Method and system for identifying data locations associated with real world observations

• US 6,674,993 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Tarbouriech, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/303,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/161.1, 455/186.1, 455/154.2, 455/131, 455/150.1, 455/151.1, 455/152.1, 455/154.1, 455/173.1, 455/179.1, 455/182.1, 455/192.3, 455/228, 455/92, 455/2.01, 455/76, 455/77, 725/9-21, 725/112
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

A method and system for identifying data locations or uniform resource locators associated with physical observations in the real world. The method and system includes selecting certain physical parameters based upon an observation of real world objects and events and associating such physical parameters with data locations on the Internet or other computer network. When the real world object is observed or a real world event occurs, physical parameters relating to the object or event are sensed and recorded. These stored physical parameters are then communicated to a database, which returns a data location corresponding to the observed physical parameters. Thus, the present invention allows a user to “click” on objects or events in the real world in order to find data locations related to the objects or events in the on-line world.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing physical parameter data associated with the operation of a receiver, wherein said physical parameter data comprises the frequency to which the receiver is tuned said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a signal over a carrier frequency to a receiver;

means for detecting whether the receiver output corresponds to said signal;

a clock for generating a time signal; and

storage means coupled to said input device, said transmitter, said means for detecting said clock;

wherein said storage means stores (a) the time signal corresponding to the time said input device activates said transmitter and (b) the state of the transmitter when said means for detecting determines that the receiver output corresponds to said signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for changing the carrier frequency of said signal transmitted by said transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising transmission means coupled to said storage means for transmitting the contents of said storage means to a server.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising transmission means coupled to said storage means for transmitting the contents of said storage means to a server.

5. An apparatus for sensing physical parameter data associated with the operation of a receiver, wherein said physical parameter data comprises the frequency to which the receiver is tuned, wherein the receiver receives a first signal in a modulated domain and produces a corresponding first demodulated signal in a demodulated domain, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving the first demodulated signal from the receiver;

means for receiving said first modulated signal in the modulated domain and producing a second demodulated signal in the demodulated domain;

means, coupled to each of the receiving means, for detecting a correlation between the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal;

a clock for generating a time signal; and

storage means coupled to said input device, said means for detecting and said clock;

wherein said storage means stores (a) the time signal corresponding to the time said input device activates said means for detecting and (b) the state of the means for detecting when said means for detecting determines that the first demodulated signal corresponds to said signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising transmission means coupled to said storage means for transmitting the contents of said storage means to a server.