Retrieving contact details using a printed medium

• US 7,907,968 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Pickup, Colin John, Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Hollins, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Zewdu; Meless N
• Application Number:
  US12/786,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20100231971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 413, 455410-411, 4554141-4144, 455418-420, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 4555561-5562, 455/564, 455/566, 455/517, 455557-558, 358470-476, 358486-492, 358496-498, 270 5201- 5202, 270/52.05, 270/52.07, 270/52.14, 709202-203, 709/216, 709/219, 709/228, 709/217, 707607-608, 707769-770, 707705-706, 707/724, 707/736, 283 72- 75, 283/81, 283/93, 382/119, 382/283, 382290-291, 382312-314, 382/317, 382320-321, 347/101, 347/105, 347/107, 347/109, 347/129, 370/456, 370/900, 370/904, 370910-911, 235435-436, 235/439, 235/446, 23546201-46205, 23546207-46212, 235/462.24, 23547201-47202
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 Type of notification

Abstract

A method of retrieving contact details using a print medium is disclosed. Data encoded on a surface of the print medium is sensed using a sensor module. The sensed data encodes a print media identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium, and a two-dimensional position with respect to the surface of the print medium. The print media identifier and the position of the sensor module relative to the surface of the print medium are determined from the sensed data. Contact details referenced by the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module are then retrieved from a database.

Claims

1. A method of retrieving contact details using a print medium, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing data encoded on a surface of the print medium using a sensor module, the sensed data encoding at least;

a print media identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium; and

a two-dimensional position with respect to the surface of the print medium;

determining the print media identifier from said sensed data;

determining the two-dimensional position of the sensor module relative to the surface of the print medium from the sensed data;

retrieving contact details referenced by the print media identifier and the two-dimensional position of the sensor module from a database.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

displaying on a display information associated with or representative of the contact details.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

printing by a printer module information associated with or representative of the contact details.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact details include information selected from the group consisting of one or more of a name, telephone number, address, email address and Internet address.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of loading the contact details into an address book of a communications device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the step of dialing by the communications device a telephone number included in the contact details.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the step of addressing by the communications device a SMS, MMS or email using the contact details.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data encoded on a surface of the print medium further encodes a digital signature associated with the print media identifier, the method further including the steps of:

determining the digital signature from the data;

determining whether the digital signature is authentic; and

retrieving the contact details upon determining that the digital signature is authentic.