Method and device for communication using an optical sensor

• US 8,723,964 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wakefield, Ivan N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, TUAN H
• Application Number:
  US10/605,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,896 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 348/207.99, 348/239, 348/333.99, 382/176
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00

Abstract

A device for communication may include an optical sensor to capture an image. A processor may be provided to identify or select a class of data in the image and to perform a predetermined function in response to the class of data.

Claims

1. A device for communication, comprising:

an optical sensor to capture an image, the image comprising a class of data embedded in the image, the class of data having an associated predetermined function and comprising at least one of characters and numbers;

a processor configured to;

identify the class of data in the image from a plurality of possible classes of data and

a display to display the class of data;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

receive user input at least one of (i) indicating that the displayed class of data is acceptable, or (ii) indicating that the displayed class of data should be edited and editing the displayed class of data;

receive user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed;

in response to receiving the user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed, request that the user input a password; and

perform the predetermined function associated with the class of data in response to validating the password.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor comprises one of a charge coupled device, a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and a camera.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a data structure including computer-executable instructions executable by one of the optical sensor and the processor to decode pixels in the image to identify or select the associated class of data.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the display is further to display the image.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of possible classes of data comprise at least one of a phone number, a list of phone numbers, access information to a web site, a sequence of commands, and information associated with a product or service.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the sequence of commands comprises commands to be performed automatically by a communication device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the sequence of commands comprises commands to be performed by a communication device in response to a password.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising at least one of a user interface and a voice recognition function to enter the password.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is operable to capture the image from one of a television, a video monitor, and a fixed medium.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter operable to transmit a signal to order a product or service comprises sending one of a short message service (SMS) message, email message, or voice or data message, each including information associated with a purchaser.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface to receive user input comprising at least one of selecting the class of data from the image, storing the class data and transmitting the class of data.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the class of data comprises data that is visible and intelligible to a human eye.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined function comprises one of transmitting a signal to order a product or service, decoding data from one or more images to reprogram a communication device, downloading communication device setup parameters, storing one or more phone numbers, establishing a call, storing information associated with a web site or email address, accessing a web site, and sending an email message.

16. A device for communication, comprising:

an optical sensor to capture an image, the image comprising a class of data embedded in the image, the class of data having an associated predetermined function and comprising at least one of characters and numbers;

a processor, wherein a data structure operable in association with one of the optical sensor, the processor and a mobile system includes computer-executable instructions to identify the class of data from a plurality of possible classes of data in the image by decoding and analyzing pixels in the image;

a display to display the class of data;

a second data structure operable in association with the processor to;

receive user input at least one of (i) indicating that the displayed class of data is acceptable, or (ii) indicating that the displayed class of data should be edited and editing the displayed class of data;

receive user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed;

in response to receiving the user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed, requesting that the user input a password; and

perform the predetermined function associated with the class of data in response to validating the password; and

a transmitter to transmit signals in response to the class of data.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the data structure operable in association with one of the optical sensor, the processor and the mobile system includes computer-executable instructions executable by one of the optical sensor, the processor and the mobile system to decode pixels in the image to identify or select the class of data.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising a storage device to store at least one of the image and the class of data.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the display is further to display the image.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising at least one function button to select the class of data from the image.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising a pointing device to select the class data from the image.

22. The device of claim 16, further comprising a user interface to receive user input comprising at least one of selecting the class data from the image, storing the class of data and transmitting the class of data.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the class of data comprises at least one of a phone number, a list of phone numbers, access information to a web site, a sequence of commands, and information associated with a product or service.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein the predetermined function comprises one of transmitting a signal to order a product or service, decoding data from one or more images to reprogram a communication device, downloading communication device setup parameters, storing one or more phone numbers, establishing communications, storing information associated with a web site or email address, accessing a web site, and sending an email message.

25. A method for communication, comprising:

capturing an image, the image comprising a class of data comprising at least one of characters and numbers embedded in the image;

identifying a class of data in the image of a plurality of possible classes of data by decoding and analyzing pixels in the image, the class of data having an associated predetermined function;

displaying the class of data;

receiving user input at least one of (i) indicating that the displayed class of data is acceptable, or (ii) indicating that the displayed class of data should be edited and editing the displayed class of data;

receiving user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed;

in response to receiving the user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed, requesting that the user input a password; and

performing the predetermined function associated with the class of data in response to validating the password.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising decoding pixels in the image to identify or select the class of data.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising displaying at least the image.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein identifying or selecting the class of data comprises identifying at least one of a phone number, a list of phone numbers, a bar code, access information to a web site, a sequence of commands, and information associated with a product or service.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising performing, using a communication device, the sequence of commands automatically.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising performing, using a communication device, the sequence of commands in response to a password.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving the password via at least one of a voice recognition system and a user interface.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising a transmitter operable to transmit wherein transmitting a signal to order a product or service comprises sending one of a short message service (SMS) message, an email message, or a voice or data message, each including information associated with a purchaser.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising retrieving purchaser information from a data source in response to transmitting a signal to order a product or service.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising at least one of selecting the class of data from the image, editing the class of data, storing the class of data and transmitting the class of data.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein performing the predetermined function comprises one of transmitting a signal to order a product or service, decoding data from one or more images to reprogram a communication device, downloading communication device setup parameters, storing one or more phone numbers, storing information associated with a web site or email address, establishing a phone call, accessing a web site and sending an email message.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, when executed on a computer, allows the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

capturing an image, the image comprising a class of data embedded in the image, the class of data having an associated predetermined function and comprising at least one of characters and numbers;

identifying a class of data in the image of a plurality of possible classes of data by decoding and analyzing pixels in the image;

displaying the class of data;

receiving user input at least one of (i) indicating that the displayed class of data is acceptable, or (ii) indicating that the displayed class of data should be edited and editing the displayed class of data;

receiving user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed;

in response to receiving the user input indicating that the displayed class of data should be processed, requesting that the user input a password; and

performing the predetermined function associated with the class of data in response to validating the password;

automatically performing a predetermined function associated with the class of data in response to the class of data being identified in the image, each of the plurality of possible classes of data having an associated predetermined function.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, further comprising decoding pixels in the image to identify or select the class of data.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, wherein identifying or selecting the class of data comprises identifying at least one of a phone number, a list of phone numbers, a bar code, access information to a web site, a sequence of commands, and information associated with a product or service.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 38, further comprising performing using a communication device, the sequence of commands automatically.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 38, further comprising performing using a communication device, the sequence of commands in response to a password.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, wherein the method further comprises wherein transmitting a signal to order a product or service comprises sending one of a short message service (SMS) message, an email message, or a voice or data message, each including information associated with a purchaser.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 36, wherein performing the predetermined function comprises performing commands contained in the image.