Information processing apparatus, an information processing method and a medium

(54) INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AN INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND A MEDIUM

(75) Inventors: Toru Konishi, Kanagawa (JP); Junichi Rekimoto, Tokyo (JP); Takahiko Sueyoshi, Tokyo (JP); Keigo Ihara, Chiba (JP)

(73) Assignee: Sony Corporation, Tokyo (JP)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/266,472

(22) Filed: Oct. 8, 2002

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2003/0031364 Al Feb. 13, 2003

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation ol application No. 09/364,466, filed on Jul. 30, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,501,854.

(56)

References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

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5,764,992 A 6/1998 Kullick et al.

5,804,803 A 9/1998 Cragun et al 235/375

(List continued on next page.)

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

Information processing apparatus and method in which an objective image is acquired, and indentification information corresponding to specific image pattern is recognized from the objective image. It is determined whether the identification information recognized in local identification information for starting processing previously registered for each terminal, or any one of a plurality of code representing global identification information for starting processing common to all terminals. If the identification information is determined to be local identification information, the processing previously registered for each terminal is locally executed. If the identification information represents the global identification information, a request is made to a global code server that searches an associated global database having a plurality of stored codes and corresponding information, to execute the global processing corresponding to the identification information.

8 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

5,938,727 A 8/1999 Ikeda 709/218

5,978,773 A 11/1999 Hudetz et al 705/23

6,027,024 A 2/2000 Knowles 235/472.01

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* cited by examiner

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