GB2366487A - Wireless display - Google Patents

Abstract

An input-output device worn by the user, typically in the manner of a wristwatch. The device communicates digitally by radio over short distances to more complex devices that provide data for display and accept simple responses in return.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> Wearable Display General Description Many people carry around several different electronic devices such as cellular telephones, portable computers, electronic diaries, remote controls for various appliances, radio pagers, etc. If one of these devices signals that it has a message of some sort, it can be inconvenient to retrieve that particular -device to read the message. The message might be textual, or an alarm for a particular time or that a battery is running low or a variety of other information of a concise nature. It may be inconvenient to retrieve the device if the user is for example, driving, being rained upon or carrying other objects.

This invention is for a small display that may be commonly used by a number of other electronic devices and is worn, and looks similar to, a wristwatch. It connects to the other electronic devices by means of data transmitted by radio. The usefulness of this is that messages may be received by glancing at the single display which is much more convenient than accessing the individual other devices. It may also be used for providing information within a very small area. For examples it could be used to provide electronic signposts to give infori-nation to pedestrians with an airport or as an advertising medium within shopping malls.

Features The screen (item 2 in the figure) is typically 40mm x 30mm. The long axis is most commonly parallel to the arm of the wearer. The screen is preferably made using an LCD or LEP or similar lightweight, low power technology. Mounting is preferably by a wrist strap (items I in the figure), or alternatively by safety pin, pocket clip, surface mounted holder or the like. The display has one or more lines of text and/or can be used to display graphics. Buttons (items 3 in the figure) may optionally be provided to allow simple responses to the information displayed or to change the manner in which it is displayed. For examples, receipt of a message may be acknowledged by pressing a button or pressing a button may cause the display to scroll so that longer messages become readable. The screen may be touch-sensitive as an alternative to separate buttons. The power supply is from a battery. The method of construction is that commonly employed to manufacture digital watches with the additional circuitry and components required for the radio transmitter, receiver and a microprocessor for control and operation of the device. Data communication with some other information processing device is by low power radio using either a proprietary protocol, or, preferably, using an international standard such as Bluetooth. The display device described here is addressable so that an information processing device may select with which display device it will communicate as several may be within range. Equally the display device may also address specific information processing devices so that the user may be selective in the origin and/or type of information displayed. The display device and information processor may also send out broadcast messages either to initiate one-to-one communication or to broadcast information.

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Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS 1. An input-output device wom by the user and communicating digitally by radio over short distances to more complex devices that provide data for display and accept simple responses in return. 2. A device as claimed in claim I providing commercial advertising messages within 200 metres of a trading establishment to whom the messages relate. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 providing informational messages to pedestrians. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3 giving directional guidance to pedestrians walking through an area a few tens of metres in diameter or less, 5. A device as claimed in claim 3 giving directional guidance to drivers of vehicles passing through an area a few tens of metres in diameter or less. 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 acting as an input-output device for a personal computer in close proximity to the user. 7. A device as claimed in claim I acting as an input-output device for a personal organiser or diary in close proximity to the user. 8. A device as claimed in claim I acting as an input-output device for a telephone in close proximity to the user. 9. A device as claimed in claims 6,7 or 8 where the communication is restricted to a specific pair of an instance of the input-output device and a single other device. 10. A device according to any preceding claim where the data displayed by the input-output device is restricted to one or more categories or types of information.

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   Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A simple display device providing informational messages of commercial advertising or navigational guidance to the user within a few hundred metres of one or many other devices that are providing such information by means of low power radio communication.
2. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 constructed so as to be wearable about the person.
3. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 constructed so as to be fixable to a motor vehicle.
4. 4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 able to uniquely identify itself to the sender of the messages.