Method of linking on-line data to printed documents
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- accessing a central site to obtain a steganographically-encoded item, the item including at least a unique identifier;
applying the steganographically-encoded item to a document; and
inputting data relating to a proprietor of the document, the data being input into a database, wherein the data is associated with the unique identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to linking on-line data to printed documents, such as business cards, envelopes, stickers, stationary, letterhead, résumés, etc. In one embodiment, a card-user registers with an on-line database and receives a gallery item including a steganographically-embedded unique identifier. The gallery item, such as a graphical background, text, shading, graphic, etc., is integrated and then printed with a document. The printed document can then be presented an optical-scanner, which outputs data. The output data is decoded to identify the unique identifier. The unique identifier is then used to index into the on-line database to retrieve information related to the proprietor of the document. In one embodiment, the on-line database includes features such as providing an immediate contact number, translation and/or pronunciation ability, and storage of audio/video files.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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accessing a central site to obtain a steganographically-encoded item, the item including at least a unique identifier; applying the steganographically-encoded item to a document; and inputting data relating to a proprietor of the document, the data being input into a database, wherein the data is associated with the unique identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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providing a steganographically encoded item for integration with a printed object, the encoded printed object including a unique identifier associated with a network database; receiving data in the network database, the received data corresponding to a proprietor of the printed object; associating the received data with the unique identifier; permitting access to the received data in the network database when presented with the unique identifier; and providing a digital file comprising a pronunciation of at least some of the received data.
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14. A method comprising:
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providing a steganographically encoded item for integration with a printed object, the encoded item including a unique identifier associated with an internet database; receiving data in the internet database, the received data corresponding to a proprietor of the printed object; associating the received data with the unique identifier; permitting access to the received data in the internet database when presented with the unique identifier; and providing a digital file comprising a translation of at least some of the received data.
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15. A method comprising:
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providing a steganographically encoded item for integration with a printed object, the encoded item including a unique identifier associated with an internet database; receiving data in the internet database, the received data corresponding to a proprietor of the printed object; associating the received data with the unique identifier; permitting access to the received data in the internet database when presented with the unique identifier; and standardizing the format of the received data, wherein the format comprises a vCard.
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16. A system comprising:
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a central computer, said central computer communicating with a network; a database in communication with the central computer, the database indexing user data according to unique identifiers; a gallery of items maintained by the central computer, each item capable of hosting encoded data; an encoder to steganographically-encode a unique identifier per item of the gallery of items; and an interface through which at least one user can access the gallery items and database. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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receiving a request through a network interface to obtain a graphic or design from a gallery of graphics or designs; upon a selection of a graphic or design, steganographically encoding the graphic or design with at least one plural-bit identifier; associating the identifier with an entity that requested the graphic or design; and providing the steganographically encoded graphic or design through the network interface. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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receiving a request at a central computer to obtain a steganographically-encoded graphic or design from a gallery of steganographically-encoded graphics or designs, the requested graphic or design including at least one plural-bit identifier; associating the identifier with an entity associated with the request; and providing the steganographically-encoded graphic or design from the central computer.
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Specification