Computerized information and display apparatus

• US 8,690,050 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2013
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Original Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Inventors: Gazdzinski, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US13/733,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20130191253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 705/14.64, 705/14.65
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/06 using voice
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 : Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00314 : Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 : Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 : Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 : for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/10 : for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 : the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/0235 : the arrangements being full-front touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 : the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Apparatus useful for obtaining and displaying information. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a network interface, display device, and speech recognition apparatus configured to receive user speech input and enable performance of various tasks via a remote entity, such as download of digital music such as MP3s. The downloaded may also, in one variant, be transmitted to a personal user device, such as via a wireless interface.

Claims

1. A computerized information and display apparatus, comprising:

a network interface;

a processing apparatus in data communication with the network interface;

a display device;

a short-range wireless interface in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to receive inputs from a wireless-enabled portable device; and

a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program being configured to, when executed;

obtain digitized speech signals generated based on speech received from the user, the speech relating to a desired purchase transaction which the user wishes to perform; and

cause, based at least in part on the digitized speech, access of a remote network entity to cause performance of the desired purchase transaction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to receive at least a portion of information obtained via the access of the remote network entity via the network interface for display on the display device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desired purchase transaction comprises purchasing information or services on-demand in exchange for consideration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desired transaction comprises purchase of MP3 or music downloads.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the purchase of MP3 or music downloads is performed using payment account information stored on a networked database accessible to the remote network entity.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the purchase of MP3 or music downloads is performed at least in part using pre-established account information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a touch-screen display and input device having a plurality of soft function keys rendered thereon, the soft function keys being configured to generate the inputs.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network interface comprises a wireless interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard, and the short-range wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth wireless interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network interface comprises a wireless interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard, and the short-range wireless interface comprises a radio-frequency identification based interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising audio-visual data apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to enable audio and visual data exchange between a user of the computerized information and display apparatus and a remote entity using at least the display device and the network interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the audio-visual data apparatus comprises a software suite configured to packetize said audio and visual data.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the audio-visual data apparatus comprises software configured for peer-to-peer exchange of the audio and visual data with another apparatus via a network.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for peer-to-peer exchange of audio and visual data with another apparatus of another user via the network interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a touch-screen display and input device having a plurality of soft function keys rendered thereon, the soft function keys being configured to generate one or more inputs.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises one of an LED-based display device or a thin-film transistor (TFT)-based display device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digitized speech comprises a term relating to a particular website or universal resource locator (URL), and the computerized information and display apparatus is further configured to cause an applet or browser mechanism to be instantiated on the display device as part of the desired transaction.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a plurality of similar apparatus each disposed in a different location yet substantially within a common premises, yet in data communication with one another.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises voice-over-IP (VoIP) software configured for exchange of audio data with another apparatus of another user via the network interface and an internetwork in communication therewith.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for conversion of digital data to audible speech signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises a cellular wireless interface for communication with a cellular network.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for establishment of a session with a remote apparatus according to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless interface comprises an infrared data interface.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer program comprises a client portion of a client-server distributed application.

24. A computerized information and display apparatus, comprising:

a wireless network interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 standard and configured to interface with a wireless LAN (WLAN);

a processing apparatus in data communication with the wireless network interface;

a display device;

a short-range wireless interface in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to receive inputs from a wireless-enabled portable device;

an audio-visual data apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to enable audio and visual data exchange between a user of the computerized information and display apparatus and a remote entity using at least the display device and the wireless network interface; and

a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program being configured to, when executed;

obtain digitized speech generated based on speech received from the user, the digitized speech relating to a desired action which the user wishes to perforin; and

cause, based at least in part on the digitized speech, access of a remote network entity to cause performance of the desired action.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to receive at least a portion of information obtained via the access of the remote network entity via the wireless network interface for display on the display device.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the desired action comprises obtaining information or services on-demand.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the desired action comprises purchase of MP3 or music downloads.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the purchase of MP3 or music downloads is performed using payment account information stored on a networked database accessible to the remote network entity.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the purchase of MP3 or music downloads is performed at least in part using pre-established account information.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the portable device comprises a touch-screen display and input device having a plurality of soft function keys rendered thereon, the soft function keys being configured to generate the inputs.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the short-range wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth wireless interface.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the short-range wireless interface comprises a radio-frequency identification based interface.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the audio-visual data apparatus comprises a software suite configured to packetize said audio and visual data.

34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the audio-visual data apparatus comprises software configured for peer-to-peer exchange of the audio and visual data with another apparatus via a network.

35. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for peer-to-peer exchange of audio and visual data with another apparatus of another user via the wireless network interface.

36. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the display device comprises a touch-screen display and input device having a plurality of soft function keys rendered thereon, the soft function keys being configured to generate one or more inputs.

37. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the display device comprises an LED-based display device.

38. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the digitized speech comprises a term relating to a particular website or universal resource locator (URL), and the computerized information and display apparatus is further configured to cause an applet or browser mechanism to be instantiated on the display device as part of the desired action.

39. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a plurality of similar apparatus each disposed in a different location yet substantially within a common premises, yet in data communication with one another.

40. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises voice-over-IP (VoIP) software configured for exchange of audio data with another apparatus of another user via the network interface and an internetwork in communication therewith.

41. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for conversion of digital data to audible speech signals.

42. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises a cellular wireless interface for communication with a cellular network.

43. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for establishment of a session with a remote apparatus according to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

44. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the short-range wireless interface comprises an infrared data interface.

45. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one computer program comprises a client portion of a client-server distributed application.

46. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computerized information and display apparatus comprises a substantially stand-alone mobile device.

47. A computerized information and display apparatus, comprising:

a network interface;

a processing apparatus in data communication with the network interface;

a display device;

a wireless interface in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to communicate data with a wireless-enabled portable user device; and

a storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program being configured to, when executed;

generate digitized speech based on speech received from the user, the digitized speech relating to a desired transaction which the user wishes to perform; and

cause, based at least in part on the digitized speech, access of a remote entity via the network interface and an internet to cause performance of the desired transaction;

wherein the computerized information apparatus is further configured to receive at least a portion of information obtained via the access of the remote network entity via the network interface for provision to the wireless-enabled portable user device via the wireless interface.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the desired transaction comprises obtaining the information on-demand.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the desired transaction comprises purchase of MP3 or music downloads.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the purchase of MP3 or music downloads is performed using payment account information stored on a networked database accessible to the remote network entity.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the purchase of MP3 or music downloads is performed at least in part using pre-established account information.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the computerized information and display apparatus comprises a mobile device having a substantially stand-alone form factor.

53. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the portable device comprises a touch-screen display and input device having a plurality of soft function keys rendered thereon, the soft function keys being configured to cause the provision of the information to the portable device.

54. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the network interface comprises an interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard, and the wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth wireless interface.

55. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the network interface comprises an interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard, and the wireless interface comprises a radio-frequency identification based interface.

56. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising audio-visual data apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to enable audio and visual data exchange between a user of the computerized information and display apparatus and a remote entity using at least the display device and the network interface.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio-visual data apparatus comprises a software suite configured to packetize said audio and visual data.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio-visual data apparatus comprises software configured for peer-to-peer exchange of the audio and visual data with another apparatus via the network interface.

59. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for peer-to-peer exchange of audio and visual data with another apparatus of another user via the network interface.

60. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the display device comprises a touch-screen display and input device having a plurality of soft function keys rendered thereon, the soft function keys being configured to generate one or more inputs.

61. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the display device comprises one of an LED-based display device or a thin-film transistor (TFT)-based display device.

62. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the digitized speech comprises a term relating to a particular website or universal resource locator (URL), and the computerized information and display apparatus is further configured to cause an applet or browser mechanism to be instantiated on the display device as part of the desired transaction.

63. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the digitized speech comprises a term relating to a particular website or universal resource locator (URL), and the computerized information and display apparatus is further configured to cause an applet or browser mechanism to be instantiated on a display device of the portable user device via at least the wireless interface as part of the desired transaction.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a plurality of similar apparatus each disposed in a different location yet substantially within a common premises, yet in data communication with one another.

65. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises voice-over-IP (VoIP) software configured for exchange of audio data with another apparatus of another user via the network interface and a TCP/IP enabled internetwork in communication therewith.

66. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for conversion of digital data to audible speech signals audible by a user thereof.

67. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises a cellular wireless interface for communication with a cellular network.

68. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the information and display apparatus further comprises software configured for establishment of a session with a remote apparatus according to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

69. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the short-range wireless interface comprises an infrared data interface.

70. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the at least one computer program comprises a client portion of a client-server distributed application.