Apparatus for interaction with a network computer system

• US 6,927,871 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2000
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Gabriel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Thierry L
• Application Number:
  US09/722,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,718 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.1, 358 111- 114, 358/1.16, 715/513, 361/680, 361/681, 621/26, 622/31, 623/31
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus enabling interaction with a network computer system. It has particular application to a system employing a printer for printing an interface onto a surface to produce an interface surface.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus enabling interaction with a network computer system, the apparatus including:

• • an appliance for storing and cooling produce for use by an appliance user; and
  • a printer device integrated into said appliance, the printer device being operatively interconnectable with said network computer system, the printer device including a printer module operable to print at least one form delivered from said network computer system, and the printer device being configured to receive indicating data from a sensing device operated by an appliance user, the sensing device when placed in an operative position relative to said at least one form sensing the indicating data.

By means of the invention, a network terminal comprising an interactive printer device can be incorporated into, say, the door of a domestic refrigerator. Such an appliance is readily accessible, and is regularly visited by those who may be making use of the network terminal.

Claims

1. An apparatus enabling interaction with a network computer system, the apparatus including:

an appliance for storing and cooling produce for use by an appliance user; and

a printer device integrated into said appliance, the printer device being operatively interconnectable with said network computer system, the printer device including a printer module operable to print at least one form including a plurality of interactive elements, the form being delivered from said network computer system, and the printer device being configured to receive indicating data from a sensing device operated by an appliance user, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to one of the interactive elements, generating the indicating data by sensing coded data associated with the interactive element, the indicating data being indicative of an identity of the form and the interactive element, and wherein the appliance includes an upper storage compartment and a lower storage compartment, each storage compartment accessible by way of a hinged door, the printer module provided in the door of the upper storage compartment, and the door of said lower storage compartment providing a collector arranged to receive a printed document exiting from said printer module when both said doors are in a closed position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one form contains information to be conveyed to said appliance user and coded data indicative of an identity of the form and of at least one reference point of the form, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the form, sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data, such as to sense its position relative to the form.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one form contains information to be conveyed to said appliance user and coded data indicative of an identity of the form, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the form, sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data, and generating data regarding its own position relative to the form.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one form contains coded data indicative of an identity of the form, the sensing device containing data regarding an identity of said appliance user, and sensing the data regarding the identity of the form using at least some of the coded data.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, including said sensing device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, said sensing device including a marking nib.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, in which the sensing device contains an identification means which imparts a unique identity to the sensing device and identifies it as being associated with a particular appliance user.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein said sensing device and said printer device are configured for wireless communication there between of said indicating data.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printer module is integrated into a door of said appliance in a position readily accessible to said appliance user.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printer module prints the coded data at the same time as printing the form.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, in which the coded data is substantially invisible in the visible spectrum.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which, to cater for a form printed on multiple pages, the printer module includes a binding means for binding the pages.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the appliance includes at least one sensor to measure operating parameters, the at least one sensor and the printer device being operatively interconnectable, said one or more forms including appliance operation information.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one form includes information relating to appliance use, and said computer system includes means for identifying, from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to the appliance use.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said at least one parameter relating to the appliance use is associated with at least one zone of the form.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, in which said at least one parameter relating to the appliance use is a control parameter of the appliance use.

17. A computer system including at least one apparatus according to claim 1.

18. An apparatus enabling interaction with a network computer system, the apparatus including:

an appliance for storing and cooling produce for use by an appliance user; and

a printer device integrated into said appliance, the printer device being operatively interconnectable with said network computer system, the printer device including a printer module operable to print at least one form, the form being delivered from said network computer system, and the printer device being configured to receive indicating data from a sensing device operated by an appliance user, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to said at least one form, generating the indicating data by sensing coded data at the operative position, the indicating data being indicative of an identity of the form and the sensing device'"'"'s position relative to the form, and wherein the appliance includes an upper storage compartment and a lower storage compartment, each storage compartment accessible by way of a hinged door, the printer module provided in the door of the upper storage compartment, and the door of said lower storage compartment providing a collector arranged to receive a printed document exiting from said printer module when both said doors are in a closed position.