Collectable electronic multimedia trading card and portable card reader

• US 6,773,351 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlyn Brown
• Original Assignee: Merlyn Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Merlyn
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US10/154,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30, 463/31, 463/32, 463/33, 463/34, 463/35, 463/37, 463/39, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 463/46, 463/47, 273/236-238, 273/148.A, 404/45, 401/240.1
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0014 record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form G11B23/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0316 Constructional details, e.g. shape
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0033 with cards or other card-like flat carriers, e.g. flat sheets of optical film

Abstract

A collectable electronic multimedia trading card (10) and a hand-held portable card reader (12) for storing and communicating an information set of information relating to a single specific person, place, or thing. In a preferred embodiment, the card (10) is no more than between approximately 3.00 inches and 3.25 inches in length, no more than between approximately 2.30 and 2.70 inches in width, and no more than between approximately 0.01 inch and 0.1 inches in thickness. The information is presented using a variety of media elements, such as, for example, video, audio, still, and text elements. The information includes hyperlinks to additional network-accessible external sources of information. The information also includes advertisements.

Claims

1. An electronic trading card comprising:

a storage medium measuring no more than between approximately 3.00 inches and 3.25 inches in length, no more than between approximately 2.30 and 2.70 inches in width, and no more than between approximately 0.01 inch and 0.1 inches in thickness;

an information set of information stored on the storage medium in a retrievable electronic form, wherein the information is related to a single specific subject and includes

at least one video movie element showing the subject,

at least one audio element related to the subject,

at least one still element showing the subject,

at least one text element setting forth facts relating to the subject, and

at least one hyperlink element providing a link to an external source of information relating to an aspect of the subject; and

wherein the storage medium is provided with a shape associated with an aspect of the subject.

2. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 1, wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of:

a single person, a single thing, a single place, a single athlete, a single entertainer, a single politician, a single vehicle, a single country, a single city, a single animal.

3. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a miniature compact disk.

4. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a miniature digital video disk.

5. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 1, further including a sleeve for selectively storing the storage medium wherein the sleeve resembles a traditional playing card and includes at least one picture showing the subject.

6. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of the information of the information set is stored on the storage medium in a compressed state.

7. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 1, wherein the information set includes at least one advertising element.

8. An electronic trading card comprising:

a storage medium measuring no more than between approximately 3.00 inches and 3.25 inches in length, no more than between approximately 2.30 and 2.70 inches in width, and no more than between approximately 0.01 inch and 0.1 inches in thickness; and

an information set of information stored on the storage medium in a retrievable electronic form, wherein the information is related to a single specific person and includes

a biographic subset of information relating to at least a portion of a life of the person,

an equipment subset of information relating to one or more pieces of equipment used by the person,

a sponsorship subset of information relating to one or more corporate sponsors of the person,

a performance tips subset of information relating to a performance enhancing tip suggested by the person,

at least one video movie element showing a performance of the person,

at least one audio element related to the specific person,

at least one still picture element showing the person,

at least one text element setting forth facts related to the person,

at least one hyperlink element providing a link to an external source of information relating to an aspect of the person, and

and at least one advertising element.

9. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a miniature compact disk.

10. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a miniature digital video disk.

11. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 8, wherein the storage medium is provided with a shape associated with an aspect of the person.

12. The electronic trading card as set forth in claim 8, wherein at least some of the information of the information set is stored on the storage medium in a compressed state.

13. An electronic trading card system comprising:

a plurality of electronic trading cards, wherein each of the electronic trading cards includes

a storage medium measuring no more than between approximately 3.00 inches and 3.25 inches in length, no more than between approximately 2.30 and 2.70 inches in width, and no more than between approximately 0.01 inch and 0.1 inches in thickness, and

an information set of information stored on the storage medium in a retrievable electronic form, wherein the information is related to a single specific subject and includes

at least one video movie element showing the subject,

at least one audio element related to the subject,

at least one still element showing the subject,

at least one text element setting forth facts relating to the subject,

at least one hyperlink element providing a link to an external source of information relating to an aspect of the subject, and

and at least one advertising element;

a card reader adapted to retrieve and communicate the information set of each of the electronic trading cards, the card reader including

a hand-held portable housing,

a player adapted to removably receive one of the electronic trading cards,

a display screen and a speaker adapted to visually and audibly communicate the information set stored on the removably received one of the electronic trading cards,

an input mechanism adapted to allow a user to navigate the information set communicated by the display screen and the speaker, and

a network connection adapted to selectively connect the card reader to a network wherefrom additional information relating to the subject is available; and

a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve resembling a traditional playing card operable to selectively store a selected one of the electronic trading cards, and including at least one picture showing the subject of the selected electronic trading card.

14. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the subject is selected from the group comprising:

a single person, a single place, a single thing, a single athlete, a single entertainer, a single politician, a single vehicle, a single country, a single city, a single animal.

15. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the storage medium is a miniature compact disk.

16. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the storage medium is a miniature digital video disk.

17. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the storage medium is provided with a shape associated with an aspect of the subject.

18. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least some of the information of the information set is stored on the storage medium in a compressed state.

19. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the player is a CD-ROM/DVD player.

20. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the network connection of the card reader is a wireless network connection.

21. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the input mechanism is a touchpad.

22. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the input mechanism is a track ball.

23. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the card reader is provided with an appearance associated with an aspect of the subject.

24. The electronic trading card system as set forth in claim 13, further including a card tray which is physically associated with the hand-held portable housing and operable to receive and retain a number of the plurality of the electronic trading cards.