Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Richard Anthony Lawrence

James Thomas Edward McDonnell

John Deryk Waters

Maurizio Pilu

Robert Francis Squibbs

Fraser John Dickin

David Neil Slatter

Guy De Warrenne Bruce Adams

Abigail Jane Sellen

Glenn Peter Hall

Keith Alexander Harrison

Huw Robson

Stefek Malkowski Zaba

James T Edward McDonnell

Stuart Phillip Stenton

A method of providing information, the method comprising interrogating a memory tag; receiving content from the memory tag by wireless electromagnetic communication in response to the interrogation, the memory tag comprising a memory and a transponder to enable the wireless electromagnetic communication; storing the content; sending a release request to an authorizer; receiving a release confirmation from the authorizer in response to the release request; and releasing the stored content in response to receipt of the release confirmation. The memory tag may contain encrypted content. A plurality of said release requests may be sent, each release request having an associated cost. An aggregate cost can then be calculated in accordance with the sum of the associated costs.

Memory tag, method for providing information and enabling the release of stored content, and apparatus therefor

A memory tag is a transponder device with a memory for storing digital content. Purchase-related information for a product is stored in such a memory tag. A write capability of the memory tag is disabled.

Storage of purchase-related information

Apparatus for providing electronic data associated with an item to a user, the apparatus comprising a memory tag scanner arranged to communicate with a memory tag associated with an item, a user profile memory arranged to store user profile data therein, an output interface arranged to provided data to a user, and a data processor arranged to cause data to be selectively read from the memory tag associated with an item and the data to be selectively provided to a user via the output interface in accordance with the stored user profile data.

Method and apparatus for providing electronic data

A physical object is provided that comprises a base medium, such as a paper sheet, and a memory tag embedded in it or attached to it. The memory tag stores at least one data item and location data relating each of one or more areas on the object's surface to a corresponding data item. Preferably, the data item or items stored by the tag comprise a print data item representing an item printed on the object, and/or a meta data item representing an instruction, or data to be output, in response to user selection of the corresponding area on the object's surface. Apparatus is provided for writing the data items and location data to the memory tag; apparatus is also provided for subsequently using the location data for interpreting user selections made by indicating positions on the object.

Physical object with memory tag and apparatus for use with such objects

A physical object is provided that comprises a base medium, such as a paper sheet, and multiple memory tags embedded in it or attached to it. At least one of the memory tags stores location data concerning a location relationship between the object and one or more of the tags. The location data can comprise, for example, tag-location data giving the location in or on the object of the or each tag concerned, or area-of-responsibility data indicating the area of the object's surface for which the or each tag concerned has responsibility in terms of storing related data items such as print data items. Apparatus is provided for writing the location data; apparatus is also provided for subsequently using and displaying the location data particularly for facilitating access to data items stored by the tags.

Physical object with memory tags and apparatus for writing and using such objects

A representational object contains a visual representation of a character and a memory tag comprising a digital memory adapted to be read from when inductively powered. The digital memory contains digital content relating to the character represented visually on the representational object. At least a part of the digital content relates to function of the character in a game carried out by a gaming application and comprises executable code for execution in connection with operation of the gaming application.

Physical representational objects with digital memory and methods of manufacture and use thereof

A wearable computing apparatus includes a processor; a device for presenting information from the processor to a user, and a device for providing user input to the processor in response to the information presented to the user. The device is adapted to be activated wholly or partly by a foot of the user.

Foot activated user interface

A security document, comprises a printed document and one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader, and wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred. Methods of publishing and of reading such security documents are described.

Secure physical documents, and methods and apparatus for publishing and reading them

A published document comprises a printed document and at least one memory attached to the printed document, wherein said at least one memory comprises an electrical circuit without an integral power source but may be powered wirelessly so that it may transmit information wirelessly, wherein at least a portion of the information stored in the published document for display to the user is provided in said at least one memory. A method of viewing information in such a published document comprises viewing information printed in the printed document, powering the memory circuit with a reader device to transmit information stored in the memory circuit to the reader device wirelessly, and displaying the information stored in the memory circuit by means of the reader device for viewing by the user. An appropriate reader device and method for publishing the document are described.

Physical multimedia documents, and methods and apparatus for publishing and reading them

A computing apparatus comprises a processor unitand a foot control unitin addition to a device for presenting information to a user such as a microdisplay. Movement of the foot, which drives operation of a selection element, provides user input to the processor unit. The foot control unit contains a position sensorthat detects position relative to a reference unitin the processor unitA stream of relative position data is used to indicate alternative options at the information presentation device. Selection may be carried out by various alternative methods in different embodiments &#x2014;if the position sensoris also an orientation sensor, this may be by rotation of the foot. This arrangement is particularly suitable for a wearable computing apparatus.

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S. Glos, United Kingdom

Richard Anthony Lawrence