Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2003-03-18
Rones, Charles (Department: 2175)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C705S014270, C705S014270, C705S026640, C705S037000, C709S218000, C345S684000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06535889
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to computer systems for displaying interactive electronic documents. More particularly, the present invention relates to computer systems for displaying interactive electronic representations associated with static media objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Although the Internet has quickly become a popular source for information, entertainment, and commerce, traditional static media that includes physical publications, like magazines and newspapers, continues to enjoy popularity among readers. Due to the low cost and superior portability of traditional static media, it is likely to continue to thrive as a source of information, entertainment, and commerce into and throughout the Information Age.
Despite the continued popularity of traditional static media, the limitations of the medium become apparent when compared to today's Internet-based information sources, like the world-wide-web (“WWW” or “web”). For example, traditional static media may take much longer to produce than electronically-available content, and may be considerably more expensive to produce due to printing costs. Moreover, traditional static media typically cannot provide the depth of content permitted by electronic publications. Because traditional static media cannot be associated with, or “hot-linked” to, additional sources of information like electronic publications can, traditional static media cannot provide the virtually infinite depth of content provided by electronic publications.
This severe limitation on the depth of content provided by traditional static media can be very frustrating for readers and, in particular, shoppers. For example, an article about a celebrity in a traditional print-based magazine or physical publication may show one or more photographs of the celebrity. A reader of the magazine that enjoys the article and wants to learn more about the celebrity may perform a web search for additional information about the celebrity. But, what if the reader desires additional information regarding a parka the celebrity is wearing in one of the magazine photographs? The reader may turn to a web search engine for assistance, but without knowing the manufacturer of the parka or other information, any Internet search by the reader is likely to be futile. Even if the reader knows the name of the manufacturer of the parka, the reader may be unable to locate the manufacturer's web site, and may be unable to determine if the manufacturer has a web site at all. Similarly, the reader may be unable to obtain information regarding furniture or other objects shown in the photographs with the article. This inability to locate additional information about objects shown in traditional static media publications can be extremely frustrating for a reader.
As another example of how the limitations of traditional static media may be frustrating to readers, consider the reader of a traditional print-based skiing magazine (also referred to as a physical publication). An article in a skiing magazine may feature pictures of a skier on a beautifully groomed slope with a quaint ski lodge in the background. However, in most cases, all of the objects in the photographs will not be identified. Therefore, the reader may have a great degree of difficulty locating the ski resort, the type of ski bindings worn by the skier, or even the exact slope that the skier is on. This inability to locate information related to traditional static media publications is extremely frustrating for consuming readers.
Similar to traditional static media, conventional static media present in some electronic publications on the Internet, typically do not provide any detailed information about products shown in digital or electronic images within the electronic publication. While such digital or electronic images may be “hot-linked” to corresponding Internet sites, such static media do not provide a break down of products forming the digital or electronic image contained within the electronic publication. Conventional electronic publications generally do not provide instantaneous product descriptions and separate enlarged views of each of the products shown within the image. For example, an electronic publication, such as a web page, may provide a graphics image of a skiing scene similar to the one discussed above that shows a skier on a beautifully groomed slope with a quaint ski lodge in the background. If the reader wants more information about the individual objects depicted in the skiing scene, such as an enlarged view of the skis or a complete description as to their identification and possible retail location or both, the reader may need to initiate an internet or web search to ascertain this type of product or service information. Such an internet search could be rather time consuming without any guarantee of success.
Therefore, in light of these problems, there is a need for a system and method for displaying an interactive electronic representation of a corresponding static media object that can easily associate a traditional static media object, such as a magazine page, or conventional static media objects, such as digital or electronic images contained within conventional electronic publications, to an interactive electronic representation of a static media object. There is a further need for a system and method for displaying an interactive electronic representation of a corresponding traditional static media object that can “hot-link” objects in printed publications to related electronic documents. There is an additional need for a system and method for displaying an interactive electronic representation of a corresponding static media object that can track demographic information regarding consumers of traditional static media objects, such as magazines and newspapers, and conventional static media objects, such as electronic publications containing digital images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the problems described above by providing a method and system for displaying an interactive electronic representation of a static media object (an “IER”), such as a page in a magazine, newspaper, a digital image contained within an electronic publication, etc., that associates a static media object with a unique identifier. The present invention advantageously allows a consumer of the static media object (i.e. the reader of the magazine, newspaper, or electronic publication) to utilize the unique identifier to easily access the corresponding IER. The present invention also allows the consumer to quickly locate additional information regarding aspects of the static media object by interacting with the IER using a computing device, like a personal computer or personal digital assistant.
Generally described, the present invention permits access to an IER by associating a unique identification tag with a static media object. The unique identification tag is also associated with the IER, which is stored in a computer database. In this manner, an application program for retrieving the IER embodying aspects of the present invention may receive the unique identification tag and, based upon the unique identification tag, locate and display the corresponding IER. A user of the application program may then interact with the IER by selecting a portion of the IER. When a portion of the IER is selected, additional information regarding the selected portion of the IER may be displayed to the user.
More specifically described, the present invention associates a static media object with a unique identification tag. For traditional static media objects, the unique identification tag may be printed or otherwise displayed on or adjacent to the static media object, preferably in a conspicuous location. For conventional static media objects, such as electronic publications containing digital images, a static media object in the form of a digital image may automatically pass a hidden unique identification tag to the application program when the user “clicks on” or activates th
Harris, III James Edwin
Headrick Garland Todd
Hutchinson Kristopher Derek
Hyser Stephen Andrew
Mannik Peeter Todd
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Mannik Peeter Todd
Rones Charles
Sutcliffe Geoff L.
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