WO2001088833A1

WO2001088833A1 - Improvements in and relating to telecommunications

Info

Publication number: WO2001088833A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/002172
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael John Stratton; Simon Bailey; John Jardine
Original assignee: Michael John Stratton; Simon Bailey; John Jardine
Priority date: 2000-05-19
Filing date: 2001-05-18
Publication date: 2001-11-22
Also published as: GB0012096D0; AU5854801A

Abstract

The concept provides a variety of devices and methods based around the concept of using machine readable characters to represent telecommunication addresses. Concepts include the transmission of such information to portable devices, their subsequent download and use. Devices for copying and using such telecommunication addresses and portals and devices for linking to other devices are also envisaged. The devices are intended to be portable to allow ready pick-up of the machine readable telecommunication addresses, for instance via wireless transmission, copy or other inputting. The underlying concept is that obtaining telecommunication addresses in this way is simpler, less error prone and easier to use.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS

This invention concerns improvements in and relating to telecommunications, particularly, but not exclusively, in relation to telecommunication addresses and/or the manner in which they are provided and/or used and/or recorded and/or transferred to others.

The recent increase in the use of telecommunication has caused problems in making sufficient addresses available to supply demand. This is particularly so in the case of domain names (websites, e-mail addresses and other uses) as a catchy or memorable address is of far greater value than most other such domain names. In this area, individuals frequently want to use their own surnames but cannot as another person has got there first. Other individuals want to have catchy addresses, addresses indicative of the goods or services they are trading or addresses matching their existing trademarks, but any are thwarted by other parties who got there first and have a legitimate claim.

Continued growth will soon cause this problem to expand still further to the point where all short or catchy addresses are used up and long unpronounceable ones become the norm.

The release of new domain codes (.org etc) will not address the issue as there is considerable pressure on companies to protect their desired name in all address forms. Thus the owners ofXYZQRS.com will frequently register XYZQRS.co.uk and other such forms as they are released to maximise their protection.

The less pronounceable and longer the addresses become the greater the user difficulty in remembering them conectly. This is all the more so because the addresses generally include far less notable syntax requirements which must also be recalled for the address to work. The harder such addresses become to recall, the harder they are to use and the less effective this route becomes for doing business.

The present invention has amongst its aims to make available a far greater range of telecommunications addresses without impairing their ease of use. The present invention has amongst its aims to provide equipment for more conveniently taking and/or storing and/or passing on telecommunications addresses. The present invention has amongst its aims to improve accuracy in the taking and/or passing on and/or use of telecommunication addresses. The present invention has amongst its aims to increase the types and/or ranges- of information which can be used as an address without impairing the ease of use. The present invention has amongst its aims to increase the types and/or ranges of information which can be conveyed to a service provider and/or the address's provider through the subsequent use of the address by a user without impairing the ease of use.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an item, the item being provided with a telecommunication address, the telecommunication address being represented by one or more machine readable characters.

In this context machine readable characters are generally non-alphanumeric characters and/or are generally not recognisable to a human directly, particularly a human familiar with written alphanumeric characters but not specifically trained to recognise machine readable characters.

The item may be a printed publication or other form of printed matter, photographic publication or other form of published matter. The item may be an advertisement, a poster, a billboard, a newspaper, a magazine, a periodical publication, a daily publication, an occasional publication, one off publication, a leaflet, a flyer, a catalogue, a brochure, a business card including parts of all such items.

The telecommunication address may be of the following types, a telephone number, a facsimile number, a domain name, an e-mail address, a website address.

The address is preferably represented by at least three characters.

Where the address is a telephone number and/or a facsimile number preferably at least one character is provided representing the area code and/or city code and/or the exchange code and/or the number at that exchange. The address may thus be made up of three or more characters. Preferably at least a fourth character is provided to represent the country code and/or international code. Ideally only one machine readable character is used in each case to identify the combination of alphanumeric characters,

Where the address is a telephone number and/or a facsimile number a character may be provided for each number and/or letter in the address in alphanumeric form, but it is advantageous to provide specific individual machine readable characters which represent certain combinations of alphanumeric characters. Thus for the telephone number 0044 113 245 2388 a single character may be used to represent the international code, country code, with a further single character being used to represent the city code (including the 01 13 form used inside the country), with a further single character being used to represent the exchange code, optionally, but with the number represented by one for one character replacements.

Where the address is a domain name preferably at least one character is provided representing the domain level and/or type and/or country. The domain type, level and country may be represented by one or more characters. The domain name UDL.co.uk may thus have three machine readable characters which represent UDL, a further character which represents .co and a further character which represents .UK, for instance. Where the domain has a single identifier, such as .com, a single machine readable character is preferably used to represent those characters. Where the domain has a split identifier, .co.uk for instance, preferably one or may be two machine readable characters are used to represent those characters. The . may be included in a machine readable character or may have its own machine readable character.

Where the address is a website preferably at least one character is provided representing the transmission type and/or address type and/or domain identity and/or domain type and/or level and/or country. The domain type, level and country may be represented by one or more characters. The website address http:Wwww.UDL.co.uk may thus have one machine readable character which represents http:\\, a further character which represents www., a further three characters which represent UDL, a further character which represents co and a further character which represents .UK, for instance. Preferably one character is used to represent http:\\. Preferably one character is used to represent www.. Where the domain has a single identifier, such as .com, a single machine readable character is preferably used to represent those characters. Where the domain has a split identifier, .co.uk for instance, preferably one or may be two machine readable character are used to represent those characters. The . may be included in a machine readable character or may have its own machine readable character.

Where the address is an e-mail preferably at least one character is provided representing the e-mail receiver identity and/or the @ and/or domain identity and/or domain type and/or level and/or country. The domain type, level and country may be represented by one or more characters. The e-mail address email@UDL.co.uk may thus have four machine readable character which represents email, a further character which represents @, a further three characters which represent UDL, a further character which represents, co and a further character which represents .UK, for instance. Preferably one character is used to represent @„ Where the domain has a single identifier, such as. com, a single machine readable character is preferably used to represent those characters. Where the domain has a split identifier, .co.uk for instance, preferably one or may be two machine readable character are used to represent those characters. The. may be included in a machine readable character or may have its own machine readable character.

The item may be provide with one or more telecommunication addresses in one or more other forms. The addresses may be the same or different or partially equivalent.

The one or more other forms may include an alphanumeric form, particularly represented by numerals and arabic characters. The alphanumeric form may be represented by letters selected from the letters a to z and/or the character @ and/or numbers selected from the numeral 0 to 9. The alphanumeric form may include punctuation, particularly the character, and the character

The one or more other forms may include another representation of the address by a different set of one or more machine readable characters.

The plurality of machine readable characters may equate directly, in the case of one or more or all of the characters, with an alphanumeric character and/or with a character from a different set of machine readable characters.

One or more of the machine readable characters may equate with two or more and/or a given combination of two or more of the alphanumeric and/or different set of machine readable characters.

The machine readable characters and alphanumeric characters may relate to the same overall address and./or the same entity. The different set of machine readable characters may also relate to the same overall address and./or the same entity. It is preferred that at least one of the machine readable representations of the address includes different and/or additional information to the alphanumeric representation. The information may be different and/or additional in terms of address information and/or in terms of other information, for instance whether parental control over access may be needed. The information may be different and / or additional in indicating a visually impaired and / or hearing impaired user; additional services to the user may thus be triggered. The address information in the machine readable form may be different in being a different address of the same entity compared with the alphanumeric address. The same entity may be the same person, group of persons, partnership, company, organisation or other trading group. The different address may lead to a different location, person or company within the entity to the alphanumeric address. The different address may be a more detailed or specific address to the alphanumeric address. For instance, the address may be a direct dial number for an individual. For instance, the address may be a particular page within a website. For instance, the address may lead to information on a specific product or issue within the large body of information the entity offers. The different address may only be available for a short period (less than 1 month for instance) compared with the on going alphanumeric address. The different address may lead to a location and/or address which cannot be reached directly and/or indirectly using an alphanumerical available address.

The use of the machine readable address may be rewarded or otherwise noted. Such use may attract a reward and/or accrue towards an award, for instance to encourage use of the machine readable addresses. The reward may be an article, financial, free access time to the Internet, a discount or be in some other form.

The different and/or additional other information may provide information to the entity accessed using the address and/or another entity other than the user. The information may be the identity of the item or type of item the user obtained the address from by using the machine readable characters. The information may be the advertising location. The additional information may be a personal identification code of the user such as a National Health Service number, tax code number, national insurance number. The additional information may relate to the socio economic group of the user.

The machine readable address may be present on the item together with an alphanumeric and/or pictorial indication of the entity to which the machine readable address relates. Preferably the alphanumeric and/or pictorial indication is not a telecommunications address. The alphanumeric and/or pictorial indication is preferably one or more trademark, ideally registered trademarks, of the entity.

The different and/or additional address information and/or other information may be separated from the address by a specific character. ' The item may be provided with a plurality of address represented by the same machine readable character set. The addresses may be different addresses and/or different address types, particularly of the same entity. At least two of the telephone number, facsimile number, website, and e-mail address may be provided, ideally in a single representation. Different addresses or different address types in the same representation may be separated by a specific character. The specific character may be a part of an address or separate from the address representation. Different characters may be provided to signify the start and/or end of a telephone address and/or facsimile address and/or e-mail address and/or website address. The specific characters are preferably different.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of transferring information, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on an item by a plurality of machine readable characters, the method transfereing information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the information storage device being brought into proximity with at least one of the readable character representations on the item, variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation being received by the device, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming the address in the representation to the device, the information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic being allocated to a storage location in the device.

Preferably the characters are not alpha numeric characters.

The second aspect of the invention may include any of the features, options, possibilities or ideas set out elsewhere in this document including the first aspect of the invention. In particular reference is made to the definitions of possibilities for the information type, nature, additional forms, character makeup and items themselves refened to therein.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a method of transfening information, the information being one or more telecommunications addresses known by an item, the method transferring the information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the item transmitting the one or more of the telecommunication addresses to the information storage device by a wireless link, the information being allocated to a storage location in the device.

The third aspect of the invention may include any of the features, options, possibilities or ideas set out elsewhere in this document including the first and second aspects of the invention. In particular, reference is made to the definitions of the possibilities for the information type, nature, additional forms, character make-up and items themselves referred to therein.

The information may be transmitted from the item as a distinct signal and/or as part of a signal normally emitted by the item.

The item may include a bill-board, advertising hoarding, vehicle, poster or other location provided with advertising material.

The information may be transmitted to the device upon request by the device. The information may be transmitted to the device upon the device coming within a give range of the item. The information may be transmitted to the device in response to a selective enquiry by the device; for instance if the item possesses information falling within one or more subject areas of interest known to the device.

The item may be a television, radio, or other audio or visual display system.

The information may be transmitted by the item as part of the visual and/or audio signal of the item. Preferably the part of the signal transmitting the information is not visible or audible to humans receiving the visual and/or audio signal from the item.

The information may be transmitted on all occasions and/or in response to enquiries by the device. The device may be provided in a state in which it can receive the information and/or a state in which it cannot receive the information.

The wireless link may be an electromagnetic radiation based link, for instance an infrared based link. The wireless link may be an acoustic based, link, for instance an ultrasonic link. The wireless link may be a microwave based link or a radio based link.

The second and/or third aspects of the invention may include any of the following features, options, possibilities or ideas. The information may be represented in the item and/or in the device by a plurality of machine readable characters.

The transfer of information preferably involves the making of a copy of the information by the device. The copy may be in a different form or medium. For instance, the copy may be a digital signal, magnetic recording, signal value with time profile, signal value with position profile. The information on the item is usually in printed form. Preferably the transfer does not erase or remove the information from the item. Preferably the information on the item is unaffected by the transfer method's performance.

Preferably the information storage device is provided according to the third aspect of the invention, with or without the various options, possibilities or features suggested therefor.

Preferably the device is brought into contact with the information to be transferred. The device may only need to be brought into proximity, for instance 10cm or less, possibly 5 cm or less, to transfer the information. The device may be held in a relatively fixed position to the item while the information transfer occurs. The device may be moved relatively to the item while information transfer occurs. The movement may be a swipe, scan or slide motion.

If more than one address is transferced it is preferred that the device is brought into proximity with at least each piece of information/address to be transferred. It is preferred that separate information/addresses are allocated to separate storage locations.

The detectable characteristic of the address may be its reflectivity, response to • certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, for instance excitation radiation, fluorescence, magnetic field, 2 dimensional physical profile, 3 dimensional physical profile or others.

The variation may be an increase and/or decrease and/or no response with time and/or position. For reflectivity one or more portions may give a first value, followed by on or more portions at a second value, followed by one or more portions at a third value (which may be the same of different to the first value). For a magnetic field one or more portions may give a first value or direction, followed by one or more portions at a second value or direction, followed by one or more portions at a third value or direction (which may be the same or different to the first). For a physical profile one or more portions may give a first value (height and/or depth and/or width), followed by on or more portions at a second value, followed by one or more portions at a third value (which may be the same ir different to the first value).

A character within the address may be indicated by a certain time and/or position or positions at a value. A character within the address may be indicated by a certain time and/or position or positions at two or more values. A character within the address may be indicated by a certain time and/or position or positions at two or more values in a certain sequence. A character within the address may be indicated by a certain time and/or position or positions at a value within a given range. A character within the address may be indicated by a certain time and/or position or positions at two or more values each within their given range. A character within the address may be indicated by a certain time and/or position or positions at two or more values each within their given range in a certain sequence.

The information may be allocated to a storage location based on the first available storage location and/or based on allocation to a storage location of matching size to the information and/or to a storage location for information on that type of address.

The information may be stored in the form of the detectable characteristic and/or a product of the detection of that characteristic and/or a processed form of thereof The information may be processed to give binary form information which is stored.

The information may have storage information added to it during the transfer method. The storage information may be one or more of, the time of transfer, the date of transfer, the person making the transfer, information inputted by the user at the time of the transfer or later.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device. The device may furthermore be a wireless telephone, such as a satellite phone or cellular phone, a key retaining device, such as a fob, a writing instrument, such as a pen, a finance container, such as a wallet or purse or pouch, an electronic device, such as a personal organiser, palm top computer, electronic diary, calculator, multi-utility tool or a multi-function tool, such as a combined knife and can opener, or a business card. The device may be a remote control unit for an item, for instance a remote control unit for a television and/or radio and/or hi-fi.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device being a wireless telephone, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device being a key retainer, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device being a writing instrument, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device. ,

According to a eighth aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device being a finance container, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device being an electronic device such as a personal organiser, palm top computer, electronic diary, calculator, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device being a multi-function tool and/or a multi-utility tool, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations m the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device being a business card the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention we provide a device for receiving information from an item, the device preferably being a remote control unit for the item, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses transmitted by the item, the device including a detector for the representation of the information transmitted by the item, variations in the representation indicating the different characters forming the address, one or more storage locations being provided by the device to which information can be allocated and an output interface for the information received by the device.

The item may particularly be a television or radio.

The remote control unit may be connectable to a telecommunications device to allow the information to be used. The remote control unit may be connected in a wireless manner.

The contact with the telecommunication address may be routed through an intermediate location. The intermediate location may be a portal.

The intermediate location may perform one or more operations on the information used to try and make contact with the address. The one or more operations may include a check on the age of the user of the telecommunication address information. The one or more operations may include extracting information from the information used to try and make contact with the telecommunication address. This information may subsequently be used or transfened or transmitted by the portal operation, for instance to an advertising agency or marketing company.

The fourth to twelfth aspects on the invention inclusive may include any of the following features, options or possibilities and /or the features, options or possibilities set out elsewhere in this document, particularly in the second aspect of the invention.

The fourth to twelfth aspects preferably use machine readable characters to request the address, ideally non-alpha numeric characters.

The detector may be a radiation detector, particularly a light detector. The detector may be specific to one or more particular wavelengths and/or one or more particular ranges of wavelengths.

The detector may detect radiation emitted by the representation. The detector may detect radiation reflected by the representation. The reflected radiation may be ambient radiation. The reflected and./or emitted radiation may arise from the same and/or different radiation falling on and/or applied to the representation. The applied radiation may arise from the device, for instance a fight source provided as a part of the device.

The device may apply radiation to the representation via an optical system, particularly via one or more focussing lenses, ideally focussing the light on the representation.

The detector may receive radiation from the representation via an optical system, particularly via one or more focussing lenses, ideally focussing the light on the detector.

The detector may be a radiation to current conversion device, such as a photo diode.

^' The detector, which may include a radiation to current conversion device and/or radiation source and/or optical system, may be provided , at least partially, within the antenna of a mobile telephone and/or cap or end of a writing instrument and/or spine of a finance container.

The detector may be a magnetic field detector and/or copy or otherwise reproduce a magnetic field representation of the information.

The detector may make a photocopy of the representation of the information/address .

The storage location my be an integral part of the device. The storage location, or a part thereof, may be recoverable from the device, for instance to download information stored on it. A component, for instance a magnetic disc, may be inserted into the device, for instance into the storage location and removed therefrom subsequently, for instance to download the information.

The output interface may be one or more ports, electrical connectors or the like. The device is preferably connectable to another electronic device and/or computer via the output interface. The connection may be made by a cable or other electrically conducting link or links. The connection may be made non-electrically, for instance through light, UN, infra-red, ultrasonic, microwave or other transmission form to link the device to another electronic device and/or computer.

The device may add and/or allow the user to add information to the information fransfened. The added information may include one or more of, the person making the transfer, the time of transfer, the date of transfer, a description of the information, circumstances or event.

The device may manipulate and/or allow the user to manipulate the information fransfened. The manipulation may be the order of storage and/or the order of presentation and/.or the order of use. The manipulation may relate to the storage location used, for instance a particular directory in the device and/or in the device to which the information is later downloaded.

The device, particularly where the device is a telephone, may allow the user to access one or more of the telecommunication addresses in the information fransfened to the device. The address may be used immediately transfer has occuned. The address may be used at a later time, preferably by retrieval from a storage location.

The address may be used to connect the device, particularly a telephone, to a telephone number and./or facsimile number and/or e-mail address and/or website. Additional information may be down loaded and/or stored by the device from the address to which it becomes connected.

Preferably the address is used to connect the device, particularly a telephone or mobile telephone, to an address from which the device receives further information. The further information may be audio based, text based (including written or numerical) or image based information. Preferably the address is used to connect the device, particularly a telephone or mobile telephone to an address from which a purchase is made or goods are obtained or services are obtained and/or with which a financial transaction occurs.

The device, particularly a mobile phone, may include one or more security mechanisms to prevent unauthorised use, a user operable keyboard or other interface, a - rechargeable power supply, a removable power supply, an interface between the device and a computer.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention we provide a method of transfening information, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on an item by a plurality of machine readable characters, preferably machine readable characters, the method transfening information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the information storage device being brought into proximity with at least one of the readable character representations on the item, variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation being received by the device, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming the address in the representation to the device, the information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic being allocated to a storage location in the device and wherein the device downloads one or more of the addresses represented on the item to a further separate device, such as a computer, CD-Rom or portable storage device.

The thirteenth aspect of the invention may include any of the features, options or possibilities set out elsewhere in this document.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention we provide a method of transfening information, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on an item by a plurality of machine readable characters, preferably machine readable characters, the method transfening information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the information storage device being brought into proximity with at least one of the readable character representations on the item, variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation being received by the device, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming the address in the representation to the device, the information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic being allocated to a storage location in the device, wherein the device or a further device to which one or more addresses represented on the item has been downloaded, uses the fransfened information to make contact with one of the fransfened addresses via a telecommunication network.

The contacted address may provide the user with additional information on the entity owning the address, particularly other telecommunications addresses for that entity. Thus contact through a website may automatically lead to the user being updated with the telephone and/or facsimile and/or postal address of the entity.

The fourteenth aspect of the invention may include any of the features, options or possibilities set out elsewhere in this document.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention we provide a method of accessing a telecommunications address from a device, the method including the acts of selecting an address stored in the device, contacting the address having an address conesponding to the address selected, transferring further information from the address to the device, wherein the selected address includes information which has been directly or indirectly fransfened to the device, at least one of the transfers involving the transfer of the information represented by a plurality of machine readable characters to a device.

The address is preferably selected by the user, optionally from a fist of addresses. One or more listings may be provided, for instance listings or directories having addresses with common ownership and/or subject matter and/or type may be provided. The method may include downloading or communicating to the address at least part of the list of addresses stored by the device. The entire list is preferably downloaded. The address may itself communicate to the device at least part of its list of addresses and preferably all of that list. The device and address in this method may particularly be mobile phones.

The fifteenth aspect of the invention may include any of the features, options or possibilities set out elsewhere in this document.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention we provide a method of obtaining information, the method including a user obtaining one or more telecommunication addresses from one or more items, the telecommunications addresses being stored by a device; one or more of the telecommunication addresses including additional information; the user contacting one of the telecommunications address, the user having selected the telecommunications address from the addresses stored in the device; the contact with the telecommunications address being relayed through an intermediate location, the intermediate location detecting the additional information included in the telecommunications address, the intermediate location providing information about the additional information to another user.

The sixteenth aspect of the invention may include any of the features, options or possibilities of the other aspects of the invention.

The intermediate location may be a portal, such as an internet portal. The intermediate location is preferably not controlled by the user or the another user.

The additional information may be removed by the intermediate location. Preferably the additional information is not passed to the telecommunication address. The telecommunication address may be controlled by the another user.

The information provided by the intermediate location to the another user may be information about a specific user to telecommunication address contact. The information may be about a plurality of user to address contacts. The plurality may be different users to a common telecommunications address. The plurality may be different addresses used by a single user. The information may be the item and/or location from which the address was obtained by the user. The information may be processed and/or analysed information obtained from the additional information attached to one or more telecommunication addresses. The information may indicate the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. The information may indicate the effectiveness of types of or individual advertising locations. The information may indicate the type of user accessing the address or addresses.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention we provide a method of obtaining information, the method including the accessing of a telecommunications address from a device by a user, the address being selected by the user from addresses stored in the device, the device contacting the address having an address conesponding to the address selected, the selected address including information which has been directly or indirectly transferred to the device, at least one of the transfers involving the transfer of the information represented by a plurality of readable, preferably machine readable characters to a device, wherein the address contacted by the device receives additional information from the device, that information arising from the readable characters.

The additional information may not be needed to contact the address.

The additional information is preferably indicative of the type of location or item or particular location or item from which the address was obtained.

The additional information may be used to affect the type of location or item and/or particular location or item the address operator provides this and/or other telecommunication addresses on subsequent occasions.

The additional information may indicate information and/or a characteristic of the user. The information and/or characteristic may be that the user is visually impaired and/or hearing impaired. In this way an indication to the address may be given that the user requires certain non-standard services or modes of presenting information by the address. The information about the user may be an identifying feature for the user, such as the user's name and/or an identity number, national insurance number, tax identification number, national insurance identification number or similar unique identifying information. The additional information may be indicative of a general characteristic possessed by the user in common with others. The general characteristic may be a socio economic group, one or more interests of the person, one or more hobbies of the person, the users job or the like.

According to a eighteenth aspect of the invention we provide a method of representing telecommunication addresses as machine readable characters, the alphanumeric character form of the address being fransfened into machine readable character form wherein two or more of the characters of the alphanumeric form are replaced by a single character of machine readable form in the representation process.

The alphanumeric character combinations which might be replaced by a single machine readable character include one or more of the following: http; http:; http:\\; :\\; www; www.; com; .com; co; .co; org; .org; gov; .gov; UK; .UK; @.

The alphanumeric character combination which might be replaced could be an international code and/or country code in a telephone number or facsimile number. The city code and/or area code could similarly be replaced.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures in which:-

Figure 1 illustrates an address represented according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates two specific forms of the present invention illustrating potential variation between the additional information contents;

Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of a reader according to the present invention;

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of a reader;

Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of a reader; The present invention is centred around the realisation that the use of alphanumeric characters, particularly but not exclusively of the English language, present limitations on the number of attractive and useful telecommunication addresses which can be made available; particularly addresses which are sufficiently convenient to use to represent mass market commercial tools. This is particularly so for domain names, e-mail, websites or other such addresses having a word or pronounceable content when possible. The invention uses such addresses, but instead of representing them in terms of alphanumeric characters, (such as the letters a to z and number 0 to 9) represents the addresses in machine readable characters to form the overall address, for instance as a barcode.

Because the address itself no longer has to be human readable directly many of the problems with alphanumeric representations are avoided:-

1) the pressure to have a catchy address itself, see Figure 1, is no longer present as the catchyness of any address would not be apparent until translated much later in the process and presented in human readable form (an optional step in any event);

2) the catchyness could instead come from the entities existing trademark which appears with it, for instance as illustrated in Figure 1 ; the legal rights in such cases are often stronger and more often than not already established, easier to enforce and wider ranging; trademarks are easier to protect that a domain name itself, at all levels in all countries;

3) the address according to the invention can be more specific to the aims the company wants to achieve; for instance it could lead directly to a specific page on a website to do with that promotion instead of linking to the home page and relying on the user to navigate on to the desired page of actual interest; furthermore this can be achieved without burdening the user with a very long address to use as the machine readable code is as easy to use whatever the length of the address;

4) the address presented in this way could be put forward alongside an alphanumerical representation, Figure 2, but use of the machine readable form could be encouraged (access to otherwise unreachable parts of a site, a reward scheme or the like); alternative encouragement could come from the more direct and hence faster access possible using the code;

5) the invention also offers potentially more information to the address providers as the address can include additional information which does not represent a burden to the user, but could inform address providers on the way people find out about their address; for instance the address might include information not needed to access the address, part x in Figure 3, but which is reported and notifies the address owner that the user got the information from a particular poster advertisement in the case of one part x or a newspaper article in the case of another part x; this information could provide valuable information about address use and/or advertisement success and the like.

There are of course many other benefits and possibilities which stem for representing the addresses in this way, a check on the adult status of the user for example.

Having decided to present address information in this versatile way it is of course important to provide an equally versatile and convenient way to obtain the information represented by the machine readable characters. One of the keys to this is the manner in which the reader device for the machine readable characters is provided to ensure the representation is quickly fransfened and made available for future use.

In some rare cases it may be possible to convey the representation of the address to a PC or other computing or telecommunication device for subsequent use. However, in most cases this will not be possible and hence the invention provides the reader/ reader device in a number of convenient formats.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the reader for the representation of the address includes a reading head 100 which is brought into contact, or at least proximity, with the representation 102 of the address in use. The reading head 100 generates a series of signals indicative of what it finds on the representation 102. The signals pass through connector 104 to signal processor 106 and this acts on the signals to place them in a storable format which is outputted to signal store 108. The signal store 108 is connected to output interface 110, this may be direct or as shown indirect, for instance through the signal processor 106.

The level of signal processing can vary significantly. For instance, in the Figure 5 embodiment, relatively little processing is performed to minimise the size and power consumed by the device which is a combined key fob and reader. The reader basically has the usual split ring 120 for attaching further ring 122 or key 124, together with the important reading head 126. The reading head 126 emits fight produced by a diode powered by the fob's battery and measures the reflected light as the fob is moved across the representation. The variation in light gives a signal with time indication of the contrast with position for the representation. This signal with time is then merely processed to assign it to a discrete storage location and so keep it separate from any other signals generated by reading other address representations. The bulk of the signal processing being performed once the information is downloaded into a computer or other such device. Similar systems can be provided for pens, wallet spines or the like.

In the Figure 6 embodiment a more complex and versatile reader is provided in the form of a combined reader and mobile telephone 200. The phone 200 has a power on/off control 202 and an optional power on/off control 204 for the reader device. The reader device is integrated in the body of the telephone 200 and includes a reading head 206 which is conveniently provided in the antenna 208 or elsewhere in the phone. The optics of the reading head 206 focusses light from a light source onto the representation and collects at least part of the reflected light and focuses it on a photodiode. The higher the amount of reflected light the greater the signal for the part of the representation. Scanning or swiping the head 206 across the representation gives signal with time impression of the reflectivity. A standard width opening character, for instance, configures the signal results to distance and hence allows the result signal to be split into characters during subsequent processing. The signal processor, which may be a part of the telephone electronics or a separate unit, in this case considers the signal with time profile and divides it into characters.

The portions of the signal forming the characters may then be compared with actual characters and a firm match made, hence giving a character string. The string may be stored as the characters themselves or more usually as a binary representation of the same. A suitable storage location in the phone is provided, as is storage for manually inputted information which the user can enter via the phone keyboard.

The user operable interface 210 and visual display 212 may be used for instance in a menu based system to control storage and/or downloading and/or manipulation and/or use of the addresses.

As well as obtaining telecommunications addresses in the above mentioned way by being in close proximity with the telecommunications address, it is also desirable to be able to obtain such addresses more remotely.

The invention thus provides for the possibility of picking up telecommunications addresses via transmissions from sites carrying advertising-type information. Thus bill board, posters, placards or the like may be provided with a transmitter which transmits the telecommunications address information conesponding to or related to the advertising material. Transmission may be continuous and/or periodic and/or may be activated by the user in response to a specific request from him. In this way telecommunications addresses can be picked up from advertising outlets such as bill boards, the sides of lonies and the like where physical contact is not a practical option.

A similar process could also be applied to radio and television advertising applications where the signal conveying the usual visual and audio information to the user is supplemented with the transmission of the telecommunications addresses. Transmission may occur as the advert progresses or at the end of the advert or at the end of a commercial break in the programming. The user could pick up the information by specifically switching a device on which receives the signals or by leaving that device on so that all such addresses transmitted during the on-period are received. The telecommunications address transmission can obviously be carefully configured so as to not interfere with the normal viewing or listening process.

In its simplest form downloading may be effected in the manner described below for the simpler embodiments of the invention.

If a downloading control function is provided for the phone itself this may allow one, a section or all the stored addresses to be called up and/or downloaded. Downloading may automatically give deletion from the phone memory or that may be an option. When the address is called up in may be presented in an alphanumeric form and/or be accompanied by non-address based descriptive information, for instance inputted by the user. The latter option is beneficial in avoiding the need for any form of recognition of the address. This additional information may be provided by the address itself in addition to the address details when the information is fransfened.

With the increasing potential of mobile phone based Internet use, the stored addresses may of course be used by the phone itself to make contact. In that case the stored address may be called up and selected as the address to which the phone should connect. Phone or facsimile numbers, e-mail or website addresses could of course be used in the same way.

Even with sophisticated readers there will be occasions on which it is desirable to download the stored information from the reader into or via a separate electronic device. The key fob, pen and other such forms of the reader may achieve this by connecting their output interface directly to the electronic device (a computer for instance) or indirectly via a cable for instance. An intervening device could be used in some cases to download and process the stored information before passing it on to a computer; the reader and computer may be separately or simultaneously connected in such cases.

All the systems can be downloaded by the removal of a memory device containing the stored addresses or onto which they can be copied, with that information then being uplifted into the computer.

In certain cases remote downloading may be desirable and devices incorporating radio, infra-red, optical, microwave or other transmission forms may be used to download the information in a wireless free manner. In the case of a satellite or cellular phone it would be possible for the phone to contact one or more devices, e.g e-mail page, and download the stored addresses as required. Downloading could be user selected and/or automatically occur each time an address is fransfened and/or the memory becomes full; thus generating revenue for the telecommunications operator.

When the computer or other device has received the address information there are a variety of ways in which it might handle it.

Firstly there may be a need to process the information as outlined above to obtain the address from the characters and from the raw signal information, This process may of course be simpler in a computer where greater capability for updating software is available.

Secondly there is the manner in which computer or other telecommunication device stores the addresses.

Different addresses and/or address types for a common entity or related entity could be grouped together, for instance in a first directory type. This information may be obtained over time and not necessarily all via machine readable character.

Address types could be split in to different groupings, for instance directories, according to their type.

Descriptive references for the addresses could be added by the user and/or the descriptive additional information could be provided by the machine readable character and/or amended by the user.

The address could be sorted into a new directory for addresses obtained during a defined time period and/or according to subject matter and/or according to item type and/or according to reader user. The additional information may also affect the way the address is stored or other effects it has. It could lead to deletion of an old address which it supercede.

When a person wants to use the address on their computer, the address can be selected and contact made in the usual manner.

As mentioned above the machine readable character may include information which is redundant to actually contacting the address from the users point of view. However, the use of that address may send information which is useful to the address owner or another party as it can indicate where the address was obtained from. Rather than just logging hits, therefore a website may note where the address was obtained. This information could be used to control future advertising types, locations and the like.

In any event, but particularly in such circumstances where additional information is provided, benefits exist if the contact between the user and the telecommunication address they have is made through an intermediate location, such as an Internet portal. In such cases the portal can offer adult checking facilities and other information, and most advantageously can be used to extract the additional information which is redundant to actual contacting the address. This information can be stored and / or processed to reveal commercially significant features. For instance the success of types of advertising location and / or particular individual advertising locations could be established by monitoring the number of users accessing the telecommunications address using telecommunications addresses obtained from a variety of potential sources. This data could then be sold on to the provider of the telecommunications address and/or a party involved with them and or third parties to whom the information might be commercially useful.

At the very beginning of the cycle there is a need to convert the alphanumeric characters a party will use for a given address. This may be a pre-e3dsfϊng address or a new address.

Direct character for character conversion could be used with a 20 character address becoming a 20 character machine readable character address. The number of errors, character set lengths and scanning and other times could be reduced by using specific individual characters to represent two or more alphanumeric characters. Thus a standard character for www. could be provided. This applies to a variety of character sets involved e-mail, domain name, website, telephone and facsimile addresses.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A item, the item being provided with a telecommunication address, the telecommunication address being represented by one or more machine readable characters.

2. An item according to claim 1 in which the item is a printed publication or other form of printed matter, photographic publication or other form of published matter, for instance an advertisement, a poster, a billboard, a newspaper, a magazine, a periodical publication, a daily publication, an occasional publication, one off publication, a leaflet, a flyer, a catalogue, a brochure, a business card, including parts of all such items.

3. An item according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the telecommunication address is of one or more of the following types, a telephone number, a facsimile number, a domain name, an e-mail address, a website address.

4. An item according to any preceding claim in which where the address is a telephone number and/or a facsimile number at least one character is provided representing the area code and/or city code and/or the exchange code and/or the number at that exchange.

5. An item according to any preceding claim in which where the address is a telephone number and/or a facsimile number a character is provided for each number and/or letter in the address in alphanumeric form, with specific individual machine readable characters which represent certain combinations of alphanumeric characters.

6. An item according to any preceding claim in which where the address is a domain name and where the domain has a single identifier, such as .com, a single machine readable character is used to represent those characters and where the domain has a split identifier, .co.uk for instance one or may be two machine readable characters are used to represent those characters.

7. An item according to any preceding claim in which the address is a website and one character is used to represent http:\\ and / or one character is used to represent www. and / or where the domain has a single identifier, such as .com, a single machine readable character is used to represent those characters and / or where the domain has a split identifier, .co.uk for instance, one or may be two machine readable character are used to represent those characters.

8. An item according to any preceding claim in which the address is an e-mail address and one character is used to represent @ and / or where the domain has a single identifier, such as. com, a single machine readable character is preferably used to represent those characters and / or where the domain has a split identifier, .co.uk for instance, one or may be two machine readable character are used to represent those characters.

9. An item according to any preceding claim in which the use of the machine readable address is rewarded or otherwise noted.

10. An item according to any preceding claim in which the item is provided with a plurality of address represented by the same machine readable character set, the addresses being different address types of the same entity.

11. A method of transfening information, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on an item by a plurality of machine readable characters, the method transfening information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the information storage device being brought into proximity with at least one of the readable character representations on the item, variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation being received by the device, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming the address in the representation to the device, the information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic being allocated to a storage location in the device.

12. A method of transfening information, the information being one or more telecommunications addresses known by an item, the method transferring the information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the item transmitting the one or more of the telecommunication addresses to the information storage device by a wireless link, the information being allocated to a storage location in the device.

13. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12 in which the item includes a billboard, advertising hoarding, vehicle, poster or other location provided with advertising material.

14. A device for receiving information from an item, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

15. A device according to claim 14 in which the device is a wireless telephone, such as a satellite phone or cellular phone, a key retaining device, such as a fob; a writing instrument, such as a pen; a finance container, such as a wallet or purse or pouch, an electronic device, such as a personal organiser, palm top computer, electronic diary, calculator; a multi-utility tool or a multi-function tool, such as a combined knife and can opener; a business card; or a remote control unit for an item, for instance a remote control unit for a television and or radio and/or hi-fi.

16. A device for receiving information from an item, the device being a wireless telephone, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

17. A device for receiving information from an item, the device being a key retainer, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

18. A device for receiving information from an item, the device being a writing instrument, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

19. A device for receiving information from an item, the device being a finance container, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

20. A device for receiving information from an item, the device being an electronic device such as a personal organiser, palm top computer, electronic diary, calculator, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

21. A device for receiving information from an item, the device being a multifunction tool and/or a multi-utility tool, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the item, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations m the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

22. A device for receiving information from an item, the device being a business card the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on the item by one or more machine readable characters, the device including a detector for variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation of the information on the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming that address, one or more storage locations to which information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic can be allocated and an output interface for the information received to the device.

23. A device for receiving information from an item, the device preferably being a remote control unit for the item, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses transmitted by the item, the device including a detector for the representation of the information transmitted by the item, variations in the representation indicating the different characters forming the address, one or more storage locations being provided by the device to which information can be allocated and an output interface for the information received by the device.

24. A method of transfening information, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on an item by a plurality of machine readable characters, preferably machine readable characters, the method transferring information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the information storage device being brought into proximity with at least one of the readable character representations on the item, variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation being received by the device, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming the address in the representation to the device, the information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic being allocated to a storage location in the device and wherein the device downloads one or more of the addresses represented on the item to a further separate device, such as a computer, CD-Rom or portable storage device.

25. A method of transfening information, the information being one or more telecommunication addresses represented on an item by a plurality of machine readable characters, preferably machine readable characters, the method transfening information from the item to an information storage device thereby increasing the information possessed by the information storage device, the information storage device being brought into proximity with at least one of the readable character representations on the item, variations in a detectable characteristic of the representation being received by the device, the variations in the detectable characteristic indicating the different characters forming the address in the representation to the device, the information formed by the variations in the detectable characteristic being allocated to a storage location in the device, wherein the device or a further device to which one or more addresses represented on the item has been downloaded, uses the fransfened information to make contact with one of the fransfened addresses via a telecommunication network.

26. A method of accessing a telecommunications address from a device, the method including the acts of selecting an address stored in the device, contacting the address having an address conesponding to the address selected, transfening further information from the address to the device, wherein the selected address includes information which has been directly or indirectly fransfened to the device, at least one of the transfers involving the transfer of the information represented by a plurality of machine readable characters to a device.

27. A method of obtaining information, the method including a user obtaining one or more telecommunication addresses from one or more items, the telecommunications addresses being stored by a device; one or more of the telecommunication addresses including additional information; the user contacting one of the telecommunications address, the user having selected the telecommunications address from the addresses stored in the device; the contact with the telecommunications address being relayed through an intermediate location, the intermediate location detecting the additional information included in the telecommunications address, the intermediate location providing information about the additional information to another user.

28. A method of obtaining information, the method including the accessing of a telecommunications address from a device by a user, the address being selected by the user from addresses stored in the device, the device contacting the address having an address conesponding to the address selected, the selected address including information which has been directly or indirectly fransfened to the device, at least one of the transfers involving the transfer of the information represented by a plurality of readable, preferably machine readable characters to a device, wherein the address contacted by the device receives additional information from the device, that information arising from the readable characters.

29. A method of representing telecommunication addresses as machine readable characters, the alphanumeric character form of the address being fransfened into machine readable character form wherein two or more of the characters of the alphanumeric form are replaced by a single character of machine readable form in the representation process.

30. A method according to claim 29 in which the alphanumeric character combinations which are replaced by a single machine readable character include one or more of the following: http; http:; http:\\; :\\; www; www.; com; .com; co; .co; org; .org; gov; .gov; UK; .UK; @.