GB2552931A - Business card with associated digital content - Google Patents
Business card with associated digital content Download PDFInfo
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- GB2552931A GB2552931A GB1612654.2A GB201612654A GB2552931A GB 2552931 A GB2552931 A GB 2552931A GB 201612654 A GB201612654 A GB 201612654A GB 2552931 A GB2552931 A GB 2552931A
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- Prior art keywords
- user
- business card
- computing device
- url link
- information
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/955—Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
- G06F16/9566—URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
- G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
- G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
- G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sharing contact information. The business card (100, Fig 1) is wirelessly enabled (102, Fig 1) and when brought close to a user device allows the user to personalise the unique URL of the card with information that they have preloaded onto their account 508, 510. The user can then pass on the personalised card to the recipient. When the card is brought into proximity to a recipient device the URL location only is read 514 and the recipient device is directed to the personalised information the user has uploaded to the URL. The card may be a passive near field communication (NFC) device that is read and configured with a smartphone (Figure 3). The user of the card may have to register and log in to an account (402, Figure 4) before providing or editing personal information to be associated with the URL. Each card may have a unique identifier (UID) that is associated with the user account.
Description
(71) Applicant(s):
MOO Print Limited
2nd Floor, 20 Farringdon Road, LONDON, EC1M 3AF, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):
Nick Ludlum Kaigani Turner Chad Jennings (56) Documents Cited:
GB 2513092 A CN 104184798 A US 20140131452 A1
CN 203840337 U US 20140134946 A1 US 20140113549 A1 (58) Field of Search:
INT CL B42D, G06F, G06K, G06Q Other: EPODOC, WPI (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:
Keltie LLP
No. 1 London Bridge, LONDON, SE1 9BA, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Business card with associated digital content
Abstract Title: A wirelessly enabled business card that directs the recipient to a unique URL (57) A method and apparatus for sharing contact information. The business card (100, Fig 1) is wirelessly enabled (102, Fig 1) and when brought close to a user device allows the user to personalise the unique URL of the card with information that they have preloaded onto their account 508, 510. The user can then pass on the personalised card to the recipient. When the card is brought into proximity to a recipient device the URL location only is read 514 and the recipient device is directed to the personalised information the user has uploaded to the URL. The card may be a passive near field communication (NFC) device that is read and configured with a smartphone (Figure 3). The user of the card may have to register and log in to an account (402, Figure 4) before providing or editing personal information to be associated with the URL. Each card may have a unique identifier (UID) that is associated with the user account.
Card is transferred to recipient.
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BUSINESS CARD WITH ASSOCIATED DIGITAL CONTENT
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a business card with associated digital content, and to methods for configuring and using such a card. In embodiments, the invention relates to effective linkage of the digital content to the owner or the recipient of a business card.
Background to the Invention
Everyday transmission of information between people, companies or advertisers is performed through many different methods. For example, this may be through the transfer of physical documents such as business cards or leaflets. However it is becoming most usual to transfer information electronically, through texts, emails or on websites. With the advent of the inherent use of electronic devices in day to day life there is a motivation to incorporate this technology for quick and convenient information transfer.
Nonetheless, typically information is still very often transferred physically, and inputted into electronic devices manually. This can be cumbersome and onerous, and information can very easily be misread, mistyped or lost. Furthermore, keeping track of what information has been given out, when, and to whom, is difficult, and so is mainly neglected, despite it being often being of interest to keep and analyse such data.
A particular example which the above issues apply to is business cards. Conventionally, business cards display information about the card holder in printed form. Such traditional business cards cannot be updated without printing brand new cards, and it can be frustrating for a recipient to transfer the business card information to the digital domain. Furthermore, business cards are easily lost before such information transfer is convenient. Moreover, business cards can only practically display a limited amount of information, resulting in the business card holder likely needing to transfer additional information through another method.
The information placed on the business card is relevant to the user at the point the business cards are ordered, or printed. However, this information is likely to change, for example an update of telephone number or email address. Therefore, each time the user changes their details or required information the business card must be reprinted, which increases costs and administration time for the user. Additionally, it is clearly not possible in such a situation for the user to impart any time sensitive or dependent information on the business card.
Accordingly, to facilitate the transfer of business card information into the digital domain, a better solution is to enhance a conventional business card with explicit digital information. A 2-D barcode or other easily machine-readable glyph can be printed onto the card and used to provide digital information directly and/or provide a link (such as a URI) to a source of linked information. However, 2-D barcodes occupy valuable realestate on the business card and can spoil the appearance of the business card making this solution less than ideal. Additionally, this method still holds issue of any update of information may require the business card to be reprinted. Information on the card may also be dependent on the time on which it was printed. Furthermore, it still requires a receiver of the card to actively engage in processing the information - for example using a smartphone camera to take a picture of a QR code.
A method which provides some improvements on the above issues is to use a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, on or within the business card. Near Field Communication (NFC) provides a set of short-range wireless technologies operating at 13.56 MHz according to a group of standards developed under the guidance of the NFC Forum and enables the transfer of information between devices, when they are brought into a short distance of each other, generally within 10cm or less. An NFC chip contains digital information, which can then be easily transferred to a recipient device and processed. Moreover, the information can be semantically structured, and so can be quickly and correctly merged into an electronic database.
It is against this background that the present invention has been conceived. It is desirable for the business card to be augmented with digital information relevant to the business card user or owner (the person or entity responsible identified on the cards).
Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of configuring a business card with an embedded memory for a unique URL link associated with a user and user information, wherein the business card further comprises means adapted for short range wireless communication with a computing device, the method comprising:
establishing a short range wireless network connection between the computing device and the business card; determining if an association between the business card and a user of the computing device exists, and if so; if an association between the business card and the user of the computing device exists enabling recording of the unique URL link associated with user information from the business card to the computing device, wherein if no association between the business card and the computing device exists, the computing device optionally reads the unique URL link associated with user information already stored in the memory.
Using the method as described above, and in particular by recording the unique URL link associated with user information from the business card to the computing device, enables the user to update data and/or information, or the configuration of said data and/or information, presented by the unique URL link at a subsequent time to the recordal of the unique URL link.
Optionally, wherein the association is made by a user registration, the method further comprises: registering device user to provide the user registration, and associating the business card with the user registration.
Optionally, the business card has a unique identifier.
Optionally, the unique identifier of the business card is associated with the user registration.
OptionaHy, the unique identifier is used to determine the association between die business card and the user of the computing device.
Optionally, the unique URL link is specific to each business card.
Optionally, each specific unique URL link is recorded from the business card to the computing device and stored in a memory of the computing device.
Optionally, additional information is provided to the computing device to be associated with the specific unique URL link.
Optionally, the specific unique URL link may be recalled from a memory of the computing device using the additional information associated with the specific unique URL link.
Optionally, said additional information may comprise any of the following; name, telephone number, address, date and time. The additional information should be in some way recognisable and useful to the user for subsequent recall, however this is not necessary and it may be that the user provides additional information which has no clear relation to the recipient of the business card, business card or specific unique URL link.
Optionally, the user information associated with the specific unique URL link may be updated using the computing device.
Optionally, the configuration of the user information to be displayed when a computing device reads the URL link may be updated using a computing device.
Optionally, the business card is an externally powered passive device.
Optionally, the short range wireless communication means is adapted to use Near Field Communication protocols.
Optionally, a user of the computing device completes a verification process before being permitted to record the unique URL link from the business card.
Optionally, to enable recording of the unique URL link from the business card to the computing device, the computer device is logged into a user account.
Optionally, the user account communications with a remote server holding user information for users with user accounts.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a computing device adapted to perform the method as described above.
Optionally, the computing device is a mobile telephone handset.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a business card comprising an embedded memory for storing a unique URL link associated with a user and user information and a unique identifier and comprising means adapted for short range communication with a computing device, wherein the business card is adapted, if the user of the computing device has an association with the business card, to allow the computing device to record the unique URL link to a memory of the computing device, wherein if the computing device has no association with the business card, the business card is adapted to allow the computing device to read the unique URL link.
Optionally, the business card has a unique identifier, wherein unique identifier is used to determine if the user of the computing device has an association with the business card.
Optionally, the business card has a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is used to determine if the user of the computing device is associated with a user account.
Optionally, the business card comprises an inductively powered tag.
Optionally, the inductively powered tag operates according to NFC protocols.
The term “business card” is used generally here to indicate a form factor and a mode of distribution - however the skilled person will appreciate that business cards described in embodiments herein may be used in use models other than those for which conventional business cards are used.
Brief Description of the Figures
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
Figure 1 illustrates a business card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a business card interacting with a user device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a business card handover, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a process of handover of a business card from a user to a recipient, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a process handover of a business card from a user to a recipient, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments
Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of an NFC enabled business card 100. The NFC chip 102 is contained within the business card, such that it cannot be seen by a user. A user is regarded to be an owner of the business card, who has an account registered with the manufacturer of the business card 100. The user account is associated with a username and password and relevant user details, such as credit card details, previous orders or user addresses. The user account is also associated with a unique URL link. The user account information is stored on a manufacturer server.
The card 100 is made from a material such that it is lightweight, thin, and can have decoration or designs added onto its outside surfaces. For example in an embodiment the card may be made from paper, and in other embodiment of the invention it may be made from plastic. It is an aim of this invention to overcome some of the issues with traditional business cards, and such like, and therefore all, or most, of the information to be transferred to a recipient is contained within the NFC chip 102. Consequently, the card design 104 can be simple, without needing to display any information about the user. This is advantageous to the user as they may select card designs without needing to be concerned with the spacing and configuration of the information on the card, or with card dimension issues.
The NFC chip 102 comprises an antenna 106, an NFC processor 108 to establish an NFC connection with an appropriate device when powered, and to receive information from the user or the manufacturer, and a memory 110 to store any information received. Each NFC chip 102 is preconfigured by the manufacturer to comprise at least a unique URL link associated with the user account, and in an arrangement of the invention a URL link specific to each NFC chip 102. Additionally, the NFC chip 102 is preconfigured by the manufacturer to have a user identifier, or ‘tag’, which is associated with the user account. For example, the tag may be a numerical value. However, in different arrangements of the invention the tag may comprise numbers, letters, symbols or combinations thereof.
Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in which communication may occur between a NFC user device 200 and a NFC enabled business card 100. For the user device 200 to be able to communicate with NFC enabled business card 100, it must itself be NFC enabled. Therefore, any further reference to a user device 200 assumes that the user device 200 is NFC enabled. The user device 200 must also be a computational device, which is shown in the example of Figure 2 as a mobile cellular telecommunications handset (“mobile phone” or “mobile device”). In other arrangements the user device 200 may be another computational device such as a laptop or tablet. The user device 200 comprises at least one processor which is associated with the application software 202, at least one memory database associated with the at least one processor, and an NFC controller associated with the at least one processor. The user device 200 may further comprise application software 202 provided by the manufacturer, or a corresponding third party. The user device 200 also has a display 204 which can display the application software 202. In the user device of Figure 2 the display 204 is a touchscreen user interface, however in other arrangements the display may be a screen with the application software being controlled through associated devices such as a computer keyboard and mouse. Additionally, the user device 200 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 is equipped with wireless telecommunications apparatus for communication with a wireless telecommunications network and local wireless communication apparatus for interaction by NFC.
Additionally, the user is required to have a user account registered with the card manufacturer, where user account information is stored on a manufacturer server. The user account is associated with a username and password which the user must enter when initially accessing the application software 202 from the user device 200. The application software 202 may remain logged in to the user account after initial access by the user, unless actively logged out by the user. This configuration is convenient for the user when performing the method of the invention. Therefore, when the user device 200 is connected to a network, such as a wireless telecommunications network, any changes to the user account can be communicated to the manufacturer server, which will store the updated user account details. Moreover, should there be any changes made by the manufacturer to the application software 202 or to the user account, these will be received and implemented by the application software 202 on the user device 200.
Furthermore, a unique URL link provided to each NFC chip 102 is associated with the user account. The user is able to define the information and configuration of the information derived from the user account to be associated with the unique URL link, either through accessing the application software 202 or their account on the manufacturer’s website. For example, if the user was to update their work contact number on the application software 202 this would be communicated to the manufacturer and stored on the user account. Following on from this, assuming the unique URL link is configured to display the work contact number, when the link is subsequently accessed the updated work contact number would be shown. The unique URL link does not provide access to the user account itself, and any information shown by each URL link when accessed is read-only. This ensures security of the information stored on the user account.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the user inputs information into their user account in the application software 202 using the display 204. This may be done at any point after the user has obtained the application software 202 on the user device 200. In this way, the user can configure the application software 202, such that the unique URL link provided by the NFC enabled business card 100 is able to present time dependent information. For example, the user may configure the application software 202 to communicate their work calendar every Sunday to the manufacturer server, and thus user account, for the next week. The user may also configure the application software 202 to communicate to the manufacturer server that this information is to be derived from the user account to be shown by the unique URL link. This is particularly advantageous, as after the initial configuration of the user account through the application software 202, the user can automatically transfer time sensitive information to another person. Therefore, inputting or amending information in the application software 202 requires a connection to a wireless network, such that the information is saved to the user account on the manufacturer server. In another arrangement of the invention there is no immediate requirement of a connection to a wireless network, should the user wish to input or amend their account information at the present time, but may be saved on the application software 202 but will not be communicated to the manufacturer server until such time as a wireless network connection is joined on the device. Therefore, a unique URL link on an NFC chip 102 will not provide the updated information until a wireless connection is joined on the device.
As shown by the embodiment of Figure 2, the NFC enabled business card 100 is brought into proximity of the user device 200, which is generally understood to be approximately 10cm or less. However, this is dependent on the NFC technology and so it is possible in other embodiments that bringing the business card 100 into proximity with the user device may be a distance greater than 10cm, but no further than 20cm.
When brought into proximity with the user device 200, the NFC controller will communicate to the application software 202 whether there is a tag associated with the NFC chip 102, and if so, what the tag is. The application software 202 will then assess whether the tag is associated with a user account. If the tag is associated with a user account, the user will be prompted by the application software 202 to log in to their user account through the application software 202, if they have not already done so. However, if the NFC chip 102 does not have a recognised tag, the user device may simply read the unique URL link on the NFC chip 102. In an arrangement of the invention, the tag may be the unique URL link associated with the user account.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a specific unique URL link is provided to each NFC chip, such that every NFC chip is provided with a different URL link which may be independently configured to any other URL links associated with a user account.
In this embodiment of the invention, if the tag of an NFC chip 102 is recognised by the application software 202 and the user is logged on to the corresponding account in the application software 202, the application software 202 will record the specific unique URL link on the NFC chip 102, and prompt the user to provide addition information to be associated with the specific unique URL link, so that the specific unique URL link can easily be recalled and configuration amended by the user. For example, the application software 202 may prompt the user to provide the name of the card 100 recipient. As each NFC chip 102 is provided with a specific unique URL link, the specific unique URL link for each card should be recorded by the application software 202 before handover, such that the user may modify the redirect for the recipient, depending on what information the user would like the recipient to receive when accessing the link. In an embodiment of the invention, the application software 202 may automatically record additional information regarding the specific unique URL link and associate the additional information with the specific unique URL link. For example, the application software 202 may record the time and location for the recordal of the specific unique URL link.
Consequently, for example, a business card ‘A’ is brought into proximity of a user device 200, such that ‘URL link A’ is recorded by the application software 202 of the user device 200. The user associates ‘Person A’ with ‘URL link A’ on the application software 202, and ‘URL link A’ is stored with the additional information associated with the link to a memory of the user device 200. If the user device 200 is connected to a wireless network, ‘URL link A’ and the associated information is stored at the manufacturer server, and stored in association with the user account. Business card A is then handed over to ‘Person A’. At any point after the specific unique URL link has been recorded and associated with the user account at the server, the configuration of the URL link may be updated by the user, so that subsequent to the update when the recipient reads the specific unique URL link on business card A, updated information is displayed. This is particular to each business card - business card ‘B’ for example will have ‘URL link B’ and be associated with distinct additional information for recordal and recall by the user on the user device 200. In an alternative arrangement of the invention, each specific unique URL link provided to the NFC chip 102 of each business card is recorded and stored in association with the appropriate user account at the manufacturer server as part of the manufacturing process, before the cards are transferred to the user. Thus, in this arrangement, it is only necessary for the manufacturer server to further store the additional information in association with a specific unique URL link after the user has provided the additional information at the user device 200, and this has been communicated by the user device 200 to the manufacturer server.
Figure 3 shows an illustration of card handover according to an embodiment of the invention. Shown in step 300, the user brings a card 100, with an NFC chip 102 comprising at least a specific unique URL link, into proximity with the user device 200. The NFC chip 102 may also comprise a unique identifier, or tag. The user device 200 will then read the tag and identify the account associated with the tag. The user may then be prompted by application software 202 on the user device 200 to log in to their account if they are not already logged on to their account, either having not already done so on initial download of the application software 202 to the computing device or having logged out of the user account on the application software 202 at a subsequent time. Logging in to the account may involve providing user verification details, such as username or password. In other embodiments of the invention, other suitable user verification methods are used, such as biometrics or providing a PIN. Once the user is logged in to their account, the application software 202 will determine if the unique identifier is associated with the user account. If the unique identifier is associated with the user account then the application software 202 records the specific unique URL link and prompts the user to provide additional information to be associated with the specific unique URL link. For example, this may be a name or a date. In another embodiment of the invention, the application software automatically records additional information for association with the specific unique URL link, such as the date and location of the URL link recordal. The specific unique URL link and the associated additional information will then be communicated to the manufacturer server to be stored in association with the user account, when the mobile device 200 is connected to a wireless network. If the mobile device 200 is not connected to a wireless network, the specific unique URL link and the associated additional information will be stored in a memory of the mobile device 200 and will be communicated to the manufacturer server at a later point.
However, if the application software 202 determines that the unique identifier is not associated with the user account, then the unique URL link will simply be read by the computing device.
Step 302 illustrates the handover of the business card 100 from the user to the recipient. Next, the recipient will bring the business card 100 into proximity with their mobile device 306. The specific unique URL link will then be read by the recipient mobile device 306 and the recipient will be provided with the user information according to the most recently updated user account configuration and information at the manufacturer server. For example, each time the recipient brings the business card 100 into proximity with their mobile device 306, they may be presented with different information, if the user regularly updates their account information and configuration settings. A particular example of this is an automatic and regular update of a business diary.
Figure 4 shows a process 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. According to an arrangement of the present invention, initially the user logs on to their user account on the computing device via the application software 202, which is shown by step 402. This may be done on initial download of the application software, or at any subsequent time. Next, the NFC enabled card 100, which comprises at least the specific unique URL link and the user identifier, is brought within communication distance of the user’s device 200 (step 404) and the user device detects the NFC chip 102 and thus the user identifier. The user may then be prompted by application software 202 on the user device 200 to input account verification information if they are not already logged in to their account. In some arrangements the verification information may be the account password. In other arrangements the verification information may be preset by the user when installing the application software 202 on the user device 200, or during user registration of the user account. In yet another arrangement the verification information may be information relating to the user account. If the verification information is verified the application software 202 will record the specific unique URL link on the NFC chip 102. Once logged in to the account, the application software 202 will determine if the unique identifier is associated with the user account. If the unique identifier is associated with the user account the specific unique URL link may be stored in a memory of the user device 200. In addition this step comprises the recordal of additional information to be associated with the specific unique URL link. When the user device is connected to a wireless network, the specific unique URL link and the associated information is recorded and stored at the manufacturer server, in association with the user account, as illustrated in step 406. However, if the unique identifier is not associated with the user account, the specific unique URL link will only be read by the computing device.
Next, shown by step 408, the card 100 is transferred from the user to the recipient. Following on from this, in step 310, the recipient brings the card 100 into proximity with the recipient device. The recipient device must be a computational device which is NFC enabled and connected to a wireless communication network. By bringing the card 100 into proximity with the recipient device, the recipient will be directed to the specific unique URL link, and thus be able to view user information as, given in step 412. In an arrangement of the invention, if the recipient device has the appropriate software the data may be transferred automatically from the specific unique URL link to the recipient device software, so that no additional information configuration is required.
Figure 5 shows a process 500 according to another embodiment of the invention. According to a first element of this embodiment of the invention, the NFC enabled card 100, comprising the specific unique URL link and user identifier, is brought within communication distance of the user’s device 200. This is shown in step 502. Following on from this, as shown by step 504, the user device 200 detects the NFC chip 102 and the unique identifier. If the user is not already logged in to their user account the application software 202 may prompt the user to log in to their account. Next, if the user is logged in to their account on the application software, the application software determines if the unique identifier is associated with the user account. This is shown by step 506. If the unique identifier is associated with the user account the application software 202 prompts the user to input data or information to be associated with the specific unique URL link on the NFC chip 102, as given in step 508. In addition the specific unique URL link is recorded and stored on the mobile device 200, and is recorded and stored with additional associated information, either provided by the user or automatically collected by the application software 202. The URL link and associated information will then be communicated to the manufacturer server. Following on from this, in step 512, the card can be transferred to the recipient.
However, if the unique identifier is not associated with the user account, the application software 202 reads the URL link on the business card, which is shown by step 514.
The preference of the user as to the configuration of the information presented by each specific unique URL link, or the information itself can be managed through the application software 202. Additionally, the user may manage this through alternative computing devices if they are logged on to their user account on the computing device and the device computing is connected to a wireless network.
Claims (24)
1. A method of configuring a business card with an embedded memory for a unique URL link associated with a user and user information, wherein the business card further comprises means adapted for short range wireless communication with a computing device, the method comprising:
establishing a short range wireless network connection between the computing device and the business card;
determining if an association between the business card and a user of the computing device exists, and if so;
if an association between the business card and the user of the computing device exists, enabling recording of the unique URL link associated with user information from the business card to the computing device, wherein if no association between the business card and the computing device exists, the computing device optionally reads the unique URL link associated with user information already stored in the memory.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the association is made by a user registration, the method further comprising:
registering the a user to provide the user registration, and associating the business card with the user registration.
3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the business card has a unique identifier.
4. The method of claim 3 where dependent on claim 2, wherein the unique identifier of the business card is associated with the user registration.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the unique identifier is used to determine the association between the business card and the user of the computing device.
6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the unique URL link is specific to each business card.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein each specific unique URL link is recorded from the business card to the computing device and stored in a memory of the computing device.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein additional information is provided to the computing device to be associated with the specific unique URL link.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the specific unique URL link may be recalled from a memory of the computing device using the additional information associated with the specific unique URL link.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein said additional information may comprise any of: name, word, telephone number, address, date, time and a location ofthe recording event.
11. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the user information associated with the unique URL link may be updated using the computing device.
12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the configuration of the user information to be displayed when a computing device reads the unique URL link is updated using a computing device.
13. The method of any preceding claim wherein the business card is an externally powered passive device.
14. The method of any preceding claim wherein the short range wireless communication means is adapted to use Near Field Communication protocols.
15. The method of any preceding claim, wherein a user of the computing device completes a verification process before being permitted to record the unique URL link from the business card.
16. The method of any preceding claim wherein to enable recording of the unique URL link from the business card to the computing device, the computer device is logged into a user account.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the user account communicates with a remote server holding user information for users with user accounts.
18. A computing device adapted to perform the method of any preceding claim.
19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the computing device is a mobile telephone handset.
20. A business card comprising an embedded memory for storing a unique URL link associated with a user and user information and a unique identifier and comprising means adapted for short range communication with a computing device, wherein the business card is adapted, if the user of the computing device has an association with the business card, to allow the computing device to record the unique URL link to a memory of the computing device, wherein if the computing device has no association with the business card, the business card is adapted to allow the computing device to read the unique URL link.
21. The business card of claim 20, wherein the unique identifier is used to determine if the user of the computing device has an association with the business card.
22. The business card of claim 21, wherein the business card has a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is used to determine if the user of the computing device is associated with a user account.
23. The business card of any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the business card comprises an inductively powered tag.
24. The business card of claim 23, wherein the inductively powered tag operates according to NFC protocols.
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB1612654.2 Examiner: Mr Chris Davidson
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1612654.2A GB2552931A (en) | 2016-07-21 | 2016-07-21 | Business card with associated digital content |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1612654.2A GB2552931A (en) | 2016-07-21 | 2016-07-21 | Business card with associated digital content |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201612654D0 GB201612654D0 (en) | 2016-09-07 |
| GB2552931A true GB2552931A (en) | 2018-02-21 |
Family
ID=56894426
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1612654.2A Withdrawn GB2552931A (en) | 2016-07-21 | 2016-07-21 | Business card with associated digital content |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2552931A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3910577A1 (en) * | 2020-05-15 | 2021-11-17 | Pulsar S.r.l. | Electronic tag and relevant method for sharing personal contacts between mobile devices |
| GB2599179A (en) * | 2020-09-29 | 2022-03-30 | Your Octo Ltd | System and method for communicating information |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20140113549A1 (en) * | 2012-10-21 | 2014-04-24 | Kadeer Beg | Methods and systems for communicating greeting and informational content using nfc devices |
| US20140134946A1 (en) * | 2012-11-09 | 2014-05-15 | Cellotape, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automatically linking customizable and/or personalized digital content to an object |
| US20140131452A1 (en) * | 2012-11-09 | 2014-05-15 | Cellotape, Inc | Method, system and apparatus for automatically linking digital content to a device |
| CN203840337U (en) * | 2013-09-17 | 2014-09-17 | 哈尔滨安天科技股份有限公司 | Intelligent finger ring |
| GB2513092A (en) * | 2013-02-01 | 2014-10-22 | Alexander Mariasov | Electronic business card |
| CN104184798A (en) * | 2014-07-29 | 2014-12-03 | 捷开通讯科技(上海)有限公司 | Wearable electronic equipment based electronic business card managing system and exchanging method |
-
2016
- 2016-07-21 GB GB1612654.2A patent/GB2552931A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20140113549A1 (en) * | 2012-10-21 | 2014-04-24 | Kadeer Beg | Methods and systems for communicating greeting and informational content using nfc devices |
| US20140134946A1 (en) * | 2012-11-09 | 2014-05-15 | Cellotape, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automatically linking customizable and/or personalized digital content to an object |
| US20140131452A1 (en) * | 2012-11-09 | 2014-05-15 | Cellotape, Inc | Method, system and apparatus for automatically linking digital content to a device |
| GB2513092A (en) * | 2013-02-01 | 2014-10-22 | Alexander Mariasov | Electronic business card |
| CN203840337U (en) * | 2013-09-17 | 2014-09-17 | 哈尔滨安天科技股份有限公司 | Intelligent finger ring |
| CN104184798A (en) * | 2014-07-29 | 2014-12-03 | 捷开通讯科技(上海)有限公司 | Wearable electronic equipment based electronic business card managing system and exchanging method |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3910577A1 (en) * | 2020-05-15 | 2021-11-17 | Pulsar S.r.l. | Electronic tag and relevant method for sharing personal contacts between mobile devices |
| GB2599179A (en) * | 2020-09-29 | 2022-03-30 | Your Octo Ltd | System and method for communicating information |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201612654D0 (en) | 2016-09-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |