Systems and apparatus for expressing multimedia presentations corresponding to print media

• US 8,336,787 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eye Ear It, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sean Elwell
• Inventors: Elwell, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US13/108,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20120018507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/375, 235/486, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon

Abstract

A media asset system and method is provided comprising a portable reader having a sensor enabled to detect a part of a surface, with the reader having means for selecting an output action by correlating said detected part with a preselected outcome. Output also provided for presenting audio and video presentation. Output is responsive to the reader'"'"'s selection of output action.

Claims

1. A media asset system comprising:

(a) a portable reader having a sensor enabled to detect a part of a surface;

said reader having means for selecting an output action by correlating said detected part with a preselected output action;

(b) output means for presenting audio and video presentation;

said output being responsive to said reader'"'"'s selection of said output action,

(c) said surface containing a visible image and a discrete visually colored zone which codes for a particular medium of expression, said colored zone being overlaid or surrounded by a zone of an invisible fluorescent substance; and

(d) said reader, including (i) means for directing a first beam of light capable of causing said invisible fluorescent substance to fluoresce, (ii) means for directing a second beam of light within the visible spectrum, (iii) a light detector, (iv) means activated by said light detector when light emanating from said invisible fluorescent substance is detected which causes said reader to emit said second beam of light, and, (v) means to activate a presentation coded for by the visually colored zone when light of a particular wavelength reflected from said visually colored zone is detected.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is an educational entertainment system capable of activating audio, web-based streaming or vector animation presentations from designated portions of said printed surface containing visual images, and said surface contains a plurality of visible images and a plurality of discrete, visually colored zones which code for particular presentations, each of said colored zones is overlaid or surrounded by a zone of invisible fluorescent substance which can be detected by the use of light and means for detecting same;

and said reader is a portable reader further comprising (i) a sensor pipe, wherein said light detector is located within said sensor pipe, (ii) a transparent outer cone surrounding said sensor pipe, and (iii) means for presenting audio, web-based or flash video presentations coded for by the visually colored zones when means to activate said presentation is enabled.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the visually colored zone codes for an audible message and a sound player plays a sound when light reflected from the visually colored zone is reflected and detected by the detector;

and said visually colored zone includes codes for a web-based hyperlink and the detector sends a wireless signal to a computer to pull up a particular webpage, flash media or streaming video content.

4. The system of claim 1 where the first beam of light is visible violet light with a wavelength at or about 405 nm.

5. The system of claim 1 where the second beam of light is visible white light.

6. The system of claim 1 where the first beam of light is visible violet light with a wavelength of about 405 nm and the second beam of light is visible white light.

7. A media asset system, comprising:

a portable reader having a sensor enabled to detect a part of a surface;

said reader having means for selecting an output action by correlating said detected part with a preselected outcome;

output means for presenting audio and video presentation;

said output means being responsive to said reader'"'"'s selection of said output action, wherein said sensor is enabled to send and receive a light signal to a source;

further comprising;

a memory having a plurality of files;

a processor in communication with said sensor so as to decode said received signal from said source, said processor also in communication with said memory such that said processor is enabled to match said decoded signal to correlating said memory file and said audio visual output is in processing communication with said processor so that an action can be initiated by said processor through said output as suggested in said correlated memory files;

said portable reader further includes means for directing beams of light and said light sensor are housed within a sensor pipe and said source is a surface, wherein the length of said sensor pipe is set to displace said light sensor from said printed surface so that it effectively reads light emanating from or reflected from said printed surface and curtains off extraneous light; and

the opening of said sensor pipe matches said visually colored zone and there is an outer cone around said sensor pipe.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said outer cone is transparent and one or more light sources are provided in an annular space defined between said sensor pipe and said outer cone.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one light source within said annular source provides violet light.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said memory is removable memory module.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a charger for recharging said portable reader and for alternatively downloading new audio files into said portable reader as appropriate.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the visually colored zone codes for a web-based hyperlink and the sensor sends a wireless signal to a computer to pull up a particular webpage, flash media or streaming video content.

13. A surface including one or more visible images and one or more discrete colored zones which code for a particular medium of expression, said colored zones being capable of reflecting light within the visible spectrum in response to a directed beam of light;

wherein said surface is a printed surface, including a visible image and a discrete colored zone, said zone coding for a particular medium of expression and being capable of reflecting light within the visible spectrum in response to a directed beam of light, said visually colored zone being overlaid by and/or surrounded by a zone of invisible fluorescent substance.