Description
Title: Electronic Textbook Reader
Background Information:
The present invention relates to hand-held devices and more particularly relates to a system having a portable electronic book display and read aloud system and an associated contents storage and authorization mechanism.
Electronic book are disclosed, for example, in U.S patent No.4445196; U.S patent No. 4855725; U.S patent No. 4985697; U.S patent No. 5475398; U.S patent No. 5956048. An improved electronic book system is needed, however, which meets the needs of students to replace conventional paperback textbook in schools. In particular, an electronic book system is needed which provides a storage medium for contents, and a key to allow an individual to access to the portion of contents which he is licensed. Additionally, the key serves as an identity so that when the unit is connected to a network, the individual can communicated with others. The communication even includes online purchase of electronic books. The key can further act as an electronic wallet with stored value, thus a payment system with high security is achievable.
Summary of Invention:
The present invention meets the aforementioned needs by providing a multiple purpose electronic book system. In particular, the invention provides a hand-held portable unit that reads stored data in a diskette and electronically displays such data in a page-like format giving a resemblance to a conventional textbook. The unit has a size and shape comparable to the conventional size of a paperback textbook and allows a student to select a desired page to be displayed by pressing the cursor buttons.
In addition to text, graphics and illustrations are commonly found in textbooks to supplement text. The present unit has a multiple display. In addition to the large LCD panel for text display, another LCD panel is employed to display the graphics and illustrations. Furthermore, moving pictures can also be displayed.
Another feature of the unit is the inclusion of speech technology. While the text could be display on the LCD panels, the user can turn on the speech system. This feature serves an alternative to visual access to the text, which is especially useful in revision at home. Furthermore, visually handicapped students could use the same textbook system with their schoolmate. In many nations, for example China, there are multiple dialects. This electronic textbook reader can pronounce each character in different dialect, and serves as a multiple dialects learning machine.
Another important feature of this unit that allows it to replace conventional textbook in schools is the employment of an authorization key. This key is in the form of an integrated circuit card or magnetic card. The unit cannot display or read any portion of the encrypted data stored in the diskette without such authorization. On the other hand, an individual who has purchased a particular textbook, the content of which was included in the diskette, will be licensed to access to it by means of the electronic textbook reader. He will be given such a card, which after being inserted to a slot in the unit, will authorize the unit to display and read aloud the relevant content on demand. In this way, publishers can be ensured to get the revenue from selling the authorization.
Students using this unit may want to purchase electronic books online. This unit can be connected to a network by the built in modem, or LAN, or wireless LAN. The key serves as an identity in this case and the purchase procedure will be accomplished by a predefined online payment system. In such locality where an electronic wallet in the form of a card is available, such card can also be used as the key. This will much simplify the payment system, and yet the security is still maintained at a high standard.
As the electronic textbook is designed for day-to-day use, the housing must be robust and water proof. However, it is still highly susceptible to frequent wear and tear. The housing is readily replaced by a new one by releasing four big screws. The whole procedure is within the scope of DIY by early age pupils.
Brief description of the drawings
Fig.1 is a front elevation view of the electronic textbook reader constructed in accordance with
teachings of the present invention,
Fig.2 is a perspective view of the electronic textbook reader shown in Fig.1,
Fig.3 is a left side view of the electronic textbook reader shown in Fig.1,
Fig.4 is a right side view of the electronic textbook reader shown in Fig.1,
Fig.5 is a back view of the electronic textbook reader shown in Fig.1,
Fig.6 is a top side view of the electronic textbook reader shown in Fig.1
FigJ is a schematic view of the electronic textbook reader according to an embodiment of the invention configured for display and read aloud the textbook data.
Fig.8 is a schematic view of the electronic textbook reader according to the invention configured for online purchase of electronic book using electronic wallet card.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments
Now referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals designate like parts, Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a hand-held electronic book reader (1) constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The reader includes a housing, which holds a large display screen (2) to display text. Preferably, the screen has a horizontal and vertical resolution of 600 x 800 on higher. Further upward is a smaller display screen (3) to display graphics, illustrations and moving pictures. It is hinged to the housing so that whereas the whole unit is lying more or less horizontal, or slightly elevated, the colour screening (3) can always be adjusted perpendicular to the user's view to give a best colour rendition.
The housing is preferably formed of a material that is robust and water proof. It comprises an upper half and a lower half. The lower half is fixed to the upper half by means of four strong screws (17) so that the junction, which was lined with rubber-like material, becomes water tight.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, there is a speaker (4) for reading the textbook contents aloud. As illustrated in Fig. 2, a user input pad comprising a plurality of control buttons are mounted in a spaced manner along a side of the housing. These buttons operate various display and read- aloud and communication functions, and preferably include an on/off button(5), menu button (7), a set of navigation buttons (6), and selection buttons(8, 9, 10). These buttons operate the unit as described below:
1. On/Off button (5). This button turns the unit on and causes a menu screen displayed, in which one can choose to display the last displayed screen when the unit is turned off.
2. 'Menu' button (7). Pressing this button causes a menu to be displayed on the screen which lists a variety of control option.
3. 'Select' button (8, 9, 10). It allows the user to select between the options as hsted in the menu.
4. 'Navigation' button (6). It allows the user to move the cursor in the four directions in the menu or text page as shown on the display.
Now turn to Fig. 3. This is a left side view of the unit (1). There is a slot (12) which accepts a diskette which stores the contents. Usually the slot (12) is covered by a tight flap (11) so that the slot (12) is well protected.
Now turn to Fig. 4. This is a right side view of the unit. There is a slot (13) which accepts a card which in this case serves as a key. Next to it is an expansion port (14) which allows the unit to communicate with external network and devices. Further down is an earphone receptacle (15) which allows the user to listen using an earphone instead of the internal speaker (4). Usually these slots (13) and ports (14) and receptacles (15) are covered by a tight flap (16) so that they are well protected.
Now turn to Fig. 7. A characteristic feature of this unit is the employment of a card reader. It
accepts a card which serves as a key to the unit. A student who possesses a unit of electronic book reader will be issued a diskette, in which all relevant contents of the textbook for the academic year will be stored in an encrypted form. He will then select the books he is interested in and pay for a licence to access to them for a certain period, e.g. one year. Upon payment, he will be issued a card which carries his identity and the authorization to those books he has paid for. Conversely one who possesses the unit and has a copy of the diskette will not be able to access to the content if he does not pay for the licence.
Now turn to Fig. 8. Another feature is the employment of electronic wallet card as the key. In this circumstance, if the user has already paid and has the value stored in the card he can directly purchase electronic books or other contents from a network. The stored value will be deducted accordingly. This is a new way of online payment with convenience and high level of security.
Now turn to Fig. 5. This is a top side view of the unit (1). Located on the side are a telephone line connector (19), a connector to AC wall outlet (17), and a connector to DC adaptor (18). Similarly they are covered by a tight flap so that they are well protected. The unit can be connected to external network via a telephone line and its internal modem. It has an internal power supply which transforms and rectifies AC to DC to operate the unit. It also charges the internal rechargeable battery. For individual who prefers to use external DC power supply, a DC input receptacle (18) is available.
Now turn to Fig. 6. This is the underside of the unit (1). There are four easily accessible but strong screws (17). One will easily dissemble the housing and replace it with a new one. This is particularly important in this case of electronic textbook reader because it is used day- to-day by children. It is highly susceptible to wear and tear, and replacement of a new housing is sometimes necessary. And yet the DIY procedure is kept within the scope of an early age pupils.
While the invention is described herein in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is recognized that various changes and modifications to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.