GB2362001A

GB2362001A - Data input device having an interchangeable information storage device

Info

Publication number: GB2362001A
Application number: GB0010869A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Cudd
Original assignee: CLICK4E COM Ltd
Current assignee: CLICK4E COM Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-06
Filing date: 2000-05-06
Publication date: 2001-11-07
Also published as: GB0010869D0

Abstract

A data input device for a computer comprises a base unit 1 such as a smart card read/write unit, having a slot 2 to interface with and support two vertical base plates 3. A base plate may comprise an interchangeable information storage device having a plurality of touch or pressure sensitive zones, each zone being associated with a given piece of information, preferably an Internet site address. A base plate may alternatively comprise a support 5 for an information storage device in the shape of an insertable strip 4 having pressure sensitive panels and associated information. Alternatively, the support 5 may have built-in pressure sensitive panels or buttons corresponding to information held on the interchangeable strip 4. The device is connected to the computer such that when touch or pressure is applied to a given pressure sensitive zone, the associated piece of information is input to the computer. The insertable strips could be marketed as attachments to magazine covers, etc. providing easy access to a selection of Internet sites whose addresses are stored on the strip.

Description

2362001 A DATA INPUT DEVICE The present invention relates to a data input

device that can be connected to a computer, and which is designed to enable easy access to various Internet sites.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a data input device as specified in claims 1 - 6. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a data input device as claimed in claim 9. According to a third aspect of the device there is provided an interchangeable information storage device as claimed in claims 7 and 8.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, Figure 1, which shows a front elevation of a device according to the present invention.

An aim of the present invention is to give Internet users easier and faster access to a variety of Internet services. A further aim of the present invention is to improve the security of e-commerce transactions.

The present invention springs from a need to publicise new Internet sites. One problem is how to enable access to new Internet sites without being reliant on advertising on Internet Service Providers or other third parties. A solution is to offer an access point that stands ahead of any other access method. Internet enabled keyboards, which have direct Internet site access keys that, when pressed, take the user directly to the relevant internet site (bypassing the users designated front page) are a known way of achieving this. However, using this approach another third party - namely the PC manufacturer - has control of the Internet enabled keyboard, and can charge substantial amounts for the privilege of being included as a direct access Internet site. This system thus has the disadvantage that it is expensive and inflexible.

A dedicated device that can be connected to computers was therefore developed. The capabilities of the device are such as to allow several Internet sites to be directly accessible in the first instance, essentially unlimited Internet 2 sites to be directly accessible over time, and inclusion of a smart card reader/writer, enabling users to use smart cards for secure on-line purchasing and/or Internet site access and registration.

The invention has a number of features:

1. A capability for users of personal computers to access specific Internet sites through a simple button push 2. A capability for promoters of Internet sites permanently to enable access to their Internet site on the device 3. A capability for promoters of Internet sites to enable access to their Internet site on an interchangeable information storage device (or ""stick") that can be distributed separately to the input device, and that can be inserted into the input device 4. A capability for users of the Internet to purchase online using smart card technology improving the security of transactions by allowing for a "card present" transaction to be completed 5. A capability for users of the Internet to access Internet sites requiring registration using smart card technology without having to remember logon ID's and passwords 6. A capability for users of the Internet to download information from the Internet to smart cards that can then be used at another location for the purposes of obtaining special offers, discounts, proving status, etc In a first embodiment, shown in Figure 1, the device has six principal components. Firstly, the base of the unit (1) comprises a standard commercially available smart card read/write unit that will read from and/or write to smart cards inserted into the unit. The housing is designed to incorporate the smart card reader/writer as well as support two vertical base plates that can be attached without the unit becon-dng unstable.

The first base plate (3) has a face with 8 pressure sensitive panels that can be over-printed to provide a reference for each of the panels. The base plate 3 either contains or is connected to a microchip with sufficient capacity to hold an instruction for each of the eight panels (for example about 2kilobytes). The instruction associated with each of the panels is preferably an Internet site address such as, for example, "http:/ /www. couponsnow.co.uk". Each of the panels, when pressed, result in the corresponding instruction being transmitted to the users personal computer. As an alternative, the pressure sensitive panels may be replaced by actual buttons. Also, more or less than eight panels can be employed.

The second base plate (5) is simply a support that will allow an additional information storage device in the form of a strip to be inserted into the device. The insertion point (slot 2) at the base of the support will include a connector to allow instructions from the additional strips to be passed through to the users personal computer. As an alternative, this base plate can have pressure sensitive panels or buttons already built in that will correspond to information held on the insertable interchangeable strip. The strip may, for example, be made of a plastics type material approximately 1 mm. in thickness.

The insertable strip (4) is an information storage device, such as for example a stand alone board, card or strip that has a face with 8 pressure sensitive panels that can be over printed to provide a reference for each of the panels. The strip has a connector (6) at one end (as shown in Figure 1) that inserts into the slot 2 in the base of the input device to provide electrical connections. The strip includes an integrated circuit with sufficient memory to hold an instruction for each of the eight panels. The instruction associated with each of the panels can be, for example, a website address such as "http: / /www.couponsnow.co.uk"'. Each of the panels, when pressed, results in the corresponding instruction being transmitted to the user's personal computer.

The device is connected to the computer using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 7, which is a computer industry connection standard that allows simultaneous connection of a variety of peripheral equipment to personal computers. The connector 7 carries all the signals from the present device to the personal computer, from the personal computer to the present device and is also 4 the power source for the present device. To access the World-Wide-Web or the Internet or other computer network, the computer must have a network connection. This can be achieved for example using an internal or external modem, which can also be connected to the computer using a USB connection if 5 desired.

As an alternative to the USB connector, the connector could be a serial port connector, a parallel port connector or a games port connector, although the device may then require a separate power supply. As another alternative, the device may communicate with the Personal Computer through infra-red signals.

The software for the present device is required to perform the following tasks:

1. Identify the device when connected to the personal computer, 2. Process instructions sent from the device, 3. Process information from a smart card inserted into the device, 4. Process information to be written to a smart card inserted into the data input device, 5. Initialise and operate an internal or external modem or other network connection.

The device is intended to be distributed either free or at very low cost to consumers. The insertable strips can subsequently be marketed as attachments to magazine covers, mailers, POS pick ups, etc with a variety of Internet sites purchasing panels on the strips. The strips may be defined as dedicated to a particular activity (e.g.: a news strip with access to the best news sites, a fashion strip with access to the best fashion sites, etc) or more general (e.g. 'best of the web", new sites of the month, etc.). The device is likely to be marketed under the trademark "WEBSTIK".

Although the above embodiment includes pressure sensitive zones, other touch sensitive zones such as capacitive proximity sensors can be used as an alternative.

Claims

1. A data input device for a computer, comprising a base unit having a slot to interface with an interchangeable information storage device having a plurality of touch or pressure sensitive zones, each zone being associated with a given piece of information, and means for coupling said information storage device to said computer such that when touch or pressure is applied to a given said zone the associated piece of information is input to the computer.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the base unit includes a smart card read / write unit.

3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the piece of information comprises a unique address in a network of computers.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the unique address is that of a is web-site.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 appended to claim 2, wherein the smart card read / write unit provides information to facilitate or enable access or registration at a given address.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which each touch or pressure sensitive zone is printed with one or more distinctive identifying words or graphics.

7. An interchangeable information storage device having a plurality of touch or pressure sensitive zones, each zone being associated with given piece of information, suitable for use in a device as claimed in any preceding claim.

8. An interchangeable information storage device as claimed in claim 7 comprising a flexible strip having connector means at one end, and an integrated circuit.

9. A data input device for a computer, comprising a base unit having a plurality of touch or pressure sensitive zones and a slot to interface with an interchangeable information storage device, each said zone being 6 associated with given piece of information in the interchangeable storage device, and means for coupling said input device to the computer such that when touch or pressure is applied to a given zone the associated piece of information from the interchangeable storage device is input to the computer.