System and method for delivering information at remote locations

• US 7,395,960 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memory Medallion Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Memory Medallion Incorporated
• Inventors: Toothman, Glenn R. III, Chandhok, Ravinder P., Chandhok, Kimberly H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Application Number:
  US09/481,577
• Time in Patent Office: 3,100 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/385, 235/376, 235/492, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 711/100, 711/102, 711/103, 711/111, 340/10.1, 340/10.51
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L

Abstract

Systems and methods of using the systems for delivering information related to a remote location to individuals at the remote location are disclosed. The system comprises a memory device affixed to a physical object at the remote location, the information related to the remote location residing on the memory device, and a portable memory reading device, separate from the memory device, that retrieves the information from the memory device when positioned at the remote location and communicates the information to a party located at the remote location. The system may further comprise a database wherein the information residing on the memory device is replicated and the database can be accessed by a user of the system via a suitable communications medium or combination of mediums. The system may also comprise a portable memory reading device having a GPS receiver positioned at a remote location and a database, such that the GPS coordinates of the remote location are determined by the portable memory reading device and communicated to the database over a communications link, and the database communicates the information related to the remote location back to the portable memory reading device over the communications link.

Claims

1. A system for providing memorial information about a deceased party interred at a cemetery location, said system comprising:

(A) a memory device affixed to a physical object positioned at the cemetery location, the memory device being accessible to any public user, the memory device including a programmable random access memory suitable for storing the memorial information on the memory device;

(B) a portable device holdable by one of the public users, separate from the memory device, that retrieves the memorial information directly from the memory device via a non-permanent proximity link when positioned at the cemetery location, and that communicates the memorial information to at least one of the public users located at the cemetery location;

wherein the portable device is capable of loading data corresponding to the memorial information, and wherein the data corresponding to the memorial information is stored internally within the programmable random access memory of the memory device, and wherein the memory device is free from physical connection to a source of the data at least while the memory device is positioned at the cemetery location, and wherein the memory device is powered via a data line at least while the memory device is positioned at the cemetery location and actively connected to the portable device via the non-permanent proximity link; and

wherein said communication of the memorial information to at least one of the public users located at the cemetery location sequentially follows and is substantially temporally commensurate with said retrieval of the memorial information directly from the memory device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory device is permanently affixed to the physical object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical object comprises a stationary object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a weather resistant memory device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information resides on the memory device in extensible markup language format.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said information resides on the memory device in hypertext markup language format.

7. A system for providing historical information about a historically notable location, said system comprising:

(A) a memory device affixed to a physical object positioned at the historically notable location, in a publicly accessible area, the memory device including a programmable random access memory suitable for storing the historical information on the memory device;

(B) a portable device, separate from the memory device, held by a user, that retrieves the historical information directly from the memory device via a non-permanent proximity link when positioned at the historically notable location and communicates the historical information to a user located at the historically notable location;

wherein the portable device is capable of loading data corresponding to the historical information, and wherein the data corresponding to the historical information is stored internally within the programmable random access memory of the memory device, and wherein the memory device is free from physical connection to a source of the data at least while the memory device is positioned at the historically notable location, and wherein the memory device is powered via a data line at least while the memory device is positioned at the historically notable location and actively connected to the portable device via the non-permanent proximity link; and

wherein said communication of the historical information to the user located at the historically notable location sequentially follows and is substantially temporally commensurate with said retrieval of the historical information directly from the memory device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory device is permanently affixed to the physical object.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the physical object comprises a stationary physical object.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory device comprises a weather resistant memory device.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the historical information resides on the memory device in extensible markup language format.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the historical information resides on the memory device in hypertext markup language format.

13. A method for providing information related to a remote location, the information comprising memorial information about a deceased party where the remote location comprises a cemetery location, said method comprising:

(A) storing the information on a memory device having programmable random access memory, the information being stored in a format for direct retrieval from the memory device and display to a user with a portable device, wherein the portable device is separate from the memory device, when the portable device reads directly form the memory device via a non-permanent proximity link; and

(B) affixing the memory device to a physical object positioned at the remote location;

wherein the portable device is capable of loading data corresponding to the information, and wherein the data corresponding to the information is stored internally within the programmable random access memory of the memory device, and wherein the memory device is free from physical connection to a source of the data at least while the memory device is positioned at the remote location, and wherein the memory device is powered via a data line at least while the memory device is positioned at the remote location and actively connected to the portable device via the non-permanent proximity link; and

wherein said communication of the information to the user located at the remote location sequentially follows and is substantially temporally commensurate with said retrieval of the information directly from the memory device.

14. A system for providing information related to a geographically remote and publicly accessible location, said system comprising:

(A) a memory device affixed to a physical object at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location, the memory device including a programmable random access memory suitable for storing the information on the memory device;

(B) a portable device, separate from the memory device, held by a user, that directly retrieves the information from the memory device via a non-permanent proximity link when positioned at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location and communicates the information to a user located at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location;

wherein the portable device is capable of loading data corresponding to the information, and wherein the data corresponding to the information is stored internally within the programmable random access memory of the memory device, and wherein the memory device is free from physical connection to a source of the data at least while the memory device is positioned at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location, and wherein the memory device is powered via a data line at least while the memory device is positioned at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location and actively connected to the portable device via the non-permanent proximity link; and

wherein said communication of the information to the user located at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location sequentially follows and is substantially temporally commensurate with said retrieval of the information directly from the memory device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory device comprises a weather resistant memory device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the information resides on the memory device in extensible markup language format.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the information resides on the memory device in hypertext markup language format.

18. A system for providing information related to a geographically remote and publicly accessible location, said system comprising:

a memory device affixed at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location, the memory device including a programmable random access memory suitable for storing the information on the memory device;

a portable device, separate from said memory device;

a data connector, wherein said data connector, upon wired connection to said portable device and upon contact with said memory device, passed the information directly from said memory device positioned at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location to said portable device located at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location via a non-permanent proximity link;

wherein the portable device is capable of loading data corresponding to the information, and wherein the data corresponding to the information is stored internally within the programmable random access memory of the memory device, and wherein the memory device is free from physical connection to a source of the data at least while the memory device is positioned at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location, and wherein the memory device is powered via a data line at least while the memory device is positioned at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location and actively connected to the portable device via the non-permanent proximity link; and

wherein communication of the information to a user of the portable reader located at the geographically remote and publicly accessible location sequentially follows and is substantially temporally commensurate with said passing of the information directly from the memory device.

19. A data retrieval system for retrieving information relating to an object positioned in a remote and infrequently visited location, comprising:

a memory device affixed to an object positioned in a remote and infrequently visited location, wherein said memory device is powered via a data line and includes a random access memory for storing information relating to said object;

a portable device, wherein said portable device is capable of directly loading said information relating to said object onto said memory device via said data line; and

wherein said portable device is further capable of retrieving said information directly from said memory device via said data line;

wherein said portable device communicates said retrieved information relating to said object to said user.

20. A data retrieval system for retrieving information relating to an object positioned in a remote and infrequently visited location, comprising:

a memory device affixed to a first object, wherein said memory device is powered via a data line and includes a random access memory for storing information relating to a second object, wherein said first object and said second object are positioned in a remote and infrequently visited location, but within proximity of each other;

a portable device, wherein said portable device is capable of directly loading said information relating to said second object onto said memory device affixed to said first object via a said data line; and

wherein said portable device retrieves said information directly from said memory device affixed to said first object via said data line;

wherein said portable device communicates said retrieved information relating to said second object to said user.