USB Autorun Device

Abstract

A portable, application-specific USB autorun device, following connection to a computer terminal, automatically initialises or presents itself as a known type of device and then automatically sends to the terminal a sequence of data complying with a standard protocol, that sequence of data automatically causing content to be accessed or a task to be initiated. The device (i) includes a standardised USB module that includes a USB microcontroller, the standardised module being designed to be attached to or embedded in multiple types of different, application specific packages but (ii) excludes mass memory storage for applications or end-user data.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A portable, application-specific USB autorun device that, following connection to a computer terminal, automatically initialises or presents itself as a known type of device and then automatically sends to the terminal a sequence of data, the data complying with a standard protocol, that sequence of data automatically causing content to be accessed or a task to be initiated;
 wherein the device (i) includes a standardised USB module that includes a USB microcontroller, the standardised module being designed to be attached to or embedded in multiple types of different, application specific packages but (ii) excludes mass memory storage for applications or end-user data.   
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 55 , in which the first sequence of data are keycodes, the keycodes complying with the human interface device (HID) keyboard standard protocol. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 55  which (a) is operable as an application-specific USB autorun device because it is designed for solely a single application and (b) includes less than 64 MB memory. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 55 , in which the physical shape or marking of the packaging or housing of the device represents or is associated with the single application that the device performs. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 55 , in which the data automatically sent from the device to the terminal causes a URL to be sent by that terminal to open a specific website address and in which a unique device or user ID and password (or passcode) is appended to the URL and passed as parameters to a web server, so that the device and/or user can be identified. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of accessing a user customised or personalised website, the device including a unique ID that acts as a permanent and portable cookie; so that, when the USB autorun device is connected to the terminal, it autoruns and opens a URL to user-customised or personalised pages on that website. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of smart product tags, in which the device is adapted to be temporarily attached to a product and, when connected to the terminal, autoruns and opens a URL to a web site with information on the product. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of gift vouchers or tokens, in which the device autoruns and opens a URL when connected to the terminal and the URL links to an online store where items can be purchased using the value of a voucher or token associated with the device. 
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of loyalty cards, in which the device autoruns and open the URL of a retailer's website or online store to enable the user to check, redeem or collect loyalty points. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of simplifying usage of a computer, in which the device autoruns to automatically configure the computer in a specific way or open an application to a specific state. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of operating a toy. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of booking or tracking parcels or deliveries, in which the device autoruns to automatically open the URL of a website that includes booking or tracking information for a specific individual, specific company or specific parcel. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of digital rights management, in which the device autoruns to provide a user's DRM key or other DRM related identifier. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of internet gambling, in which the device autoruns to open a URL of a web based gambling 
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 55  which also contains data that automatically provides a predefine amount of credit. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of secure on-line access, in which the device autoruns to open a URL of a secure web site and includes one-time-only (OTO) data in the URL so that the device can be authenticated by a server. 
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of providing access to a digital version of a document, the device being adapted to be physically associated with a paper copy of that document but, when inserted into the terminal, autoruns to open the URL for the digital version of the document. 
     
     
         72 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of online photo management and sharing, in which the device autoruns and opens the URL of the photo management and sharing service. 
     
     
         73 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of accessing collaborative tools, in which the device autoruns and opens the URL of a web-based collaboration tool. 
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 55 , which is specific to the application of internet radio, in which the device autoruns and opens the URL of an internet radio station and the URL links to a live audio stream that could either be played within the browser or could automatically redirect to launch a software media player