Print media information systems and methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel interactive information system which can be used to make a traditional print medium such as a magazine, “interactive”. When the traditional print medium is placed on a print media receiving unit in a predetermined position, a user can interact with the traditional print medium. Printed matter elements on the printed medium can be made “selectable” by the user.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 (a) retrieving, from a database, information relating to a print medium, the information configured to be transmitted to an assembly comprising   (i) a processor,   (ii) an electronic detection system comprising an optical detector coupled to the processor, wherein the electronic detection system is capable of using an electronic map that correlates a selected print element of the print medium with audio information,   (iii) a stylus wherein the processor is programmed to identify an area of the print medium where the stylus is positioned,   (iv) an audio output device coupled to the processor, and   (v) a writeable memory device coupled to the processor; and   (b) transmitting to the assembly, via the Internet using a server computer, the information relating to the print medium, the information including the electronic map and the audio information,   wherein the audio information corresponds to the selected print element in the print medium and further wherein the audio output device is configured to produce the audio information after the stylus is positioned over the selected print element.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the information relating to the print medium is transmitted to a client computer operated by a user, which is operably coupled to the assembly. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the print medium is a children's book. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the electronic map of the print medium is stored in the writeable memory device of the assembly. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the electronic map is a first electronic map and the print medium is a first print medium, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a second electronic map that correlates print elements in a second print medium with their locations in the second print medium to the assembly via the Internet. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising receiving at the server computer information relating to a selected portion of the print medium and then performing a task. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein performing a task comprises accessing auxiliary information corresponding to the selected portion of the print medium, and transmitting the auxiliary information to the assembly via the Internet. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the auxiliary information comprises a video file. 
     
     
         44 . A system comprising:
 (a) an assembly comprising   (i) a processor,   (ii) an electronic detection system comprising an optical detector coupled to the processor, wherein the electronic detection system is capable of using an electronic map that correlates a selected portion of the print medium with audio information,   (iii) a stylus wherein the processor is programmed to identify an area of the print medium where the stylus is positioned,   (iv) an audio output device coupled to the processor for producing the audio information correlated to the selected portion of the print medium, and   (v) a writeable memory device coupled to the processor;   (b) an information server computer in communication, via the Internet, with the assembly; and   (e) a database for the print medium on or accessible to the information server computer, wherein the database comprises information including the electronic map.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44  further comprising a client computer, wherein the information server computer and the assembly are capable of operably being coupled to each other through the client computer via the Internet. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the information server computer includes a host web site and wherein the client computer is configured to contact the information server computer by contacting the host web site. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the information server computer is capable of receiving information relating to the selected portion of the print medium and then performing a task. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the database includes auxiliary information corresponding to the selected portion of the print medium, and wherein the performing a task comprises accessing the auxiliary information corresponding to the selected portion of the print medium, and transmitting the auxiliary information to the assembly via the Internet. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the writeable memory device is removable, and wherein the writeable memory device is receivable by an external computer. 
     
     
         50 . An assembly comprising
 (a) a processor;   (b) an electronic detection system comprising an optical detector coupled to the processor, wherein the electronic detection system is capable of using an electronic map that correlates a selected portion of the print medium with audio information;   (b) a stylus wherein the processor is programmed to identify an area of the print medium where the stylus is positioned;   (c) an audio output device coupled to the processor for producing the audio information correlated to the selected portion of the print medium;   (d) a writeable memory device coupled to the processor; and   (e) a link coupled to the processor and adapted to be in communication, via the Internet, with an information server computer.   
     
     
         51 . The assembly of  claim 50 , wherein a database for the print medium is on or accessible to the information server computer, and wherein the database comprises information including the electronic map. 
     
     
         52 . The assembly of  claim 50 , further comprising a display device. 
     
     
         53 . The assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the link comprises a wireless transceiver for linking to a client computer, wherein the client computer is in communication, via the Internet, with the information server computer. 
     
     
         54 . The assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the link comprises a hardwire coupling for linking to a client computer, wherein the client computer is in communication, via the Internet, with the information server computer.