Print media information systems and methods

• US 7,557,939 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wood, Michael C., Marggraff, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Park; Chan S
• Application Number:
  US10/831,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11- 19, 358 111- 118, 235/375, 345/173, 345/179, 434/317
• US Class Current: 358/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/10 Selecting, i.e. obtaining data of one kind from those record carriers which are identifiable by data of a second kind from a mass of ordered or randomly- distributed record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel interactive information system which can be used to make a traditional print medium such as a magazine, “interactive”. When the traditional print medium is placed on a print media receiving unit in a predetermined position, a user can interact with the traditional print medium. Printed matter elements on the printed medium can be made “selectable” by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) obtaining an assembly comprising;

(i) a processor;

(ii) a position determining system capable of determining a position of a selected portion of a print medium using an electronic map that correlates print elements in the print medium with their locations in the print medium;

(iii) a stylus wherein the processor is programmed to identify an area in the print medium where the stylus is positioned;

(iv) an audio output device coupled to the processor;

(v) a writeable memory device being coupled to the processor; and

(vi) an optical detector coupled to the processor;

(b) receiving, from a server computer and through the Internet, information relating to the print elements in the print medium;

(c) loading the information relating to the portions of the print medium in the assembly; and

(d) utilizing the assembly with the loaded information relating to the print elements of the print medium, whereby utilizing comprises;

selecting a print element by positioning the stylus over the print element in the print medium; and

receiving an audio output from the audio output device after positioning the stylus over the print element in the print medium, wherein the audio output is selected by the processor using the position of the stylus over the print medium.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information relating to the print elements of the print medium is transmitted to a client computer operated by a user, which is operably coupled to the assembly.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user operates the assembly without the assembly being in direct communication with the server computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the print medium is a children'"'"'s book.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the print medium is a magazine.

6. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising sending to the server computer information relating to the selected print element.