Pointing and identification device

Abstract

A pointing and identification device (PID) allows the user to point at objects in the real world, on television or movie screens, or otherwise not on the computer screen. The PID includes a digital camera and one or both of a laser and a reticle for aiming the digital camera. An image taken with the digital camera is transmitted to a computer or the like.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A pointing and identification system for pointing at an object or a location in a space, the pointing and identification system comprising:
 (a) a pointing and identification device comprising:   at least one actuation means for actuation by the user when the user points the pointing and identification device at the object or the location;   a digital camera for forming a digital image of the object or the location or of a portion of the object when the user points the pointing and identification device at the object or the location and actuates the at least one actuation means;   an aiming device for permitting the user to aim the pointing and identification device at the object or the location; and   a communication device for providing communication between the pointing and identifying device and a different location;   (b) a receiver at the different location;   wherein the object is at least one of a spot on a displayed image on a display, a subarea of a space on the displayed image on the display, one of a plurality of objects in the displayed image on the display, an object in space, close to an object in space, a subarea of a surface in space, or one of a plurality of objects in space; and   (c) a computing device, wherein the receiver comprises a host adapter connected to the computing device, and wherein the computing device stores a digital representation of the space and of objects in the space.   
     
     
         44 . The pointing and identification system of  claim 104 , wherein the computing device stores code for recognizing the object from the digital image. 
     
     
         45 . The pointing and identification system of  claim 44 , wherein the code comprises code for performing optical character recognition on text in the object. 
     
     
         46 . The pointing and identification system of  claim 45 , wherein the code further comprises code for recognizing an Internet URL in the text. 
     
     
         47 . The pointing and identification system of  claim 44 , wherein the code comprises code for performing image recognition on the object as represented in the digital image. 
     
     
         48 - 103 . (canceled) 
     
     
         104 . The pointing and identifying system of  claim 43 , wherein the communication device transmits the digital image to the receiver. 
     
     
         105 . The pointing and identifying system of  claim 43 , wherein the pointing and identifying device comprises a GPS receiver for navigation. 
     
     
         106 . The pointing and identifying system of  claim 43 , wherein the pointing and identifying device is configured to perform navigation in accordance with the digital representation of the space. 
     
     
         107 . The pointing and identification system of  claim 43 , wherein the pointing and identifying device is configured to find a specific object or location in the digital representation of the space. 
     
     
         108 . The pointing and identification system of  claim 43 , wherein the digital representation of the space is a digital representation of an indoor space.