Method of accessing digital content using mobile phone with orientation determination

Abstract

A method for accessing digital content from a computer network. The method includes the steps of: (a) capturing an image of machine-readable coded data printed on a page using a mobile phone having an optical image sensor; (b) determining an orientation of the mobile phone relative to the page; (c) forming a request based on the captured image; (d) transmitting the request to a server on the computer network and retrieving digital content associated with the printed graphic content; (e) receiving the digital content in the mobile phone; and (f) displaying the received digital content on a display screen of the mobile phone.

1 . A method for accessing digital content from a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) capturing an image of machine-readable coded data printed on a page using a mobile phone having an optical image sensor, said machine-readable coded data being indexed with digital content, said digital content being associated with printed graphic content coincident with the machine-readable coded data;   (b) determining, using the coded data, an orientation of the mobile phone relative to the page;   (c) forming on the mobile phone, a request based on the captured image;   (d) transmitting, from the mobile phone, the request to a server on the computer network, thereby causing the server to retrieve the digital content associated with the printed graphic content;   (e) receiving the digital content in the mobile phone; and   (f) displaying the received digital content on a display screen of the mobile phone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received digital content is displayed in accordance with the determined orientation of the mobile phone relative to the page. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received digital content is displayed so as to provide real-time virtual transparency through the display screen onto the printed graphic content from a user's perspective. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display screen is touch-sensitive, and wherein said method further comprises the step of interacting with the received digital content via the display screen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received digital content is a hyperlink for display on the display screen. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request is transmitted via an associated mobile phone network, said computer network being interoperable with the mobile phone network. 
     
     
         7 . A mobile phone for accessing digital content from a computer network, said mobile phone comprising:
 a. a mobile phone transceiver;   b. an optical image sensor;   c. a display screen; and   d. processing circuitry adapted to:
 i. cause the mobile phone transceiver to communicate with the mobile phone network, and thereby to communicate with a server interoperable with the mobile phone network; 
 ii. capture, via the optical image sensor, an image of machine-readable coded data printed on a page, said machine-readable coded data being indexed with digital content, said digital content being associated with printed graphic content coincident with the machine-readable coded data; 
 iii. determine, using the coded data, an orientation of the mobile phone relative to the page; 
 iv. form on the mobile phone, a request based on the captured image; 
 v. transmit, from the mobile phone, the request to a server on the computer network, thereby causing the server to retrieve the digital content associated with the printed graphic content; 
 vi. receive the digital content in the mobile phone; and 
 vii. display the received digital content on the display screen of the mobile phone. 
   
     
     
         8 . The mobile phone of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is adapted to display the received digital content in accordance with the determined orientation of the mobile phone relative to the page. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile phone of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is adapted to display the received digital content so as to provide real-time virtual transparency through the display screen onto the printed graphic content from a user's perspective. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile phone of  claim 7 , wherein the display screen is touch-sensitive. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile phone of  claim 7 , wherein the received digital content is a hyperlink for display on the display screen.