Information processing system, hand held cellular phone, and information processing method

• US 7,458,514 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Sisvel International S.A. (Fineur International S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kitada, Takaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US09/665,667
• Time in Patent Office: 2,995 Days
• Field of Search: 235/483, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/454, 235/385, 235/305, 235/383, 340/540, 340/572.1, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An information processing system comprises an information providing medium that stores information in an electromagnetic or optical manner, the information providing medium being attached to an entity in order to provide information associated with the entity; a hand held terminal device having an information read function that reads information from the information providing medium in an electromagnetic or optical manner and record the information; and an information processing unit for retrieving the information recorded in the hand held terminal device; wherein the information providing medium is inconspicuously attached to the entity. In this manner, the information can be recorded into the hand held terminal for later use by a user.

Claims

1. A hand held terminal device comprising:

a modulation/demodulation circuit adapted to demodulate entity information from a signal, said signal being receivable from an information providing medium;

a data port adapted to interface with an external device, said entity information being transferable over said data port to said external device;

an RF processing section adapted to radiate a radio frequency transmission signal and adapted to receive a radio frequency reception signal; and

a display, said entity information being viewable on said display,

wherein said modulation/demodulation circuit is adapted to generate electromagnetic field energy, an antenna body connected to said modulation/demodulation circuit being adapted to radiate said electromagnetic field energy and to receive said signal.

2. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand held terminal device is a hand held cellular phone.

3. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said modulation/demodulation circuit receives said signal when brought into close contact with said information providing medium.

4. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RF processing section is connected to an antenna, said antenna being adapted to radiate and receive said radio frequency signals.

5. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein data from said external device is transferable over said data port to the hand held terminal device.

6. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data port is a universal serial bus (USB) terminal.

7. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external device is located remotely from said information providing medium.

8. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information providing medium is located remotely from the hand held terminal device.

9. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external device is located remotely from the hand held terminal device.

10. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone, voice from said microphone being convertible into said radio frequency transmission signal.

11. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency reception signal is convertible into received voice.

12. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a speaker, said received voice being audible by said speaker.

13. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said entity information is audible by said speaker.

14. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information providing medium attached to an entity.

15. An information processing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said entity information is associated with said entity.

16. An information processing system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said entity is advertising material, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said advertising material.

17. An information processing system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said entity is a commodity, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said commodity.

18. An information processing system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said entity is a container for food, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said food.

19. An information processing system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said entity is a recording medium, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said recording medium.

20. A hand held terminal device comprising:

a modulation/demodulation circuit adapted to demodulate entity information from a signal, said signal being receivable from an information providing medium;

a data port adapted to interface with an external device, said entity information being transferable over said data port to said external device;

an RF processing section adapted to radiate a radio frequency transmission signal and adapted to receive a radio frequency reception signal;

a microphone, voice from said microphone being convertible into said radio frequency transmission signal, wherein said radio frequency reception signal is convertible into received voice; and

a speaker, said received voice being audible by said speaker, wherein said entity information is audible by said speaker,

wherein said modulation/demodulation circuit is adapted to generate electromagnetic field energy, an antenna body connected to said modulation/demodulation circuit being adapted to radiate said electromagnetic field energy and to receive said signal.

21. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the hand held terminal device is a hand held cellular phone.

22. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said modulation/demodulation circuit receives said signal when brought into close contact with said information providing medium.

23. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said RF processing section is connected to an antenna, said antenna being adapted to radiate and receive said radio frequency signals.

24. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein data from said external device is transferable over said data port to the hand held terminal device.

25. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said data port is a universal serial bus (USB) terminal.

26. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said external device is located remotely from said information providing medium.

27. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said information providing medium is located remotely from the hand held terminal device.

28. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said external device is located remotely from the hand held terminal device.

29. A hand held terminal device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said information providing medium attached to an entity.

30. An information processing system as claimed in claim 29, wherein said entity information is associated with said entity.

31. An information processing system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said entity is advertising material, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said advertising material.

32. An information processing system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said entity is a commodity, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said commodity.

33. An information processing system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said entity is a container for food, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said food.

34. An information processing system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said entity is a recording medium, said entity information being electronic information content associated with said recording medium.