Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 1 of 14
`Case 6. 21-c-v-00012-ADA Document 1- 1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 1 of 14
`6: 2g1 C—V-12
`
`EXHIBIT A
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 2 of 14
`case 6:21'CV'00012'ADA DOGWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII||||||||
`
`USOIO600101B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 10,600,101 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`Rothschild
`*Mar. 24, 2020
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
`INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF
`ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION PERTAINING
`TO ARTICLES OF COMMERCE
`
`(71) Applicant: SCANNING TECHNOLOGIES
`INNOVATIONS, LLC, Dallas, Tx
`(US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Leigh M. Rothschild, Miami, FL (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(2020.01); G06Q 30/02 (2013.01); G06Q
`30/0251 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0277 (2013.01);
`G06Q 30/0281 (2013.01); H04L 67/02
`(2013.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ............... G06Q 30/0623; G06Q 30/02; G06Q
`30/0251; G06Q 30/0277; G06Q 30/0281;
`G06F 16/22; G06F 16/9558; G06F
`16/335; G06F 16/951; G06F 3/167; G06F
`17/2235; H04L 67/02
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 15/944,522
`
`2009/0152349 A1*
`
`6/2009 Bonev .................... G06Q30/00
`235/383
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Apr. 3, 2018
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2018/0225738 A1
`
`Aug. 9, 2018
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Laura A Gudorf
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 15/267,594, filed on
`Sep. 16, 2016, now Pat. No. 9,934,528, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`(5])
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 16/955
`G06Q 30/06
`G06F 16/22
`G06F 16/335
`G06F 16/951
`G06Q 30/02
`G06F 40/134
`
`(2019.01)
`(2012.01)
`(2019.01)
`(2019.01)
`(2019.01)
`(2012.01)
`(2020.01)
`(Continued)
`
`A system and method are provided for indicating an exis-
`tence of a link to information pertaining to an article of
`commerce. The present disclosure provides for downloading
`a look-up table from a server database to a mobile device via
`a communication network. The look-up table is configured
`to store a plurality of UPC numbers associated with a
`plurality of articles of commerce and a plurality of infor-
`mation link indicators. Each information link indicator is
`
`associated with a respective UPC number and article of
`commerce and indicates the existence of a link via the
`
`communication network to information pertaining to the
`respective article of commerce. The mobile device allows a
`consumer to immediately determine if product information
`is available for a particular article Of commerce, via a visual
`or audible indication on the mobile device.
`
`(52) U.S. C1.
`CPC ......... G06Q 30/0623 (2013.01); G06F 3/167
`(2013.01); G06F 16/22 (2019.01); G06F
`16/335 (2019.01); G06F 16/951 (2019.01);
`21 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`G06F 16/9558 (2019.01); G06F 40/134
`
`
`
`
`CREATE LOOK~UP TABLE TO LINK UPC SYMBOLS WITH I
`ARTICLES AND COMMERCE AND WITH INDICATORS FOR L_/-
`INDECATING THE EXESTENCE OF INFORMATION
`
`PERTAENING TO THE ARTICLES OF COMMERCE
`I
`
`
`
`402
`
`STORE LOOK—UP TABLE
`IN DATABASE OF A SERVER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DOWNLOAD LOOKwUP TABLE FROM
`SERVER TO END USER DEVICE
`
`J" 4013
`
`T.............
`STORE DOWN LOADED LOOK—UP
`TABLE IN LOCAL MEMORY
`
`L~/"408
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 3 of 14
`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 3 of 14
`
`US 10,600,101 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`continuation of application No. 14/731,817, filed on
`Jun. 5, 2015, now Pat. No. 9,466,078, which is a
`continuation of application No. 14/294,800, filed on
`Jun. 3, 2014, now Pat. No. 9,053,498, which is a
`continuation of application No. 13/922,888, filed on
`Jun. 20, 2013, now Pat. No. 8,746,560, which is a
`continuation of application No. 13/405,246, filed on
`Feb. 25, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,469,270.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 3/16
`H04L 29/08
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 4 of 14
`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 4 of 14
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 2020
`
`Sheet 1 014
`
`US 10,600,101 B2
`
`182
`
`118
`
`104
`
`105
`100
`
`HQ“ ”1%
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 5 of 14
`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 5 of 14
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 2020
`
`Sheet 2 of4
`
`US 10,600,101 B2
`
`121
`
`-.
`
`DTSELAY
`
`MQDULE
`
`MODULE
`
`STORAGE
`
`MODULE
`
`MODULE
`
`face
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MODULE
`
`
`MQDULE
`
`
`
`CAPTURE
`
`MODULE
`
`SCANNENG
`
`MODULE
`
`ENCRYPTEON
`
`110
`
`TRANSMESSEQN
`
`MODULE
`
`‘
`
`112
`
`{IQMEUTER
`
`ERQCESSENG
`
`MODULE
`
`120
`
`DATE & TEME
`
`COMMUNECATTGN
`
`'
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 6 of 14
`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 6 of 14
`
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 2020
`
`Sheet 3 of4
`
`US 10,600,101 B2
`
` Gmmmunicafions Network
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 7 of 14
`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 7 of 14
`
`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 2020
`
`Sheet 4 of4
`
`US 10,600,101 B2
`
`CREATE LOOK—UP TABLE TO LTNK UPC SYMBOLS WETH
`
`ARTECLES AND COMMERCE AND WTTH ENDTCATORS FOR
`ENDTCATTNG THE EXTSTENCE OF INFORMATEON
`
`PERTAENING TO THE ARTTCLES OF COMMERCE
`
`STORE LOOK—UP TABLE
`EN DATABASE OF A SERVER
`
`‘
`A 464
`
`'
`
`DOWNLOAD LOOK—UP TABLE FROM
`
`SERVER TO END USER DEVECE
`
`»
`
`'
`
`408
`
`STORE DOWNLOADED LOOK—UP
`TABLE EN LOCAL MEMORY
`
`‘
`
`*
`
`408
`
`EEO. 4A
`
`
`SCAN AND DECODE UPC SYMBOL
`FROM ARTTCLE OF COMMERCE
`' 4’32
`
`
`
`
`482
`
`414
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RETREEVE ENDTCATOR FROM LOOK—UP TABLE TO
`
`BETERMTNE WHETHER OR NOT ENFORMATTON PERTATNENG
`
`TO THE ARTTCLE OF COMMERCE ES ACCESSTBLE
`
`
`
`PRESENT TNDTCATOR TO USER
`
`EEO. 48
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 8 of 14
`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 8 of 14
`
`US 10,600,101 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
`INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF
`ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION PERTAINING
`TO ARTICLES OF COMMERCE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application claims priority under the laws and
`rules of the United States, including 35 U.S.C. § 120, as a
`continuation US. patent application Ser. No. 15/267,594,
`filed on Sep. 16, 2016, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 14/731,817 filed on Jun. 5, 2015, which
`in turn claims priority to US. patent application Ser. No.
`14/294,800 filed on Jun. 3, 2014, now US. Pat. No. 9,053,
`498, which in turn claims priority to US. patent application
`Ser. No. 13/922,888 filed on Jun. 20, 2013, now US. Pat.
`No. 8,746,560 which in turn claims priority to US. patent
`application Scr. No. 13/405,246 filed on Feb. 25, 2012, now
`US. Pat. No. 8,469,270. All of which are herein incorpo-
`rated by reference in their entireties.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1 . Field
`
`The present disclosure relates generally to mobile
`devices, and more particularly, to systems and methods for
`enabling a mobile device to indicate the existence of acces-
`sible information about an identified article of commerce.
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`2. Description of the Related Art
`
`Portable digital devices are now common. Examples
`include the various WindowsTM Pocket PC devices which
`
`35
`
`have an operating system created by Microsoft Corporation
`of Redmond, Wash. Other devices include various mobile
`phone devices including many that have built-in camera
`imaging devices. Still other portable digital devices include
`portable media players from Creative Media of Singapore,
`Samsung of South Korea, Archos, Inc. of Irvine, Calif. and
`Apple Computers, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Additionally,
`Sony of New York and Japan manufacture a portable game
`playing device called the Sony PSPTM (PlayStation Por-
`table).
`Increasingly, many of these portable media devices
`include a means of transmitting and receiving digital con-
`tent. Various communications technologies are frequently
`built into these devices. Examples of portable communicat-
`ing devices include mobile phones which employ GSM,
`CDMA, W-CDMA, and FOMA technology, among other
`standards, to send and receive data in addition to handling
`voice communications. Many of the portable media devices
`also include transmission capabilities including Wi-Fi (IEEE
`802.11a, b, g and x among others), BluetoothTM infrared,
`etc., to allow the user to transmit and receive digital content.
`The Sony PSPTM device, for example, includes Wi-Fi (i.e.,
`IEEE 802.11b) to transmit and receive digital data.
`The above-described mobile devices may employ an
`incorporated imaging device to scan Universal Product
`Codes (UPCs) or other symbologies disposed on articles of
`commerce to receive more information on such articles. The
`mobile devices use a communication means to access the
`Internet to receive such information. However, these devices
`take time to connect to the Internet (if Internet service is
`even available) and then the user still may or may not have
`information on the article of commerce. If the user takes two
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`2
`or three minutes to scan and connect and then information is
`
`it is frustrating to the user. In this age of
`not available,
`‘instant gratification and information’, a need exists for a
`system and method to allow a consumer to determine
`whether or not information pertaining to an identified article
`of commerce may be obtained. Also, a need exists to allow
`a consumer to determine whether this information is acces-
`
`sible while the consumer is on the go. A further need exists
`for a mobile device to allow a consumer offline access to
`
`immediately determine if product information is available
`for a particular article of commerce, via a visual or audible
`indication on the mobile device.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`A system and method are provided for indicating an
`existence of a link to information about an article of com-
`
`merce. According to one embodiment, a system comprises,
`among other things, a mobile device having a communica-
`tion interface configured to enable the mobile device to
`communicate with a communication network. The mobile
`
`device further comprises a signal processing device and a
`visual input device. The system also includes a local data-
`base associated with the mobile device, wherein the local
`database is configured to store data for use by the mobile
`device. Also included is a server in communication with the
`
`the server comprising a server
`communication network,
`database configured to store a look-up table that stores a
`plurality of Universal Product Codes (UPCs) associated with
`a plurality of articles of commerce. The look-up table also
`stores a plurality of information link indicators. Each infor-
`mation link indicator is associated with a respective UPC
`and article of commerce and indicates the existence of a link
`
`to information about the respective article of commerce via
`the communication network. The mobile device is config-
`ured to download the look-up table from the server database
`and store the look-up table in the local database. The visual
`input device is configured to scan a UPC symbol from an
`article of commerce and forward scanned data to the signal
`processing device. In response to receiving the scanned data,
`the signal processing device is configured to look up the
`UPC in thc look-up table stored in the local database to
`determine from the respective information link indicator
`whether or not a link to information about an article of
`
`commerce associated with the scanned UPC symbol
`accessible via the communication network.
`
`is
`
`A method is also provided for indicating an existence of
`a link to information about an article of commerce, accord-
`ing to another embodiment. The method comprises down—
`loading a look-up table from a server database via a com-
`munication network. The look-up table is configured to store
`a plurality of UPCs associated with a plurality of articles of
`commerce. The look-up table also stores a plurality of
`information link indicators, where each information link
`indicator is associated with a respective UPC and article of
`commerce, and each information link indicator indicates the
`existence of a link to information about the respective article
`of commerce via the communication network. The method
`
`also includes storing the downloaded look-up table in a local
`database associated with a mobile device. The method then
`
`includes scanning a UPC symbol from an article of com-
`merce and looking up the UPC in the look-up table stored in
`the local database to determine from the respective infor-
`mation link indicator whether or not a link to information
`
`

`

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`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 9 of 14
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`US 10,600,101 B2
`
`3
`about an article of commerce associated with the scanned
`
`UPC symbol is accessible via the communication network.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of
`the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of
`the following detailed description when taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1A is front view of a mobile device according to an
`embodiment of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 1B is a rear view of the mobile device of FIG. 1A;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of various modules included in
`the mobile device illustrated in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a system for enabling remote commu-
`nication between devices via a communication network; and
`FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow diagrams illustrating methods
`for indicating the existence of a link to information pertain-
`ing to an article of commerce, according to several embodi-
`ments of the present disclosure.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be
`described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying
`drawings. In the following description, well-known func-
`tions or constructions may not be described in detail to avoid
`obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.
`Many types of portable devices are able to access web
`pages from the Internet. Some may gain access through a
`Wi-Fi network, while others may use cellular service to
`access the mobile web. However, since these portable
`devices typically use some type of wireless communication,
`interruptions of service may arise due to regions where
`cellular service is not available or is being blocked and/or
`where Wi-Fi hotspots are out of range. Also, certain places
`may be categorized as non-cellular locations, such as on
`airplanes, ships, trains, etc,, due to being out of range or due
`to blockage for the purpose of avoiding disruption with more
`critical communication systems.
`In addition to advancements in wireless communication,
`advancements in the technology of memory devices should
`also be considered. With respect
`to memory devices,
`improvements have been made to reduce the form factor
`such that large amounts of data can be stored in a relatively
`small space. Some small memory components are able to
`store up to 128 gigabytes. It is believed that in the near future
`memory components of the same size may be capable of
`storing several terabytes of data. As suggested in the present
`disclosure, mobile devices may have a storage capacity of
`hundreds of gigabytes or even more in the near future. With
`this capacity, a mobile device having Internet access may
`download information from an Intemet-connected server
`
`and store a large amount of data locally. Then, regardless of
`whether or not the mobile device has Internet access, the
`user may still obtain information that had been previously
`stored during the download.
`In particular, information that mobile devices may be able
`to download from a server may be related to any type of
`products, such as clothing, DVDs, groceries, etc. The infor-
`mation may be organized in a look-up table, for example,
`and contain information that identifies the articles of com-
`
`merce based on a Universal Product Code (UPC) number
`and associated bar code symbol. Using a scanner or image
`capture device on the mobile device, the user can scan a
`UPC bar code and the mobile device, with decoding soft-
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`ware, may be able to decode the bar code. From the stored
`information, an article of commerce may be identified using
`the UPC.
`
`Not only this, but the information downloaded from the
`server may also include an information link indicator.
`According to the embodiments disclosed herein, an infor-
`mation link indicator may be an indication (for the user’s
`reference) as to whether (or not) information about the
`identified article of commerce can be accessed over the
`
`Internet (or other network). The information link indicator
`may be a status or check signal indicating that information
`is available. Some information may be available by con-
`ducting a search on the network, while other information
`may be included in the look-up table or other form of data
`on the memory device of the mobile device. The information
`link indicator may also include an indication as to whether
`a particular link to one or more web pages exists, where the
`particular link might be stored along with the information
`link indicator in the look-up table.
`Since a typical look-up table does not require a large
`amount of memory,
`the look-up table(s) of the present
`disclosure may include UPC data, product name data, and an
`associated information link indicator for practically every
`product associated with a known UPC in the entire world. In
`some embodiments, one or more look-up tables may be
`created for certain categories of products. In addition to the
`UPC data, a small amount of information about the articles
`of commerce may also be stored in the look-up tables.
`In operation of the system and method of the present
`disclosure, the portable device may use any suitable com-
`munication protocols including but not limited to Wi-Fi (a,
`b, c d, n, x), cellular communications such as GSM, CDMA,
`FOMA, etc., infrared communications, cabled communica-
`tions, Bluetooth communications, satellite communications,
`etc., to transmit a request to a remote server on the global
`computer network (GCN), e.g., the Internet. The request,
`according to some implementations, may be an initial
`request to download a look-up table from the server, where
`the look-up table includes information relating UPC num-
`bers with the associated articles of commerce and the
`information link indicator, as described above. In some
`embodiments, the request may be a request for a certain
`category of articles of commerce, e.g., categories of articles
`that have been previously identified as being of interest to
`the user. After an initial download, the request may also
`represent a request to receive any updates made to the
`look-up table since the latest download. In some embodi-
`ments, the user may also transmit information identifying
`the user submitting the request.
`The server may then use any suitable computer processing
`power and software to retrieve the requested look-up table
`(s). The server may then use standard communications
`protocols to transmit information back to the portable digital
`device. With the look-up table(s) stored in local memory on
`the user’s mobile device, the user may access the informa-
`tion on the table at any time without the need to continually
`access information from the server. The information may be
`used to inform the user as to whether any article of com-
`merce, which is identified by the mobile device thereafter, is
`associated with accessible information that describes certain
`
`details about the respective article. The description of the
`articles of commerce may include characteristics of the
`articles, prices of the articles, stores where the articles are
`available for purchase, or other features of the articles.
`After the look-up table has been downloaded onto the
`user’s portable digital device, the user may then locate an
`article of commerce, such as a book, electronic device,
`
`

`

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`US 10,600,101 B2
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`5
`article of clothing, etc. The user utilizes the portable digital
`device, e.g., a mobile phone or other mobile device,
`to
`identify the article of commerce. Several possible solutions
`are provided to allow the article to be identified by a user.
`For example, the article of commerce may be identified by
`using a scanning device on the mobile device that scans a
`barcode on the article or by using an image capture device
`containing a CCD device (e.g., a camera) where the user
`takes a picture of the barcode on the article of commerce.
`The article may also be identified using a device containing
`a user interface allowing user keyboard input where the user
`inputs the name of the item into the portable device, or a
`device where the user may speak the name of the article of
`commerce into the portable device where the device con-
`tains voice recognition software, etc.
`Referring to FIG. 1A, a mobile device 100, such as a
`portable media playback device or other portable digital
`device for receiving and playing various types of digital
`media content, e.g., audio, video,
`images, games,
`text,
`multimedia content, etc., in accordance with an embodiment
`of the present disclosure, is illustrated. The mobile device
`100 includes various electrical components, which will be
`described in detail below, disposed in a generally rectangular
`housing 102. A display module 104 is provided for display-
`ing video and image media content, such as movies, anima-
`tions, etc., and a speaker 116 is provided configured to
`produce audio, e.g., music or a soundtrack associated with a
`video. An audio port 118 may be configured to receive a plug
`or connector from a headphone, stereo system, etc.,
`to
`stream the audio to the connected device.
`It
`is to be
`
`appreciated that when an external device is connected to the
`audio port 118 the speaker 116 will be disabled. Input
`module 106 includes a plurality of buttons 108 for inputting
`data and navigating through a plurality of menus. A touch
`screen overlaid upon the display module 104 may also be
`coupled to the input module for facilitating user input. The
`mobile device 100 further includes a storage module 110 for
`storing a plurality of content and a transmission module 112
`for transmitting/receiving data and/or content
`to another
`device, e.g., a personal computer, a personal digital assistant
`(PDA), a server residing on the Internet, etc. Optionally, the
`media device 100 may include a microphone 114 for acquir-
`ing audio from the user of the device to input data.
`Referring to FIG. 2, various components of the mobile
`device 100 are described. The mobile device 100 contains a
`
`computer processing module 120, e.g., a microprocessor.
`The computer processing module 120 may use computer
`software instructions that have been programmed into the
`module and conventional computer processing power to
`interact and organize the traffic flow between the various
`other modules.
`It
`is to be understood that
`the present
`disclosure may be implemented in various forms of hard-
`ware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or a
`combination thereof. A system bus 121 couples the various
`components shown in FIG. 2 and may be any of several
`types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory
`controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a
`variety of bus architectures. The mobile device 100 also
`includes an operating system and micro instruction code
`preferably residing in read only memory (ROM)
`(not
`shown). The various processes and functions described
`herein may either be part of the micro instruction code or
`part of an application program (or a combination thereof)
`which is executed via the operating system. Exemplary
`operating systems include but are not limited to Apple iOS,
`SymbianOS, Windows Mobile/Windows CE, Palm OS,
`Linux, Blackberry OS, BREW, etc., which have been devel-
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`oped for mobile computing applications and can handle both
`data computing and communication applications, e. g., voice
`communications.
`It is to be further understood that because some of the
`constituent device components and method steps depicted in
`the accompanying figures may be implemented in software,
`the actual connections between the device components (or
`the process steps) may difier depending upon the manner in
`which the present disclosure is programmed. Given the
`teachings of the present disclosure provided herein, one of
`ordinary skill in the related art will be able to contemplate
`these and similar implementations or configurations of the
`present disclosure.
`The computer processing module 120 may further
`include,
`in addition to a microprocessor, a digital signal
`processor (DSP) for decoding stored audio, video and photo
`files to be played on the mobile device 100. As is known in
`the art, the DSP may include several known decompression
`algorithms for decompressing stored media content, e.g., a
`MP3 file. The device 100 of the present disclosure may
`support any of various file types including but not limited to
`Microsoft Windows Media Video files (.wmv), Microsoft
`Photo Story files (.asf), Microsoft Windows Media Audio
`files (.wma), MP3 audio files (.mp3), JPEG image files (.jpg,
`.jpeg,
`.jpe, jfif), MPEG movie files (.mpeg,
`.mpg,
`.mpe,
`.mlv,
`.mp2v .mpeg2), Microsoft Recorded TV Show files
`(.dvr-ms), Microsoft Windows Video files (.avi) and Micro-
`soft Windows Audio files (.wav).
`The device 100 also contains a display module 104 for
`displaying digital information such as video files,
`image
`files, text files, etc. This display may be in any current form
`in the art, including Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD), Light
`emitting diode displays (LED), Cathode Ray Tube Displays
`(CRT) or any other type of display currently existing or
`existing in the future. The display module 104 may also
`include an audio output device, e.g., a speaker 116, audio
`port 118, etc., allowing the user to also hear audio output
`from the device 100, e.g., audio associated with a video, a
`MP3 file, etc.
`The device 100 of the present disclosure may contain a
`user input module 106 to either receive user instructions via
`text input by the way of buttons 108, a standard keyboard
`interface coupled to the device, or a character recognition
`capture device which translates user text input into alpha-
`numeric characters. In some embodiments,
`the character
`recognition device may include a touch screen which over-
`lays the display module 104 such that text may be entered
`via a pen-like stylus or other instrument. Such input devices
`are standard and currently available on many electronic
`devices including portable digital assistants (PDAs) and
`cellular telephones. Optionally, microphone 114 may be
`further coupled to the input module 106 for capturing any
`audio information spoken by the user and the input module
`will further include an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for
`converting the spoken audio information into a digital
`format. Furthermore, the input module may include a voice
`recognition processor that translates the digital human voice
`into alpha numeric characters for user input. The user may
`utilize the user input module 106 to enter various data, e.g.,
`to initiate communication with a remote server, to request
`information from the server, etc.
`storage
`internal
`The
`storage module 110 includes
`memory, e.g., random access memory (RAM), or removable
`memory such as magnetic storage memory; optical storage
`memory, e.g., the various known types of CD and DVD
`media; solid-state storage memory, e.g., a CompactFlash
`card, a Memory Stick, SmartMedia card, MultiMediaCard
`
`

`

`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 11 of 14
`Case 6:21-cv-00012-ADA Document 1-1 Filed 01/07/21 Page 11 of 14
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`US 10,600,101 B2
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`7
`(MMC), SD (Secure Digital) memory; or any other memory
`storage that exists currently or will exist in the future.
`The transmission module 112 will enable the device 100
`
`to transmit or transfer information to other computing
`devices and to receive information from other computing
`devices, e.g., digital media files, codes to unlock down-
`loaded media, encryption/decryption keys, etc. The trans-
`mission module 112 will perform its functionality by hard-
`wired and/or wireless connectivity. The hardwire connection
`may include but is not limited to hard wire cabling, e.g.,
`parallel or serial cables, USB cable, Firewire (1394 connec-
`tivity) cables, and the appropriate port. The wireless con-
`nection may operate under any of the various known wire-
`less protocols including but not
`limited to BluetoothTM
`interconnectivity, infrared connectivity, radio transmission
`connectivity including computer digital signal broadcasting
`and reception commonly referred to as Wi-Fi or 802.11.X
`(where x denotes the type of transmission), satellite trans-
`mission or any other type of communication protocols or
`systems currently existing or to be developed for wirelessly
`transmitting data. The transmission module 112 may com-
`press and encode the encrypted information for transmission
`using any known wireless communication technology. In
`one embodiment, antenna ANT is coupled to the transmis-
`sion module 112 for extending the wireless transmission
`range of the device 100.
`A capture module 122 is provided to capture an image
`desired by the user in digital form, e.g., an image of an
`article of commerce, a barcode, etc. The capture module 122
`may include an image sensor, an analog-to-digital (A/D)
`converter and a digital signal processor (DSP). Referring to
`FIG. 1B when a user desires to capture an image, a lens 137
`disposed on a rear side of the mobile device 100 is aimed at
`a subject of the image and is used in conjunction with
`display module 104 for positioning a subject of the image in
`lieu of a viewfinder. Light is allowed to enter through the
`lens 137 and shine on the image sensor, e.g., a charge-
`coupled device (CCD) or complimentary metal-oxide semi-
`conductor (CMOS). The image sensor may include millions
`of photosensors, e.g., pixels, wherein each pixel absorbs the
`light and transforms the light into an electric charge pro-
`portional
`to the intensity of light. Each charge can be
`transmitted to an A/D converter where the charge is con-
`verted into a digital value representing the color the pixel
`will be, e.g., representing different intensities of red, green
`and blue. The digital values are then passed to the digital
`signal processor which may enhance the image, compress it,
`and then stores it in a digital file format in the storage
`module 110.
`the mobile device 100 further
`In other embodiments,
`includes an integrated scanning module 124 for seaming a
`barcode or other symbology on an article of commerce. The
`scanning module 124 may contain a light source, e.g., LED,
`and photocell coupled to the computer processing module
`120, or alternatively, may include a separate decoder engine
`that will decode the data received by the photocell before
`sending it to the computer processing module 120. Knowl-
`edge of the art reveals that many different types of scanners
`currently exist and the inventor realizes that the type of
`scanner would depend upon the type symbology that is
`utilized in the printed images. The symbology may be in any
`form currently practiced in the art, including barcodes (e.g.,
`UPC, EAN, PDF417, etc.), photosymbols, standard or spe-
`cialized text, etc., or any future type of symbology.
`It is to be appreciated that the capture module 122 may
`also be used in conjunction with the scanning module 124 to
`read symbology associated with an article of commerce.
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`Here, the capture module 122 may acquire an image of the
`symbology and the scarming module 124 may further
`include a digital signal processor executing an algorithm for
`deciphering or decoding the symbology from the captured
`image. The use of an image sensor to read symbology, e.g.,
`a barcode, is known in the art and systems employing such
`technology, for example, are commercially available from
`Symbol Technologies of New York.
`The mobile device 100 may also include an encryption
`module 126. The encryption module 126 may use conven-
`tional code encryption algorithms currently in use or that
`may he uses in the future such as symmetric-key algorithms,
`e.g., DES, Triple-DES, Blowfish, RC2, RC4, RC5, etc., and
`asymmetric-key algorithms, e.g., Difiie-Hellman, RSA,
`ElGamal, etc. to decrypt locked digital media content files
`that are stored in the storage module 110. The encryption
`module 126 may also encrypt payment information of a user
`before the payment information is transmitted to an