Method of performing an action in relation to a software object

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/228,519 filed on Sep. 19, 2005, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The present invention generally relates to a mobile device incorporating a printer. The invention more specifically relates to a mobile device such as a mobile telecommunications device, for example a mobile or cellular telephone that incorporates a printer which is able to print a wide variety of content on a print medium. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be used by other types of portable or mobile devices, or even non-portable devices.

The assignee has developed mobile or cellular telephones, Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) and other mobile telecommunication devices, with the ability to print hard copies of content, such as images or information stored or accessed by the device, (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,055, filed on Nov. 9, 1999). Likewise, the assignee has also designed digital cameras with the ability to print captured images with an in-built printer (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,901, filed on Jul. 10, 1998). As the prevalence of mobile telecommunications devices increases, the functionality of these devices is further enhanced by the ability to print hard copies.

As these devices are portable, they should be compact for user convenience. Accordingly, any printer incorporated into the device needs to maintain a small form factor. Also, the additional load on the battery should be relatively small. Furthermore, the consumables (such as ink, paper, etc.) should be relatively inexpensive and simple to replenish. It is these factors that strongly influence the commercial success or otherwise of products of this type.

The assignee of the present invention has also developed the Netpage system for enabling interaction with computer software using a printed interface and a proprietary stylus-shaped sensing device. As described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,165, filed on Nov. 25, 2000 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/778,056, filed on Feb. 17, 2004, a Netpage pen captures, identifies and decodes tags of coded data printed onto a surface such as a page. In a preferred Netpage implementation, each tag encodes a position and an identity of the document. By decoding at least one of the tags and transmitting the position (or a refined version of the position, representing a higher resolution position of the pen) and identity referred to by the decoded tag, a remote computer can determine an action to perform. Such actions can include, for example, causing information to be saved remotely for subsequent retrieval, downloading of a webpage for printing or display via a computer, bill payment or even the performance of handwriting recognition based on a series of locations of the Netpage pen relative to the surface.

When printing a Netpage, a printer in a mobile telecommunications device can print the Netpage tags simultaneously with visible user information. The association between the tags and information can already exist on a remote Netpage server, such as where the printer is printing a fully rendered page (including tags) provided by the Netpage server or another computer. Alternatively, the mobile telecommunications device can generate the tags (or source them remotely) and define an association between the tags and user information. The association is then recorded in the remote Netpage server.

A problem with these options is that they require the mobile telecommunications device to include Netpage tag printing capabilities. This requires an additional row of print nozzles in the printhead, and reduces the amounts of ink that can be stored for non-tag use. Whilst this is less of an issue with large, mains-powered printers, it can be an issue in small form-factor articles such as mobile telecommunications devices. Alternatively, the mobile telecommunications device can be configured to print on print media that is pre-printed with Netpage tags. That way the printer need only print the user information and record an association between the visible information and the pre-printed tags.

It is desirable to provide functional applications making use of the mobile telecommunications device. Such applications can include, for example, mobile printing applications, linking, capturing and/or printing generic or specific objects to a print medium, and many other applications providing functionality to the mobile telecommunications device and various uses of types of print media.

In one particular, but non-limiting, aspect, an M-Print device is a mobile device such as a telephone or PDA which incorporates a printer. Paper is either manually presented or auto-fed from a cartridge, depending on device form factor. The printer may or may not print tags, for example infrared tags, and the printer or a sensor detects tags printed, for example pre-printed, onto blank media. The paper path either includes a tag reader, or it includes a simpler sensor for reading a linear data track on the card. The data track can encode the same identifier as the tags. Reading the identifier allows the M-Print device to associate the card\'s graphic and/or interactive content with the identifier. This allows subsequent interactions with the card to be properly interpreted. The graphic and/or interactive content is stored on a network-based server, indexed by the identifier.

It should be noted that the media identifier (i.e. print media identifier) may correspond to a range of 2D coordinates without an explicit single media identifier. Hence, reference to the media identifier is to be read as a reference to an explicit or defined one or more media identifiers, or, as a reference to a range of 2D coordinates.

The device also optionally incorporates a pointer. The pointer may be used to click on a hyperlink, but generally doesn\'t operate at a sufficiently high rate to capture motion. Alternatively, the telephone may incorporate a fully-functional Netpage-type pen. Even when the M-Print device doesn\'t incorporate a pointer, the user can interact with printed cards by feeding them through the paper path. The data track reader or tag reader in the paper path extracts the identifier, which allows the device to identify the graphic and/or interactive content of the card, and object(s) linked to the card. Not all M-Print cards have to be produced by an M-Print device. For example, pre-printed M-Print cards of a collectible or promotional nature may be included in cereal packets or magazines. And even blank media may bear advertising on the reverse side. Not all M-Print cards have to be interacted with via a pointer in an M-Print device. They can be interacted with via any device, or another scanning device altogether which can read the data track or an application-specific printed barcode.

An M-Print card acts as a token for the graphic and/or interactive content of the card, including any objects linked to the card. A user can easily obtain the original digital content of the card by clicking on the card or ‘virtually scanning’ the card through the paper path. For example, a photo acts as a token for the original digital image, and a business card acts as a token for the contact details linked to the card. By acting as a token for its own content, a card allows a user to obtain a perfect re-print. In addition to the identifier, the data track and the tags encode a digital signature which allows the card to be authenticated. This has two purposes. Firstly, it allows a blank card to be authenticated during printing to prevent the use of non-sanctioned blanks. Secondly, it allows a card to be authenticated when used as a token, to prevent fraudulent access to the content of the card or objects linked to the card.

Various applications are possible using aspects, components or features of the mobile telecommunications device and associated coded print medium. Such applications can include mobile printing applications, linking, capturing and/or printing generic or specific objects to a print medium, and many other applications providing practical uses for the coded print medium and/or the mobile telecommunications device. Various particular applications are herein described.

In an aspect the present invention there is provided a method of performing an action, the method including steps of:

receiving, from a sensor, indicating data at least partially indicative of a position of the sensor relative to a surface, and an identity of the surface, the indicating data being generated from sensing coded data on the surface, the coded data being indicative of a plurality of locations on the surface and the identity of the surface;
identifying, using the indicating data, the identity of the surface and the position of the sensor relative to a surface;

Continue reading about Method of performing an action in relation to a software object...
Full patent description for Method of performing an action in relation to a software object

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of performing an action in relation to a software object patent application.

Patent Applications in related categories:

20090289104 - Information kiosk terminal system - An information kiosk terminal system includes a pedestal, a transaction unit provided at an upper part of the pedestal and adapted to be pulled out away from the pedestal, and a display unit provided above the transaction unit. The transaction unit includes an upper portion located on the upper side ...


###


How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method of performing an action in relation to a software object or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Method for sequencing flavors with an auditory phrase
Next Patent Application:
Trade card services
Industry Class:
Registers

###