Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium
OwnerSpencer A. Rathus, Jeffrey S. Nevid +1inventors
InventorsSpencer A. Rathus, Jeffrey S. Nevid, Lois Fichner-Rathus
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Abstract
The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media.
Claims80
A system for providing electronic programming material to a user, the system comprising:
- a printed matter having associated therewith at least one sensor, a first controller responsive to an actuation of said sensor, and a transmitter responsive to said first controller for transmitting a coded signal;
- a second controller having associated therewith a receiver for receiving said coded signal;
- a display unit having associated therewith means for accessing said programming material, and means for displaying or executing said programming material;
- and
- wherein said user actuates said sensor to cause said programming material to be accessed and displayed or executed.
A system for displaying programming material to a user, the system comprising:
- a printed matter having at least one printed machine recognizable feature;
- a feature recognition unit having associated therewith means for recognizing said machine recognizable feature and a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal in response to said recognizing;
- an intelligent controller having associated therewith a receiver for receiving said coded signal and means for accessing said programming material;
- and
- a display unit for displaying said programming material;
- wherein said recognition unit, in response to said recognizing, causes said intelligent controller to access said programming material and said display unit to execute or display said programming material.
A system for displaying programming material to a user, the system comprising:
- a printed matter having at least one magnetic code;
- a feature recognition unit having associated therewith means for recognizing said magnetic code and a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal in response to said recognizing;
- an intelligent controller having associated therewith a receiver for receiving said coded signal and means for accessing said programming material;
- and
- a display unit for displaying said programming material;
- wherein said recognition unit, in response to said recognizing, causes said intelligent controller to access said programming material and said display unit to execute or display said programming material.
A system for displaying programming material to a user, the system comprising:
- a printed matter having at least one bar code;
- a feature recognition unit having associated therewith means for recognizing said bar code and a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal in response to said recognizing;
- an intelligent controller having associated therewith a receiver for receiving said coded signal and means for accessing said programming material;
- and
- a display unit for displaying said programming material;
- wherein said recognition unit, in response to said recognizing, causes said intelligent controller to access said programming material and said display unit to execute or display said programming material.
A system for displaying programming material to a user, the system comprising:
- a printed matter having at least one watermark;
- a feature recognition unit having associated therewith means for recognizing said watermark and a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal in response to said recognizing;
- an intelligent controller having associated therewith a receiver for receiving said coded signal and means for accessing said programming material;
- and
- a display unit for displaying said programming material;
- wherein said recognition unit, in response to said recognizing, causes said intelligent controller to access said programming material and said display unit to execute or display said programming material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.