Print having information associated with the print stored in a memory coupled to the print

• US 6,381,418 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Tredwell, Timothy J., Tehranchi, Babak, Sanger, Kurt M., Spurr, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahoney, Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US09/372,329
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 396/310, 396/312, 396/321, 396/429, 396/56, 360/1, 360/2, 404/55, 404/57, 401/240.4, 401/240.6, 407/00, 407/01, 407/11, 407/17, 434/311, 355/40, 355/42
• US Class Current: 396/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/025 the material being flexible or adapted for folding, e.g. paper or paper-like materials used in luggage labels, identification tags, forms or identification documents carrying RFIDs methods for testing the genuineness of valuable papers, e.g. banknotes or passports G07D7/00; constructional features of booklets and the like B42D
• 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: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A print having information associated with the print stored in a memory coupled to the print. A print, processed by an image processing apparatus, having an attached memory for storing detailed information about the print and allowing contactless access using an electromagnetic frequency signal. A transceiver, connected to a control logic device, communicates with a transponder that is attached to the print substrate and is integrally coupled to the memory. The transponder is capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field (frequency) from the transceiver and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generates a second electromagnetic field (frequency) in response, where the second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in memory.

Claims

1. A storage apparatus for storing data on an output print produced by an image processing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a memory coupled to the output print, said memory adapted to store computer-readable data associated with an image;

(b) a transponder integrally coupled to said memory, said transponder adapted to receive a first electromagnetic field and, in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, generating a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in said memory;

(c) a transceiver spaced-apart from the output print for transmitting the first electromagnetic field and for sensing the second electromagnetic field; and

(d) a logic processor coupled to said transceiver, said logic processor adapted to communicate with said transceiver for facilitating exchange of data between said transceiver and said memory.

2. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transceiver transmits the first electromagnetic field at a predetermined first frequency.

3. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transceiver receives the second electromagnetic field at a predetermined second frequency.

4. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein said memory is adapted to store image processing data associated with the image.

5. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein said logic processor is a computer.

6. The storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a plurality of said memories coupled to respective ones of a plurality of the output prints; and

(b) a plurality of said transponders coupled to respective ones of said memories.

7. Storage apparatus of claim 1 and wherein power for powering the transponder is derived solely from the first electromagnetic field, and wherein the memory and transponder are mounted on or embedded within a substrate upon which the print is printed, and wherein the first electromagnetic field and second electromagnetic field travel through the air.

8. A print, comprising:

(a) a substrate;

(b) a memory coupled to said substrate, said memory adapted to store data therein;

(c) a transponder connected to said substrate and integrally coupled to said memory, said transponder adapted to receive a first electromagnetic field and, in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, generate a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in said memory.

9. The print of claim 8, wherein said substrate material comprises an antenna coupled to said transponder.

10. The print of claim 8, wherein said memory has image processing data stored therein.

11. The print of claim 8, wherein said memory is a read/write memory.

12. The print of claim 8, wherein said substrate is paper.

13. The print of claim 8, wherein said substrate is film.

14. The print of claim 8 and wherein the print is a digital proof.

15. The print of claim 14 and wherein the transponder includes an antenna for receiving the first electromagnetic field to provide the sole power for the transponder and memory.

16. The print of claim 15 and wherein the memory stores a file identifier for the print.

17. The print of claim 16 and wherein the memory stores information in compressed form.

18. The print of claim 15 and wherein the memory is embedded within a substrate upon which the print is printed.

19. The print of claim 15 and wherein the antenna is printed on the substrate.

20. The print of claim 8 and wherein the print is an x-ray or other diagnostic image.

21. The print of claim 20 and wherein the transponder includes an antenna for receiving the first electromagnetic field to provide the sole power for the transponder and memory.

22. The print of claim 21 and wherein the memory stores a file identifier for the print.

23. The print of claim 21 and wherein the memory stores information in compressed form.

24. The print of claim 21 and wherein the memory is embedded within a substrate upon which the print is printed.

25. The print of claim 21 and wherein the antenna is printed on the substrate.

26. A method for determining the presence of a particular print in a folder including a plurality of prints, the system comprising:

providing a folder having a plurality of prints including the particular print, the particular print including a memory supported on or within a substrate of the particular print, the memory storing data and the particular print including a transponder integrally coupled to the memory and supported on or within the substrate of the particular print;

operating the transponder to receive though the air a first electromagnetic field and, in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, generating a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;

operating a transceiver spaced apart from the print to transmit the first electromagnetic field through the air and for sensing the second electromagnetic field, the first electromagnetic field providing the sole source of power for the transponder; and

communicating information representing data stored in the memory to a logic processor coupled to the transceiver for determining the presence of the particular print.

27. The method of claim 26 and wherein each of the prints in the folder includes a respective memory supported on or within a substrate of the respective print, the respective memory storing respective data relative to the identity of the respective print, and the respective print including a transponder integrally coupled to the memory and supported on or within the substrate of the respective print, and wherein the respective prints are polled to determine presence of the prints within the folder.

28. A method of communicating with a print, the method comprising:

providing a print including a memory supported on or within a substrate of the print, the memory storing data protected from overwriting relating to the print or its production and separately storing data which may be updated, the print including a transponder coupled to the memory and supported on or within the substrate, the transponder including an antenna supported on or within the substrate;

operating the transponder to receive through the air a first electromagnetic field and, in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, generating a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the protected memory;

operating a transceiver spaced apart from the print to transmit the first electromagnetic field through the air and for sensing the second electromagnetic field, the first electromagnetic field providing the sole source of power for the transponder; and

communicating information representing data stored in the memory to a logic processor coupled to the transceiver for interpreting the information in the memory.

29. A method of assembling a storage apparatus for storing data on an output print produced by an image processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a memory to the output print, the memory adapted to store computer-readable data associated with an image;

(b) integrally coupling a transponder to the memory, the transponder adapted to receive a first electromagnetic field and, in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, generating a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;

(c) providing a transceiver spaced-apart from the output print for transmitting the first electromagnetic field and for sensing the second electromagnetic field; and

(d) coupling a logic processor to the transceiver, the logic processor adapted to communicate with the transceiver for facilitating exchange of data between the transceiver and the memory.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of providing a transceiver comprises the step of providing a transceiver that transmits the first electromagnetic field at a predetermined first frequency.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of providing a transceiver comprises the step of providing a transceiver that receives the second electromagnetic field at a predetermined second frequency.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of coupling a memory comprises the step of coupling a memory adapted to store image processing data associated with the image.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of coupling a logic processor comprises the step of coupling a logic processor that is a computer.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a plurality of the memories to respective ones of a plurality of the output prints; and

(b) coupling a plurality of the transponders to respective ones of the memories.

35. A method of providing a print, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate;

(b) coupling a memory to the substrate, the memory adapted to store data therein;

(c) connecting a transponder to the substrate and integrally coupling the transponder to the memory, the transponder adapted to receive a first electromagnetic field and, in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, generate a second electromagnetic field, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory.

36. The print of claim 35, wherein the step of providing a substrate comprises the step of providing substrate having an antenna coupled to the transponder.

37. The print of claim 35, wherein the step of coupling a memory comprises the step of coupling a memory having image processing data stored therein.

38. The print of claim 35, wherein the step of coupling a memory comprises the step of coupling a memory that is a read/write memory.

39. The print of claim 35, wherein the step of providing a substrate comprises the step of providing a paper substrate.

40. The print of claim 35, wherein the step of providing a substrate comprises the step of providing a film substrate.