substantially the same time as the external computer communicates with similar communications ports on other printed works.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the memory is fixed to a binding of the printed work.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a read-only memory.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a read-write memory, to which the external computer writes data via the communications port.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the data written by the external computer comprise a bookmark referring to a location in the memory specified by a user of the computer.

6. A device according to claim 1, and comprising a processor, which interacts with the memory in response to a command received via the communications port.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the processor searches the memory in accordance with instructions specified by a user of the external computer.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the processor transmits a selected portion of the information in the memory to the external computer via the communications port.

9. A device according to claim 6, and comprising an indicator coupled to the processor, which provides a sensible signal to a user of the external computer.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the indicator comprises a light-emitting element.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communications link comprises an infrared communication element.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the infrared communication element is mounted on a spine of the printed work.

13. A device according to claim 11, wherein the infrared communication element comprises an infrared transmitter and receiver, which communicate with a corresponding receiver and transmitter associated with the external computer.

14. A device according to claim 1, and comprising a battery fixed to the printed work, which provides power to operate the device.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the device detects a low-battery state of the battery and generates a low-battery signal responsive to the low-battery state, the low-battery signal comprising a wireless transmission through the communications port to a receiving unit external to the printed work.

16. A device according to claim 1, and comprising a photoelectric cell fixed to the printed work, which provides power to operate the device.

17. A device according to claim 1, and comprising an inductive element fixed to the printed work, which receives electromagnetic energy from a transmitter external to the printed work and converts the energy to an electrical current to operate the device.

18. Apparatus for storing and retrieving data relating to a printed work containing information, comprising:

an electronic memory, fixed to the printed work, in which at least a portion of the information in the printed work is stored, the portion including content of the printed work; and

a computer external to the printed work, which is arranged to access the information stored in the memory substantially simultaneously with communicating with similar memories fixed to other printed works.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, and comprising a relay unit in communication with the external computer, wherein an instruction from the external computer is received by the relay unit and is relayed therefrom to a communications port associated with the electronic memory so as to access the information stored therein.

20. A method for electronically accessing information contained in a printed work, comprising:

storing at least a portion of the information in an electronic memory device, the portion including content of the printed work;

fixing the device to the printed work; and

accessing the information stored in the memory device,

wherein accessing the information comprises communicating substantially simultaneously with multiple electronic memory devices fixed to multiple, respective printed works.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein storing the information comprises storing text information.

22. A method according to claim 20, and comprising storing in the memory device non-textual data relating to the information in the printed work.

23. A method according to claim 20, and comprising storing in the memory device bibliographic information relating to the printed work.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein accessing the information comprises communicating with the device over a wireless link.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein communicating with the device comprises sending and receiving infrared signals.

26. A method according to claim 20, and comprising generating a low-battery signal responsive to detecting a low-battery state of a battery coupled to the device, and transmitting the low-battery signal over a wireless link to a receiving device.

27. A method according to claim 20, wherein accessing the information comprises searching the memory device for a specified data string.

28. A method according to claim 27, and comprising signaling a user when the specified data string is found.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein signaling the user comprises actuating a sensible indicator on a cover of the printed work.

30. A method according to claim 20, wherein accessing the information comprises writing data to the electronic memory device.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein writing the data comprises recording a bookmark referring to a location in the memory device specified by a user of the computer.

32. A method for electronically accessing information regarding a plurality of printed works, to each of which an electronic device is fixed, each device including a memory in which the information is stored, the information including content of the respective printed work, and each device including a communications port coupled to the respective memory, the method comprising:

sending an instruction to each of the communications ports; and

receiving responses substantially simultaneously from each of the ports regarding the respective printed works, based on the information in the respective memories.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein sending the instruction comprises initiating a search of each respective memory for a specified data string.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein receiving the responses comprises receiving a signal when the specified data string is found in one or more of the memories.