DE29815839U1 - Translink device for accessing an electronic address - Google Patents

Description

CONTRAPTION

To access an electronic address

The present invention relates to automatically accessing an electronic address and, in particular, to an apparatus for linking conventional printed media with information available on-line, for example on the Internet.

For this purpose, the device according to the invention for automatically accessing an electronic address comprises:

(a) means for reading information arranged on a medium representing the electronic address;

b) a device for processing the information read; and

(c) means for establishing a connection to the electronic address.

The read information is then processed in a processing device. The read information is then converted into a form that corresponds to the electronic address and is compatible with the system that provides the electronic address. The address thus processed is then fed to a computer, for example, to establish a connection with the electronic address.

For example, a specialist magazine contains an Internet address that points to a very specific provider's page. This address can be very long under certain circumstances. This address is then read according to the device according to the invention, for example with a pen-shaped scanner, processed, and fed by the processing device via the connection establishment device directly to an Internet browser, which then automatically navigates to the desired page.

translink :"::!! :"::*': :*V!

1 .Area of application:

With the device according to the invention, conventional
printed media (magazines, newspapers, books, documents) can be linked with online information, e.g. on the Internet, intranet, corporate or local computer networks. This will significantly change navigation on the World Wide Web (WWW). The device according to the invention, called TRANSLINK, will significantly change the input of the HTTP address (or other addresses such as e-mail, ICQ etc.) as manual input is no longer required. The process of entering addresses is shortened, it is direct in that it operates on the screen like a hyperlink and the process is simplified as manual input is no longer required.

With the current state of technology, it is necessary to enter full addresses, such as Internet addresses, manually.
For example, you can only reach a specific page of an addressee or provider by entering information several times from different addresses or by browsing the web in a cumbersome and time-consuming way, which is costly and also involves the risk of incorrect input.

The conventional input technology is also tiring for the eyes.
In addition, long addresses in advertisements have a negative impact on the layout in print media. These disadvantages make it difficult to create a link between advertising texts in print media and those in online databases.

In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of eliminating these difficulties and providing a device that is error-free.

In addition, direct access from the printed medium to the online medium should be created.

The invention is based on the basic idea of reading the printed information that represents the electronic address and processing it in such a way that this address can be accessed directly.

2. The innovation of direct, fast, unmistakable and error-free access from the printed medium to online data is characterized by the fact that an electronic connection is established which directly links the different media without manual input.

This link marks printed characters, trademarks, logos, images and words as well as word combinations, and it enables the user and his computer hardware to clearly distinguish them from the rest of the text.

The device according to the invention detects changes in the graphic expression of letters or words, e.g. special fonts, color changes of fonts and/or backgrounds, special

_b Colours such as fluorescent or metallic colours,

those with special physical properties that

\ Have the ability to contain magnetic or optical data,

Changes in surface structures such as reliefs, different layers in printing and varnishing.

The device according to the invention in a further embodiment also recognizes graphic additions such as lines, additional characters,

! letters and the like.

Furthermore, in another embodiment, the device according to the invention detects embedded hidden data in the graphic representation by mathematically calculating the graphic shape of the printed object.

Preferably, the device according to the invention also recognizes other possibilities of existing technologies for placing data fields on data-carrying media, such as barcodes, magnetic data media, holographic films, reflective films, changes in the surface of the carrying medium.

^* The reading device preferably comprises:

Optical handheld scanners with wireless data transmission to the

Computers or other scanners, or

Barcode readers or

Video camera. The connection can be established by
the object to be recognized is marked by pointing with a finger or the object is spoken using an existing speech recognition program, or

manually operated minicomputer with corresponding input device, such as optical scanner. Barcode j reader, magnetic reader, or

Relief recognition system, which is able to detect different
To differentiate surface structures, topographic reader.

The recognition of the information by the computer hardware and/or

Software is provided, for example, by:
Optical recognition of the word, image or character.
Recognition of data in embedded words, images or characters.
Comparison with existing words, images or characters and their links in the existing data set, such as links via hyperlinks on websites on the WWW.

3. The device according to the invention can also be installed in addition to existing browser programs such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer or others and existing hardware can be used.

The TRANSLINK device according to the invention has the following advantages:

The link is extremely fast, error-free, unmistakable, has a clear assignment, and opens the targeted page on the Internet directly.

In addition, this innovation opens up new ways to make electronic addresses more aesthetically pleasing in a graphical way, as they can be embedded in any type of image or character.
Since the eyes no longer have to switch from paper or another data storage device to the screen, the innovation also protects the eyes and thus prevents them from becoming overtired.

The application area of TRANSLINK technology:
In newspapers, magazines or other printed media, TRANSLINK's new technology enables navigation on the Internet and other databases.

Collecting WWW addresses from newspapers and magazines.
Entering business card and business address data through direct access to the creditor's home page or to any of its online databases with open personnel files.
In interactive multimedia learning programs for PCs, for example, you can hear the pronunciation of a foreign word by using a scanner to mark the word in the text, which is then read out via TRANSLINK.

TRANSLrNK signs can be placed on any surface, including walls, to help visually impaired people find their way using online-connected minicomputers with cameras.

Claims (10)

Safety requirements 1. A device for automatically accessing an electronic address comprising: (a) a device for reading information arranged on a medium which represents the electronic address: b) a device for processing the information read; and (c) a means for establishing a connection with the electronic address. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the reading device comprises a scanner. 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the reading device comprises a camera. 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the reading device comprises a barcode reader. 5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the reading device is suitable for reading relief films. 6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the reading device is suitable for reading a magnetic carrier. 7. Device according to one of claims 1-6, wherein the electronic address is an Internet or e-mail address 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the processing means converts the read information into the electronic address. 9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the connection establishment device enters the obtained electronic address into an Internet browser. 10. Device according to one of claims 1-9, wherein the information on the medium comprises letters, numbers, symbols and/or graphics.