Apparatus and method for deploying an information retrieval system
First Claim
1. An information retrieval system for outputting information, including audio and visual information, received from an information source, the information retrieval system comprising:
- an RF transceiver configured to receive the information from the information source over a wireless communication channel;
a processor coupled to the RF transceiver; and
a visual display coupled to the processor and comprising;
a housing;
a flexible substrate having display circuits imprinted thereon to form a flexible display screen, a top portion of the display screen attached to the housing so that the display screen hangs from the housing; and
at least one integrated circuit chip mounted on the display screen, the integrated circuit chip configured to receive control signals from the processor to cause the display to display the visual information received from the information source, the integrated circuit chip further acting as a weight at least partially causing the display screen to hang substantially straight from the housing;
a speaker coupled to the processor, the processor configured to couple audio control signals to the speaker to cause the speaker to output the audio information received from the information source; and
a voice processor coupled to the processor and configured to receive a voice command requesting the information from the information source, the RF transceiver further configured to transmit request signals to the information source corresponding to the voice command.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An information retrieval system includes a base station and multiple display stations. A user gives a voice command to one of the display stations and information is retrieved from the base station and displayed in real time; the information may be presented to the user both visually and aurally. The source of the information may be data stored at the base station, or data relayed by the base station from network sources such as the Internet, or from radio or television broadcast stations. The display station has a pull-down screen that can operate like a shade; it retracts using the energy in a wound-up spring.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An information retrieval system for outputting information, including audio and visual information, received from an information source, the information retrieval system comprising:
- an RF transceiver configured to receive the information from the information source over a wireless communication channel;
a processor coupled to the RF transceiver; and
a visual display coupled to the processor and comprising;
a housing;
a flexible substrate having display circuits imprinted thereon to form a flexible display screen, a top portion of the display screen attached to the housing so that the display screen hangs from the housing; and
at least one integrated circuit chip mounted on the display screen, the integrated circuit chip configured to receive control signals from the processor to cause the display to display the visual information received from the information source, the integrated circuit chip further acting as a weight at least partially causing the display screen to hang substantially straight from the housing;
a speaker coupled to the processor, the processor configured to couple audio control signals to the speaker to cause the speaker to output the audio information received from the information source; and
a voice processor coupled to the processor and configured to receive a voice command requesting the information from the information source, the RF transceiver further configured to transmit request signals to the information source corresponding to the voice command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 12, 13)
- an RF transceiver configured to receive the information from the information source over a wireless communication channel;
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5. An information retrieval system for outputting information, including audio and visual information, received from an information source, the information retrieval system comprising:
- a flexible substrate having display circuits carried thereby to form a flexible display screen;
an RF transceiver carried on the flexible substrate and configured to receive the information from the information source over a wireless communication channel;
a processor carried on the flexible substrate and coupled to the RF transceiver;
a display driver circuit carried on the flexible substrate and coupled to the processor, the display driver circuit operable to receive visual information from the information source through the processor and couple control signals to the display circuits to cause the display circuits to display the visual information received from the information source;
said display screen having a free end and said RF transceiver, processor and display driver circuit being carried on the free end of said display screen for serving as a weight to cause said display screen to hang substantially straight;
a speaker coupled to the processor, the processor configured to couple audio control signals to the speaker to cause the speaker to output the audio information received from the information source; and
a voice processor coupled to the processor and configured to receive a voice command requesting the information from the information source, the RF transceiver further configured to transmit request signals to the information source corresponding to the voice command. - View Dependent Claims (6, 8, 10, 11)
- a flexible substrate having display circuits carried thereby to form a flexible display screen;
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14. An information retrieval system for outputting information, including audio and visual information, received from an information source, the information retrieval system comprising a display station comprising:
- an RF transceiver configured to receive the information from the information source over a wireless communication channel;
a processor coupled to the RF transceiver; and
a visual display coupled to the processor and comprising;
a flexible display having a top portion and a bottom portion and including a flexible substrate and display circuits mounted on the flexible substrate;
a display cylinder, the top portion of the flexible display being mounted inside the display cylinder, the bottom portion of the flexible display being movable from a deployed position in which the bottom portion hangs vertically downward out of the cylinder to a stored position in which the bottom portion is wound up into the cylinder;
a spring assembly attached to the display cylinder for winding the flexible display up into the display cylinder;
an interlock comprising a hook and a cam attached to the display cylinder for preventing the spring assembly for winding up the flexible display while the flexible display is in use; and
electronics attached to the bottom portion of the flexible display and configured to receive control signals from the processor to cause the display to display the visual information received from the information source and for providing weight at least partially causing the display to hang substantially straight;
a speaker coupled to the processor, the processor configured to couple audio control signals to the speaker to cause the speaker to output the audio information received from the information source; and
a voice processor coupled to the processor and configured to receive a voice command requesting the information from the information source, the RF transceiver further configured to transmit request signals to the information source corresponding to the voice command; and
a base station comprising;
the information source;
a second RF transceiver coupled to the information source configured to receive the voice command and transmit requested information form the information source;
a memory configured to store voice signatures of authorized users of the information source;
a processor coupled to the memory and configured to determine the voice command originated from at least one of the authorized users and transmit the information from the information source responsive to the voice command. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- an RF transceiver configured to receive the information from the information source over a wireless communication channel;
Specification