Information reproducing system capable of manually reading an optically readable code and repeatedly reproducing voice information included in the code

• US 6,460,155 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonard Peterson
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Mori, Takeshi, Matsui, Shinzo, Morita, Kazuhiko, Nagasaki, Tatsuo, Fujimori, Hiroyoshi, Akamine, Yoshikazu, Wakamatsu, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, David
• Application Number:
  US09/488,244
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 369/64, 369/97, 369/14, 369/112, 369/275.1, 360/744, 714/752
• US Class Current: 714/752
• 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 16/434 using image data, e.g. images, photos, pictures taken by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0033 with cards or other card-like flat carriers, e.g. flat sheets of optical film
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/013 for discrete information, i.e. where each information unit is stored in a distinct discrete location , e.g. digital information formats within a data block or sector
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2104 for one or a few pictures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2162 using a non electronic storage unit, e.g. by recording marks on a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data

Abstract

A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-called multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Claims

1. An information reproducing system for optically reading a code by manually scanning the code, the code being optically readably recorded in a printed recording medium and containing at least audio information, the information reproducing system comprising:

a reader which optically reads the code which is manually scanned; and

repeat reproducing means for repeatedly reproducing and outputting the audio information, on the basis of the code optically read by said reader;

wherein the code comprises a plurality of blocks which are allowed to be arranged adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising;

a data dot pattern comprising a plurality of dots arranged in accordance with contents of the data;

a marker by which said each of the blocks is recognizable; and

a block address pattern representing an address of said each of the blocks in the code; and

wherein the data dot pattern, the marker and the block address have a predetermined positional relationship in said each of the blocks.

2. An information reproducing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data memory which stores data containing at least audio information obtained by processing the code optically read by said reader; and

wherein the repeat reproducing means repeatedly reproduces the audio information and outputs the reproduced audio information by repeatedly reading out the data stored in said data memory.

3. An information reproducing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operation switch which is operable by a user for allowing a user to designate the repeat and outputting operation.

4. A recording medium including a portion where data including at least audio information is recorded by printing as an optically readable code,

wherein the code information for repeat reproduction,

wherein reproducing/outputting of the audio information is repeated by an information reproducing apparatus for optically reading the code by performing a manual scanning operation, and then reproducing/outputting the audio information, and

wherein the code comprises a plurality of blocks which are allowed to be arranged adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising:

(i) a data dot pattern comprising a plurality of dots arranged in accordance with contents of the data, (ii) a marker for use in recognizing said each of the blocks, and (iii) a block address pattern indicating an address of said each block, and

wherein the data dot pattern, the marker and the block address pattern have a predetermined positional relationship with each other.

5. A recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the information for repeat reproduction comprises information regarding the number of times the reproducing/outputting of the audio information is repeated.