Wireless Information Delivery via Embedded Content Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information providing systems for portable terminals require cumbersome operations, such as entering access codes and product identification codes, and are not easily adaptable to existing facilities, making it difficult for users and providers to obtain information without introducing new devices or facilities, especially with the vast amount of information available on the Internet.

Innovation Solution

An information providing system that includes a portable terminal with an IC chip and an information providing apparatus capable of wireless communication, where the apparatus embeds transmission target information and control information in content, allowing the browser to instruct the wireless communication unit to transmit this information to the portable terminal, enabling contactless communication and simplifying the process of obtaining information by users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users enter access codes and product identification codes to obtain information, then information can be provided to users, but the operation becomes cumbersome and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the code input step from the information obtaining process. Instead of requiring users to manually enter access codes and product identification codes, the system uses a camera to capture a product code (such as a barcode or QR code) directly from the product packaging, and automatically transmits it to the server to retrieve information. This eliminates the cumbersome manual code entry operation while maintaining the information provision function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If information providers develop new programs and servers to search for product information, then information can be provided, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the server system universal by enabling it to handle multiple types of information provision requests through a unified architecture. The server receives product codes from various sources (camera capture, manual input), searches for corresponding information in its database, and provides relevant details. This multi-functional design allows the same server infrastructure to serve diverse information needs without requiring separate specialized systems for each type of information retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If users can access huge amounts of information on the Internet, then information availability increases, but it becomes difficult for information providers to prompt users to obtain their information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of informationVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a camera-based code capture system. The camera captures product codes from packaging or labels, which then serve as keys to retrieve specific information from the server. This intermediary approach creates a direct link between the physical product and the digital information, making information retrieval more intuitive and easier to operate compared to traditional search methods where users must manually type queries or navigate through extensive information databases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7699228B2Information providing system, information providing apparatus, information providing method, portable terminal, information outputting method, and computer program
Publication Date: 2010.04.20 FELICA NETWORKS INC
  • US7699228B2 patent drawing
  • US7699228B2 patent drawing
  • US7699228B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An information providing system includes a portable terminal including an IC chip, and an information providing apparatus that carries out wireless communications with the IC chip and includes a browser that reads content and outputs the content on a screen based on screen-output control information embedded in the content data and defines an output format or a data structure of the content, and a wireless communication unit that carries out wireless communications with the IC chip. In the content data, transmission target information to be transmitted to the portable terminal, and transmission control information instructing transmission of the transmission target information, are also embedded. The browser instructs the wireless communication unit to transmit the transmission target information to the portable terminal, and the wireless communication unit transmits the transmission target information to the IC chip based on the instruction.