Printed book augmented with an electronically stored glossary

• US 6,549,750 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ithaca Media Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ithaca Media Corporation
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/426,112
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307.R, 434/309, 434/317, 434/365
• US Class Current: 434/317
• 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: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon

Abstract

A printed book has associated therewith certain electronically stored data in the form of a glossary of words appearing in the printed text. The electronic data is preferably stored in a remotely accessible server. A graphical user interface is provided for controlling access to the data stored in the server. When the reader of the book wishes to access data associated with a portion of the text, the reader uses a computer pointing device to select or manipulate indicia on the graphical user interface corresponding to the visual cue in the book. The server retrieves the appropriate glossary entry which is then presented on the reader'"'"'s computer.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting a printed text with electronically stored data comprising the steps of:

providing a printed book containing the printed text and a validation code;

providing a data storage device storing a glossary of words appearing in the printed text;

providing a graphical user interface for accessing said data storage device with a computer only upon entry of the validation code, said graphical user interface displaying words included in the glossary;

designating one of said words included in the glossary;

retrieving a glossary entry corresponding to the designated word;

displaying the glossary entry on said computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data storage device is accessed remotely from the computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data storage device is a data server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data storage device is accessed via the World Wide Web.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the glossary entry comprises a word definition.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the glossary entry comprises additional information about the word in the context of the printed text.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the glossary comprises an on-line dictionary.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface displays words in alphabetical order.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface displays words in an order in which the words appear in the printed text.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface displays a subset of all words included in the glossary, the subset selected based on frequency of usage of the words in language generally.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface displays a subset of all words included in the glossary, the subset selected based on a text reader'"'"'s reading level.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface comprises an electronic facsimile of the printed text.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of designating comprises selecting said one of said words in the electronic facsimile of the printed text using a pointing device coupled to the computer.

11. An information delivery system comprising:

a printed book containing a printed text and a validation code;

a data storage device storing a glossary of words appearing in the printed text;

a graphical user interface for accessing said data storage device with a computer only upon entry of a validation code, said graphical user interface displaying words included in the glossary;

means for designating one of said words included in the glossary;

means for retrieving a glossary entry corresponding to the designated word;

means for displaying the glossary entry on said computer.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the data storage device is accessed remotely from the computer.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the data storage device is a data server.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the data storage device is accessed via the World Wide Web.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the glossary entry comprises a word definition.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the glossary entry comprises additional information about the word in the context of the printed text.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the glossary comprises an on-line dictionary.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface displays words in alphabetical order.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface displays words in an order in which the words appear in the printed text.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface displays a subset of all words included in the glossary, the subset selected based on frequency of usage of the words in language generally.

24. The system of claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface displays a subset of all words included in the glossary, the subset selected based on a text reader'"'"'s reading level.

25. The system of claim 11 wherein the graphical user interface comprises an electronic facsimile of the printed text.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for designating comprises a pointing device coupled to the computer.

27. A method for augmenting a printed text with electronically stored data comprising:

providing a printed book containing the printed text;

providing an interactive site on a global computer network, said interactive site including a glossary of words appearing in the printed text, said interactive site further including a graphical user interface;

using the graphical user interface to select one of the words included in the glossary; and

displaying a glossary entry corresponding to the selected word.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the graphical user interface displays a subset of all words included in the glossary, the subset selected based on frequency of usage of the words in language generally.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the graphical user interface displays a subset of all words included in the glossary, the subset selected based on a text reader'"'"'s reading level.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the graphical user interface comprises an electronic facsimile of the printed text.