Methods and systems for generating interactive information formatted for a device

Abstract

A smart molecule system that may be embedded in a physical device in order to integrate information from external information sources in the physical device. The smart molecule system obtains information from external sources by connecting to a smart molecule service in a computer system through a URL to Number Transformation Algorithm (UNT) number. The UNT performs bi-directional transformation between the UNT number and a corresponding URL, thereby enabling physical devices with smart molecule to obtain information from the Web without using alphanumeric characters. Upon creating the UNT number and assigning it to an information source, a service provider distributes the UNT number to the smart molecule in order for the smart molecule to access the information stored therein.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A system embedded in a physical device, the system retrieving information from external information sources through a computer and integrating the external information with the physical device, the system comprises: 
 a. a central processor for controlling processing operations and connecting the system to the computer, the computer having a software application for defining a service component and assigning the service component to information on at least one external information source, the service component retrieving the information from the external information source, upon receiving the information the software application formatting the information in a predetermined format and transmitting the information to the system after the system subscribes to the service component;    b. a memory for storing information transmitted from the software application; and    c. a software component for processing information stored in the memory in order to activate a physical attribute of the physical device in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, the software component further instructing the software application to perform predefined tasks upon the occurrence of the predetermined event and interaction with a physical attribute of the physical device.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system subscribes to the service component by entering and submitting a UNT number that is linked to a URL of a web site.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a UNT algorithm performs a bi-directional transformation between the UNT number and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and the UNT number may be used to obtain information from the Web.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein a first set of digits in the UNT number define the domain name, a second set of digits in the UNT number define a service parameter and a third set of digits in the UNT number define a protocol or additional features.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first set of digits is registered as an Internet domain name.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second set of digits is assigned to an information source and the service component uses the second set of digits as a parameter in the Internet domain name.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second set of digits is a default service parameter.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the computer distributes the UNT number to the system after the UNT number is created.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the UNT number format is the same as the telephone number format used in the United States.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the UNT number format is language independent and eliminates the need for an alphanumeric keypad in order to obtain information from the Web.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the UNT number registration complies with the Domain Name System standard.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the UNT number may be extended with an extension.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein standard internetworking protocols are used to connect the system to the computer.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer is connected of a computer network.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer is connected to a plurality of databases.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the computer is connected to the Internet.  
     
     
         17 . A software component in a system that is embedded in a physical device, the system retrieving information from external information sources through a computer and integrating the external information with the physical device, the software component comprises: 
 a. a set of properties for defining the software component's characteristics;    b. at least one interface to other software components and systems;    c. a set of methods for processing information; and    d. means for connecting to a service component in the computer, accessing information transmitted to a memory in the system from an external information source through the service component, processing information transmitted from the external information source, activating physical attributes of the physical device in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event and performing predefined functions on the computer in response to an external interaction with the one or more physical attributes of the physical device.    
     
     
         18 . The software component of  claim 17 , wherein the set of properties include a type identifier for identifying the types of information the system processes and a unique global identifier for identifying the system.  
     
     
         19 . The software component of  claim 18 , wherein the unique global identifier is fixed to the system to which it is originally assigned.  
     
     
         20 . The software component of  claim 19 , wherein the set of methods include a self-description method for returning three-dimensional description, properties and methods of the system to the service component.  
     
     
         21 . The software component of  claim 20 , wherein a service provider invokes the self-description method that contains the unique global identifier to be able to respond to a specific system in a uniquely tailored way.  
     
     
         22 . The software component of  claim 21 , wherein the self-description method makes development of a computer environment with multiple systems easier.  
     
     
         23 . The software component of  claim 22 , wherein the software component is a JAVA™ applet.  
     
     
         24 . The software component of  claim 23 , wherein the software component is a Dynamic Link Library (DLL).  
     
     
         25 . The software component of  claim 24 , wherein the software component is an executable.  
     
     
         26 . The software component of  claim 25 , wherein the software component functions are increased by linking the system to a sub-system that performs one or more predefined tasks.  
     
     
         27 . A computer environment for allowing flexible interaction of a plurality of systems, at least one system embedded in a physical device comprises: 
 a. a central processor for controlling processing operations and connecting the system to the computer, the computer having a software application for defining a service component and assigning the service component to information on at least one external information source, the service component retrieving the information from the external information source, upon receiving the information the software application formatting the information in a predetermined format and transmitting the information to the system after the system subscribes to the service component;    b. a memory for storing information transmitted from the software application; and    c. a software component for processing information stored in the memory in order to activate a physical attribute of the physical device in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, the software component further instructing the software application to perform predefined tasks upon the occurrence of the predetermined event and interaction with a physical attribute of the physical device.    
     
     
         28 . A system embedded in a physical device, the system retrieving information from external information sources through a computer and integrating the external information with the physical device, the system comprising: 
 a. a central processor for controlling processing operations;    b. a memory for storing information retrieved from the external information source;    c. a software component for processing information stored in the memory;    d. means for assigning the external information source to a service component in the computer through a set of numbers, connecting the system to the service component, transmitting information from the external information source to the memory and executing through the software component information stored in the memory;    e. means for activating a physical attribute of the physical device in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event during execution of the information on the software component; and    f. means for performing one or more predefined functions on the computer in response to activating the one or more physical attributes and in response to external interaction with the one or more physical attributes.    
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein means for connecting further comprising means for subscribing to the service component by entering a UNT number that is linked to a URL of a web site in the system.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein means for assigning further comprising means for using a UNT algorithm to perform a bi-directional transformation between the UNT number and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and using the UNT number to obtain information from the Web.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein means for using further comprising means for: 
 a. defining a first set of digits in the UNT number as the domain name;    b. defining a second set of digits in the UNT number as a service parameter; and    c. defining a third set of digits in the UNT number define a protocol or additional features.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising means for registering the first set of digits as an Internet domain name.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising means for assigning the second set of digits to an information source and using the second set of digits as a parameter in the Internet domain name.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising means for using the second set of digits as a default service parameter.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising means for distributing the UNT number to the system after the UNT number is created by the computer.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising means for formatting the UNT number in the same format as the telephone number format used in the United States.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for extending the UNT number with an extension.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein means for connecting further comprises means for using standard internetworking protocols to connect the system to the computer.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising means for connecting the computer to a computer network.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , further comprising means for connecting the computer to a plurality of databases.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising means for connecting the computer to the Internet.  
     
     
         42 . A method of retrieving information from external information sources through a computer and integrating the information with a system in a physical device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. controlling processing operations through a central processor in the system;    b. storing information retrieved from the external information source in a memory in the system;    c. processing information stored in the memory through a software component in the system;    d. assigning the external information source to a service component in the computer through a subset of a UNT number;    e. connecting the system to the service component;    f. transmitting information from the external information source to the memory and executing through the software component information stored in the memory;    e. activating a physical attribute of the physical device in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event during execution of the information on the software component; and    g. performing one or more predefined functions on the computer in response to the step of activating the one or more physical attributes and in response to external interaction with the one or more physical attributes.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of r connecting further comprising step of subscribing to the service component by entering the UNT number that is linked to a URL of a web site in the system.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the step of assigning further comprising the step of using a UNT algorithm to perform a bidirectional transformation between the UNT number and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and using the UNT number to obtain information from the Web.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the step of using further comprising the steps of: 
 a. defining a first set of digits in the UNT number as the domain name;    b. defining a second set of digits in the UNT number as a service parameter; and    c. defining a third set of digits in the UNT lumber define a protocol or additional features.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising the step of registering the first set of digits as an Internet domain name.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , further comprising the step of assigning the second set of digits to an information source and using the second set of digits as a parameter in the Internet domain name.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising the step of using the second set of digits as a default service parameter.  
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising the step of distributing the UNT number to the system after the UNT number is created by the computer.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising the step of formatting the UNT number in the same format as the telephone number format used in the United States.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising the step of extending the UNT number with an extension.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the step of connecting further comprises the step of using standard internetworking protocols to connect the system to the computer.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising the step of connecting the computer to a computer network.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , further comprising the step of connecting the computer to a plurality of databases.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising the step of connecting the computer to the Internet.  
     
     
         56 . A system embedded in a physical device, the system retrieving information from external information sources through a computer and integrating the external information with the physical device, the system comprises: 
 a. a central processor for controlling processing operations and connecting the system to the computer, the computer having a software application for defining a service component and assigning the service component to information on at least one external information source, the service component retrieving the information from the external information source, upon receiving the information the software application formatting the information in a predetermined format and transmitting the information to the system after the system subscribes to the service component;    b. a memory for storing information transmitted from the software application; and    c. a software component for periodically transmitting information stored in the memory to the software application and/or to the service component, the software application and or service component further processing the transmitted information or distributing it to external sources.