GB2365555A

GB2365555A - News screen

Info

Publication number: GB2365555A
Application number: GB0018912A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Matthew Harward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-03
Filing date: 2000-08-03
Publication date: 2002-02-20
Also published as: GB0018912D0

Abstract

A News Screen includes a display screen; input devices (e.g. buttons) to navigate the literature; an internal modem to send and receive data; a mobile phone interface; memory stores for standard functions; memory stores for downloaded information; memory stores for user entered information; memory stores of phone numbers to directly dial the information sources; a re-chargeable battery. The New Screen also incorporates a base unit with a second modem to connect to ISDN land lines. This unit will also re-charge the battery. A final auxiliary device (e.g. a light pen) is included to allow user input to supplement the downloaded data. (for example, the user can enter data into a downloaded crossword). Together the News Screen is a direct dial unit which when housed in the base unit will contact a central information source (such as a newspaper server to request the day's news). This will be downloaded via the ISDN line to the News Screen unit and stored in the RAM. The News Screen can then be removed from the News Screen base unit. The downloaded information can then be read at the users leisure using the navigation devices to move forward and backward through the data. Additionally, with the News Screen's internal modem and mobile phone interface data can be received to supplement the initial download (for example, updated share prices). Also, user entered data (such as the crossword answers) can be sent back to a central source through the modem.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> News Screen - bescription PROBLEM: Although efforts are continually being made to ensure paper is disposed of properly to make the best use of re-cycling there are still large amounts of waste paper not being re-cycled. Major contributors to this problem are newspapers, journals and magazines.

DESCRIPTION: The "News Screen" is simply an electronic version of our favourite reading materials.

The product consists of a screen; a control pad area and a claia capture area.

Each evening the News Screen is mounted in its docking station and connected, via a PCJ, to the Internet. A software utility on the users PC is programmed to log on to a pre-selected newspapers web site in the early hours of the morning to download that days newspaper (including text and pictures). Following the download, the mobile News Screen can be removed f rom the docking station and carried with the user as with a paper newspaper.

Accessing the clays news can be controlled with simple up, down and select controls to view the selected pages or news items. FEATURES AND blAGRAMS: # The basic model is simply controlled with some straightforward buttons to control paging. The main bulk of the design is the LCD screen to display text and images. Diagram Ref W501 - The Alews Screen'shows a representation of the basic model.

# The internals of the News Screen consist of a simple microchip to control the display and the user entered paging functions as well as the download functionality. Alongside the processor will be the

harddrive with the capability to store the required amount of text and images - the previous days news would be overwritten each day therefore maximising memory usage. Finally, there will be a battery pack that will be rechargeable - see connectivity. (Note - some of the'Additional Features'will introduce the need for additions/amendments to these components).

# Downloading the days news will be via a PC Internet connection. This will work in a similar way to some of the current Personal Digital Assistants which connect to the PC - the bandwidth of the News Screen connector will need to have the capacity for larger downloads. The set up is illustrated in diagram YV502 - connectivity.

# The PC (as shown in A1502 - Connectivity) will have sof-tware to control the Internet connection to the chosen newspapers website as well as algorithms to control the download of information to the News Screen.

# The News Screen docking station (as shown in INS02 - Connectivity) will have the necessary connectors to allow the data interface to be robust. Also, a mains power supply can recharge the News Screen battery whilst the overnight download is in progress. OPTIONAL FEATUREVALTERNATIVES: To fully utilise the News Screen processor the News Screen could be equipped with a sound card and speaker/head phone facilities. This could be utilised to replay the recordings of presidential speeches, for example.

Again, the News Screen processor could be further utifised by facilitating moving/f lash imagery on the screen. Potential uses of this would be to replay the goals f rom the weekends top football matches.

Further possibilities include an input sensitive screen. An input pen could then be used to write on the screen (in the same way the readers often write on reports/circle articles of interest. This may prove especially useful with the daily crossword.

# An advanced model of the News Screen would contain modem facilities to be used in conjunction with the reader's mobile phone. A central news server could be accessed in this way for updates to news stories, breaking news, up to the minute share prices, etc.

# A CD drive could also be incorporated into the design. This could prove useful for those who do not wish toget their news downloaded via the Internet but would prefer to purchase a daily news CD. Additionally, other journals and even novels could be bought in this way - particularly important if the piece of literature is too large to download or maybe if the reader would want to keep the piece for future reference.

# A f inal alternative would be to offer the News Screen as a dedicated machine. For example, to buy a novel pre-loaded into the News Screen's harddrive that could not be over written.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An electronic device to receive news items from a central information source.
2. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with a large display screen.
3. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with input devices intended to aid navigation around the literature.
4. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with an in built modem
5. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with an in built Random Access Memory to store downloaded pages of information and user entered data.
6. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with an in built Read Only Memory to store built in functionality.
7. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with an update-able memory of information sources.
8. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with an in integral modern to send and receive data transmissions and mobile phone connectivity.
9. A device as claimed in all preceding claims with a rechargeable battery source.
1O.An auxiliary device designed to interface with those in the preceding claims to act as : a battery re-charger; a modem to send and receive data transmissions; a power supply; an ISDN line connection. 11 -An auxiliary device to supplement those described in Claim 3 to allow additional user input. 12.An electronic device as claimed in Claimsl through to 9 as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and descriptions. 13.An electronic device as claimed in Claim 10 as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and descriptions. 14.An electronic device as claimed in Claim 11 as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and descriptions.