Association of a portable scanner with input/output and storage devices

• US 20060256371A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kushler, Clifford A., Stafford-Fraser, James Q., King, Martin T., Grover, Dale L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1293 Printer information exchange with computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0036 Alphanumeric symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00374 on the same page as at least a part of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display

Abstract

A device identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to a service provider. The service provider associates the device with the portable scanner. Information is scanned from a printed source and communicated to the service provider and subsequent information is received in response at a device identified by the device identifier. In some embodiments, a communication session identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to the service provider rather than (or in cooperation with) the device identifier.

Claims

1. A method, implemented in a computer system, of associating an input/output device with a portable scanner, comprising:

receiving a device identifier scanned from a device; and

associating, in a database in the computer system, the device with a scanner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated device of the scanner further comprises:

at least one of an image rendering system, an audio rendering system, a data storage device, a kiosk, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a printer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the device identifier to appear on a visual display of the device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the device for exclusive use by a person using the scanner.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling access by the scanner to information for which access is controlled by the device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication session with the device based, at least in part, on the received device identifier.

7. A method, implemented in a computer system, of associating an electronic device with a portable scanner, comprising:

receiving a request to associate a portable scanner with a device, the request including scanned information, the scanned information identifying the device; and

indicating, in a database in the computer system, the device as an associated device of the portable scanner.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the associated device of the portable scanner further comprises:

at least one of an image and/or video rendering system, an audio rendering system, a data storage device, a kiosk, a desktop or laptop computer, or a printer.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

causing a device identifier to appear on a visual display of the device.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

configuring the device for exclusive use by a person using the portable scanner for as long as the portable scanner is associated with the device.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

enabling access by the portable scanner to information for which access is controlled by the device.

12. A method, implemented in a computer system, of delivering content to an electronic device associated with a portable scanner, comprising:

receiving a device identifier scanned using a portable scanner;

receiving additional information scanned using the portable scanner;

identifying a network address of a device identified by the device identifier; and

communicating content to the network address in response to receiving the additional information scanned using the portable scanner.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the communicating content to the network address in response to receiving the additional information scanned using the portable scanner further comprises:

identifying a content type supported by the device, and communicating the content to the network address if the content is the type supported by the device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

causing the device identifier to appear on a visual display of the device.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

configuring the device for exclusive use by a person using the portable scanner for as long as the portable scanner is associated with the device.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

enabling access by the portable scanner to information for which access is controlled by the device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying a network address of the a device identified by the device identifier is based, at least in part, on the received device identifier.

18. A method, implemented in a computer system, of establishing a communication system with a device associated with a portable scanner, comprising:

using a web browser to display a session identifier code;

scanning the session identifier code using a portable scanner; and

receiving, with the browser, content communicated as a result of actions of the portable scanner.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning text, a barcode, glyph, or other identifier of a printed source from the printed source.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a product name, barcode, company name, logo, trademark, or other identifier of a product from a printed source.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a song name, barcode, artist name, anthology name, or other identifier of musical content from a printed source.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning an image name, barcode, caption, heading, or other identifier of image content from a printed source.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a movie name, artist name, barcode, actor name, product name, or other identifier of video content from a printed source.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the content communicated as a result of actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

an electronic version of a printed document from which information was scanned.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the content communicated as a result of actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

at least one of digital music, a digital voice recording, audio news or commentary, audio product information, or other recorded or synthesized sound.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the content communicated as a result of actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

at least one of digital images, digital photos, product images or video, video of news reports or commentary, or other digital images or video.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

configuring the device for exclusive use by a person using the portable scanner for as long as the portable scanner is associated with the device.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

enabling access by the portable scanner to information for which access is controlled by the device.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting the session identifier code to a content provider, the session identifier uniquely identifying a communication session to the content provider.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting a portable scanner identifier to a content provider, the portable scanner identifier uniquely identifying the portable scanner to the content provider.

31. A method, implemented in a computer system, of accessing electronic content, comprising:

causing a web browser to display a web browsing session ID code;

receiving from a portable scanner scanned information comprising the web browsing session ID code; and

as a result of additional actions of the portable scanner, communicating content to the web browser session associated with the web browsing session ID code.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning text, a barcode, glyph, or other identifier of a printed source from the printed source.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a product name, barcode, company name, logo, trademark, or other identifier of a product from a printed source.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a song name, barcode, artist name, anthology name, or other identifier of musical content from a printed source.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning an image name, barcode, caption, heading, or other identifier of image content from a printed source.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a movie name, artist name, barcode, actor name, product name, or other identifier of video content from a printed source.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

configuring the device for exclusive use by a person using the portable scanner for as long as the portable scanner is associated with the device.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

enabling access by the portable scanner to information for which access is controlled by the device.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

transmitting the web browsing session identifier code to a content provider, the web browsing session identifier uniquely identifying a communication session to the content provider.

40. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

transmitting a portable scanner identifier to a content provider, the portable scanner identifier uniquely identifying the portable scanner to the content provider.

41. A method, implemented in a computer system, of associating a portable scanner with a nearby electronic device, comprising:

receiving and/or determining information about a physical location of a portable scanner;

identifying a device near the portable scanner; and

identifying the device as an output device for information resulting from actions of the portable scanner.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning text, a barcode, glyph, or other identifier of a printed source from the printed source.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a product name, barcode, company name, logo, trademark, or other identifier of a product from a printed source.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a song name, barcode, artist name, anthology name, or other identifier of musical content from a printed source.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning an image name, barcode, caption, heading, or other identifier of image content from a printed source.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the actions of the portable scanner further comprises:

scanning a movie name, artist name, barcode, actor name, product name, or other identifier of video content from a printed source.

47. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

configuring the device for exclusive use by a person using the portable scanner for as long as the portable scanner is associated with the device.

48. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

enabling access by the portable scanner to information for which access is controlled by the device.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein the receiving and/or determining information about a physical location of a portable scanner, further comprises:

displaying a communication session identifier on a display of the device; and

receiving the communication session identifier in a message initiated by the portable scanner.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein the identifying a device near the portable scanner further comprises:

determining the location of the identified device.

51. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

transmitting information resulting from actions of the portable scanner to a predetermined destination.

52. The method of claim 41, wherein the predetermined destination is selected from the group of the device near the portable scanner, an email account, and a data archive.

53. The method of claim 41, further comprising receiving a subscriber identifier that uniquely identifies a subscriber account associated with the portable scanner.

54. The method of claim 41, further comprising receiving a device identifier that identifies a plurality of input/output capabilities of the device.

55. A method, implemented in a computer system, comprising:

scanning a device identifier;

communicating the device identifier to a service provider;

scanning information from a printed source; and

communicating to the service provider the information scanned from the printed source, and receiving in response information at a device identified by the device identifier.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the communicating the device identifier to a service provider further comprises:

communicating the device identifier to a mobile device associated with the portable scanner, the mobile device communicating the device identifier to the service provider.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the mobile device associated with the portable scanner further comprises:

one of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and portable computer.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein the communicating the device identifier to a service provider further comprises:

communicating the device identifier to the device, the device communicating the device identifier to the service provider.

59. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

configuring the device for exclusive use by a person using the portable scanner for as long as the portable scanner is associated with the device.

60. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

enabling access by the portable scanner to information for which access is controlled by the device.

61. A method, implemented in a computer system, of enhancing a portable electronic device'"'"'s user interface, comprising:

generating a communication session identifier that uniquely identifies a communication session;

transmitting the communication session identifier to a remote computer;

displaying the communication session identifier on a display of the remote computer;

receiving at least one message having a portable electronic device identifier that uniquely identifies a portable electronic device;

receiving a message initiated by the portable electronic device, the message having the communication session identifier;

associating, in a database in the computer system, the communication session with the portable electronic device and with the remote computer; and

displaying information on the display of the remote computer in response to messages initiated by the portable electronic device, thereby enhancing the user interface of the portable electronic device.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one selected from the group of a portable scanner, a cellular phone having imaging capability, or a portable computer.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the message having the communication session identifier is initiated by scanning the communication session identifier from the display of the remote computer.

64. A method, implemented in a computer system, of delivering content to a display associated with a portable scanner, comprising:

receiving an identifier that identifies the portable scanner;

determining a content delivery address of a display associated with the portable scanner;

receiving a request for content, the request initiated by the portable scanner; and

delivering content to the content delivery address;

wherein the display associated with the portable scanner is near the portable scanner.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the determining a content delivery address further comprises:

determining a network address associated with the request for content; and

indicating, in a database in the computer system, that the content delivery address is the network address associated with the request for content.

66. A method, implemented in a computer system, of associating an input/output device with a portable scanner, the method comprising:

receiving a portable scanner identifier that uniquely identifies a portable scanner within the system;

receiving an input/output device identifier that uniquely identifies an input/output device within the system;

correlating, in an address translation table in the computer system, the portable scanner identifier with the input/output device identifier;

determining a network address of the input/output device; and

translating, during the communication session, the portable scanner identifier to the input/output device identifier;

wherein subsequent multimedia content requested by the scanner is delivered to the input/output device.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

receiving a communication session identifier that uniquely identifies a communication session in the computer system; and

translating, during the communication session, the delivery address of content requested by the scanner to the network address of the input/output device.

68. A method of associating a portable scanner with input/output and storage devices, comprising:

receiving a request for association of a portable scanner with a nearby device;

wherein the request includes scanned information, the scanned information identifying the nearby device.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the request further comprises a portable scanner identifier.

70. The method of claim 68, further comprising associating the portable scanner with the nearby device.

71. The method of claim 68, further comprising routing communications initiated by actions of the portable scanner to the associated device.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein the nearby device is selected from the group of a user-interface device and a computer.

73. A method of associating a display device with a portable scanner, comprising:

scanning a display device identifier with a portable scanner;

transmitting the display device identifier to a service provider;

identifying an address of the display device; and

routing information associated with actions of the portable scanner to the display device.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the address is an internet protocol (IP) address.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising transmitting a portable scanner identifier to the service provider.

76. A method of associating a device with a portable scanner, comprising:

receiving a request for association of a portable scanner with a nearby device;

determining the physical location of the portable scanner;

identifying a device near the portable scanner; and

associating the device with the portable scanner.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the request includes GPS location information for the portable scanner.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the device is a display.