Storage apparatus

• US 6,803,856 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Frohlich, David Mark, Murphy, Rachel Lucy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/656,594
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/825.35, 340/825.49, 340/825.54, 340/570, 340/568.1, 340/568.2
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A storage apparatus for sentimental electronic memorabilia includes a memory and processor for the storage and manipulation of files within which memorabilia is stored, and a monitor for assimilating the memorabilia; in the case of visually assimilable files, the monitor is a visual monitor. Each file is associated with an artefact which acts as a vehicle for the establishment of sentimental links to electronically stored information. The artefacts are stored within a box which also houses the monitor and processor. The association of artefacts with files is through the provision of an rf tag identifier on the artefact. Once the identifier is read by an rf tag reader on the box, the file corresponding to the identifier is retrieved from the memory and furnished to a user in an assimilable form by means of the monitor.

Claims

1. A storage apparatus comprising:

a container in which artefacts may be stored and which maybe opened and closed thereby to enable artefacts to be placed inside or removed from the container, or to retain artefacts safely inside the container;

a plurality of artefacts, each of which has a unique identification tag;

an electronic memory containing a file corresponding to each of the artefacts in the container;

an identification reader which identifies the tag of a particular artefact when the artefact is brought into a predetermined relationship with the container, and generates an identification signal accordingly;

at least one monitor; and

a processor connected to the identification reader, the processor being adapted to receive an aforesaid identification signal and, in response to receipt of said identification signal, to retrieve the file corresponding to the artefact identified by the identification signal, and to pass the file to the monitor in a manner which enables the file to be made manifest to a user by the monitor.

2. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification reader is actuable to read the tag when an artefact is removed from the container.

3. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor and monitor are integral with the container.

4. The storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the container has a rigid casing, with an openable lid, and the monitor is incorporated in the lid.

5. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a visual monitor.

6. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an aural monitor.

7. The storage apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the files stored in the memory are selected from the group consisting of files of email messages, files of sound recordings, files of moving pictures, files of moving images and text files.

8. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the artefacts are distinct to at least one of the following human senses:

sight, touch or smell.

9. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input interface for the processor, via which files may be transmitted to the memory from an external storage device.

10. The storage apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a writer for writing identification tags, the writer being connectable to the processor to enable recognition of a newly written tag by the rf identifier.

11. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory is provided in a network, and is remotely located from the container, and wherein a network connection enables communication between the memory and the container.

12. A container comprising:

an area for holding an artefact having an identification tag, wherein said container may be opened or closed to allow the artefact to be placed in or removed from the area;

a store for storing an electronic file associated with the artefact;

a reader for reading the identification tag and producing a signal accordingly when the artefact is brought into a predetermined relationship with the container; and

a processor connected to the reader and adapted to, upon receipt of the signal, retrieve the electronic file from the store and make the file manifest on a monitor.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the electronic file is a type selected from the group consisting of:

electronic mail, a sound recording, an image, and text.

14. The container of claim 12, wherein the monitor manifests visually assimilable files.

15. The container of claim 12, wherein the monitor manifests aurally assimilable files.

16. The container of claim 12, wherein the artefact is distinct to a sense selected from the group consisting:

sight, touch and smell.

17. The container of claim 12, wherein the store is a digital memory.

18. The container of claim 12, wherein the identification tag is an RF tag, and the reader is an RF tag reader.