Annotating imaged data product

• US 7,161,581 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reiffel Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Reiffel Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Reiffel, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/344,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20040125224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.11, 235/462.24, 235/462.41, 235/435, 348/333.02, 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device

Abstract

The annotating product adapted for use with an information system and with an exhibit having a plurality of objects has an imager (11) which is signal connected to the information system (91) and has codes (31) representing (33) objects (81) from the plurality of objects, the imager detecting light (32) from several codes together and sending an indicate signal (12) which represents at least one of the several objects to the information system which then sends an annotate signal (22) to cause a display (21) to output data about objects represented by the indicate signal.

Claims

1. An annotating product used with an information system and with a plurality of objects, the product comprising:

an imager, the imager having a field of view, the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes, a plurality of coded data sources, several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources being spatially separated in the field of view, light from the several coded data sources being together detected by the imager;

a first object from the several objects;

a first coded data source from the several coded data sources, light from the first coded data source representing the first object;

a first indicate signal, the first indicate signal being caused when light from the first coded data source is caused to be selected at the imager, the first indicate signal representing the first object, the first indicate signal being output by the imager, the first indicate signal being input to the information system;

first annotate data associated with the first object, the first annotate data being available to the information system;

a first annotate signal output by the information system, the first annotate signal being caused by the first indicate signal, the first annotate signal having a first personal component, the first personal component representing first annotate data relevant specifically to a first person, the first annotate signal representing the first annotate data; and

a display, the display receiving the first annotate signal and the display being caused by the first annotate signal to output the first annotate data.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein:

the imager is a private imager;

a plurality of object coded data sources member-by-member corresponds to object members from the plurality of coded data sources;

the first coded data source is a first object coded data source from the plurality if object coded data sources; and

light from the first object coded data source is caused to be selected by data input to the private imager to select a representation of the first object coded data source.

3. The product of claim 1 wherein:

the imager is a public imager;

a plurality of person coded data sources member-by-member corresponds to person members from the plurality of coded data sources;

the first coded data source is a first person coded data source from the plurality of person coded data sources; and

light from the first person coded data source is caused to be selected at the imager when a first alignment of the first coded data source is maintained for a set time, the first alignment representing the first object by intersecting the first object.

4. The product of claim 3 wherein:

a plurality of object codes member-by-member corresponds to object members from the plurality of coded data sources, the several coded data sources in the field of view comprises a first object coded data source;

the indicate signal has a first object component, and the first object component positionally represents the first object coded data source.

5. The product of claim 1 wherein the display is a private display.

6. The product of claim 1 wherein the display is a public display.

7. The product of claim 1 wherein the indicate signal has a first query component which solicits first reply data about the first object and wherein the first annotate data has a first reply component which represents the first reply data.

8. The product of claim 1 wherein:

the indicate signal includes a query component, the query component being caused by a person, the query component represents a request for reply data about the first object; and

the first annotate data having a first reply component, the reply component represents the first reply data.

9. The product of claim 8 wherein:

the imager is a private imager and the private imager gives the person the opportunity to cause a query component when light from the first coded data source is detected.

10. The product of claim 3 wherein:

the indicate signal includes a query component, the query component being caused by a person manipulating a person coded data source, the query component represents a request for reply data about the first object; and

the first annotate data having a first reply component, the reply component represents the first reply data.

11. The product of claim 3 wherein:

the indicate signal includes a query component, the query component being caused by a person obscuring at least part of at least one of the person coded data source, the query component represents a request for reply data about the first object; and

the first annotate data having a first reply component, the reply component represents the first reply data.

12. The product of claim 1 wherein;

the first reply data includes data about the object particularly relevant to the first person.

13. The product of claim 1 wherein:

the imager is a first private imager; and

the product further comprises

a second private imager;

the second imager having a field of view, the second field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes, several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources being spatially separated in the second field of view, second light from the several coded data sources being together detected by the second imager;

a second object from the several objects;

a second coded data source from the several coded data sources, light from the second coded data source representing the second object;

a second indicate signal, the second indicate signal related to light from the second coded data source selected at the second imager, the second indicate signal representing the second object, the second indicate signal being output by the second imager, the second indicate signal being input to the information system;

second annotate data associated with the second object, the second annotate data being available to the information system;

a second annotate signal output by the information system, the second annotate signal being caused by the first indicate signal, the second annotate signal having a second personal component, the second personal component representing second annotate data relevant specifically to a second person;

the second annotate signal representing the second annotate data; and

the display receiving the second annotate signal and the display being caused by the second annotate signal to output the second annotate data.

14. The product of claim 13 wherein the first indicate signal and the second indicate signal represent the same object which can be the first object and can be the second object.

15. An annotating product used with an information system and with a plurality of objects, the product comprising:

a private imager, the private imager having a field of view, the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes, a plurality of coded data sources;

a plurality of object coded data sources member-by-member corresponding to the plurality of coded data sources;

several object coded data sources from the plurality of object coded data sources being spatially separated in the field of view, light from the several object coded data sources being together detected by the private imager;

a first object from the several objects;

a first object coded data source from the several object coded data sources;

light from the first object coded data source representing the first object;

a first indicate signal, the first indicate signal being caused when light from the first object coded data source is caused to be selected by data input to the private imager to select a representation of the first object coded data source, the first indicate signal representing the first object code, the first indicate signal being output by the private imager, the first indicate signal being input to the information system;

first annotate data associated with the first object, the first annotate data being available to the information system;

a first annotate signal output by the information system, the first annotate signal being caused by the first indicate signal, the first annotate signal having a first personal component, the first personal component representing first annotate data relevant specifically to a first person, the first annotate signal representing first annotate data; and

a display, the display receiving the first annotate signal and the display being caused by the annotate signal to output the first annotate data.

16. The product of claim 15 wherein the display is a private display.

17. The product of claim 15 wherein the display is a public display.

18. The product of claim 15 wherein the indicate signal has a first query component which solicits first reply data about the first object and wherein the first annotate data has a first reply component which represents the first reply data.

19. An annotating product used with an information system and with a plurality of objects, the product comprising:

a public imager, the public imager having a field of view, the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes, several objects from the plurality of objects being spatially separated in the field of view;

a plurality of coded data sources, several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources being spatially separated in the field of view, light from the several coded data sources being together detected by the public imager;

a plurality of person coded data sources member-by-member corresponding to person members from the plurality of coded data sources;

the several coded data sources comprising several person coded data sources from the plurality of person coded data sources;

a first person coded data source from the several person coded data sources;

a first object from the several objects;

a first indicate signal, the first indicate signal being caused when light from the first person coded data source is caused to be selected at the imager by a first alignment of the first person coded data source is maintained for a set time, the first alignment representing the first object by intersecting the first object,

the first indicate signal representing the first object, the first indicate signal being output by the public imager, the first indicate signal being input to the information system;

first annotate data associated with the first object, the first annotate signal having a first personal component, the first personal component representing first annotate data relevant specifically to a first person, the first annotate data being available to the information system;

a first annotate signal output by the information system, the first annotate signal being caused by the first indicate signal, the first annotate signal representing first annotate data; and

a display, the display receiving the first annotate signal and the display being caused by the annotate signal to output the first annotate data.

20. The product of claim 19 wherein:

a plurality of object codes member-by-member corresponds to object members from the plurality of coded data sources, the several coded data sources further comprises several object coded data sources from the plurality of object coded data sources;

the indicate signal has an object component, and the object component positionally represents the several objects.

21. The product of claim 19 wherein the display is a private display.

22. The product of claim 19 wherein the display is a public display.

23. The product of claim 19 wherein the indicate signal has a first query component which solicits first reply data about the first object and wherein the first annotate data has a first reply component which represents the first reply data.

24. An annotating product used with an information system and with a plurality of objects, the product comprising:

a public imager, the public imager having a field of view, the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes, several objects from the plurality of objects being spatially separated in the field of view;

a plurality of coded data sources, several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources being spatially separated in the field of view, light from the several coded data sources being together detected by the public imager;

a plurality of person coded data sources member-by-member corresponding to person members from the plurality of coded data sources;

the several coded data sources comprising several person coded data sources from the plurality of person coded data sources;

a first person coded data source from the several person coded data sources;

a first object from the several objects;

a first indicate signal, the first indicate signal being caused when light from the first person coded data source is caused to be selected at the imager by a first alignment of the first person coded data source is maintained for a set time, the first alignment representing the first object by intersecting the first object, the first indicate signal representing the first object, the first indicate signal being output by the public imager, the first indicate signal being input to the information system;

a plurality of object codes member-by-member corresponding to object members from the plurality of coded data sources, the several coded data sources further comprising several object coded data sources from the plurality of object coded data sources;

an object component of the indicate signal, the object component positionally representing the several objects;

first annotate data associated with the first object, the first annotate signal having a first personal component, the first personal component representing first annotate data relevant specifically to a first person, the first annotate data being available to the information system;

a first annotate signal output by the information system, the first annotate signal being caused by the first indicate signal, the first annotate signal representing first annotate data; and

a display, the display receiving the first annotate signal, and the display being caused by the annotate signal to output the first annotate data.

25. The product of claim 24 wherein the display is a private display.

26. The product of claim 24 wherein the display is a public display.

27. The product of claim 24 wherein the indicate signal has a first query component which solicits first reply data about the first object and wherein the first annotate data has a first reply component which represents the first reply data.