text:
A remote control includes a base and an insert that is attached in a detachable manner to the base. The base includes a remote control circuit, a button coupled to operate the remote control circuit and a fastener capable of holding the insert. The insert includes a printed publication (such as a card, a sheet of paper or a booklet) containing at least one leaf having human-understandable content (such as text and/or graphics). To assemble the remote control, a user attaches the insert to the fastener, so that the human-understandable content is laid over the button. Thereafter, when the user operates the button (e.g. by touching the leaf), the base transmits a remote control signal that causes a host device to visually display information related to the human-understandable content at the touched location. A base in the form of a three ring binder gives the user an intuitive feel of simply touching human-understandable content on a leaf in the binder to view a display of information related to the content. In addition to the human-understandable content, the insert can carry a predetermined pattern that can be sensed by a sensor during mounting of the insert on the base. The base transmits, in the remote control signal, a number determined from the predetermined pattern thereby to indicate to the host device the insert currently in the base.
1. A remote control comprising:
a file folder including a front cover, a back cover and a spine located between said front cover and said back cover, said file folder further including a fastener mounted on said spine;
a printed publication detachably mounted on said fastener, said printed publication including a storage media physically attached to said printed publication;
a remote control circuit supported by said file folder; and
a button supported on said back cover and coupled to said remote control circuit;
wherein said remote control circuit generates a remote control signal in response to application of pressure to said button.
2. The remote control of
3. The remote control of
4. A remote control base comprising:
a file folder including a front cover, a back cover and a spine located between said front cover and said back cover, said file folder further including a fastener mounted on said spine, said fastener being capable of detachably holding a printed publication;
a remote control circuit supported by said file folder, said remote control circuit including a memory programmed with a predetermined number; and
a button supported on said back cover and coupled to said remote control circuit;
wherein said remote control circuit generates a remote control signal in response to application of pressure to said button.
5. The remote control base of
6. A remote control base comprising:
a file folder including a front cover, a back cover and a spine located between said front cover and said back cover, said file folder further including a fastener mounted on said spine; said fastener being capable of detachably holding a printed publication;
a remote control circuit supported by said file folder;
an electromagnetic signal transmitter electrically coupled to said remote control circuit; and
a button supported on said back cover and coupled to said remote control circuit;
wherein said remote control circuit generates a remote control signal in response to application of pressure to said button, and further wherein said electromagnetic signal transmitter generates an electromagnetic signal carrying data in response to said remote control signal.
7. A remote control comprising:
a file folder including a front cover, a back cover and a spine located between said front cover and said back cover, said file folder further including a fastener mounted on said spine;
a remote control circuit supported by said file folder;
a button supported on said back cover and coupled to said remote control circuit; and
a leaf detachably attached to said fastener such that said leaf is laid over said button, said leaf being sufficiently flexible for pressure on said leaf to transfer through said leaf to operate said button;
wherein said remote control circuit generates a remote control signal in response to operation of said button.
8. A remote control base comprising:
a file folder including a front cover, a back cover and a spine located between said front cover and said back cover, said file folder further including a fastener mounted on said spine, said fastener being capable of detachably holding a printed publication, and wherein said fastener comprises a rail having a cross-section in the shape of the letter "C" with a longitudinal cavity formed behind two longitudinal edges that face each other;
a remote control circuit supported by said file folder; and
a button supported on said back cover and coupled to said remote control circuit;
wherein said remote control circuit generates a remote control signal in response to application of pressure to said button.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/991,411 filed Nov. 16, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,867, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/013,329 filed Jan. 26, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,459, which is in turn a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/824,103 filed Mar. 26, 1997, now abandoned, that is in turn a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/818,558 filed Mar. 14, 1997, now abandoned, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
This application is also related to the following commonly owned U.S. Patents and applications and are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety:
Ser. No. 08/715,809, now abandoned;
Ser. No. 08/497,177, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,672;
Ser. No. 08/550,976, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,905, a divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,265;
Ser. No. 08/692,994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,112, that is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,549;
Ser. No. 08/630,015, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,037;
Ser. No. 08/916,780, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 08/915,072, now abandoned;
Ser. No. 08/908,833 filed Aug. 7, 1997, now abandoned, that is a file wrapper continuation of Ser. No. 08/298,648, now abandoned, and
Ser. No. 08/816,616, now abandoned.
Appendices A-L which are a part of the present disclosure, are attached herewith in a microfiche consisting of a total of 18 sheets that contain a total of 1,138 frames. This microfiche is a duplicate of the microfiche filed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/013,329, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,459, upon which this application claims priority.
Appendix A contains computer programs and related data for programming a microcontroller e.g. COP 820CJ available from National Semiconductor Corporation, 1090 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94086, used in a remote control as described below. On being programmed by the computer programs of Appendix A, the microcontroller wakes up in response to a predetermined event and causes a signal transmitter to transmit a remote control signal carrying an identifier code that identifies, at least partially, the information to be displayed as described below. The computer programs of Appendix A can be compiled by the in-circuit simulator "ice MASTER COP8 Module" also available from National Semiconductor Corporation.
Appendix B describes an infrared protocol called "TVIR" used in the computer programs of Appendix A to encode the predetermined number in the remote control signal, and used in the computer programs of Appendix C to decode the number from the remote control signal.
Appendix C contains computer programs and related data for programming another microcontroller e.g. COP922C used in a signal receiver to extract data from a remote control signal and to pass the extracted data to a host device. The computer programs of Appendix C can also be compiled by the in-circuit simulator "ice MASTER COP8 Module" (described above).
Appendix D describes an architecture of the host device and the format of data supplied by the signal receiver to the host device using the well-known RS-232 signal interface.
Appendices E-G contain computer programs and related data for programming a host device including e.g. the microprocessor PENTIUM available from INTEL Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif., and the operating system WINDOWS 95 available from MICROSOFT Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Wash. 98052. The computer programs of Appendices E-G cause the host device to respond to the identifier code received by the signal receiver by displaying information indicated by the identifier code. The computer programs of Appendices E-G can be compiled by the following programming tools available from MICROSOFT Corporation (at the above address) and well known to a person skilled in the art of programming host devices. For the assembly language and C language computer programs in Appendices E-G:
For the VEX computer program in Appendix E (Pages 94-107):
Appendix H is a reference guide for a parameter file used by the computer program in Appendix I (described below).
Appendix I contains visual basic language computer program that causes a personal computer to receive the data from a remote control signal and display the selected information. The programs in Appendix I can be compiled by:
Microsoft Visual Basic v. 3.0 (professional edition)
Appendix J contains subroutines called by the software in Appendix F.
Appendix K contains Java code that can be compiled by:
Microsoft Visual J++ v.1.1 (Professional Edition).
Appendix L contains Software used to translate an identification code received from a remote control into an Internet address used to retrieve and display the selected information.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for the remote control of the display of information by an interactive media, such as a host device, e.g., a personal computer (PC) or a television (TV).
A conventional remote control for a television (TV) includes a rectangular box, with buttons that are marked with symbols, such as the numerals "1", "2" . . . "0". A user touches one or more such buttons to switch the TV's display to a desired channel. For example, the user instructs the TV to display channel 5 by pressing a button labeled "5". However, the user performs several steps prior to the display: consults a TV guide, selects a desired program, remembers a channel number for the program, and enters the channel number on the remote control. Alternatively, the user presses a button labeled for example "CH+/−" to sequentially display each TV channel, until the user finds a desirable TV program.
Universal remote controls allow a user to control the operation of a video cassette player (VCR) in addition to the TV, e.g. to control a movie's retrieval by the VCR and display by the TV. However, the user again performs several steps prior to the display: reviews a list of available movies (for example by consulting an index in a movie rental store), selects and rents a desired movie's video tape, brings home and inserts the video tape into the VCR, tunes the TV to a predetermined channel, e.g. channel 3, and then presses a button labeled "PLAY" on the remote control.
A settop box available from VideoGuide, Inc., 209 Burlington Road, Bedford, Mass., 01730 (see the Web page at www.vgi.com on the Internet), displays on a user's TV a list of upcoming TV programs, and requires the user to press a button labeled "TV" to select one of the listed TV programs. See also the Web page at www.theGIST.com for another similar product.
A mouse and a keyboard for remotely controlling information displayed on a computer's monitor are also well known. The mouse and keyboard are more difficult to use than a TV remote control, because the user is required to be knowledgeable about computers. Specifically, the user must know computer instructions or be aware of the need to press, e.g., a left button of the mouse while a cursor is positioned on an icon.
A remote control in accordance with this invention includes a remote control base (also called simply "base"), and an insert that is attached in a detachable manner to the remote control base. The base includes (1) a support structure, (2) a remote control circuit supported by the support structure, and (3) a button also supported by the support structure and coupled to operate the remote control circuit. On operation of the button(s), the remote control circuit generates a signal that can control the operation of a host device, such as a personal computer (PC) or a television.
The insert includes a printed publication having one or more leaves that are printed with content such as text and graphics. A user assembles the remote control by physically attaching the insert to the base so that a leaf of the printed publication is laid over the button in the base. Thereafter, when the user touches content (e.g. text or graphics) located on the leaf (e.g. printed thereon or affixed by a sticker), pressure from the touch transfers through the leaf to operate the button and transmit a remote control signal (e.g. a "wireless signal" or a signal over a cable) to the host device.
The printed publication is attached to the base in a detachable manner so that the user can replace the attached printed publication with another printed publication, thereby to reuse the base any number of times. Detachable attachment of a printed publication to the remote control base allows the attached printed publication to be free of electronic components, and therefore be manufactured by conventional printing processes. In a first embodiment, the insert includes, as the printed publication, a single leaf, e.g. a card (such as a postcard, a playing card, or a business card). In this embodiment, the base has the form of a normal remote control (e.g. length being several times width). The base includes a fastener formed by two "U" shaped channels that each face the other along the longitudinal side of the base. In this embodiment, the user assembles the remote control by sliding two opposite edges of a card within the two channels of the fastener until the card touches a portion (also called "stop member") of the base. Therefore, at the end of assembly, text and/or graphics carried in a central region of the card lie over a button that is located between the two channels.
Thereafter, when the user touches the text and/or graphics on the card, pressure from the touch operates the underlying button, and in response the remote control circuit generates and transmits a signal to the host device. The signal carries data (e.g. x and y coordinates) indicative of the touched location on the card. On receipt of the signal, the host device visually displays information related to the text and/or graphics at the touched location on the card. The touched location's text and/or graphics is related to (e.g. is descriptive of, or is derived from) the to-be-displayed information.
For example, touching the content "CHINA AIRLINES" of a card (when mounted on the base) generates a remote control signal that instructs a host device to automatically display electronic content accessible in the form of a page (also called "Web page") on the World Wide Web part of Internet at the address www.china-airlines.com. Such electronic content can be held in a storage media that is coupled to the host device by a server, for example, through a public or private network such as a telephone network, a satellite network, or a cable network. Alternatively, the electronic content can be held in a storage media that is packaged with the insert, and that is inserted into the host device by the user.
The information displayed by the host device, and the content carried by the insert have an association (hereinafter "remote electronic association") that is implemented by transmission of the signal generated by the remote control circuit. Moreover, there is a visual association between the insert's content and the underlying button implemented in one embodiment by the fastener (e.g. the above-described channels) that aligns the insert to the base.
In this embodiment, the alignment is sufficient to ensure that an insert is positioned at approximately the same position on the base each time the remote control is assembled, so that content on the insert is appropriately aligned to one or more buttons in the base. For example, the base has a distance (also called "width") between the two channels that is approximately equal to the width of an insert to be used in the base. Repeatability in the positioning of an insert with respect to the base ensures that approximately the same coordinates of a touched location are sensed by the underlying button(s), irrespective of the number of times or the way in which the insert is attached to the base.
In this particular embodiment, the card carries a pattern (e.g. formed as a bar code or a series of punched holes), and the remote control base includes an identity reader (e.g. formed by a series of sensors, such as photodiodes or phototransistors) that reads the pattern. The remote control circuit transmits in the signal a number determined by the identity reader from the pattern, thereby to uniquely identify to the host device the card currently attached to the base, so that the base can be reused any number of times with such cards.
A "card reader" remote control as described above allows a user to simply use a card (e.g. torn from a printed publication, such as the TIME™ magazine) to pull up a display of information on a host device. So such a remote control eliminates the need for a user to consult a guide (e.g. TV guide) and remember, e.g. a channel number or an Internet address as required in the prior art. Instead, the user simply touches human-understandable content located on a card mounted on the base, and pressure from the touch operates a button coupled to a remote control circuit that in turn transmits a signal (either wirelessly or over a cable) to control the display of related information.
In a second embodiment, the insert includes, as the printed publication, a booklet having a number of leaves (also called "sheets" or "pages"), e.g. a catalog or a magazine. In such an embodiment, the base includes a file folder having a front cover, a back cover and a spine connecting the two covers. The file folder includes, mounted on the spine, a fastener capable of detachably holding the insert. Such a fastener includes, e.g. three rings capable of holding a booklet having three corresponding holes. In this particular embodiment, each booklet initially holds a storage media, e.g. an optical disc (such as a CD-ROM) that is encoded with the information to be displayed in response to touching a region of the booklet when mounted in the remote control base.
Instead of a booklet, in an alternative embodiment the three-ring fastener holds a single sheet of paper having the three corresponding holes. Therefore, a remote control having the three ring fastener can be used with printed publications having either: (a) single leaf or (b) multiple leaves.
In other embodiments, instead of a three-ring fastener, other types of fasteners are used, e.g. a female rail having a "C" shaped cross-section that can hold a single leaf. Such a single leaf can support a booklet, thereby allowing a remote control having the rail to be used with multiple leaves in a printed publication. Moreover, in one variant of the card reader remote control, the card supports a booklet thereby to make leaves in the booklet touch sensitive. A remote control as described herein has several unexpected advantages. For example, as an insert is mounted removably on a remote control base, the base can be reused any number" of times, thereby resulting in lower cost than if a remote control circuit is integrated into the insert. Therefore, inserts can be manufactured by conventional printing processes. Furthermore, a remote control as described herein allows the display of electronic content on a bulky device (such as a TV or a PC) located at a distance from the remote control, thereby allowing a user to simply touch a mounted card and view a display of information related to content carried by the card.
Furthermore, the above-described file-folder remote control is compatible with the standard three-hole format of normal catalogs. Therefore normal catalogs can be modified for use in a file-folder remote control by simply providing a mark on each touch-sensitive leaf of the catalog, thereby to allow a user to identify to a host device the leaf that is currently laid open.
Also, the form of a file-folder remote control provides the user with a level of comfort due to familiar appearance that is otherwise lacking in a remote control of the prior art. Specifically, a user can flip through the leaves of a printed publication in the normal manner, and when desired merely touch appropriate locations to pull up the display of related information. Moreover, a user can easily access information related to the printed content on two adjacent leaves that are laid open, with a first leaf laid over a front cover and a second leaf laid over a back cover.
Therefore, a printed publication when mounted in the file folder remote control can be laid open and touched in the normal manner of a book. Furthermore, printed content on both sides of a leaf can be used to select information, e.g. by using a back cover for one side, simply turning over the leaf and using the front cover for the other side. Such a file folder remote control having a button in each of a front cover and a back cover eliminates the need to remove and re-insert a leaf as required by the card-reader remote control. Also, the file-folder remote control does not have an identity reader, and is therefore cheaper than the card-reader remote control.
In a third embodiment, a remote control includes features of both the above-described remote controls of the first and second embodiment. Specifically, in one implementation, the remote control includes a file folder with a fastener in the form of a female rail having a "C" shaped cross section, with a barcode scanner mounted in a cavity of the rail. In this particular embodiment, the insert includes a leaf on which is mounted a booklet, with a portion (also called "flap") of the leaf forming a male rail. The mail rail carries a barcode to be read by the scanner during insertion of the male rail into the cavity of the female rail.
A remote control base as described herein can include one or more additional input devices, e.g. (1) a pointing device (such as a touch pad, a mouse, a trackball, or a joystick) that controls the movement of a cursor on a monitor of the host device, and/or (2) an alphanumeric device (such as a keyboard) that allows a user to type in, for example, a search word related to the displayed information, thereby to pull up additional information related to the specific content carried by the insert.
In the conceptual view of
The printed publication of insert 31 has the appearance of a normal periodical, journal, or magazine, and has content, such as text and/or graphics printed on one or more leaves included in the printed publication. For example, the printed publication can have the appearance (e.g. size and shape) of (1) a postcard, (2) a business card, (3) a playing card of a card game (such as poker), (4) a sheet of paper of dimensions 8 inches�10 inches (5) a greeting card, and (6) a booklet having three holes (such as a catalog).
When a user touches predetermined areas in the printed publication, pressure from the touch transfers through the leaves to a button 12, thereby to operate the remote control circuit and cause transmission of a signal (illustrated by remote electronic association 15) indicative of a location touched by the user. In response to the signal, a host device 120 (FIG. 3A), such as a personal computer (PC) or a television (TV) optionally suspends displaying any information currently displayed (e.g. saves state of all processes), and displays information in the form of electronic content 13 (
In one embodiment, electronic content 13 is "data specific", and button 12 is a "data button", as described briefly below and in detail in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/550,976 incorporated by reference above. The host device can be similar or identical to the host device described in detail in one or more of U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/550,976, 08/816,616 and 08/915,072 also referenced above.
Button 12 can be any device capable of transmitting an electrical signal in response to pressure. Examples of button 12 include a membrane switch and a touch panel. Operation of button 12 (in one embodiment) indicates that specific electronic content including data (and optionally including code) is to be retrieved from a network (either live content from e.g. a video camera or prerecorded content from a remote storage media) or a local storage media in the host device, and is to be displayed to the user by the host device.
An example of a data button is a button that when pressed causes a display (by the host device) of a list of automobiles sold by the FORD™ Motor Company, and is triggered by the user pressing a printed publication 11, e.g. on content "Ford" carried by a leaf of printed publication 11. Therefore, in this example, electronic content 13 is "data specific" and includes a listing of automobiles sold by FORD™. Association 16 (also called "representative association") is implemented by a publisher making available (e.g. over the Internet or on an optical disc) electronic content 13 for display by a host device in response to operation of button 12.
Yet another example of a data button is a button that when pressed causes the display of a Presidential address being delivered in real time, when the user presses the printed content "Presidential Address" in a leaf of printed publication 11, if the Presidential address is currently being delivered by the President. If the user presses the printed content "Presidential Address" after the live broadcast, i.e. after the President has finished addressing the nation, a recording of the most recent Presidential address is retrieved from a remote storage media and displayed to the user by the host device. The displayed information, such as live content or prerecorded content can be retrieved from any network such as a telephone network, a satellite network or a cable network.
Visual association 14B (
Therefore, visual association 14B is substantially similar to visual association 14B described in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/550,976 incorporated by reference above, except that the printed text and/or graphic content is not integrated into button 12 and 10 rather is located on a leaf of printed publication 11 that is attached in a detachable manner to base 32.
In one embodiment, printed publication 11 consists of only one leaf (for convenience such a leaf is also identified by reference numeral 11). In this embodiment, leaf 11 is formed as a portion of a magazine, and the user tears out leaf 11 from the magazine, and detachably attaches leaf 11 to remote control base 32. In another embodiment, such a leaf 11 is simply included loosely in a magazine, thereby eliminating the requirement for the user to tear out the leaf. Such a leaf 11 can be similar or identical to a "Reader Response Card" commonly included in a magazine (such as the "TIME" magazine) for requesting information on products advertised in the magazine. Furthermore, in yet another embodiment, the user receives leaf 11 by itself in the mail, in a manner similar to a picture postcard, or alternatively in an envelope that contains a bill, such as the Visa™ bill.
An insert 31 (
In one implementation, leaf 11 carries a pattern containing an identification code in the form of e.g. a bar code (such as the code "UPC") that is printed on leaf 11 in a manner similar to a bar code located below the mailing address on a preprinted post card. Such a pattern, when carried by leaf 11, is read by an identity reader 23 (e.g. a bar code scanner) that is optionally included in base 32.
In an alternative implementation, leaf 11 carries a pattern in the form of a series of holes that are punched in leaf 11 in a manner similar to the holes of punched cards that were conventionally used to program a computer. However, in other implementations, a leaf 11 can carry an identification code in another structure, e.g. encoded in a magnetic stripe or in an electronic chip, and identity reader 23 includes an appropriate circuit capable of reading the identification code from such a structure. In yet another implementation, the identification code is held in a memory in the remote control circuit, thereby eliminating the need for identity reader 23 and the need for a pattern to be carried by leaf 11.
In one embodiment, a base 32 (FIG. 2A), includes two channels 34 and 35 that face each other and a third channel 38 that is located transverse to each of channels 34 and 35. Therefore, in this embodiment, the three channels 34, 35, and 38 form a "U" shaped fastener 22 (FIG. 2A). Such a fastener 22 can be formed, for example as a single integral body by injection molding of high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic material.
Base 32 also includes a button 12 (
In this embodiment, channels 34, 35 and 38 each have a "U" shaped cross-section. Channels 34 and 35 are separated each from the other by a distance Wb (e.g. 3 inches) that is approximately equal to or slightly greater than (e.g. by 5%) a width Wc of leaf 11. Moreover, each of channels 34 and 35 has a clearance (between the two parallel sides in the "U" shaped channel) of Tb (e.g. 1 mm) that is approximately equal to or greater than (e.g. by 100%) the thickness of Tc of leaf 11. Therefore, leaf 11 easily slides between channels 34 and 35 in direction D. Such movement of leaf 11 is stopped by channel 38 (also called "stop member").
Each of channels 34 and 35 has a length Lb (e.g. 8 inches) that is smaller than a length Lc of leaf 11, so that at the end of assembling remote control 10, leaf 11 has a portion 11P of length Le (
During the assembly of remote control 10, an identity reader 23 that is included in base 32 is triggered by the movement of leaf 11, for example, by a switch (similar or identical to switch 202 described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/824,103 incorporated by reference above). When triggered, identity reader 23 reads a pattern 113 that is formed e.g. of black bars (or holes) as illustrated in chance cards 208A-208R in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/916,780 incorporated by reference above. In this embodiment, pattern 113 is located at an edge 11E of leaf 11, and is sensed by reader 23 during the sliding of edge 11E in channel 35.
Identity reader 23 includes a light sensor array of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,974 (see, for example, FIGS. 6 and 7, and column 7, lines 3-13) that is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The light sensor array is located in channel 35 preferably but not necessarily at base 32's open end (opposite to stop member 38) thereby to ensure that pattern 113 of any length can be read. The sensing of pattern 113 during the detachable attachment of leaf 11 to base 32 eliminates the need for a sliding mechanism otherwise required in the prior art to be swiped across pattern 113.
Remote control 10 thereafter transmits to host device 120 in signal 111 (
Moreover, instead of an infrared signal 111, an electrical signal can be transmitted through a cable 112 by a remote control 50 (FIG. 2C). In such an embodiment, cable 112 can be an RS-232 cable that is connected to a serial port of host device 120. Instead of RS-232, the protocol Universal Serial Bus (USB) can be used for signals on cable 112.
Protocol USB is described in, e. g. "Universal Serial Bus to Simplify PC I/O" by Michael Slater in Microprocessor Report, Volume 9, Number 5, pages 1 and 6-9, that is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In another embodiment, the protocol "TVIR" as described in microfiche Appendix B is modified as follows. The carrier frequency is changed from 40 kilohertz to 38 kilohertz, by changing a constant "PulseNum" in microfiche Appendix A. Moreover, the number of bits in a check sum is changed from two bits to four bits, by changing the constant "PARITY" also in microfiche Appendix A.
Depending on the implementation, host device 120 can acknowledge to the user the receipt of an identification code that is transmitted e.g. during or immediately after insertion of leaf 11 into base 32 (
After assembly of remote control 10, when the user touches leaf 11, e.g. touches the content of an article, e.g. photograph P1 (FIG. 3A), pressure from the touch transfers through leaf 11 to touch panel 12, (FIG. 2A), and remote control 10 (
Host device 120 uses the identification code and the coordinates (e.g. x1, y1) of the touched location to look up a table to identify, retrieve (if necessary through the Internet) and display electronic content 133C_2. Instead of electronic content 133C_2, host device 120 can display any of other electronic contents 133A-133D depending on which one of identity codes 1-N 10 is sensed from leaf 11 that is inserted in base 32.
In an alternative embodiment, remote control 10 does not transmit two separate signals 111, one for the identification code and another for the coordinates of the touched location. Instead, remote control 10 transmits the identification code as well as the touched location's coordinates in a single signal 111 (as described below).
In the example illustrated in
Each of touch sensitive areas A1-A6 (
Therefore, remote control 10 (
In one embodiment, a publisher of a weekly magazine uses a different number in the identity code (also called "identification code") for each week's leaf 11, thereby to identify e.g. the current week's electronic content 13 (
In this embodiment, the user replaces a leaf 11 (
The use of different identification codes for each week's leaf 11 allows the user to access a prior week's electronic content 13 (
In an alternative embodiment, a publisher manufactures a number of storage media (such as optical 20 discs; not shown) containing the to-be-displayed information, one for each copy of the magazine (not shown). Thereafter, the publisher inserts each storage media in a holder (not shown) attached to a magazine that contains leaf 11. A user removes the storage media from the holder and inserts the storage media into a peripheral device 124 (
In one implementation, such a leaf 11 does not have the predetermined pattern to provide an identification code to host device 120. Instead, it is assumed that peripheral device 124 holds a storage media that was initially packaged with leaf 11, e.g. in the current week's magazine TIME™. The storage media (e.g. a CD-ROM) has printed content that identifies (e.g. by date) the leaf 11 to be used in remote control 10. Therefore in this implementation, signal 111 does not carry an identification code to identify leaf 11. Host device 120 automatically uses a table in a storage media currently in device 124 to retrieve and display information related to the location indicated by signal 111.
In an alternative embodiment, base 32 does not have identity reader 23 (FIG. 2A). Instead, base 32 holds, in a nonvolatile memory (not shown in
As noted above, the to-be-displayed information can be live content made available through a network, such as a satellite network, a cable network, or a telephone network by a publisher (e.g. publisher of TIME magazine). In such a case, the publisher prints specific content on leaf 11, e.g. a title of a concert to be performed, and a user views live content by simply attaching leaf 11 to the base and thereafter touching the title on leaf 11 e.g. during the live broadcast of the concert.
In one particular implementation, base 32 (
In this implementation, base 32 (
Such integration of a pointing device and a remote control into a single device eliminates the need for, e.g. two separate housings, and two separate power supplies, and therefore provides cost savings over the prior art. The integration also eliminates the need for a user to keep track of and use two separate devices (e.g. a mouse and a remote control) otherwise necessary in the prior art.
Numerous variations and modifications of remote control 10 will be obvious to a person of skill in the art of remote controls in view of the disclosure. For example, instead of having a touch panel 12, in another embodiment, button 12 (
Therefore, when a user touches, for example, a photograph P2 (FIG. 4B), an underlying switch SIJ (
When a user touches, for example, text T1 in touch sensitive area BAA, an underlying discrete switch SAA (
In this embodiment, a publisher of leaf 11 ensures that the printed content, e.g. text T1, photograph PI, text T2 and text T3 are aligned to and located over touch sensitive areas BAA, BBA, BCA, BDA and BAB (FIG. 2F). Various touch sensitive areas that are not clearly covered by a single article, (e.g. touch sensitive area BBB is covered only partially by text T4) are unassociated with any electronic content 13 (FIG. 1), and are inactive. Therefore, when a user touches touch sensitive area BBB, host device 120 (
In some of the embodiments discussed above, remote control 10 (
In an alternative implementation, the identification code includes a product code, such as the Universal Product Code (UPC) normally printed as a pattern on the cover of a magazine and used in determining the price at a checkout stand of a store. In the alternative implementation, host device 120 uses the identification code indirectly, e.g. performs a table lookup to find the URL code or other address of electronic content 13. Such a table can be stored either locally on a storage media (e.g. hard disk) permanently installed within host device 120 or on a removable storage media, such as an optical disk removably mounted in a storage media drive 124 of host device 120 (FIG. 2B), or on a remote storage media accessible from server 131 e.g. via Internet.
In one variant of the alternative implementation, an optical disc (such as CD-ROM 544 illustrated in
For example, if associated electronic content 13 for "The Cruise Caper" is available at the Internet address www.cruise.com/movie2.html, the file 3224502192.HTML in server 131's home directory contains the following software instructions that redirect host device 120 to the publisher's server:
<html><meta http-equiv="refresh"
To a user, electronic content 13 (e.g. movie2.html) is displayed on monitor 122 after host device 120 looks up the file 3224502192.HTML on server 131 and thereafter retrieves electronic content 13 from the publisher's server at the redirected Internet address. In this example, the Web page in the file movie2.html presents a movie and/or displays other information as determined by the publisher of "The Cruise Caper." As is well known to the skilled artisan, the file movie2.html can be updated periodically, e.g. once a week to display a different movie, thereby to attract a user, such as a five year old child, into using the remote control at least once a week.
In another embodiment, host device 120 retrieves electronic content 13 from a video camera 134 (FIG. 2B), such as model no. VLH450U by Sharp Corporation, available from Fry's Electronics, Campbell Calif. In one example, host device 120 displays an on-going sports event, such as the Super Bowl, for example if the user touches printed content describing a to-be-played Super Bowl game in a sheet describing the game and enclosed e.g. in Sports Illustrated magazine.
In another example, leaf 11 (
In an alternative embodiment, host device 120 retrieves electronic content 13 (
In yet another embodiment, host device 120 retrieves electronic content 13 from a hard disk 125 (
In still another embodiment, host device 120 does not compare two identification codes as described above. Instead, it is assumed that a drive 124 contains an appropriate storage media (e.g. a CD-ROM that was initially supported by leaf 11) and host device 120 displays information (e.g. the first file) from that storage medic!. (e.g. in response to the touching of a first region of leaf 11).
Remote control base 32 can include a light emitting diode (abbreviated as "LED"; not shown in
In another embodiment, a base 400 has an upper portion 401 (
Thereafter, the user uses keyboard 403 in the normal manner to navigate the display of information 13 by host device 120. The integration of a keyboard 403 into base 400 further enhances the above-described advantages of integrating a pointing device and a remote control. Instead of pad 40, a joystick as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,015 can be included in a remote control as described herein.
In still another embodiment, a remote control 500 (
Base 510 also includes, mounted on spine 513, a fastener in the form of rail 514 that has a cross-section in the shape of the letter "C". Rail 514 has a longitudinal cavity 515 formed behind longitudinal edges 514A and 514B that each face the other. In this particular embodiment, base 510 includes an identity reader 516 that is mounted on a ceiling of cavity 515 i.e. inside rail 514.
Insert 520 (
In this particular embodiment, first portion 521P (
In a variant of the above-described embodiment, leaf 521 supports a booklet in a transverse manner so that the booklet's spine is perpendicular to channel 514 when assembled. Such a variant eliminates the need for front cover 511 to include a button because a touch panel in back cover 512 is sufficient to make all leaves of the booklet touch sensitive.
In an alternative embodiment, insert 520 consists essentially of leaf 521, and is devoid of booklet 522. Such a leaf 521 can have the size of, for example, a postcard. Also, in another embodiment, such a leaf is devoid of the above-described male rail and instead, a planar edge of the leaf is mounted in channel 514, and can be yanked out by pulling in lateral direction L. The planar edge has a thickness approximately equal to the distance Te (
In the embodiment illustrated in
When a user touches one of marks 523A-523N, pressure from the user's touch is transferred through the leaf, e.g. leaf 522I and through other intervening leaves, e.g. leaf 522N (
In one embodiment, the user must touch a page mark 523I first, and thereafter touch one of areas (also called "regions") A1-A7 to indicate the associated electronic content 13 (
Therefore, the alternative embodiment is more intuitive because the user uses page mark 5231 as a confirmation to indicate the most recent deselected information is to be displayed. Moreover, the requirement of touching printed content of a leaf 522I multiple times, e.g. two times in this embodiment, eliminates the possibility of an information displayed being started accidentally by someone just touching leaf 5221 inadvertently.
Each of touch sensitive areas A1-A7 (
Instead of a touch panel, cover 512 can include an array of switches SAA-SUV (see
In still another embodiment, a remote control base 530 has the form of a file folder, and includes a front cover 531, a back cover 532 and a spine 533 (
In one particular implementation, fastener 534 is a conventional three-ring binder mechanism (e.g. formed of steel), and rings 534A-534C are movable between closed and open positions, so that paper having corresponding holes can be retained on rings 534A-534C in the normal manner. One example of fastener 534 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,747 that is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Other types of file folders as described in, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,552,478 and 4,214,839 can be used in other implementations of base 530.
A booklet 540 (
A single page mark: 543I (
In this particular embodiment, booklet 540 does not have a bar code or any other type of pre-determined pattern to indicate an identity to base 530. Moreover, base 530 does not have an identity reader (such as identity reader 516 described above in reference to FIG. 5B). Instead, booklet 540 has, supported by a leaf (e.g. last leaf 542N), a storage media, such as CD-ROM 544.
In one implementation, CD-ROM 544 is supported within a pouch 545 attached to leaf 542N. Pouch 545 is formed in one particular embodiment by film of acetate that is glued to leaf 542N on three sides 545A-545C, and fourth side 545D is left unglued to allow removal of CD-ROM 544. In this implementation, CD-ROM 544 has printed content (e.g. text) that uniquely identifies to the user the identity of booklet 540 to be used with CD-ROM 544. For example, each of CD-ROM 544 and booklet 540 may have the same title, such as "FRED, THE FIRE ENGINE", and the user coordinates the simultaneous use of CD-ROM 544 and booklet 540.
To use remote control 550 (FIG. 5H), the user must first mount CD-ROM 544 in a peripheral of host device 120 (
In an alternative embodiment, a booklet does not have a storage media, and instead has a mark (similar to mark 543I described above) that is located at a different position in each booklet in a set of booklets that can be used in remote control base 530. There can be, for example, twelve booklets, one for each month, with six positions for the marks at a top edge 540T and six additional positions at the bottom edge 540B (FIG. 5F). Each of the twelve booklets has only one mark (also called "booklet mark") in any of the twelve positions, thereby identifying a month in which the booklet was published.
In such an embodiment, remote control base 530 includes a memory (e.g. memory 1103M in
In one variant of card reader remote control 1D (FIG. 2A), Card 11 supports a booklet (not shown), thereby to make leaves in the booklet touch sensitive. In one implementation, such a booklet is mounted with the booklet's spine located next to channel 34, and therefore the booklet's leaves are touch sensitive only on one side (which is exposed when the leaf lies over button 12). In another implementation, such a booklet is mounted with the booklet's spine located perpendicular to channel 34, midway along the length Lb (
Moreover, instead of a booklet 540, a single leaf 560 (
As shown in
In one variant of the embodiment, PCB 210 has conductive traces 401, 402 that are formed of, for example, copper directly on PCB 210 as illustrated in FIG. 5N. In another variant of the embodiment, conductive traces 401 and 402 are formed on flexible tape 403 (e.g. by printing carbon ink on MYLAR), and tape 403 is attached (e.g. by an adhesive) to the PCB 210 as illustrated in FIG. 50. The variant illustrated in
In one variant of the embodiment illustrated in
Sheets 211L and 212L (
Sheets 211L and 212L can be formed of any material, e.g. of HDPE plastic material, a chip board, or card stock paper if covers 531 and 532 are rigid. Alternatively, if covers 531 and 532 are flexible, sheets 211L and 212L can be formed of LDPE plastic material, or paper of the same thickness as the paper used to form leaves of: the normal magazine. Sheets 211U and 212U are formed sufficiently thin to allow pressure from touching a page of insert 540 (
In this embodiment, posts 209R and 209S pass through the respective holes 213R and 2138 (
In one particular embodiment, a touch panel 12 (
Touch panel 12 (
Conductive traces 603A-603N are formed parallel to each other and transverse (e.g. perpendicular) to another set of parallel conductive traces 606A-606P (where P is the number of such conductive traces) formed on substrate 602. Touch panel 12 further includes a set of dielectric traces 605A-605P that are formed on the respective conductive traces 606A-606P. When substrates 601 and 602 are assembled to form touch panel 211, dielectric traces 604A-604N contact dielectric traces 605A-605P thereby to keep each of conductive traces 603A-603N from contacting each of conductive traces 606A-606P.
Dielectric traces 604A-604N and 605A-605P are formed narrower than the respective conductive traces 603A-603N and 606A-606P. The difference in widths between a conductive trace 603I and a dielectric trace 604I (
Specifically, when a user touches area 607I (shown as a dotted circle in FIG. 6B), a portion of another conductive trace 603I touches a portion of conductive trace 606I, e.g. in the region 608 due to flexing of substrate 601 under pressure exerted by the touch. Such a contact between two transverse conductive traces 603I and 606I closes a switch in a remote control circuit 700 (
In one example, a conductive trace 603I (
In one particular embodiment, substrates 601 and 602 are formed as two halves of a single integral substrate (not shown) that is folded along a center line (also not shown). When so folded, a dielectric trace 605I (
In the embodiment illustrated in
The resistance value of resistors 621A . . . 621N−1 is determined in a calibration step by coupling a terminal 610G of trace 610 to a source of the ground reference voltage and another terminal 610P of trace 610 to a source of the reference voltage VCC, while measuring the voltage at terminals 610P and 610G. The voltage measurements at terminals 610P and 610G are converted by an analog-to-digital converter (see converter 701 in
During the calibration steps, the voltage measurements are taken at terminals 612C and 611C (
The calibration steps ensure accuracy in measurement of the location of touch area 607I (
In one particular embodiment, a single analog to digital converter 701 (
Each of the measurements (i.e. the calibration measurements and the touch measurements) are performed in two steps. First, a node 610I (
During the second step, the first terminal of capacitor C3 is coupled by analog multiplexer 702 through a resistor R3 to a source of the ground reference voltage. When capacitor C3 is coupled to the ground reference voltage source, microcontroller 703 starts measuring a time period (in terms the number of clock cycles, also called "counts") required by capacitor C3 to charge to a threshold voltage of an input pin 703A in microcontroller 703. The measured duration is indicative of the voltage at node 610I, e.g. the measured duration is proportional to the difference between the voltage at node 610I and the threshold voltage. In a similar manner, microcontroller 703 determines another duration that is indicative of the voltage at node 630I. The two durations indicate the Cartesian coordinates x, y of area 607I touched by the user.
As noted above, prior to determining the x, y coordinates of area 607I, microcontroller 703 calibrates touch panel 211 by (1) measuring the voltages (in terms of duration) at terminals 612C and 611C (
In the embodiment of
Remote control circuit 700 also includes a bar code scanner 204 having a terminal 204A coupled to a base of an npn transistor 704 (FIG. 7). The collector of transistor 704 is connected to an input pin 703B of microcontroller 703. Microcontroller 703 includes an internal pull up resistor (not shown) that is coupled to the source of reference voltage VCC at one end and to pin 703B at the other end. The emitter of transistor 704 is connected to the source of ground reference voltage. A resistor R6 is connected to terminal 204A of scanner 204 to form a voltage follower using a phototransistor (not labeled) in scanner 204.
When a black bar in bar code pattern 113 (
In an example of circuit 700, analog multiplexer 702 (
Bar code pattern 113 (
Microcontroller 703 uses frame bars 802A and 802B in header field 810 to establish a time period (hereinafter "time base") that indicates the bit rate at which bar code pattern 113 (
In an alternative embodiment, pattern 113 is not printed as a barcode 0:1 an insert, and instead is formed by holes, wherein each 0 value is represented by the absence of the hole, and the 1 value is represented by the presence of a hole. Scanner 204 works in the same manner irrespective of whether pattern 113 is formed by the printing of a barcode or by the punching of holes.
If microcontroller 703 does not detect the predetermined bit sequence, microcontroller 703 (
Specifically, when leaf 11 is inserted into base 32, microcontroller 703 (
Thereafter, when microcontroller 703 detects the next bar, i.e. frame tar 802C, microcontroller 703 again measures the duration between frame bars 802B and 802C and uses the measured duration as the new time base tb to sample the next data location 803B. Microcontroller 703 proceeds in this manner to read the entire bar code pattern 113 (
Remote control circuit 700 (
In one particular embodiment, microcontroller 703 performs the steps of method 900 (FIG. 9). Specifically, on being powered up, microcontroller 703 starts in step 901 and goes to step 902. In step 902, microcontroller 703 (
On being woken up, for example due to a signal transition on an input; >in, such as pin 703D that is connected to terminal 612P of touch panel 211 (FIG. 7), microcontroller 703 goes, to step 904 (FIG. 9). In step 904, microcontroller 703 determines which of input pins 703A, 703B, 703D, 703E and 703F (
For example, in step 905, microcontroller 703 checks if a signal transition occurred at pin 703E (
Thereafter, microcontroller 703 goes to step 907 to check if bar code pattern 113 read by scanner 204 is valid. For example, microcontroller 703 checks to see if the bits 0, 0 and 1 of the predetermined sequence were received in a header field 810 (described above). Moreover, microcontroller 703 calculates a check sum from bits received in data field 811 (FIG. 8), and compares the calculated check sum with a check sum received in checksum field 812.
In one particular example, microcontroller 703 calculates the check sum by counting the number R of data bits having the value 1. Thereafter, microcontrollers 703 divides number R by 3 repeatedly, until the remainder becomes 0, and uses the last remainder LR before the remainder becomes 0, by adding 1, e.g. LR+1 as the check sum that is used to verify integrity of the bar code pattern 113. If header field 810 and checksum field 612 contain the expected bits, microcontroller 703 goes to step 908 and stores a number derived from bar code pattern 113 in a memory 703M as an identification code to be transmitted in wireless signal 111 (FIG. 3B). Thereafter, microcontroller 703 goes to step 909 and sets bar code valid flag true (e.g. a value 1), and then goes to sleep in step 903.
In step 907, if microcontroller 703 finds an error in either header field 810 (
In step 905, if a signal transition (e.g. an increase in voltage) did not occur at pin 703E (FIG. 7), microcontroller 703 goes to step 912 to check if a signal transition occurred on one of pins 703D and 703F. If a signal transition occurred on one of pins 703D and 703F, microcontroller 703 goes to step 913 to perform the calibration measurements and touch measurements as described above in reference to FIG. 6D. Thereafter, microcontroller 703 goes to step 914 and scales durations for the x, Y coordinates measured in step 913 into values in the range 0-255 as described above, for transmission to host device 120 (FIG. 2B).
Microcontroller 703 also sets a variable P to be, for example 0. Thereafter, microcontroller 703 goes to step 915 and encodes the variables e.g. x, y, P, and the identification code (determined in step 908 described above) to form a button code to be transmitted in wireless signal 111 (FIG. 3B). For example, in step 915, microcontroller 703 simply arranges value of variables x, y, P and identification code into a bit sequence to form the button code. Thereafter, microcontroller 703 goes to step 916 and computes a check sum, is described above in reference to checksum field 812 (
Next, microcontroller 703 goes to step 917 (
In step 917, if the bar code valid flag is false, microcontroller 703 goes to step 910 described above. A bar code valid flag can be false not only because a bar code pattern had an error, but for a variety of other reasons. For example, the bar code valid flag may be false if switch 202 is not activated (due to a mechanical failure) during insertion of rail 112 into rail 104 (FIG. 2C). Moreover, the bar code valid flag is false when batteries 108-108M (
Finally, when a user removes insert 31 (
In an alternative embodiment, a remote control 50 (
The alternative embodiment is cheaper to manufacture, because an analog multiplexer 702 (
Discrete switches SAA-SUV are formed in one embodiment by a number of conductive traces CA-CV (where A≦J≦V) formed on a left portion 1001 of a substrate 1000, and conductive traces RA-RU (where A≦I≦U) formed on a right portion 1002 of substrate 1000. Substrate 1000 can be formed of, for example, MYLAR, and the conductive traces CA-CV and RA-RU can be formed of, for example, carbon ink available from Atcheson Colloids.
Each of conductive traces CA-CV and RA-RU is connected to a number of switch portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 10A. Switch portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV are formed so that when substrate 1000 is folded at center line CL, left portion 1001 is overlaid on right portion 1002 and a switch portion EIJ on left portion 1001 overlaps a switch portion FIJ on right portion 1002, thereby to form a switch SIJ (FIG. 11). Portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV are formed as a comb structure, with teeth in switch portion EIJ on being formed transverse to the teeth of switch portion FIJ. Each comb structure is formed in a square area having a width of, e.g. 0.4 inch.
Also included in switches S1 are a number of dielectric traces DA-DM (
Remote control circuit 1100 is similar or identical to the above-described remote control circuit 700 (FIG. 7), except for the differences noted below. Specifically, remote control circuit 1100 includes a switch array S2. In an array S2, each of switches SAA-SUV (where array S2 has U rows and V columns) is coupled to two pins of microcontroller 1103. For example, switch SAA is coupled by a trace RA to pin 1105 and by a trace CA to pin 1109. Similarly, switch SUV is coupled by to pin 1107 and to pin 1110. Such discrete switches are available from, e.g. Henri Membrane Switch Manufacturing Co., 5/F No. 112 Wu-Kung Road, Wu-Ku Industrial Park, Wu-Ku Hsiang, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, Phone: (886) 2 2990096. In one implementation, microcontroller 1103 is part COP820CJ available from National Semiconductor Corporation.
In another embodiment, row traces RA-RU are formed on one sheet and column traces CA-CV are formed in another sheet (individual sheets are not shown in
Microcontroller 1103 determines that a switch, e.g. switch SIJ (where A≦I≦U and A≦J≦V) is closed by coupling one of the traces, e.g. column trace CJ to a source of the reference voltage VCC, and the other of the traces, e.g. row trace RI to an internal pulldown resistor (not shown), and the resistor is in turn coupled to a source of the ground reference voltage.
Initially, when switch SIJ is open, row trace RI is at 0 volts due to being coupled to the ground reference voltage source. Microcontroller 1103 waits for a signal transition on trace RI e.g. monitors a terminal 1108 that is coupled the row trace. When switch SIJ (
In one embodiment, microcontroller 1103 performs the steps of a method 1200 (
However, if there was a signal transition, microcontroller 1103 goes to step 1213. In step 1213, microcontroller 1103 determines the identity of a closed switch SIJ, in the manner described above. Thereafter, microcontroller 1103 goes to step 1114 and converts the identity ( ) f switch SIJ into, for example, the Cartesian coordinates x, y mapped into the range 0-255. In another variant of the embodiment, microcontroller 1103 merely translates the identity of switch IJ into the row I and column J.
Next, in step 1115, microcontroller 1103 encodes the identity of switch SIJ, e.g. the x, y coordinates and a variable P that is set to 0 if a switch in array S1 is closed, and set to 1 if a switch in array S2 is closed. Microcontroller 1103 encodes the variables x, y, P and an identification code into a button code in a manner similar to that described above in reference to step 915. Thereafter, microcontroller 1103 performs the above-described steps, e.g. step 916.
In one particular embodiment, host device 120 performs the method 1500 (
In step 1502, if the variable "mode" is not set to the 1-touch mode, host device 120 goes to step 1505 and checks if the coordinates (x,y) of the touched location fall within the command area AR (FIG. 5J). If so, host device 120 goes to step 1506 and executes a 2-touch subroutine 1520 (described below in reference to FIG. 15C). In step 1505, if the decision is no, host device 120 goes to step 1507 to check if the coordinates (x,y) of the touched location fall within content area such as one of areas A1-A7. If so, host device 120 goes to step 1508 and sets previously saved (x,y) coordinates (also called "last (x, y)" coordinates) to be the current (x,y) coordinates. Thereafter host device 120 goes to step 1509 and returns to step 1501.
In 1-touch subroutine 1510, host device 120 checks if the coordinates (x,y) indicate a command (also called "page select command") to select a page (in step 1511), for example by looking up a table (as described above). If so, host device 120 goes to step 1512 and switches to a new page as indicated by the table. Next, host device 120 goes to step 1513 and checks if the last (x,y) coordinates are valid for the current page. If so, host device 120 goes to step 1514 and executes a subroutine indicated by the table for the last (x,y) coordinates, e.g. to display the selected information. Next, host device 120 goes to step 1515 and sets to null coordinates, and exits the subroutine. If in step 1513, the decision is no, host device 120 exits the subroutine. In step 1511, if the decision is no, host device 120 goes to step 1516 and changes the variable mode to be 1-touch, and thereafter exits the subroutine.
In 2-touch subroutine 1520, host device 120 checks to see if the coordinates (x,y) fall within the content area, e.g. one of areas A1-A7. If so, host device 120 goes to step 1522 and executes a subroutine indicated by the table for the (x,y) coordinates, e.g. displays a letter of the alphabet indicated by a key in a keyboard. Thereafter, host device 120 exits the subroutine 1520.
In step 1521, if the answer is no, host device 120 goes to step 1523 and checks if the (x,y) coordinates indicate (via the table) a page select command. If so, host device 120 goes to step 1525 and switches to a new page as indicated by the table. Next, host device 120 goes to step 1526 and executes a subroutine indicated by the table for the last (x,y) coordinates. Next, host device 120 goes to step 1527 and sets to null the last (x,y) coordinate:3, and exits the subroutine. In step 1523, if the decision is no, host device 120 goes to step 1524 and changes the variable mode to indicate the two-touch mode, and then exits the subroutine.
Numerous variations and modifications will be obvious to a person of skill in the art of remote controls in view of the disclosure.
Therefore, in an alternative embodiment, the information to be displayed is not retrieved from a storage media. Instead, wireless signal 111 (aB) causes host device 140 to display a currently broadcast TV program on a channel identified by the touched location in the remote control. Therefore, in the alternative embodiment, touching a description of the TV program "HOME IMPROVEMENT" printed in a magazine "TV GUIDE™" mounted on a remote control base as described herein causes host device 120 to automatically switch to a channel that currently carries the TV program "HOME IMPROVEMENT". If no channel carries a selected TV program, host device 120 displays an appropriate error message, e.g. "PLEASE TUNE IN AT 7:30 P.M. FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT".
Also, although leaf 11 is illustrated as having only one code, leaf 11 can have additional codes, e.g. at edge 11F to be read by identity reader 23 when leaf 11 is flipped over sideways and inserted with edge 11F adjacent to reader 23. Moreover, in one embodiment, base 32 includes batteries (not shown) of the "stick-on peel-off" type as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/692,994 incorporated by reference above.
Furthermore, although in one embodiment printed publication 11 is a periodical, in another embodiment, printed publication if; a children's picture book. Moreover, although in the above-described embodiment, there is a reserved area AR on each leaf, in an alternative embodiment marks 114A-114M are interspersed among various touch sensitive areas with no touch sensitive area overlapping any of marks 114A-114M, and none of marks 114A-114M overlapping each other. In the alternative embodiment if touch sensitive areas overlap, identity of a touched area is resolved from the identity of the leaves currently in use as described above.
Moreover, although not described above, a remote control base 32 (FIG. J.) can have (in addition to the above-described button(s) 12) buttons labeled with printed content on the button's surface, e.g. buttons labeled "1", "2", . . . "0", "SKIP", "REPEAT", "INFO", "<-", "->" as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/550,976 incorporated by reference above (see FIG. 6H and the related description).
Furthermore, although certain fasteners are described above (e.g. rails 104 and 112, clip 502, sleeve 521, and channel:3 531-532), other fasteners can also be used. Hence, ill another embodiment, the base has the form of a normal three ring binder (not shown), and the attached printed publication has three holes adjacent to the spine. In yet another embodiment, the base has the form of a manila file folder (not shown) having a clip at the top edge of the inner side of the back cover of the folder.
Furthermore, although LED 105 (
Moreover, although in one embodiment substrates 601 and 602 are formed of MYLAR, substrates 601 and 602 can be formed of other materials such as paper or LDPE plastic in other embodiments. Furthermore, although in some embodiments a leaf 11 (
Note that although remote control circuit 700, and a host device 120 have been described briefly above in one embodiment of the invention, such a remote control circuit and a host device are described related applications incorporated by reference above, for example the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/816,616 filed on Mar. 12, 1997.
Various modifications and adaptations of the above-described embodiments are covered by the attached claims.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
Referenced by
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text:
PRESTONSBURG — A Prestonsburg woman was arrested Thursday, after Floyd County Animal Control and sheriff's deputies found dozens of maltreated, barely alive dogs, as well as garbage bags full of dead dogs in one home.
Authorities say Vanessa Howard, of Prestonsburg, had in her possession 30 animals and neglected to provide adequate food, drink, space, health and care to animal. Howard was arrested Thursday by Floyd County Sheriff's deputies and lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center. She was arraigned Friday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint, Howard had seven dead dogs inside a garbage bag on her front porch and two other dogs were found dead inside her home at 1815 Abbott Creek. Twelve dogs were found inside the home.
In Howard's Prestonsburg residence at 127 North Front Street, authorities found "nine cats living in feces and no health care and were blocked inside a small area for living quarters."
Howard has been charged with 30 counts of second-degree cruelty to animals.
Beth Shortridge, with the Floyd County Attorney's Office, says Howard also maintains a residence in Montgomerty County, and that the Montgomery County Sheriff's office had been notified to investigate that residence. At press time, there was no word of any additional charges.
Howard is being held on a $25,000 full cash bond.
Second-degree cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor and carries with it a possible maximum sentence of 12 months in jail.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hang tight!
Recipe by tahoegirl
"This spread is delicious on turkey sandwiches or as a dressing for chicken salads."
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1/2 cup
1/2 cup
whole berry cranberry sauce
1 teaspoon
poppy seeds
This is outstanding, and PERFECT for turkey sandwiches. I always loved mayo with cranberry sauce on sandwiches, but combining the two and adding poppy seeds makes such a difference. We ate this for days on our sandwiches, and I could see using this with chicken also. I made a half batch using Hellmann's mayo and a half batch with Miracle Whip, we loved both! I can't wait to use this for a chicken salad or turkey salad, adding in some diced celery and onion. Thanks for sharing this wonderful, easy spread :)
Easy, basic and delicious!
8 Ratings
Ooh, this is good. I made it for a dressing for turkey meatloaf and I used jellied sauce (didn't have whole berry), but I can't wait to try it on day-after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. OH! And I'm going to try it as a base for turkey salad too.
I LOVE this! Perfect for Thanksgiving leftover turkey sandwiches! So easy but tasty - the poppy seeds are a nice twist. I made this with plain canned whole berry sauce and "Smart Beat" mayo-type spread. I also think this would be fabulous with a little spice in it - like if you make homemade cranberries with a little jalapeno kick. Great idea! I will make this often!
Yummy!!! I always have my turkey sandwiches with mayo and cranberry sauce, I've never thought to mix the two together. I was great, I got to mix some for me and the kids still got to eat their cranberry "jello". I think the poppy seeds could easily be left out, but I added them for extra fun :-), thanks tahoegirl
This was amazing...I put it on "Becky's Chicken Salad". I made no changes to this cranberry sauce ...except used Chia seeds instead of poppy...couldn't find them.
Gosh, who would have thought? I like mayo on turkey sammies, and I like cranberry while I am eating turkey, and DH loves every bite of turkey to have a bite of cranberry, so this was a hit! I used lite Miracle Whip, a little more cranberry, and zero poppy seeds. I also added a few dashes of chili sauce but I couldnt taste it and I didnt want to over do it on the first go. Love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
great on turkey leftovers! I needed to put more cranberry to mayo ratio though....
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Cranberry Poppy Seed Mayonnaise
Serving Size: 1/16 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 16
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 63
Calories from Fat: 50
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Autumn Bayles '92 is spearheading construction of Tasty Baking Company's new state-of-the-art bakery and headquarters.
A sizable whiteboard, covered with notes scrawled in black marker, hangs along one wall of Autumn Bayles' airy, sunlit office. Binders and papers are stacked neatly on her desk. Sketches of her company's new headquarters, whose construction she's overseeing, rest upright on the floor, propped against another wall.
It's a pretty standard corporate setting for a senior vice president for strategic operations.
But in the center of the large conference table that stretches underneath the whiteboard is a basket filled with packages of Tastykakes, the iconic Philadelphia pastries that have sustained countless school kids, campers, and late-night snackers. The basket is not sitting on the table because Bayles has a sweet tooth.
It is there for professional reasons: Bayles may not wield a spatula or run a mixer, but with a Blackberry and a briefcase, she's every bit as important to Tasty Baking Company's success as her bakery colleagues.
Bayles runs Tasty's operations, manufacturing, and supply-chain functions, while also shepherding the construction of the company's new, state-of-the-art bakery and headquarters.
"I wear two hats," she says. "I work on this"— here she points to the artist's renderings of the new facility— "but then I also am very focused on our front operations. We're a bakery, so it's not like we can bake a bunch of stuff and leave it there for a year and then pay attention to this. The stuff only lasts a couple of days. We have a couple of weeks, a couple of days on certain items. Every day has to be a good day in a bakery."
After graduating from Lehigh in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, Bayles hooked up with Pricewaterhouse's consulting arm. Following the accounting firm's merger with Coopers & Lybrand, the new company set up its consultants in a separate division within the company. But when the Enron fiasco took down Andersen Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers, now skittish about having its consulting division linked with its auditors, sold the section to IBM.
The move would have repercussions for Bayles.
"I didn't want to work for a huge conglomerate," she says. "Once the IBM merger happened, I hung out for a little while, and then I sort of figured I preferred a smaller environment."
Before long, a former classmate from the Wharton School, where Bayles had earned her MBA, came calling. He had recently accepted the chief financial officer's post at Tasty Baking and wanted to know if Bayles was interested in the company's open chief information officer slot.
"Having that thought in the back of my head that, gee, I really missed the smallness of Pricewaterhouse—not that it's small, but it had sort of a family firm feeling—I kind of yearned to go back," she says. "It was a great opportunity. I said, 'Do I get free cupcakes?' They said yes. I said, 'I'll take the job.'"
Among Bayles' first assignments was implementing an enterprise resource planning system at Tasty's aging facilities. She gradually took on other roles and in time was promoted to her current position. While retaining her operational responsibilities, Bayles is also spearheading the construction project that will see the company relocate later this year from Philadelphia's Hunting Park section to the old Navy Yard in South Philly. That part of her job has brought new challenges.
"We have to essentially re-engineer all of the production lines that are in the bakery," she says. "We've had eighty-some years to do that. Then we sort of in an instant replicate that and make it better. We want to have more automation, better flexibility, more modern technology."
Bayles is careful to spread credit for Tasty Baking's turnaround to her colleagues at the company, many of them decades-long veterans, but it was her training and experience that allowed her to aggressively confront the venerable brand's operational issues and find ways to solve them.
"What I was taught at Lehigh is that, especially in an engineering discipline, you don't necessarily know how you're going to solve the problem when you start to solve it. So that's OK, don't be afraid, just keep going," says Bayles, who recalls buying Krimpets along with sweatshirts at the Lehigh Bookstore during her undergraduate days.
Bayles does not see herself as a role model, though she acknowledges that women are underrepresented in technical positions such as the one she holds. The demands of her job are foremost on her mind, but once in a while, she says, she steps back and tries to encourage other women to pursue technical careers.
Through participation in professional associations, such as the Fort Washington, Pa.-based Forum of Executive Women, which elected her its treasurer for 2008-09, she tries to set an example, especially for girls and younger women.
"Some little girls just aren't interested in technical areas," Bayles says. "OK, fine, they're going to do other things. But then there are others that I think have an interest and are told they shouldn't. That's who you want to get to.
"Then," she adds, "there are some who have an interest and just don't care what anybody thinks. That's sort of like me."
Indeed, Bayles' involvement in technical matters dates to her girlhood, when she developed an interest in science and engineering. She played with Legos and Star Wars toys and such. Equally important, her parents encouraged Bayles' interests.
"My father is a chemist and never said to me, 'Gee, Autumn, why would you be doing something as silly as that?' He'd always be explaining stuff to me," Bayles says. "That helped me. It wasn't until I got to school that I start remembering people saying, 'That's a little weird that you would like that or that you would be interested,' but it was too late."
That early tendency to do her own thing has evolved, at Tasty Baking, into a willingness to dive right in and tinker around in the pursuit of improvement.
And it hasn't gone unnoticed. Walking a visitor through Tasty's current headquarters, Bayles bumps into company CEO Charles Pizzi, who shares immediate—and unsolicited—praise.
"She's terrific—simply terrific," Pizzi says. "Professionally and personally, she's a leader—a true leader."
True leaders are often decisive, of course, and Bayles is no exception. When she is invited to share which of Tastykake's almost countless products is her favorite—a question many would consider akin to being asked to identify their favorite child—she answers swiftly.
"That's easy," she says. "It's the buttercream iced chocolate cream-filled cupcakes. It was my favorite when I walked in here five years ago, and it's still my favorite."
Photos by Ryan Donnell
Posted on Friday, September 18, 2009
150 ft.
Tastykake's oven is half the length of a regulation football field (300 ft.).
1.4 million
doughnuts are made every day.
pies are baked each day.
bushels of apples are used each year.
8 million
peanut butter sandwiches could be made with the same amount of peanut butter that is used in Kandy Kakes in a year.
4.8 million
cakes, doughnuts, cookies, and pies are baked each day. The first day of operations in 1914, Tastykake bakers produced 100 cakes.
Chocolate Juniors are baked weekly.
Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes are baked a day.
160 million
Butterscotch Krimpets are made over a year.
79 million
Chocolate Cupcakes are made over a year.
135,000 lbs.
of sugar are used daily.
The top-selling item in the entire Tastykake line of products is Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes.
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It is only a matter of time before a YouTube filmmaker wins Oscar gold and my money is on Joe Penna. His videos have 325 million views and he has over 2.5 million subscribers to his MysteryGuitarMan YouTube channel. Mainstream America was first introduced to him in THIS McDonald's McDonald's commercial.
YouTube is largely populated by videos that cater to the medium's overwhelming young and male demographic. Thus, channels focused on gaming and adolescent humor abound. Yet, despite the explosion in the number of YouTubers, the medium has relatively few genuine filmmakers. Joe's intelligent, creative and entertaining videos satisfy the young YouTube viewer's comedy fix while crossing over to a more mature and sophisticated audience.
"I had a video called the Guitar Impossible… that video had millions and millions and millions of hits. But… it was difficult…
I was making about $900 a month and my rent was $850 a month. I had to steal my neighbors WiFi. I had to sleep on the floor. I had to sit in the hallway and plug into the building's electricity."
Joe Penna, aka MysteryGuitarMan
Joe Penna came to America speaking two English words ("welcome" and "balloon"). Just as Brian Wilson learned the craft of songwriting as a High School recluse, Joe's inherent shyness and limited vocabulary caused him to begin his film career in his bedroom.
According to Joe,"… the fact that I couldn't speak English that well made it very difficult for me to socialize. (It) made me a recluse, basically… so that I was online a majority of the time… if you're a very shy person, that's what ends up happening. You spend all your time on the Internet.
I started making YouTube videos, just for fun… there were just a couple people on YouTube at the time. I figured I could try something different, and since I still wasn't that great at talking… I started doing special effects and things like that."
You can watch/listen to our 17-minute discussion below:
Hobby + Passion = (Eventual) Success
Joe's immigrant parents were excited that he was on the road to becoming a doctor. However, he shocked them by pursuing a film career in lieu of medical school."(In college) I was studying to be a doctor… and I realized that… my hobby was actually my passion. I didn't wanna be doing medicine. I just wanted to do YouTube videos instead."
Joe's first breakthrough video was The Puzzle, which leveraged crude butclever editing (562 edits, to be exact). The popularity of this low-budget video alerted Joe to the possibility of launching a film career via YouTube."I had The Puzzle, which was my Rubik's Cube video (from) way back in the day. And that's kinda what made me realize that there was something to YouTube. That got to… almost one million hits, which at the time was very impressive. That's what made me quit college basically. [LAUGHS] After I got my Bachelors, I was going to keep going (to medical school, but) I decided not to. After that video… I kept trying and trying and trying, working in Boston… eventually I did Guitar Impossible there, which was very, very popular. That's when I decided, 'That's it. I've got to move to Los Angeles, because that's where I'll be able to make it.'"
Ford loaned Joe a car in exchange for some in-video promotions. Not able to afford airfare, Joe drove the loaned car to California. However, like most overnight successes that are years in the making, Joe's hard work had only just begun. Despite working as an itinerate video editor, Joe was forced to sell some of his personal possessions to pay his rent. "Yeah, there was one lens…for my still camera… that was very difficult to sell. I sold it one, because I couldn't make rent that month… and because I wanted to go on a date with a very pretty girl, who's now my wife."
Guitar Impossible… had millions and millions and millions of hits…but it slows down eventually. It was difficult for me because I didn't know what was next. I was making about $900 a month, and my rent was $850 a month. I had to steal my neighbor's WiFi. I had to sleep on the floor. I had to sit out in the hallway, and plug into the building's electricity."
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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch available for pre-booking in IndiaPosted by Allwyn on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 12:28
The much awaited successor to the Note II was launched at IFA 2013 in Berlin, along with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. Both these gadgets are now available for pre-order on Samsung's official Indian e-store.
Samsung haven't mentioned the price yet, but interested parties can pay Rs 2,000 to pre-book the devices. They can pay the rest of the amount when the devices are available.
Galaxy Gear will be available in Jet Black, Mocha Gray, Wild Orange, Oatmeal Beige, Rose Gold, and Lime Green while Galaxy Note 3 in Jet Black, Classic White, and Blush. Both the devices are set to launch starting from September 25 in more than 140 countries around the world. A Galaxy Gear user can make calls, display messages, record videos and snap photos with its 1.9 megapixel camera. The smartwatch has a 1.63-inch OLED display.
The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean based Galaxy Note 3 has a 5.7-inch full-HD Super AMOLED display. The LTE-variant is powered by 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, and the 3G (HSDPA) version is powered by a 1.9GHz octa-core Exynos processor. They are equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera alongside a 2-megapixel front camera. The device comes with 3,200mAh battery.


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Cuisinart 10-Piece Grill Tool Set
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text:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A new bill could allow students to study the Bible in North Carolina schools. No student would be required to take the class. It would be offered as an elective.
The bill would allow students to earn elective credits toward graduation. The course would focus on the Old Testament and the New Testament or a combination of both. The bill filed would allow bible study as an elective in public high schools.
Sen. Thom Goolsby (R-9th District) is a co-sponsor of the bill.
"It's a historic document," Goolsby said. "It's a very important text for our children to study and learn."
Goolsby says we should not deny our kids the opportunity to learn about the Bible if they want to.
We also spoke with New Hanover County School Board Chair Don Hayes. Both men think that the majority of people will support the bill.
"I think it would be a good idea, so that way it would give a choice if you wanted to take it, and it wouldn't offend anybody, because you would be taking what you wanted to take, and they would be taking the option not to take it," Sonya Smith, a supporter of the bill, said.
But not everyone agrees. Similar religious courses offered in public schools around the country have been a cause of concern. Many people think there should be a separation of church and state.
"The separation of church and state I thoroughly believe in," said Robert Kelly, who's against the bill. "There's way too much religious influence in our society today."
Kelly said sometimes a good thing can be a bad thing.
If the bill passes, school systems will have the option to implement the course or not. As for those who still have concerns, a dozen lawmakers in the GOP controlled Senate have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, including three Democrats.