Creation, transmission and retrieval of information
View Patent ↗A hand-held control device ( 10 ) for controlling a terminal ( 30 ) connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource. The device ( 10 ) comprises address input means for scanning and recognizing a text address ( 26 ) of the resource, such as a URL, e-mail address or telephone number, and command output means for uploading address information from the device ( 10 ) to the terminal ( 30 ) whereupon the terminal ( 30 ) is caused to connect to the addressed resource.
1. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
recognition means for recognizing the nature of the addressed resource from the format of the scanned text address.
2. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for retrieving an application launch code suitable to launch an application on the terminal appropriate to the nature of the addressed resource.
3. A device according to claim 2 , further including means for appending the application launch code to the address information before upload to the terminal.
4. A device according to claim 3 , further comprising means for storing the address information with an associated application launch code until upload to the terminal.
5. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
control means responsive to the orientation and/or movement of the device, the control means includes a tilt switch or an array of tilt switches arranged to sense orientation of the device.
6. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
control means responsive to the orientation and/or movement of the device, the control means includes an accelerometer or an array of accelerometers arranged to sense orientation or movement of the device.
7. A device according to claim 6 , wherein the control means is arranged to sense movement of a head end of the device when the device is used as a writing instrument.
8. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
control means responsive to the orientation and/or movement of the device, the control means includes an accelerometer or an array of accelerometers arranged to sense orientation or movement of the device, the control means activates a function in accordance with the orientation or movement of the device.
9. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource;
control means responsive to the orientation and/or movement of the device, the control means includes an accelerometer or an array of accelerometers arranged to sense orientation or movement of the device, the control means activates a function in accordance with a predetermined sequence of orientations or movements of the device.
10. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
wherein a head end of the device includes a stylus.
11. A device according to claim 10 , wherein the stylus is retractable.
12. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
means for generating a text file as a user writes with the device.
13. A hand-held control device for controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the device comprising:
address input means for scanning a text address of the resource;
command output means for uploading address information from the device to the terminal and causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
means for generating a graphics file as a user writes or draws with the device.
14. A method of controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the method comprising:
scanning a text address of the resource;
uploading address information to the terminal;
causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource; and
recognizing the nature of the addressed resource from the format of the scanned text address.
15. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising retrieving an application launch code suitable to launch an application on the terminal appropriate to the nature of the addressed resource.
16. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising appending the application launch code to the address information before upload to the terminal.
17. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising storing the address information with an associated application launch code until upload to the terminal.
18. A method of controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the method comprising:
scanning a text address of the resource;
uploading address information to the terminal;
causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource;
controlling the terminal by a hand-held device that scans the resource address and uploads resource address information to the terminal; and
controlling the hand-held device by orientation and/or movement of the device.
19. A method of controlling a terminal connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource, the method comprising:
scanning a text address of the resource;
uploading address information to the terminal;
causing the terminal to connect to the addressed resource;
controlling the terminal by a hand-held device that scans the resource address and uploads resource address information to the terminal; and
using the device as a writing instrument and sensing movement of the device to generate a message file.