Prior art — US Patent 6164534

Analysis of Prior Art for U.S. Patent No. 6,164,534

Date of Analysis: April 29, 2026
Patent under Review: US 6,164,534, "Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium"

This analysis identifies and examines the most relevant prior art cited during the prosecution of U.S. Patent No. 6,164,534. The focus is on determining the potential for these references to anticipate the patent's independent claim (Claim 1) under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Anticipation requires that every element of the claimed invention be disclosed in a single prior art reference.

Claim 1 of the '534 patent covers a system comprising:

A printed matter (e.g., a book, catalog) with a machine-recognizable feature (e.g., a barcode).
A feature recognition unit (a scanner) to recognize the feature and transmit a coded signal.
An intelligent controller that receives the signal and accesses programming material.
A display unit to present the programming material to the user.
The system is arranged such that recognizing the feature causes the controller to access the material for presentation on the display.

The following prior art references are deemed most relevant.

1. U.S. Patent No. 5,319,454: "CATV system enabling access to premium (pay per view) program events by bar code data entry"

Publication Date: June 7, 1994
Filing Date: November 13, 1990
Brief Description: This patent discloses a system for ordering pay-per-view (PPV) programs on a cable television (CATV) system. A user is provided with a printed program guide that includes unique barcodes corresponding to specific PPV events. To order an event, the user scans the corresponding barcode with a handheld scanner. The scanner transmits data to the user's CATV converter box, which then communicates with the central CATV office to authorize and display the selected program on the user's television.
Potential Anticipation of Claim 1: This reference appears to disclose all elements of Claim 1 of the '534 patent.
- Printed Matter with Feature: The printed CATV guide with barcodes.
- Feature Recognition Unit: The handheld barcode scanner.
- Intelligent Controller: The CATV converter box, which receives the scanner's signal and accesses the program by communicating with the CATV headend.
- Display Unit: The user's television set.
- Causation: The act of scanning the barcode directly causes the converter box to initiate the process of accessing and displaying the selected PPV program.
Given the direct correspondence of these elements, US 5,319,454 presents a strong case for the potential anticipation of Claim 1.

2. U.S. Patent No. 4,481,412: "Interactive videodisc training system with bar code access"

Publication Date: November 6, 1984
Filing Date: June 21, 1982
Brief Description: The '412 patent describes an interactive training system that links a printed workbook to content on a videodisc. The workbook contains barcodes placed alongside the instructional text and images. A student uses a light pen or similar device to scan a barcode. The scanner sends a signal to a computer that controls a videodisc player, causing the player to retrieve and show a specific video segment on a monitor that corresponds to the scanned material in the workbook.
Potential Anticipation of Claim 1: This patent, which predates the '534 patent's priority date by over a decade, also appears to disclose every element of Claim 1.
- Printed Matter with Feature: The training workbook with embedded barcodes.
- Feature Recognition Unit: The light pen barcode reader.
- Intelligent Controller: The computer system that receives the reader's signal and controls the videodisc player to access the video content.
- Display Unit: The video monitor.
- Causation: Scanning the barcode causes the computer to play the relevant video segment from the videodisc on the monitor.
Like the '454 patent, US 4,481,412 is highly relevant prior art that discloses the core invention of Claim 1 and could be used to support a finding of anticipation.

3. U.S. Patent No. 4,855,725: "Microprocessor based simulated book"

Publication Date: August 8, 1989
Filing Date: August 29, 1986
Brief Description: This patent, which is cited in the background section of the '534 patent itself, discloses an electronic device shaped like a book. This "simulated book" has a display and communicates wirelessly with a computer to retrieve data (e.g., from a CD-ROM) for display. The user interacts with the device using keys and a pointer, not by scanning a feature on a separate, passive printed document.
Potential Anticipation of Claim 1: This reference does not anticipate Claim 1. The inventors of the '534 patent specifically distinguished their invention from this prior art. The key difference is that the '725 patent lacks a passive "printed matter" with a machine-readable feature. Instead, the "book" is an active, complex electronic terminal. The user interface relies on conventional electronic inputs (keys, pointers) rather than the '534 patent's concept of interacting with a familiar, non-intimidating printed medium like a paper magazine or textbook.