Context sensitive information access artifacts

A method of using a context sensitive device to enable performance of a desired service, said context sensitive device comprising:

• a card portion having a surface onto which are formed a plurality of user interpretable icons;
• and
• electronic apparatus attached to said card portion, said apparatus comprising:
• a memory in which are retained at least a plurality of character strings including contextual information, each of said character strings being associated with a corresponding one of said icons;
• processor means coupled to said memory means;
• and
• communication means for coupling said processor means to a reading device configured to facilitate reading said context sensitive device;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) relating reading signals generated from a user selection of at least one of said icons and received via said communication means with at least one of said retained character strings including a portion of said contextual information;
• (d) transmitting an output signal including said at least one retained character string, wherein said output signal indicates said desired service;
• (e) comparing said portion of contextual information to an actual portion of contextual information;
• and
• (f) enabling said performance of said desired service based on said comparison.

A context sensitive device comprising:

• a card portion and an electronic apparatus attached to said card portion, said apparatus comprising:
• a memory in which are retained at least a plurality of character strings including contextual information;
• processor means coupled to said memory means;
• and
• communication means for coupling said processor means to a reading device configured to facilitate reading said context sensitive device,
• wherein said processor means is configured to transmit an output signal including a portion of said contextual information, for indicating a desired service based on said contextual information.

A context sensitive device comprising:

• a card portion having a surface onto which are formed a plurality of user interpretable icons;
• a memory in which are retained at least a plurality of character strings including contextual information, each of said character strings being associated with a corresponding one of said icons;
• and
• communication means for coupling said memory to a processor means of a reading device configured to facilitate reading said context sensitive device,
• wherein said processor means is configured to relate reading signals generated from a user selection of at least one of said icons and received via said communication means with at least one of said retained character strings to thus transmit an output signal for indicating a desired service based on said contextual information.

A context sensitive service provision system comprising:

• a control template, adapted for insertion into a template reader, the template (i) having at least one user selectable control icon, and (ii) storing a character string associated with said at least one icon, said character string incorporating icon contextual information;
• said reader, being responsive to a user selection of said at least one control icon of an inserted said control template, said reader being adapted to communicate a signal including said associated character string;
• and
• a service provision device, responsive to a communicated said signal, and adapted to provide a service corresponding to the associated character string dependent upon the icon contextual information contained in said communicated signal.

A method of providing a context sensitive service, the method comprising steps of:

• inserting a control template into a template reader, the template (i) having at least one user selectable control icon, and (ii) storing a character string associated with said at least one icon, said character string incorporating icon contextual information;
• selecting, by a user, said at least one control icon;
• communicating, by said reader, in response to the user selection, a signal including said associated character string;
• receiving, by a service provision device, of said communicated signal;
• and
• providing, by the service provision device, a service corresponding to the associated character string dependent upon the icon contextual information contained in said communicated signal.

A computer readable medium for storing a program for a system providing context sensitive information;

• wherein a control template is inserted into a template reader, the template (i) having at least one user selectable control icon, and (ii) storing a character string associated with said at least one icon, said character string incorporating icon contextual information;
• and wherein said at least one control icon is selected by a user;
• said program comprising:
• code for a communicating step, for communicating, by said reader, in response to the user selection, a signal including said associated character string;
• code for a receiving step, for receiving, by a service provision device, of said communicated signal;
• and
• code for a providing step, for providing, by the service provision device, a service corresponding to the associated character string dependent upon the icon contextual information contained in said communicated signal.

A computer readable medium for storing a program for using a context sensitive device to enable performance of a desired service;

• wherein said context sensitive device comprises:
• (i) a card portion having a surface onto which are formed a plurality of user interpretable icons, and electronic apparatus attached to said card portion;
• said apparatus comprising:
• (a) a memory in which are retained at least a plurality of character strings including contextual information, each of said character strings being associated with a corresponding one of said icons;
• (b) processor means coupled to said memory means;
• and
• (c) communication means for coupling said processor means to a reading device configured to facilitate reading said context sensitive device;
• said program comprising:
• (a) code for a relating step for relating reading signals generated from a user selection of at least one of said icons and received via said communication means with at least one of said retained character strings including a portion of said contextual information;
• (b) code for a transmitting step for transmitting an output signal including said at least one retained character string, wherein said output signal indicates said desired service;
• (c) code for a comparing step for comparing said portion of contextual information to an actual portion of contextual information;
• and
• (d) code for an enabling step for enabling said performance of said desired service based on said comparison.