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

• US 9,030,699 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: King, Martin T., Grover, Dale L., Kushler, Clifford A., Stafford-Fraser, James Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, SATWANT K
• Application Number:
  US13/966,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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, at a computer system and from a scanner, a device identifier scanned from the scanner while displayed on an electronic device;

associating, in a database in the computer system, the electronic device with the scanner based at least in part on the device identifier of the electronic device;

receiving, at the computer system and from the scanner, scanned data scanned by the scanner;

selecting, by the computer system, based at least in part on the device identifier associated with the scanner, the electronic device to send the scanned data; and

sending, by the computer system, the scanned data to the selected electronic device.

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

at least one of an image rendering system, an audio rendering system, a date 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 electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the electronic 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 electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication session with the electronic 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, at a computer system, a request to associate a portable scanner with an electronic device, the request including scanned information, the scanned information being scanned from the electronic device and identifying the electronic device;

indicating, in a database in the computer system, the electronic device as an associated device of the portable scanner, based at least in part on the scanned information scanned from the electronic device;

receiving, at the computer system and from the portable scanner, scanned data scanned by the portable scanner;

selecting, by the computer system, based at least in part on the scanned information scanned from the electronic device, the electronic device to send the scanned data; and

sending, by the computer system, the scanned data to the selected electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic 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 electronic device.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

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

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

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

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

receiving, at a computer system and from a portable scanner, a device identifier scanned using the portable scanner, the device identifier being displayed on an electronic device;

receiving, at the computer system and from the portable scanner, additional information scanned using the portable scanner;

selecting, by the computer system, based at least in part on the device identifier, the electronic device to send the additional information scanned;

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

communicating the additional information scanned to the network address associated with the selected electronic device.

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

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

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

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

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

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