Multimedia method and system for interaction between a screen-based host and various distributed and free-styled information containing items, and an information containing item for use with such system

• US 7,883,416 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: McGroary, Paul D., Dobrusskin, Christoph, Van Dorssen, Jacoba J., Van Der Voet, Jan P. C., Swales, Roger P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US10/014,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,374 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30, 463 39- 44, 463 35- 36, 463/29, 463/24, 463/47, 273/434, 273/238, 273236-237, 348/12, 345/326, 345/328, 345/156, 345/158, 434/307.R, 364/412, 364/410, 446/484
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A screen-based host with processing and I/O facilities interacts with distributed items that are arranged for storing and exchanging digital information with the host. In particular, under proximity conditions and initially without user interaction, the items exchange accordingly with the host, but without requiring formatted berth facilities of the host. The various items through associated self-identifying evoke specific iconizing by the host for signaling to the user an associated service field. The host allows a user person to activate data processing operations with respect to the service field. During proximity conditions, the items keep abreast of host-generated results relevant to a corresponding service field. The host allows free styling of the items with respect to the item'"'"'s physical shape.

Claims

1. A multimedia method for use with a screen-based host provided with information processing and I/O facilities, and for interacting with an item, the method comprising:

receiving identity information from the item at the host, in response to proximity conditions between the host and the item;

presenting to a user an icon that is representative of the item and an associated service field at the host in response to the identity information, the representative icon having a location that is movable within the associated service field based on interactions by the user to indicate the user interactions with the associated service field;

generating information of a last user interaction related to the user interactions with the associated service field; and

transmitting information based on the user interactions, from the host to the item, including the information of the last user interaction, for storage at the item to enable resuming a discontinued session at a later time, in response to proximity conditions between the host and the item at the later time.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising enabling the user to activate information processing operations at the host related to the associated service field and the stored information of the last user interaction.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting host-generated results related to the associated service field during such proximity conditions to the item.

4. The method of claim 1, including identifying the host to the item in response to proximity conditions between the host and the item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more characteristics of the representative icon is user definable.

6. A multimedia method for use with a screen-based host system provided with information processing and I/O facilities, and for interacting with an item, the method comprising:

receiving identity information from the item at the host system including stored information of a last user interaction related to the identity information, in response to proximity conditions between the host system and the item;

selecting an icon that is representative of the item and an application program based on the identity information, the application program including one of an information processing program and an entertainment program;

executing the application program at the host system;

varying location of the representative icon within an associated service field of the application program based on interactions by a user, the representative icon having a location that is movable within the associated service field based on the interactions by the user to indicate the user interactions with the application program and the stored information of the last user interaction with the application program; and

transmitting information from the application program to the item based on the user interactions including an update to the stored information of the last user interaction based on the proximity conditions between the host system and the item, for storage at the item to enable resuming a discontinued session at a later time, in response to proximity conditions between the host and the item at the later time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the application program is configured to produce the representative icon in response to the identity information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the application program includes at least one of:

a video game;

an audio story; and

a diary and wherein the stored information of the last user interaction enables a user to resume a discontinued interaction with the application program.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the application program includes at least one of:

a video game;

an audio story; and

a diary and wherein the stored information of the last user interaction enables a user to resume a discontinued interaction with the application program.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the information that is transmitted to the item includes information particular to a user of the item.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the information that is transmitted to the item includes processing results of the last user interaction that allows a user to discontinue a session, while still being able to later resume the session.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the identity information is substantially unique to the item, and the representative icon is correspondingly substantially unique to the item.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein one or more characteristics of the representative icon is user definable.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the representative icon corresponds to a two-dimensional icon representation of the three-dimensional item.

15. A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by a screen-based host system, causes the host system to:

receive identity information including stored information of a last user interaction related to the identity information from an item in response to proximity conditions between the host system and the item;

present an icon representative of the item and an associated service field of an application program based on the identity information;

vary location of the representative icon within the associated service field based on interactions by a user with the application program, the representative icon having a location that is movable within the associated service field based on interactions by the user to indicate the user interactions with the associated service field; and

transmit information for storage at the item based on the user interactions with the application program for updating the stored information of the last user interaction to enable resuming a discontinued session at a later time, in response to proximity conditions between the host and the item at the later time.

16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the information that is transmitted includes processing results of the last user interaction that allows a user to discontinue a session, while still being able to later resume the session.

17. The computer program of claim 15, wherein one or more of the characteristics of the representative icon are user-definable.

18. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the representative icon corresponds to a two-dimensional icon representation of the three-dimensional item.

19. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the representative icon is an animated icon.

20. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the application program is configured to provide the representative icon based on the identity information.