Device for generating a multimedia paper document

• US 20050216919A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Hart, Peter E., Hull, Jonathan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/739 in form of a video summary, e.g. the video summary being a video sequence, a composite still image or having synthesized frames
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7837 using objects detected or recognised in the video content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7844 using original textual content or text extracted from visual content or transcript of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

Techniques for generating a printable representation of multimedia information that can be printed on a paper medium to provide a paper-based interface for the multimedia information. An output device is configured to print the printable representation of multimedia information on a paper medium to generate a multimedia paper document. The multimedia information for which the multimedia paper document is generated in stored on the output device.

Claims

1. A method of generating, using an output device, a multimedia paper document for a multimedia document storing multimedia information, the method comprising:

receiving, at the output device, a first signal to generate a multimedia paper document for the multimedia document;

generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document using the output device; and

storing the multimedia document on the output device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document using the output device comprises:

accessing the multimedia document specified in the first signal;

generating a printable representation of multimedia information stored in the multimedia document; and

printing the printable representation of the multimedia information on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first signal received by the output device comprises the multimedia document for which the multimedia paper document is to be generated;

generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document using the output device comprises;

generating a printable representation of the multimedia information stored in the multimedia document received via the first signal; and

printing the printable representation of the multimedia information on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document; and

storing the multimedia document on the output device comprises storing the multimedia document included in the first signal on the output device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first signal received by the output device comprises a printable representation of multimedia information stored by the multimedia document for which the multimedia paper document is to be generated;

generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document using the output device comprises printing the printable representation of the multimedia information received in the first signal on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document; and

storing the multimedia document on the output device comprises storing the multimedia document corresponding to the printable representation included in the first signal on the output device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the multimedia document from the output device to a first external device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the first external device is coupled to the output device via a first interface provided by the output device; and

communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device comprises communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device via the first interface.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the first external device is coupled to the output device via a first communication link; and

communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device comprises communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device via the first communication link.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the first external device is a memory module.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the first external device is a data processing system.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the output device, a second signal from a first user device requesting a first portion of the multimedia document;

responsive to the second signal, communicating the first portion of the multimedia document stored by the output device from the output device to the first user device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

receiving the second signal comprises receiving information indicating selection of a first user-selectable identifier from one or more user-selectable identifiers printed on the multimedia paper document; and

communicating the first portion of multimedia document comprises;

identifying a portion of the multimedia document stored by the output device corresponding to the first user-selectable identifier; and

communicating the portion of the multimedia document corresponding to the first user-selectable identifier from the output device to the first user device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more user-selectable identifiers include one or more barcodes printed on the multimedia paper document.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

outputting a portion of multimedia information stored by the multimedia document using the output device.

52. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein the multimedia information source is at least one of a multimedia information recording device, a television, a cable television signal source, a satellite receiver device, a dish device, and a server.

14. In a system comprising a multimedia information source coupled to an output device, a method of generating a multimedia paper document for multimedia information, the method comprising:

receiving, at the output device, multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

generating, at the output device, the multimedia paper document for the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source; and

storing the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source on the output device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the multimedia information source is at least one of a multimedia information recording device, a television, a cable television signal source, a satellite receiver device, a dish device, and a server.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein a single controller is used to control operations of the multimedia information source and the output device.

17. In a system comprising a multimedia information source coupled to an output device, a method of generating a multimedia paper document for multimedia information, the method comprising:

receiving, at the output device, a printable representation of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

generating, at the output device, the multimedia paper document for the multimedia information based upon the printable representation received by the output device from the multimedia information source;

receiving, at the output device, a first signal from a user device requesting a first portion of the multimedia information; and

responsive to the first signal, communicating the first portion of the multimedia information from the output device to the user device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein:

generating the multimedia paper document comprises;

receiving, at the output device, the multimedia information from the multimedia information source; and

storing the multimedia information on the output device; and

communicating the first portion of the multimedia information from the output device to the user device comprises communicating the first portion from the multimedia information stored by the output device.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein communicating the first portion of the multimedia information from the output device to the user device comprises:

responsive to the first signal, communicating a second signal from the output device to the multimedia information source requesting the first portion of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

receiving, at the output device, the first portion of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source; and

communicating the first portion of the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source from the output device to the user device.

20. An output device for generating a multimedia paper document for a multimedia document storing multimedia information, the output device comprising:

a communication module configured to receive a first signal to generate a multimedia paper document for the multimedia document

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising a code module for generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document, the memory configured to store the multimedia document.

21. The output device of claim 20:

wherein the code module for generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document comprises;

a code module for accessing the multimedia document specified in the first signal; and

a code module for generating a printable representation of multimedia information stored in the multimedia document; and

the output device further comprises a printer module configured to print the printable representation of the multimedia information on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document.

22. The output device of claim 20:

wherein the first signal includes the multimedia document for which the multimedia paper document is to be generated;

wherein the code module for generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document comprises a code module for generating a printable representation of the multimedia information stored in the multimedia document received via the first signal;

wherein the memory is configured to store the multimedia document included in the first signal; and

the output device further comprises a printer module configured to print the printable representation of the multimedia information on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document.

23. The output device of claim 20:

wherein the first signal includes a printable representation of multimedia information stored by the multimedia document for which the multimedia paper document is to be generated;

wherein the memory is configured to store the multimedia document corresponding to the printable representation included in the first signal; and

the output device further comprises a printer module configured to print the printable representation of the multimedia information received in the first signal on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document.

24. The output device of claim 20 wherein the communication module is further configured to communicate the multimedia document to a first external device.

25. The output device of claim 24 wherein:

the first external device is coupled to the output device via a first interface; and

the communication module is configured to communicate the multimedia document to the first external device comprises via the first interface.

26. The output device of claim 24 wherein:

the first external device is coupled to the output device via a first communication link; and

the communication module is configured to communicate the multimedia document to the first external device via the first communication link.

27. The output device of claim 24 wherein the first external device is a memory module.

28. The output device of claim 24 wherein the first external device is a data processing system.

29. The output device of claim 20 wherein:

the communication module is configured to receive a second signal from a first user device, the second signal comprising information indicating selection of a first user-selectable identifier from one or more user-selectable identifiers printed on the multimedia paper document;

the plurality of code modules stored in the memory comprises a code module for identifying a portion of the multimedia document stored in the memory corresponding to the first user-selectable identifier; and

the communication module is configured to communicate the portion of the multimedia document corresponding to the first user-selectable identifier to the first user device.

30. The output device of claim 29 wherein the one or more user-selectable identifiers include one or more barcodes printed on the multimedia paper document.

31. The output device of claim 20 further comprising:

an output module configured to output a portion of multimedia information stored by the multimedia document.

32. A system for generating a multimedia paper document for multimedia information, the system comprising:

a multimedia information source; and

an output device coupled to the multimedia information source, wherein the output device is configured to;

receive multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

generate the multimedia paper document for the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source; and

store the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source on the output device.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the multimedia information source is at least one of a multimedia information recording device, a television, a cable television signal source, a satellite receiver device, a dish device, and a server.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein a single controller is used to control operations of the multimedia information source and the output device.

35. A system for generating a multimedia paper document for multimedia information, the system comprising:

a multimedia information source; and

an output device coupled to the multimedia information source, wherein the output device is configured to;

receive a printable representation of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

generate the multimedia paper document for the multimedia information based upon the printable representation received from the multimedia information source;

receive a first signal from a user device requesting a portion of the multimedia information; and

responsive to the first signal, communicate the portion of the multimedia information to the user device.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the output device is configured to:

receive the multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

store the multimedia information; and

communicate the portion of multimedia information from the multimedia information stored by the output device.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the output device is configured to:

responsive to the first signal, communicate a second signal to the multimedia information source requesting the portion of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

receive the portion of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source; and

communicate the portion of the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source to the user device.

38. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for generating a multimedia paper document for a multimedia document storing multimedia information, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving, at an output device, a first signal to generate a multimedia paper document for the multimedia document;

code for generating, at the output device, the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document; and

code for storing the multimedia document on the output device.

39. The computer program product of claim 38 wherein the code for generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document using the output device comprises:

code for accessing the multimedia document specified in the first signal;

code for generating a printable representation of multimedia information stored in the multimedia document; and

code for printing the printable representation of the multimedia information on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document.

40. The computer program product of claim 38 wherein:

the first signal received by the output device comprises the multimedia document for which the multimedia paper document is to be generated;

the code for generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document using the output device comprises;

code for generating a printable representation of the multimedia information stored in the multimedia document received via the first signal; and

code for printing the printable representation of the multimedia information on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document; and

the code for storing the multimedia document on the output device comprises code for storing the multimedia document included in the first signal on the output device.

41. The computer program product of claim 38 wherein:

the first signal received by the output device comprises a printable representation of multimedia information stored by the multimedia document for which the multimedia paper document is to be generated;

the code for generating the multimedia paper document for the multimedia document using the output device comprises code for printing the printable representation of the multimedia information received in the first signal on a paper medium to generate the multimedia paper document; and

the code for storing the multimedia document on the output device comprises code for storing the multimedia document corresponding to the printable representation included in the first signal on the output device.

42. The computer program product of claim 38 further comprising code for communicating the multimedia document from the output device to a first external device.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein:

the first external device is coupled to the output device via a first interface provided by the output device; and

the code for communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device comprises code for communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device via the first interface.

44. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein:

the first external device is coupled to the output device via a first communication link; and

the code for communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device comprises code for communicating the multimedia document from the output device to the first external device via the first communication link.

45. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the first external device is a memory module.

46. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the first external device is a data processing system.

47. The computer program product of claim 38 further comprising:

code for receiving, at the output device, a second signal from a first user device requesting a first portion of the multimedia document;

code responsive to the second signal for communicating the first portion of the multimedia document stored by the output device from the output device to the first user device.

48. The computer program product of claim 47 wherein:

the code for receiving the second signal comprises code for receiving information indicating selection of a first user-selectable identifier from one or more user-selectable identifiers printed on the multimedia paper document; and

the code for communicating the first portion of multimedia document comprises;

code for identifying a portion of the multimedia document stored by the output device corresponding to the first user-selectable identifier; and

code for communicating the portion of the multimedia document corresponding to the first user-selectable identifier from the output device to the first user device.

49. The computer program product of claim 48 wherein the one or more user-selectable identifiers include one or more barcodes printed on the multimedia paper document.

50. The computer program product of claim 38 further comprising:

code for outputting a portion of multimedia information stored by the multimedia document using the output device.

51. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for generating a multimedia paper document for multimedia information, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving, at the output device, multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

code for generating, at the output device, the multimedia paper document for the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source; and

code for storing the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source on the output device.

53. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for generating a multimedia paper document for multimedia information, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving, at the output device, a printable representation of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

code for generating, at the output device, the multimedia paper document for the multimedia information based upon the printable representation received by the output device from the multimedia information source;

code for receiving, at the output device, a first signal from a user device requesting a first portion of the multimedia information; and

code responsive to the first signal for communicating the first portion of the multimedia information from the output device to the user device.

54. The computer program product of claim 53 wherein:

the code for generating the multimedia paper document comprises;

code for receiving, at the output device, the multimedia information from the multimedia information source; and

code for storing the multimedia information on the output device; and

the code for communicating the first portion of the multimedia information from the output device to the user device comprises code for communicating the first portion from the multimedia information stored by the output device.

55. The computer program product of claim 53 wherein the code for communicating the first portion of the multimedia information from the output device to the user device comprises:

code responsive to the first signal for communicating a second signal from the output device to the multimedia information source requesting the first portion of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source;

code for receiving, at the output device, the first portion of the multimedia information from the multimedia information source; and

code for communicating the first portion of the multimedia information received from the multimedia information source from the output device to the user device.