Patent Publication Number: US-2002008690-A1

Title: Customizable interactive binders and methods for customizing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/455,278 filed Dec. 6, 2000 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention relates generally to notebook binders and, in particular, to binders that interactively interface with a computer, a network, or other digital device to perform various user programmable functions. The invention also relates to interactive binders that are customizable by a user for a particular application. For example, the interactive binders of the present invention can be customize for training or instructing personnel in a particular subject, or for presenting a desired set of information.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The technological advancements in recent years in the computer, network and telecommunication fields have been astronomical. These advancements have been so prevalent, that computers, networks and telecommunication equipment are an everyday and even essential part of many peoples&#39; lives. Most, if not all, business establishments, educational institutions and governmental entities at least use some computers, networks and telecommunication equipment in their daily operations. Nowadays, it would be surprising for a credible institution not to use some degree of computers, networks and telecommunication equipment.  
       [0004] One aspect of technology driving the technological advancements in the computer, network and telecommunication fields is the emergence of the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide network of computers that provides a medium for the communication of digital information throughout the whole world. Because the Internet is capable of digitally communicating with a wide audience throughout the world, the amount of information accessible through the Internet has exploded. Business establishments have created websites to provide information about their products and/or services, educational institutions have created websites to provide information about their studies, research and discoveries, and governmental institutions have also created websites to provide information about their laws, rules, regulations, and governmental services. In essence, the recent widespread acceptance of the Internet has made it an essential daily part of peoples&#39; lives.  
       [0005] Although computers in general and the Internet in particular have obtained widespread acceptance throughout the world, many people still rely on physical documents to keep track of and store information. The notebook binder is an indispensable tool for storing and organizing physical documents, containing information. For one thing, notebook binders are easily accessible and portable. For another thing, notebook binders have been an accepted tool for storing and organizing information for centuries. Additionally, notebook binders provide an almost permanent means for storing information, whereas information stored in a computer medium is more susceptible of being lost due to electronic failure or user error. Thus, notebook binders will most certainly be an indispensable tool for many years to come, even though there are new technological mediums for storing and organizing information.  
       [0006] Because of the widespread use of computers/Internet for obtaining and displaying information and the widespread use of notebook binders for storing and organizing information, it would be desirable for a notebook binder that can interactively interface with a computer, the Internet or other digital devices to provide information on a display screen that relates to information written on physical documents organized in a notebook binder. Such a computer interactive notebook binder can be used to make presentation, to supplement physical reports stored in the binder with digital information stored in a computer and/or network system, or to interact with a training or other software program relating to the physical documents stored in the binder.  
       [0007] In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an interactive notebook binder that can be customized by a user to carry out a particular function, such as for training or for presentation purposes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system that uses a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram on another computer system that uses a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary software program in accordance with the invention that can be used to pre-assign functions to keyboard switches of the computer-interactive binder;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary software program in accordance with the invention that can execute a function assigned to an activated switch on the computer-interactive binder;  
     [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention that has a plurality of dividers having respective tabs overlying switches of the binder keyboard;  
     [0015]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention that has a keyboard comprising a two-dimensional array of switches;  
     [0016]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention that has a plurality of dividers having respective tabs overlying an outer column of switches of a keyboard comprising a two-dimensional array of switches;  
     [0017]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention having an input device comprising a force sensitive resistor (FSR) pad;  
     [0018]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention having an input device comprising an FSR pad and an array of switches, and a plurality of dividers having respective tabs overlying respective switches;  
     [0019]FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention having an input device comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and attached antenna;  
     [0020]FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention having random placed RFID tags disposed on a bounded physical document, wherein the binder includes an input device comprising an RFID reader and attached antenna;  
     [0021]FIG. 12A illustrates a block diagram of an external RFID reader/computer-communicating circuit for communicating digital information between a computer-interactive binder and a remote computer, network or other digital device;  
     [0022]FIG. 12B illustrates a block diagram of an external RFID reader/computer-communicating circuit and RFID wand functions as an external RFID antenna, for communicating digital information between a computer-interactive binder and a remote computer, network or other digital device;  
     [0023]FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive pad in accordance with the invention that incorporates an RFID reader;  
     [0024]FIG. 14 illustrates a computer-interactive binder insert in accordance with the invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 15 illustrates a plurality of computer-interactive binder inserts in accordance with the invention that can be bounded within a notebook binder in a stacked manner;  
     [0026]FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate portions of computer-interactive binder inserts having overlying and offset switches, respectively;  
     [0027]FIG. 17 illustrates a computer-interactive interlocking member in accordance with the invention for attachment to a binder;  
     [0028]FIGS. 18A and 16B illustrate perspective and broken views of the preferred assembly of a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention;  
     [0029] FIGS.  19 A- 19 C illustrate front perspective, back perspective and front broken views of the preferred assembly of a computer-interactive binder insert in accordance with the invention;  
     [0030]FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention having a keyboard that includes two sets of color-coded, push-button switches;  
     [0031]FIG. 21A depicts a block diagram illustrating a conventional passive RF tag;  
     [0032]FIG. 21B depicts a block diagram illustrating additional details of a typical passive RF tag;  
     [0033] FIGS.  22 A- 22 C depict state diagrams illustrating changes of state of various implementations of interactive RF tags in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0034] FIGS.  23 - 30  depict simplified block diagrams illustrating various implementations of interactive RF tags in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0035]FIG. 31A- 31 D illustrate examples of broad categories of applications for the computer-interactive binder of the invention for different environments;  
     [0036]FIG. 32 illustrates a table depicting how a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention can be organized for a real estate application;  
     [0037]FIG. 33 illustrates a table depicting how a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention can be organized for a sales meeting application;  
     [0038]FIG. 34 is a schematic block diagram of a customizable interactive binder system in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0039]FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps in preferred methodology for customizing an interactive binder of the present invention;  
     [0040]FIG. 36 is a schematic plan view of page of a binder with content divided into a plurality of elements each associated with a switch; and  
     [0041]FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps in preferred methodology for utilizing a customized interactive binder of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0042] I. Computer Systems Having a Computer-Interactive Binder  
     [0043]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system  100  that uses a computer-interactive binder  102  in accordance with the invention. The computer system  100  preferably comprises a computer  104  having a display screen  106 , and data entry mechanisms such as keyboard  108  and mouse or track ball  110 . The computer  104  may be connected or have the capability of being connected to a network of computers, such as an Internet or an intranet  112 . The computer-interactive binder  102  may be connected to the computer  104  via a cable  114 , such a serial cable, a universal serial bus (USB) cable, or a parallel cable. Although a physical cable  114  is shown in FIG. 1, it shall be understood that wireless communication can be used to digitally connect the computer-interactive binder with the remote computer, network or other digital device for all embodiments described herein. An example of a wireless protocol that can be used to interface the computer-interactive binder  100  with different digital devices is Blue Tooth, which is recently gaining popularity in the computer field. As is customary, the computer-interactive binder  102  may include organized physical documents containing particular types of information.  
     [0044] The computer-interactive binder  102  may be used to communicate with the computer  104  or with the internet or intranet  112  by way of the computer  104  to perform many user-programmable functions. The computer-interactive binder  102  has an input device (e.g., a keyboard) which a user can use to communicate with the computer  104 . The user may preprogram the keys on the computer-interactive binder  102  so that the computer  104  performs desired functions. For example, the user may program a key to cause the computer  104  to download a particular website from the internet. Or, the user may program another key to cause the computer  104  to open a software program. Additionally, the user may program another key to cause the computer  104  to produce a picture, a graph or other visual information on the display screen  106 . There are many applications that a user can launch on the computer  104  through the use of the computer-interactive binder  102 .  
     [0045] Computer-interactive binder  102  is designed to bind physical documents  107  as is well known in the case of loose-leaf binders and other types of binders. Binder  102  incorporates a series of link devices  109  which serve to trigger interactions between the binder  102  and the computer  104  and/or the internet or intranet  112 . As explained herein, these interactions can link the physical documents or printed information on such documents, to information on computer  104  or on internet or intranet  112 . Such physical-to-electronic links are a principle function of the computer-interactive binders of the invention.  
     [0046] In the computer-interactive binder  102  of FIG. 1, the link devices  109  are incorporated in the binder itself at various predetermined, fixed locations. Another principle approach, shown in FIG. 1, uses linked devices in the form of tags  109  which are placed by the user at desired locations on the binder  102  or on physical documents  107  contained in the binder. Various embodiments of fixed-location and variable-location devices are described below.  
     [0047]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of another computer system  200  that uses a computer-interactive binder  202  in accordance with the invention. The computer system  200  is similar to computer system  100  including many of the same elements, such as a computer  204 , a display screen  206 , a keyboard  208 , and a mouse or a track ball  210 . The computer  204  may be connected to an internet or intranet  212 . The computer system  200  differs from computer system  100  in that the former includes a computer-interactive binder  202  coupled to a personal digital assistant (PDA) device  216 , such as a palm pilot™ or the like. The computer-interactive binder  202  may interact with the PDA  216  to cause it to perform a desired function. The PDA  216  can also be used to assign PDA functions to the keys of the computer-interactive binder  200 . The PDA  216  may be connected directly to the computer  204  or directly to the intranet or internet  212 . Alternatively, the computer-interactive binder  202  may also be connected to a PDA docking station  217 , which is in turn, connected to the computer  204 . It shall be understood that the computer-interactive binder  200  can interface with other digital devices, which could also be connected to the Internet or an intranet.  
     [0048] II. Computer-Interactive Binder Using Switch Technology  
     [0049]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a computer-interactive binder  300  in accordance with an aspect of the invention. As typical of most binders, the computer-interactive binder  300  comprises a front cover  302  and a back cover  304  that are both pivotably coupled to a spine  306  by way of respective transverse hinge lines  308  and  310 . The computer-interactive binder  300  further comprises a binder mechanism  312  which can be mounted on the back cover  304  as shown in FIG. 3, or on the spine  306 . The binder style shown in FIG. 3 is used merely to exemplify the invention, and not to limit the invention to any particular type of binder. It shall be understood that many types of binders can be configured in a computer-interactive manner in accordance with the invention as will be described herein.  
     [0050] To make the binder  300  computer-interactive, the binder  300  incorporates a digital communicating circuit  314  which allows a user to interact with a remote computer, network or other digital devices. In the preferred embodiment, the digital communicating circuit  314  is embedded within the back cover  304  of the binder  300 . It shall be understood that the digital communicating circuit  314  can be incorporated within other elements of the binder  300 . For example, the digital communicating circuit  314  can be incorporated within the spine  306 , the front cover  302 , or even within the binder mechanism  312 . For aesthetic purposes, it is preferred that the digital communicating circuit  314  be incorporated into the binder in a manner that most of the physical electronics of the digital communicating circuit  314  be hidden from plain view.  
     [0051] In the preferred embodiment, the digital communicating circuit  314  comprises a microprocessor  316  coupled to a computer interface  318 , such as a serial interface or a universal serial bus (USB) interface. The microprocessor  316  is coupled to the computer interface  316  by way of digital lines, such as control, data, and address lines. Depending on the microprocessor used, the address line connecting the microprocessor  316  to the interface  318  need not be present. The computer interface  316  is, in turn, coupled to a connector  319  that connects with a computer interface cable (not shown). The microprocessor  316  is coupled to a keyboard  320  comprising a one-dimensional array of switches (SW) which are preferably aligned along the outer transverse edge of the back cover  304 . The switches can be of many types, including thermal, capacitive and optical types. The microprocessor  316  may be coupled directly to the keyboard  320 , or may be coupled thereto by way of a decoder  322 . Optionally, the digital communicating circuit  314  may include a separate volatile or non-volatile memory circuit  324  used for storing programs or data. The memory circuit  324  is coupled to the microprocessor  316  by way of control, data and address bus. The computer-interactive binder  300  may also include a light emitting diode (LED)  326  or other visual indicator to indicate to the user that the digital communicating circuit  314  is in operation.  
     [0052] In operation, a user of the computer-interactive binder  300  activates a desired switch (SW) of the keyboard  320 . In response, the microprocessor  316  determines which switch (SW) was activated and generates a digital code corresponding to the activated switch. The digital code is then communicated to a remote computer, network or other digital device by way of interface  318 , connector  319 , and computer interface cable (not shown). Then, the remote computer, network or other digital device reads the digital code assigned to the activated switch (SW) and uses a look-up table to perform a pre-assigned user programmable function, such as opening a new software application, accessing a particular website, or displaying some desired information. The user-programmable functions assigned to respective switches (SW) can be pre-programmed by a user through the remote computer, network or digital device.  
     [0053] In the case where there are many computer-interactive binders  300  interfacing with a computer, network or digital device, there would be a need for the system to distinguish one binder from another. If such were the case, the microprocessor  316  must also send a code to the remote computer, network or digital device that identifies the binder. This code may be separate from the code identifying the switch (SW), or may be integral therewith. In this case, the remote computer, network or digital device identifies the particular binder, and then performs the user-programmable function in accordance with the code corresponding to the activated switch (SW).  
     [0054] Alternatively, instead of the microprocessor  316  generating a code that identifies the activated switch (SW), the microprocessor  316  can generate a command to instruct the remote computer, network or digital device to perform a particular function. More specifically, when a user activates a particular switch (SW), the microprocessor  316  determines which switch (SW) has been activated and then uses a look-up table to find a corresponding command to send to the remote computer, network or other digital device. For instance, the command generated by the microprocessor may consist of a URL address for a particular website the user would like to view on the computer display screen. The look-up table having the commands assigned to the switches (SW) may be stored in the memory circuit  324 , which may be non-volatile to permanently maintain the look-up table during power down. The commands stored in the look-up table in memory circuit  324  may be set by a user through the remote computer, network or other digital device, and then downloaded from these remote digital devices and stored in the memory circuit  324 .  
     [0055] The computer-interactive binder  300  may also include a thermal printer  323  preferably embedded in the front cover  302 , or alternatively, embedded in the rear cover  304 . Suitable interface circuitry (not shown) may be provided to establish a digital communication link between the microprocessor  316  and the thermal printer  302 . The thermal printer  323  may include a manual feed input  325   a  for feeding in paper to which printing thereon is desired, and an output  325   b  to feed out the paper once it has been printed. The thermal printer  323  can be incorporated into the various binder embodiments described herein, and also a binder-supporting pad discussed later in this disclosure.  
     [0056]FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary software program  400  preferably residing in the remote computer, network or other digital device that can be used to pre-assign functions to the keys  320  of the computer-interactive binder  300 . The program  400  begins by performing the step  402  of prompting the user to press the switch (SW) on the computer-interactive binder  300  that he/she wishes to assign a function to be performed by the computer, network or digital device. After the user activates the desired switch (SW), the program  400  performs the step  404  of reading the code assigned to the activated switch that is sent from the computer-interactive binder  300  to the remote computer, network or other digital device. The program  400  then performs the step  406  of prompting the user to specify the function assigned to the activated switch. The user specifies the desired function through the use of the remote computer, network, or other digital device. Then, the program  400  performs the step  408  of storing the function in a look-up table corresponding to the activated code. If the look-up table is present in the remote computer, network or other digital device, the function is merely stored in the look-up table memory. However, if the look-up table resides in the computer-interactive binder  300 , then the program downloads the function command to the computer-interactive binder  300 . After step  408  is complete, the activated switch (SW) has now been assigned a function which can be performed by subsequent activation of the corresponding switch (SW). The programming of the pre-assigned functions can also be performed by a manufacturer or distributor of the binder.  
     [0057]FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary software program  500  residing in the remote computer, network or other digital device that can execute a function assigned to an activated switch on the computer-interactive binder  300 . The program  500  begins by performing the step  502  of determining whether a switch is being activated. If no switch has been activated, the program  500  continues to monitor whether a switch is being activated. When a switch is activated, the program  500  performs the step  504  of reading the activated switch code communicated from the computer-interactive binder  300  to the remote computer, network or other digital device. The program  500  then performs the step  506  of searching the look-up table to find the function corresponding to the activated switch code. Once this is done, the program  500  performs the step  508  of executing or causing the execution of the function. If the microprocessor instead sends the function command rather than the code and the program reads the function command in step  504 , the program then proceeds to execute the function.  
     [0058] Although software programs  400  and  500  have been described with reference to computer-interactive binder  300 , it shall be understood that they can apply to all variations of computer-interactive binders and other devices described herein. In the case of a computer-interactive binder that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, the reference to switch in the discussion of the programs  400  and  500  pertains to the RFID tags. In the case of a computer-interactive binder that uses force sensitive resistors (FSR), the reference to switch in the discussion of the programs  400  and  500  pertains to the activated region on the FSR pad.  
     [0059]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  600  of the same type as binder  300  previously disclosed. Accordingly, the reference numbers used in FIG. 6 to identify the same elements in FIG. 3 are the same, except that the most significant digit is a “6” rather than a “3.” The computer-interactive binder  600  further includes, for example, a plurality of dividers  626  bound to the binder mechanism  612 . The dividers  626  include respective tabs  628  positioned over respective switches (SW). Thus, in this arrangement, any switch on the keyboard  620  pertains to a corresponding divider  626 . As customary, each divider  626  can be used to categorize physical documents that include information pertaining to particular subject matters. When one of the divider tabs  628  is pressed, the corresponding switch is activated which causes the computer-interactive binder  600  to communicate with the remote computer, network or other digital device. The remote computer, network or other digital device, in turn, executes the function assigned to the activated switch. One such function, for example, is to display on a display screen supplemental information relating the subject matter that the corresponding divider  626  categorizes. Again, the applications are too numerous to mention, and are limited by the creativity of the user.  
     [0060]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  700  of a similar type as binder  300  previously disclosed. Accordingly, the reference numbers used in FIG. 7 to identify the same elements in FIG. 3 are the same, except that the most significant digit is a “7” rather than a “3.” The computer-interactive binder  700  differs from binder  300  in that the former includes a keyboard  730  comprising a two-dimensional array of switches, instead of a one-dimensional array of switches  320 . The two-dimensional array of switches  730  may be directly coupled to the microprocessor  716  or through x- and y-decoders  732  and  734 . As previously described, when one of the switches (SW) is activated, the microprocessor  716  determines which switch in the keyboard  730  has been activated and generates a code that uniquely identifies the activated switch. The code could be communicated to the remote computer, network or digital device for the execution of a pre-assigned corresponding function. Alternatively, the microprocessor  716  can use the code to identify a corresponding function command in a look-up table stored in memory  724 , and then communicate the command to the remote computer, network or other digital device for execution of the function.  
     [0061]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  800  of the same type as binder  700  previously disclosed. Accordingly, the reference numbers used in FIG. 8 to identify the same elements in FIG. 7 are the same, except that the most significant digit is an “8” rather than a “7.” The computer-interactive binder  800  further includes, for example, a plurality of dividers  826  bound to the binder mechanism  812 . The dividers  826  include respective tabs  828  positioned over the column of switches (SW) that are closest to the right transverse edge of the back cover  804 . Thus, in this arrangement, each switch (SW) on the single-line of switches at the right edge of the back cover  804  pertains to a corresponding divider  826 . The remaining switches in the array  830  may be used to correlate with overlying positions on a physical documents categorized by the activated divider  828 . Using this configuration, two switches need to be activated for a function to be executed by the remote computer, network or other digital device.  
     [0062] As an example, assume computer-interactive binder  800  is configured into an international cookbook. In this case, the dividers  826  may categorize physical documents into cuisines of different international regions. For instance, the third divider from the top having tab  828 - 3  can be used to categorized information relating to Chinese dishes. The physical documents categorized by divider  826 - 3  may list titles of various dishes overlying respective positions of switches (SW) not in the right-most column. A user can then cause the remote computer, network or other digital device to display the recipe pertaining to a selected Chinese dish by first pressing tab  828 - 3  to activate the underlying switch (SW). This action tells the system that Chinese dishes is the category selected. Then, the user presses the selected title and activates the underlying switch to cause the remote computer, network or other digital device to display the corresponding recipe. In this case, two switches need to be activated before the remote computer, network or other digital device executes the assigned function. The microprocessor  816  can communicate the codes of the activated switches separately or together to the remote computer, network or digital device. Alternatively, the microprocessor  816  can locate a corresponding command stored in memory  824  corresponding to the combination of the two codes.  
     [0063] The above is just one example of an application for a computer-interactive binder  800  having a two-dimensional array of switches. There are many other ways to use a two-dimensional array of switches to cause the execution of pre-assigned functions on a remote computer, network or other digital device.  
     [0064] III. Computer-Interactive Binder Using Force Sensitive Resistor Technology  
     [0065]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  900  having as an input device a force sensitive resistor (FSR) pad  936 . As with the other binders, the same elements are identified with the same reference numbers, except that the most significant digit is a “9.” The FSR  936  and accompanying circuitry may be incorporated into any part of the binder  900 , including the front cover  902 , the spine  906 , the binding mechanism  912 , and/or the back cover  904  as shown in FIG. 9. The FSR  936  is provided with an x-decoder  938  and a y-decoder  940 . When a user presses a particular region of the FSR  936 , the x-decoder  938  can determine the location in the x-axis direction of the selected region, and the y-decoder  948  can determine the location in the y-axis direction of the selected region, both by sensing where a change in the resistances occurred.  
     [0066] The x- and y-locations of the selected region is sent to the microprocessor  916 . The microprocessor  916  assigns a unique code depending on the ranges that the x- and y-locations are within. The code can then be communicated to the remote computer, network or other digital device for programming of the corresponding function or for execution of the corresponding function as previously discussed. Alternatively, the code can be used by the microprocessor  916  to search a look up table in memory  924  and locate a corresponding command to be communicated to the remote computer, network or other digital device for execution.  
     [0067]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  1000  of a similar type as binder  900  previously disclosed. Accordingly, the reference numbers used in FIG. 10 to identify the same elements in FIG. 9 are the same, except that the most significant digit is a “10” rather than a “9.” The exemplary computer-interactive binder  1000  is a hybrid using a one-dimensional switch array  1020  and an FSR  1036  preferably incorporated into the back cover  1004 . The binder  100  further includes a plurality of dividers  1026  bound to the binder mechanism  1012 . The dividers  1026  include respective tabs  1028  positioned over respective switches (SW). The dividers  1026  may be used to categorized physical documents with markings that overly particular regions of the FSR  1036 . Similar to the example described above with reference to binder  800 , the switches  1020  may designate respectively different subject matters (e.g., Chinese Cuisine). The various regions of the FSR  1036  may designate particular items within the selected subject matter (e.g., recipe of a particular Chinese dish). As with binder  800 , a user first selects the desired subject matter by pressing the corresponding tab  1028 . Then, the user presses text on the physical document pertaining to the corresponding divider to activate an underlying region of the FSR  1036  to cause the remote computer, network or other digital device to perform the assigned function. It shall be understood that the amount of physical documents and/or divider positioned above the FSR pad  1036  may affect its ability to sense the pressing of the document by the user.  
     [0068] IV. Computer-Interactive Binder Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags  
     [0069]FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  1100  having as an input device a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader  1142  and an attached antenna  1144 . As with the other binders, the same elements are identified with the same reference numbers, except that the most significant digit is an “11.” The RFID reader  1142  and antenna  1144  may be incorporated within any part of the binder  1100 , including the front cover  1102 , the spine  1106 , the binding mechanism  1112 , or the back cover  1104  as shown in FIG. 11. The RFID reader  1142  and antenna  1144  are used in conjunction with RFID tags (not shown in FIG. 11) that may be placed on the binder, binder inserts or bound physical documents. The RFID reader  1142  and antenna  1144  emit an RF electromagnetic field. When an RFID tag is activated by a user, the RFID tag interacts with the electromagnetic field in a manner that the RFID reader can detect a unique code for the activated RFID tag. As with all the other embodiments of the computer-interactive binders, the microprocessor  1116  can communicate the code to the remote computer, network or other digital device for either programming of the corresponding function or for execution of the corresponding function as previously discussed. Alternatively, the code can be used by the microprocessor  1116  to search a look up table in memory  1124  and locate a corresponding command to be communicated to the remote computer, network or other digital device for execution.  
     [0070]FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  1200  of a similar type as binder  1110  including an internal RFID reader  1242  coupled to a computer communicating circuit  1214  (not shown in FIG. 12). Accordingly, the reference numbers used in FIG. 12 to identify the same elements in FIG. 11 are the same, except that the most significant digits is a “12” rather than a “11.” The binder  1200  includes a physical document  1246  bounded to the binder mechanism  1212 . A plurality of RFID tags  1248  are placed by the user on the document  1246  preferably to correlate with some text or other printed matter on the document. Each RFID tag  1248  may have an adhesive to securely attach them to the document  1246 . A batch of RFID tags  1248  may be purchased with the computer-interactive binder  1200  or may be purchased separately. Each RFID tag has a unique code associated with it. When a user activates an RFID tag  1248 , the RFID reader  1242  reads the unique code of the activated RFID tag and communicates it to the microprocessor  1216 . In the programming mode, the code is used to assign a function to the activated RFID tag as previously discussed. In the executing mode, the code is used to cause the remote computer, network or other digital device to execute a pre-assigned function as previously discussed. The advantage with the RFID tags is that they can be placed anywhere on the document, and therefore may be placed by the user on a printed document adjacent hard copy information which the user wishes to link to electronic information.  
     [0071] Link devices in the form of user-applied, variable location tags or labels offer the advantage that the link to a physical document or object is independent from the placement of the document or object within the binder. Instead, the link is associated with the chosen document, or perhaps with a given portion of or location within the document. It is possible as well to provide repositionable links, as for example RFID tags with removable pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     [0072] The RFID reader  1242  and the computer-communicating circuit  1214  need not be located physically on the binder or an insert, but may be located as an external unit electronically coupled to the binder or insert. FIG. 12A illustrates a block diagram of an external RFID reader  1242 A/computer-communicating circuit  1214 A. The external unit is coupled to the connector  1212  of the computer-interactive binder  1200  and coupled to the remote computer, network or other digital device. In this case, the binder  1200  incorporates an RFID antenna  1244  that is directly coupled to the connector  1212 . When a user activates one of the RFID tags  1248 , it interacts with the electromagnetic field generated by the antenna  1244 A to cause the external RFID reader  1242 A to sense the identification code associated with the activated RFID tag  1248 . The code or a command associated with the code can be communicated to the remote computer, network or other digital device through the use of the external computer-communicating circuit  1214 .  
     [0073] In addition, the antenna  1244  in addition to the RFID reader  1242  and the computer-communicating circuit  1214   a  need not be located physically on the binder or an insert, but may be located as an external unit electronically coupled to the binder or insert. FIG. 12B illustrates a block diagram of an external RFID reader  1242 B/computer-communicating circuit  1214 B and RFID wand  1244 B that functions as an external RFID antenna. The external unit is coupled to the remote computer, network or other digital device. In this case, when a user desires to activate a particular RFID tags  1248 , the user positions the RFID wand  1244 B in proximity to the desired RFID tags. The type of RFID tag used with an external RFID reader having a wand is the conventional type RFID shown in FIG. 21A. The electromagnetic field generated by the RFID wand  1244 B causes the external RFID reader  1242 B to sense the identification code associated with the desired RFID tag  1248 . The code or a command associated with the code can be communicated to the remote computer, network or other digital device through the use of the external computer-communicating circuit  1214 .  
     [0074] V. Computer-Interactive Pad Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags  
     [0075]FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive pad  1350  that has an RFID reader  1342  and antenna  1342  incorporated into the pad. The computer-interactive pad  1350  further includes a computer communicating circuit  1314  coupled to the RFID reader  1342  for communicating with a remote computer, network or other digital device. The computer-interactive pad  1350  operates in the same manner as computer-interactive binders  1100  and  1200 . In the example shown in FIG. 13, a binder  1300  is placed on the computer-interactive pad  1350 . The binder  1300  may have physical documents with RFID tags  1348  thereon. Activation of an RFID tag  1348  causes the RFID reader  1342  to read a unique code assigned to the activated tag which can be used by the microprocessor  1316  to either assign a function to the activated RFID tag  1348  as previously discussed, or cause the execution of the assigned function by a remote computer, network or digital device as previously discussed. The reference numbers used in FIG. 13 to identify the same elements in the other embodiments described herein are the same, except that the most significant digits is a “13” The RFID reader  1342  and the computer-communicating circuit  1314  may be located external to the pad as previously discussed with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B.  
     [0076] VI. Computer-Interactive Binder Inserts or Sheet Protectors Using Switch Technology  
     [0077]FIG. 14 illustrates a computer-interactive binder insert (or sheet protector)  1452  that can be bounded to a notebook binder  1400 . The reference numbers used in FIG. 14 to identify the same elements in other embodiments described herein are the same, except that the most significant digits is a “14.” The computer-interactive binder insert  1452  may include one or more perforated holes  1454  for binding to the binder mechanism  1412  of the notebook binder  1400 . The computer-interactive binder insert  1452  incorporates a computer communicating circuit  1414  and keyboard  1420  for communicating with a remote computer, network or other digital device as previously discussed. Although the keyboard  1420  is shown in FIG. 14 to be a one-dimensional array of switches, it shall be understood that the computer-interactive insert  1452  can also incorporate a two-dimensional array of switches, an FSR pad, or RFID reader and antenna as previously discussed.  
     [0078]FIG. 15 illustrates a plurality of computer-interactive binder inserts  1552   a - c  that can be bounded within notebook binder  1500  in a stacked manner. The reference numbers used in FIG. 15 to identify the same elements in other embodiments described herein are the same, except that the most significant digits is a “15.” The computer-integrated binder inserts  1552   a - c  have respective computer communicating circuits  1514   a - c  and respective keyboards  1520   a - c  for communicating with a remote computer, network or digital device as previously discussed. Because there are multiple computer-interactive inserts  1552   a - c , it is preferred that the computer communicating circuit  1514   a - c  generates respective codes that uniquely identifies the inserts  1554   a - c . Although the keyboard  1520   a - c  are shown in FIG. 15 to be a one-dimensional array of switches, it shall be understood that the computer-interactive inserts  1552   a - c  can also respectively incorporate two-dimensional array of switches, FSR pads, RFID readers/antennas as previously discussed. In addition, the computer-interactive inserts  1552   a - c  need not all have the same type of keyboards, but one can be, for example, of the switch type, another can be of the FSR type, and yet the other can be of the RFID type.  
     [0079]FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate portions of computer-interactive binder inserts  1652   a  and  1652   b  that are stacked within a notebook binder. The computer-interactive inserts  1652   a  and  1652   b  include switch-type of keyboards  1620   a  and  1620   b  . In the case of FIG. 16A, the computer-interactive inserts  1652   a  and  1652   b  are configured the same, and therefore, the push button switch  1620   a  lies directly above the push-button switch  1620   b . So as to prevent the underlying push-button switch  1620   b  from being activated when a user presses the overlying push-button switch  1620   a , the switches  1620   a  and  1620   b  are formed within respective recesses  1666   a  and  1666   b . The top of the underlying insert  1652   b  prevents the bottom of the overlying insert  1652   a  from contacting the underlying push-button switch  1620   b . However, the switches  1666   a  and  1666   b  need not be vertically stacked, but can also be vertically offset from each other as shown in FIG. 16B to better prevent the activation of the underlying switch  1620   b  when a user presses the overlying push-button switch  1620   a . The switch configurations of FIGS. 16A and 16B can also be applied to RFID tags.  
     [0080] VII. Computer-Interactive Binder with Interlocking Member  
     [0081]FIG. 17 illustrates a binder  1700  that has a computer-interactive interlocking member  1768  that incorporates the computer communicating circuit  1714  and keyboard  1720  for communicating with a remote computer, network or digital device. The reference numbers used in FIG. 17 to identify the same elements in other embodiments described herein are the same, except that the most significant digits is a “17.” The computer-interactive interlocking member  1768  includes a mechanical connector symbolically represented as  1770  that securely mates with a corresponding mechanical connector symbolically represented as  1772  on the back cover  1704  of the binder  1700 . In this way, the computer-interactive interlocking member  1768  can be detached from the binder  1700  so that the binder is used in its normal manner. Then, when the user desires to interface the binder  1700  with a computer, network or other digital device, the computer-interactive locking member  1768  is attached to the binder  1700 , thereby giving it computer-communicating capability.  
     [0082] Although the computer-interactive interlocking member  1768  is shown connected to the back cover  1704 , it shall be understood that the interlocking member  1768  can be attached to other parts of the binder  1700 , including the front cover  1702 . Further, even though the keyboard  1720  is shown in FIG. 17 to be a one-dimensional array of switches, it shall be understood that the computer-interactive interlocking member  1768  can also incorporate a two-dimensional array of switches, an FSR pad, or RFID reader/antenna as previously discussed.  
     [0083] VIII. Preferred Physical Assemblies for the Computer-Interactive Binder and Insert  
     [0084]FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate perspective and broken views of the preferred assembly of a computer-interactive binder  1800  in accordance with the invention. The computer-interactive binder  1800  comprises a front cover  1802 , a back cover  1804 , both of which are pivotably joined to respective opposite sides of a spine  1806 . The computer-interactive binder  1800  further includes a three-ring binder mechanism  1808  that is securely attached to the spine  1806  by a pair of connectors  1810  on the spine  1810  that insert into respective holes  1812  on the binder mechanism  1808  and are secured by respective screws  1814  and nuts  1816 . The inside of the front cover  1802  may have a pocket  1818 . The back cover  1804  includes a recess  1820  for housing a PC board having a computer-communicating circuit (not shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B) and receiving keyboard  1822 . The keyboard  1822  is attached to the back cover  1804  by clip connector  1824  and corresponding slot  1826 .  
     [0085] FIGS.  19 A- 19 C illustrate front perspective, back perspective and front broken views of the preferred assembly of a computer-interactive binder insert  1900  in accordance with the invention. The computer-interactive binder insert  1900  comprises a panel  1902  having a recess  1904  for housing a PC board having a computer-communicating circuit (not shown in FIGS.  19 A- 19 C) and receiving keyboard  1906 . The keyboard  1906  is attached to the panel  1902  by clip connector  1908  and corresponding slot  1910 . The computer-interactive binder insert  1900  further includes an adjustable extender  1912  having openings  1914  for insertion within binder rings (not shown in FIGS.  19 A- 19 C). The adjustable extender  1912  also includes a pair of transverse slots  1916  configured to receive respective sliders  1918 . The sliders  1918  are securely attached to the back side of panel  1902  by threaded screws  1920  that mate with respective threaded holes  1922  on sliders  1918  through respective holes  1924  of panel  1902 . The sliders  1918  also include respective protrusions  1926  that are configured to mate with grooves  1928  on the boundary of the slots  1916 . There are preferably two grooves  1928  per each slot to give the extender  1912  two adjustable positions.  
     [0086]FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary computer-interactive binder  2000  of the same type as binder  1800  shown in FIG. 18. Accordingly, the reference numbers used in FIG. 20 to identify the same elements in FIG. 18 will be the same, except that the most significant digits is a “20” rather than an “18.” The computer-interactive binder  2000  comprises a keyboard  2022  having two sets of color-coded, push-button switches  1 - 8  and A-O. The switches  1 - 8  can be used to select distinct subject matters. The switches  1 - 8  may be used with a table of content binder insert  2030 . The table of content insert  2039  includes subject matter identification regions  2032 - 1  through  2032 - 8  which allows a user to identify the subject matters pertaining to the various switches  1 - 8 . The identification regions  2032 - 1  through  2032 - 8  is preferably color-coded with the respective switches  1 - 8  and preferably aligned therewith.  
     [0087] The switches A-O can be used to correlate with a specific information item within a selected subject matter  1 - 8 . The computer-interactive binder  2000  requires the activation of two keys in order for the remote computer, network or other digital device to execute the pre-assigned function. For example, the user can first select one of switches  1 - 8  to designate the subject matter of interest, then the user selects one of switches A-X to cause the remote computer, network or digital device to execute the desired pre-assigned function. The keyboard  2020  may also include a home button to cause the software program to return to a main menu for prompting the user to either assign a new function to the keys, to execute another pre-assigned function, or for any other purposes.  
     [0088] IX. Other Types of Binders and Stationary Products  
     [0089] As it was previously discussed, there are many types of binders and stationary products that may incorporate the computer-interactive technology of the invention as discussed above. Notebook binders, inserts, pads and sheet protectors have already been discussed. The computer-interactive binder of the invention also includes organizers, calendars/day planner and other similar products. In addition, the computer-interactive technology of the invention can be incorporated into other types of binders, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,583,877,entitled “Ring Binder Cover”; 4,600,346 entitled “Binder Cover and Method of Manufacture Thereof”; 4,629,349 entitled “Flexible Transparent Notebook And The Like”; 5,028,159 entitled “Looseleaf Binder”; 5,620,207 entitled “Ring Binder Cover”; 5,857,797 entitled “Loose Leaf Binder Including An Exterior Picture Frame”; and 5,911,441 entitled “Zippered Three-Ring Binder Carrying Case With Additional External Zippered Cover For Notepad.” The entire disclosure of each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.  
     [0090] Thus, as discussed in the above patents which are incorporated by reference, the binder may hold or contain physical documents, such as pieces of paper, photographs on pages, etc. which can be bound within the binder in any number of conventional ways. In addition, the binder may contain other types of objects, such as relatively compact objects which may be contained in a pocket or similar compact storage compartment in the binder; as well as bulkier objects which may be contained in more voluminous storage compartments such as binderattached backpacks, accordion files, etc. The link devices of the invention may be applied to any of these types of physical documents or other objects.  
     [0091] X. The Preferred RFID TAG Technology  
     [0092] The preferred embodiments of the RFID tags used in conjunction with the digital binder embodiments and other RFID embodiments are described in greater detail in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/306,688, filed on May 6, 1999 and entitled “Interactive Radio Frequency Tags, ” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     [0093]FIG. 21 A illustrates a conventional passive RF tag that can be used with the RFID binders and other RFID embodiments described herein. The tag  2100  has two main components: a semiconductor chip [integrated circuit (IC)]  2102  having interface circuits, logic, and memory (not shown); and an antenna  2104 . The interface circuits of the IC  2102  portion of a passive RF tag typically include an analog and a digital circuit. The analog circuit detects and decodes the RF signal and provides power to the digital circuit using the RF field strength of the reader. The digital circuit implements an information protocol which has been previously programmed into the tag.  
     [0094]FIG. 21B depicts a block diagram providing additional structural information for a typical passive RF tag. The figure is not a schematic depiction of an RF tag, but is intended as an illustration of the main function elements of a typical tag and their interconnections to provide a basis for describing the actions that take place when a tag (transponder) enters the RF field of a reader (transceiver), in order to assist in the understanding of the operation of RF tags.  
     [0095] An RF signal from a transceiver is received by the tag&#39;s antenna  2110  when the tag enters the reader&#39;s RF field. From the antenna  2110 , the signal is typically smoothed by a capacitor  2111 , and split into a portion that provides the power for the tag, and a portion that provides the data to be read by and responded to by the tag&#39;s programmed logic. The power portion of the signal goes into a rectifier  2112  (AC to DC converter) and the emerging DC signal is smoothed by a capacitor  2104 . The data portion of the split signal is conveyed along a conductive line  2116  to a data extractor  2118  which demodulates the signal and extracts the digital binary command data for the logic processor  2120 . The logic processor  2120  receives the command and carries out the command instructions, which typically involves reading data from the tag&#39;s memory  2122 . The data read from the memory  2122  is then output to a modulator  2124  which modulates the digital data into an analog signal. The signal is then conveyed to the antenna  2110  and transmitted back to the transceiver. RF tags also typically include additional elements not illustrated in FIG. 21B or discussed above, such as encoders/decoders and clock extractors.  
     [0096] When the tag comes within a RF signal field generated by a reader (transceiver) the tag responds to the transceiver&#39;s incident RF signal alerting the transceiver of its presence. A typical reader includes a computer processor which issues commands to a RF transmitter and receives commands from an RF receiver. The processor may also perform one or more functions based on the tags presence in its RF field.  
     [0097] The digital binder of the present invention preferably uses interactive radio frequency transponders, frequently referred to as RF tags. These tags are responsive to external stimuli to change state. The change of state of a tag may produce a different output from the tag when it is polled upon entering the RF field of a radio frequency transceiver, frequently referred to as a RF tag reader. The change of state produced by the external stimulus may be reversible, such as in the case of many implementations of “button tags, ” wherein a change of state results when one or more buttons on the tag is pushed by a user. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 22A, which shows a state diagram  2200  in which an external stimulus (such as a user depressing a button on the tag) produces a change of state from STATE  1  to STATE  2 , or vice versa, as represented by the double-headed arrow.  
     [0098] Alternatively, the change of state produced by the external stimulus may be irreversible, such as in the case of many implementations of “sensor tags,” wherein a change of state results when a given environmental condition is experienced by the tag (e.g., a temperature threshold is surpassed). This situation is illustrated in FIG. 22B, which shows a state diagram  2210  in which an external stimulus (such as a user depressing a button on the tag) produces a change of state from STATE  1  to STATE  2 , or vice versa, as represented by the single-headed arrow.  
     [0099] An interactive RF tag may also be configured to have a plurality of states in which it may operate depending on a particular external stimulus received. This situation is represented by the “web” structure illustrated in FIG. 22C, which shows a state diagram  2220  in which an external stimulus (such as a user depressing a button on the tag) produces a change of state from STATE  1  to STATE  2 , or vice versa. Additionally, the change of state may be from STATE  1  to any of a number of other states (e.g., STATE  3 , STATE  4 , or STATE  5  in the illustrated embodiment), or from one of those states to another state, as represented by the double-headed arrows, when another external stimulus (such as a user depressing a different button on the tag) is applied to the tag. This latter implementation may find particular use in applications where the interactive tag is used as a controller, and each states results in a different control command being returned to a tag reader in a device under control of the tag.  
     [0100] Interactive radio frequency tags preferably include a passive radio frequency transponder, having an antenna, an interface for receiving an external stimulus, and one or more integrated circuits responsive to the external stimulus received at the interface to change the state of the transponder. The nature of the interface and the corresponding external stimuli, as well as the change of state may vary substantially while remaining consistent with this inventive concept, as discussed in more detail below.  
     [0101] Button Tags  
     [0102] Tags may be configured to change state when a user contacts and/or manipulates an interface on the tag, for example, one or more buttons on the tag is pushed or turned by a user (“button tags”). Variations on this idea include a “single button tag” that may only be read when a button on the tag is pushed; a “switch” tag that switches between memories (or memory addresses) that are accessed for response information when the tag is polled by a reader depending on whether or not a button, or which button, is pushed; an “analog switch” tag that provides a variable response accessed from a memory based on the amount of pressure the user applies to a pressure-sensitive pad, or the movement a user applies(e.g., sliding or turning) to a motion-sensitive button on the tag. FIGS. 23 through 29 illustrate various embodiments of user contact tags that can be used with the computer interactive binder of the invention.  
     [0103]FIG. 23 illustrates a first embodiment of a (passive) interactive radio frequency transponder. As with a conventional RF tag, the transponder  2300  has a semiconductor chip (integrated circuit (IC))  2302  with RF circuits, logic and memory, and an antenna  2304 . In addition, this embodiment includes a switch  2306  which interrupts the signal flow from the antenna  2304  to the IC  2302 . Thus, this transponder  2300  may only be read by a radio frequency transceiver when the switch  2306  is closed. Closing the switch changes the state of the transponder from unreadable to readable. In a preferred embodiment, this switch  2306  is a mechanical switch which is closed by an external stimulus when a user applies pressure to a button on the transponder.  
     [0104]FIG. 24A illustrates a second embodiment of an interactive radio frequency transponder. Like the transponder illustrated in FIG. 23, the transponder  2400  is also a “button tag.” This embodiment, however, has two ICs  2402  and  2403  together with an antenna  2404 . The transponder  2400  also has a switch  2405  which may be in one of two positions  2406  or  2407 , to connect the ICs  2402  or  2403 , respectively. The switch  2405  interrupts the signal flow from the antenna  2404  to the ICs  2402  and  2403 . Thus, the response provided to a polling transceiver by this transponder  2400  is determined by which position the switch is in. If the switch  2405  is position  2406 , IC  2402  is activated and determines the response provided to the polling transceiver. Similarly, if the switch is in position  2407 , IC  2403  is activated and determines the response provided to the polling transceiver.  
     [0105]FIG. 24B illustrates an alternative embodiment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 24A. Like the transponder illustrated in FIG. 24A, the transponder  2410  has a switch  2415 . However, in this embodiment, the switch  2415  may be in one of three positions  2416  or  2417  to connect the ICs  2412  or  2413 , respectively, or  2418  which is an open circuit position. The switch  2415  interrupts the signal flow from the antenna  2414  to the ICs  2412  and  2413 . Thus, the response provided to a polling transceiver by this transponder  2410  is determined by which position the switch is in. If the switch  2415  is position  2416 , IC  2412  is activated and determines the response provided to the polling transceiver. Similarly, if the switch is in position  2417 , IC  2413  is activated and determines the response provided to the polling transceiver. If the switch is in position  2418 , there are no closed circuits meaning that no power or data reaches either IC in the transponder, so the tag  2410  cannot be read.  
     [0106] A person of skill in the art will recognize that there are many possible alternative implementations of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 24A and 24B. For example, rather than the transponder having two separate ICs, it may instead have a single IC in which different memory addresses are accessed depending on which position a switch controlled by a user is in.  
     [0107]FIG. 25 illustrates another embodiment of an interactive radio frequency transponder which illustrates an example of this concept. The transponder  2500  has an IC  2502 , an antenna  2504 , and a single switch  2506  that closes different circuits depending on its position. In the transponder illustrated in FIG. 25, the switch has two positions, each of which results in the closing of a different circuit that provides power to the IC  2502  and accesses a different memory address to determine the response provided to a polling radio frequency transceiver.  
     [0108] It should be noted that while the embodiments illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25 have two alternative closed circuits, passive radio frequency transponders may also be implemented along the same lines, but providing more than two alternatives. For example, as described above with reference to FIG. 22C, passive radio frequency tags in accordance with the present invention may have a plurality of possible states, each accessed, for example, by pressing a different button. Such an implementation of the present invention may be useful, for example, as a controller for electronic devices which incorporate a radio frequency transceiver.  
     [0109] In the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 23, the transponder is not seen and read by a polling transceiver unless a button on the transceiver is pushed to close the switch. In FIGS. 24A and 25, embodiments are illustrated in which one or another circuit is always closed so that a polling transceiver whose field reached the transponder will always receive one or another response, depending on which button is pushed or which position a switch is in. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 24B the switch interrupting the signal path from the antenna to the IC has a third position, providing the possibility that the transponder may or may not be powered and read when it comes within the field of a polling transceiver, depending on the switch position.  
     [0110]FIG. 26 provides yet another implementation of an interactive transponder. The transponder  2600  includes an IC  2602  and an antenna  2604 . There is no switch interrupting the signal path from the antenna to the IC, so the transponder is read whenever it is within the field of a polling transceiver, and a response corresponding to the state of the transponder is provided to the transceiver. The transponder  2600  also has a switch  2606  connected to the IC  2602  which is capable of changing the state of the transponder when closed, for example, by the pushing of a button on the transponder.  
     [0111]FIG. 27 illustrates another embodiment of an interactive transponder. The transponder  2700  combines elements from previously discussed implementations. It includes an IC  2702 , an antenna  2704 , and a switch  2706  interrupting the signal path from the antenna to the IC. Thus, the transponder may only be read when the switch  2706  is closed, for example, by a button being pushed. In addition, the transponder  2700  also has a switch  2708  connected to the IC  2702  which is capable of changing the state of the transponder when closed, for example, by the pushing of a button on the transponder.  
     [0112] As noted above, it should also be understood that the present invention includes embodiments in which a user interactive interface may provide a variable response (e.g., an “analog switch” as opposed to the discrete response provided by the “digital switches” previously described). Transponders preferably include a transducer and a variable voltage sensor. The transducer converts a user interaction, such as movement on a motion-sensitive pad on the tag, or the pushing of a pressure sensitive pad, into a voltage detected by the variable voltage sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect when a voltage threshold has been reached and cause a change of state in the transponder resulting in a different response being provided to a polling transceiver. Alternatively, real-time response based on the level of user interaction may be provided.  
     [0113] Fixed Position Switches RFID Input Device  
     [0114]FIG. 28 illustrates an exemplary RFID input device  2800  that is particularly useful for binders, inserts, pads and other products that use fixed position switches as the input device. The RFID input device  2800  comprises a plurality of switches  2802  coupled to an integrated circuit  2804  and an antenna  2806 . In operation, when a user activates one of the switches  2802 , the integrated circuit  2804  determines which switch has been activated and generates a unique code associated with the activated switch, which is transmitted by the antenna  2806 . An RFID reader (not shown in FIG. 28) reads the unique code transmitted by the antenna  2806 , which is subsequently communicated to a microprocessor (not shown in FIG. 28) for causing a remote computer, network or other digital device to execute an assigned function.  
     [0115]FIG. 29 illustrates another exemplary RFID input device  2900  that is particularly useful for binders, inserts, pads and other products that use fixed position switches as the input device. The RFID input device  2900  comprises a plurality of switches  2902  coupled to corresponding integrated circuits  2904  and an antenna  2906 . In operation, when a user activates one of the switches  2902 , the corresponding integrated circuit  2904  generates a unique code associated with the activated switch, which is transmitted by the antenna  2906 . An RFID reader (not shown in FIG. 29) reads the unique code transmitted by the antenna  2906 , which is subsequently communicated to a microprocessor (not shown in FIG. 29) for causing a remote computer, network or other digital device to execute an assigned function.  
     [0116] Output Tags  
     [0117] In addition, the present invention provides interactive RF tags which visually, audibly, tactilely or otherwise signal a state or change of state of an RF tag in response to a particular external stimulus. The external stimulus may be user intervention with a button on the tag or sensation of an environmental condition received at a separate interface as described above, or may be provided by the RF signal itself received at the tag&#39;s antenna as discussed below.  
     [0118] For example, “button” or “sensor” features may be combined with an output feature which visually, audibly, tactilely or otherwise signals the state or change of state of an output RF tag. FIG. 30 illustrates a preferred embodiment which provides an example of such a hybrid output tag. A transponder  3000  has an IC  3002 , an antenna  3004 , and a switch  3006  on the IC. Thus, the transponder may be read whenever the tag is in the field of an associated transceiver, whether or not the button is pushed. In addition, the transponder  3000  also has an output device  3008  connected to the IC  3002  which is capable of generating a signal when the state of the transponder is changed, for example, by the pushing of a button on the transponder to close the switch  3006 .  
     [0119] In a preferred embodiment, the output device may be an LED which lights to indicate a state change. Alternative output devices include speakers which are capable of generating audible signals, such as clicks or beeps, or devices which are capable of generating tactile signals, such as a vibration. Of course, alternative configurations may be used in such output tags. For example, output devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), may be incorporated into any of the previously described embodiments. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such output devices and, given the principles of the present invention described herein, would be able to fabricate interactive radio frequency transponders in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0120] Another embodiment of a hybrid output tag includes the use of a sensor in place of the switch  3006  of the transponder  3000  illustrated in FIG. 30. According to this embodiment, the state of the transponder would change when a given environmental condition was experienced resulting in the activation of the output device  3008  when the transponder is polled by a transceiver.  
     [0121] An additional novel implementation of an output tag involves the incorporation of an output device, such as an LED, into the circuit of the antenna and IC in a passive transponder, so that a signal is generated when the transponder is powered-up upon exposure to the RF field of a polling transceiver. In this instance, the RF field produced by the polling transceiver provides the external stimulus that causes the change of state in the transponder to produce a signal from the output device. In addition, the RF signal may convey information to change the state of the transponder so that the output device is made to signal or not signal when the transponder is under power.  
     [0122] XI. Applications for the Computer-Interactive Binder and Other Embodiments  
     [0123] There are numerous applications for the computer-interactive binders and other embodiments described herein. This is because the computer-interactive binder is not tied to any specific application, and can be customized for any specific application. A user may choose to create its own unique computer-interactive binder by incorporating physical documents relating to a particular topic and associate that information with electronic information stored in a remote computer, network or other digital devices. In addition, businesses, government entities and educational institutions, for example, may also create application-specific computer-interactive binders for end-users.  
     [0124]FIG. 31 illustrates examples of broad categories of applications for the computer-interactive binder of the invention. These categories include Referencing and Archiving Applications (FIG. 31A), Training Applications (FIG. 31B), Catalogues (FIG. 31C) and Presenting and Storytelling (FIG. 3  1 D). Within each of the broad categories, the applications can be sub-divided into three sub-categories relating to the environment in which the computer-interactive binder is to be used. Such environment sub-categories include Work Environment, Education Environment, and Home/Personal Environment. Each of the environment subcategories may include many different types of applications for the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0125]FIG. 3 1 A illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the broad category of Referencing and Archiving Applications. In the Referencing and Archiving Applications, the focus of the applications is mainly looking up and navigating through electronic information. As previously discussed, the applications within the Referencing and Archiving Category are categorized for the environment in which the computer-interactive binder is to be used. For example, in the Work Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include human resource manuals, such as company policies and procedures. In this particular application, a computer-interactive binder may include organized physical documents that specify a company&#39;s policies and procedures, which can be further supplemented by electronic information about the company&#39;s policies, procedures or other information with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0126] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Work Environment sub-category the Referencing and Archiving Applications include government laws, rules and regulations, referencing guides for example regarding financial and demographics, customized real estate binder for prospective buyers, research and development, employee files, customer profiles, vendor profiles, employee profiles, facility profiles, intellectual property portfolios and work place events such as meetings and conventions, to name a few. The different applications that can occupy the Work Environment sub-category of the Referencing and Archiving Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of referencing and archiving application for the work environment.  
     [0127]FIG. 3 1 A also illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Education Environment sub-category of the Referencing and Archiving Applications. For example, in the Education Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include syllabus/lesson plans where, for example, a professor may hand out to each student a computer-interactive binder having a printed syllabus with lesson plans, and a student can access supplemental electronic information concerning homework assignments, additional reading material, and other electronic information relating to the lesson plans with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0128] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Education Environment includes school curriculum and on-line class registration, school policies, procedures and regulations, faculty, student and campus profiles, and special events such as home coming. The different applications that can occupy the Education Environment sub-category of the Referencing and Archiving Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of referencing and archiving application for the education environment.  
     [0129]FIG. 31 A further illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Referencing and Archiving Applications. For example, in the Home/Personal Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include cook books where the computer-interactive binder may include a list of recipes organized, for example, into different international cuisine. A user in a home environment can obtain supplemental electronic information regarding the dishes, such as it recipes, the ingredient needed, or historical background on origins of the selected dish with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0130] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Home/Personal Environment includes special interest/hobbies such as travelling, home improvement, personal financing, collections and fact books, to name a few. The different applications that can occupy the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Referencing and Archiving Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of referencing and archiving application for the home/personal environment.  
     [0131]FIG. 31 B illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the broad category of Training Applications. In the Training Applications, the focus of the applications is mainly user stimulus and response involving lots of user interactions, as opposed to merely looking up and navigating through information. As previously discussed, the applications within the Training Application are sub-categorized for the environment in which the computer-interactive binder is to be used. For example, in the Work Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include seminars where a computer-interactive binder may include physical documents relating to the various topics of a seminar, and where supplemental electronic information relating to those various topics can be accessed by a user with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0132] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Work Environment sub-category of the Training Applications include orientations such as for new hires, new products, facilities and procedures, and user manuals. The different applications that can occupy the Work Environment sub-category of the Training Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of training application for the work environment.  
     [0133]FIG. 31 B also illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Education Environment sub-category of the Training Applications. For example, in the Education Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include interactive learning tools where, for example, a computer interactive binder may include the physical documents having the daily class lessons, and where tests, quizzes, or other interactive learning activities relating to the class lessons can be accessed by a student with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0134] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Education Environment includes correspondence schools where interactive learning activities can be remotely accessed by a student or orientations for new students can be interactively accessed by the student to better orient new students. The different applications that can occupy the Education Environment sub-category of the Training Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of training application for the education environment.  
     [0135]FIG. 31 B further illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Training Applications. For example, in the Home/Personal Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include “How To” books, such as how to build your own deck, or how to landscape your own backyard, and so forth. With this type of application, a computer-interactive binder may have physical documents with information on the “how to” of the topic of the binder. Interactive learning tools relating to the “how to” topic in the form of electronic data can then be accessed by a user with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder in order to supplement the user&#39;s learning process.  
     [0136] Another application for the computer-interactive binder in the Home/Personal Environment includes owner&#39;s manuals for various appliances, equipment, and other apparatus in the home environment. The different applications that can occupy the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Training Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of training application for the home/personal environment.  
     [0137]FIG. 31 C illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the broad category of Catalogues. In the Catalogues Applications, the focus of the applications is mainly searching, retrieving and organizing. As previously discussed, the applications within the Catalogues Application are sub-categorized for the environment in which the computer-interactive binder is to be used. For example, in the Work Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include product line catalogues such as office supplies, where a computer-interactive binder may include physical documents relating to a particular product line, and where electronic information about the specific products can be accessed by a user with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0138] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Work Environment sub-category of the Catalogues Applications include services catalogues such as home health, collection catalogues such as for museums, and real estate property catalogues. The different applications that can occupy the Work Environment sub-category of the Catalogues Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of catalogues application for the work environment.  
     [0139]FIG. 31 C also illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Education Environment sub-category of the Catalogues Applications. For example, in the Education Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include courses and curriculums where, for example, a computer interactive binder may include physical documents listing the available courses and/or curriculum for a particular major. Electronic information relating to the descriptions of the available courses and/or the curriculum for particular majors can be accessed by a student with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0140] Another application for the computer-interactive binder in the Education Environment includes a catalogue of educational products. The different applications that can occupy the Education Environment sub-category of the Training Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of catalogues application for the education environment.  
     [0141]FIG. 31 C farther illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Catalogue Applications. For example, in the Home/Personal Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include shopping and services catalogues where, for example, a computer-interactive binder may have physical documents with information relating to a particular stores product and/or services catalogues, and a user can obtain supplemental electronic information regarding the products and/or services with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder in order to supplement the user&#39;s learning process.  
     [0142] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Home/Personal Environment include guide books such as colleges and price guides, and product review. The different applications that can occupy the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Catalogues Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of catalogues application for the home/personal environment.  
     [0143]FIG. 31D illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the broad category of Presenting and Story Telling. In the Presenting and Story Telling Applications, the focus of the applications is mainly customizing and interacting visual information in a multimedia fashion to provide presentations and story telling. As previously discussed, the applications within the Presenting and Story Telling Applications are subcategorized for the environment in which the computer-interactive binder is to be used. For example, in the Work Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include business review where a computer-interactive binder may include physical documents relating to visual information to be displayed on an overhead display, and where electronic visual information can be accessed and displayed by a user for an audience with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0144] Other applications for the computer-interactive binder in the Work Environment sub-category of the Presenting and Story Telling Applications include new business pitch presentations and company&#39;s future projection presentations. The different applications that can occupy the Work Environment sub-category of the Presenting and Story Telling Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of presenting and story Telling application for the work environment.  
     [0145]FIG. 3 1 D also illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Education Environment sub-category of the Presenting and Story Telling Applications. For example, in the Education Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include historical accounting where, for example, a computer interactive binder may include physical documents relating to an chronological accounting of a historical event, and related visual electronic information accessed and displayed to an audience by a student and/or professor with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0146] Another application for the computer-interactive binder in the Education Environment includes a essays. The different applications that can occupy the Education Environment sub-category of the Presenting and Story Telling Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of presenting and story telling application for the education environment.  
     [0147]FIG. 31D further illustrates an exemplary list of applications for a computer-interactive binder under the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Presenting and Story Telling Applications. For example, in the Home/Personal Environment sub-category, specific applications for the computer-interactive binder may include memorabilia where, for example, a computer-interactive binder may have with information relating to family pictures of particular events, such as one&#39;s birthday or a vacation, and electronic visual information relating to the event-in-question can be accessed and displayed to an audience by a user with the linking capability of the computer-interactive binder.  
     [0148] Another application for the computer-interactive binder in the Home/Personal Environment includes year books. The different applications that can occupy the Home/Personal Environment sub-category of the Presenting and Story Telling Applications are too numerous to mention. However, it shall be understood that a computer-interactive binder can be configured in accordance with the broad teachings of the invention so that it can be used for any type of presenting and story telling application for the home/personal environment.  
     [0149]FIG. 32 illustrates a table depicting how a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention can be organized for a real estate application. A first column of the table entitled “Tabs” lists the topics of the various tabs (dividers) for the computer-interactive binder. For instance, Tab  1  may be used to categorize information relating to properties, Tab  2  may be used to categorize information relating to Banks, Tab  3  may be used to categorize information relating to insurance companies, Tab  4  may be used to categorize information relating to title companies, Tab  5  may be used to categorize information relating to home inspection companies, Tab  6  may be used to categorize information relating to utility companies, Tab  7  may be used to categorize information relating to moving companies, Tab  8  may be used to categorize information relating to plumbers, Tab  9  may be used to categorize information relating to decorators, Tab  10  may be used to categorize information relating to electricians, and Tab  11  may be used to categorize information relating to exterminators.  
     [0150] A second column of the table entitled “Physical Content” lists physical documents that are associated with corresponding tabs of the computer-interactive binder. For instance, the physical documents associated with Tab  1  (Properties) may include information regarding the overview of a particular neighborhood, regional and community events brochures, regional and community service brochures, and other background materials. Tab  2  (Banks) may include information regarding the overview on finding lenders, overview of local banks, qualification for home loans, and examples of completed home loan applications. Tab  3  (Insurance Companies) may include information regarding the overview on finding appropriate insurance companies, overview of local insurance providers, qualifications for insurance policies, and examples of completed home insurance applications. The remaining physical documents for Tabs  4 - 11  are listed in the table shown in FIG. 32.  
     [0151] A third column of the table entitled “digital links” lists electronic information related to the corresponding tabs and physical document that can be accessed by a user with the computer-interactive binder. For instance, the electronic information related to Tab  1  (Properties) may include a daily listing of available properties based on a particular buyer&#39;s preferences, video links illustrating the suggested properties, school services, community services, and local events. The electronic information related to Tab  2  (Banks) may include the best, up-to-date mortgage rates, listing of individual banks and their available services, and home loan application forms. The electronic information related to Tab  3  (Insurance Companies) may include a list of the best insurance rates based on the borrower&#39;s qualifications, listing of individual insurance companies and their available services, and insurance application forms. The remaining “digital links” for Tabs  4 - 11  are listed in the table shown in FIG. 32.  
     [0152]FIG. 33 illustrates a table depicting how a computer-interactive binder in accordance with the invention can be organized for a sales meeting application. The table is organized in a the same fashion as the table depicted in FIG. 32. That is, the “Tabs” column defines the various topics for the sales meeting binder, the “Physical Content” column defines the information on the physical documents related to the topics defined by the corresponding tabs, and the “Digital Links” column defines the electronic information related to the corresponding tabs and physical documents, that can be accessed by a user with the computer-interactive binder. The organization of the computer-interactive binder depicted in FIG. 33 is merely an example of how a computer-interactive binder can be organized for a sales meeting. Those skilled in the art can use the broad teachings of the invention to customize computer-interactive binders for many applications.  
     [0153] XII. High Level Functionality of the Linking Devices  
     [0154] In view of the applications for the computer-interactive binder and other linking devices described herein, it can be seen that the linking devices described herein perform several high level functionality. For instance, the linking devices can be used as an identifier, a locator/accessor, a tracker/monitor, and an organizer, to name a few.  
     [0155] The “identifier” functionality of the linking devices described herein addresses the problem that the burden of accessing the desired digital information is on the user, which at times may be difficult. With the linking device of the invention, the burden of accessing the desired information by the user is reduced. In other words, the linking device “identifies.” 
     [0156] The locator/accessor functionality of the linking devices described herein also addresses the problem that the burden of finding the desired digital information is on the user, which at times may be difficult. With the linking device of the invention, the burden of finding the desired information by the user is reduced. In other words, the linking device “locates.”  
     [0157] The tracker/monitor functionality of the linking devices addresses the problem that it is typically difficult to keep track or monitor information, when the information is constantly changing. With the linking device of the invention, updating and/or monitoring information is improved since electronic information stored accessible from on a website are centrally updated, and thus removes the burden from the user of updating the information on physical documents on the binder. In other words, the linking device “tracks/monitors.”  
     [0158] The organizer functionality of the linking devices addresses the problem that it is sometimes difficult to find and organize digital information. With the linking device of the invention, the electronic information is accessible from a nicely organized indexed scheme. In other words, the linking device is an “organizer” of digital content.  
     [0159] XIII. Customizable Interactive Binder  
     [0160] Referencing FIG. 34, a preferred embodiment of an exemplary customizable interactive binder system  5000  that enables a user to customize content into an interactive binder. Exemplary system  500  includes a binder  5002 , an input device  5004 , and a computer system  5006 . Exemplary binder  5002 , which may be configured according to any of the embodiments described above, includes binder content  5008  including a plurality of elements  5010   a ,  5010   b ,  5010   c , . . . ,  5010   k.    
     [0161] The binder content  5008  may include any type of material that a person may desire to have retained or associated with the binder  5002  and a particular function or application, such as a training binder, an instructional binder, a how-to binder, and so on. For example, the binder content  5008  may include printed sheets of paper, photographs, icons, graphical material, textual material, etc., with each of the elements  5010  representing a piece, a portion, or a section of the binder content  5008 .  
     [0162] Exemplary input device  5004 , which may be configured according to any of the embodiments described above (e.g., analogous to keyboard  1906  shown in FIG. 19C), includes a signal generator  5012  that, when actuated by a user, generates an access signal. More specifically, exemplary signal generator  5012  is configured to generate one access signal of a plurality of unique access signals  5014   a ,  5014   b ,  5014   c , . . . ,  5014   l  when actuated by a user. Exemplary signal generator  5012  may include a keypad (not shown) with which a user may type in a combination of one or more keys to generate any number of unique access signals  5012 . Alternatively, exemplary signal generator may include one but preferably a plurality of switches  5016   a ,  5016   b ,  5016   c , . . . ,  5016   m . Each switch  5016  may be configured to generate a respective one of the access signals  5012  when actuated.  
     [0163] According to the present invention, each of the elements  5010  of the binder content  5008  may be selectively associated with one of the access signals  5014 . Alternatively speaking, a unique access signal  5014  may be associated with a respective one of the elements  5010  of the binder content  5008 . The selective association between the elements  5010  of the binder content  5008  and the access signals  5014  is represented by the dashed arrows in FIG. 34. This customizable feature of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below.  
     [0164] Exemplary computer system  5006  is configured to be in communication with input device  5004  and to receive access signals  5014 . For example, system  5006  may include circuitry for providing interface functions and on-board data control and bus functions, which circuitry is indicated by reference number  5018 . The interface circuitry  5018  may be configured to receive either wireless signals or signal transmitted across conventional communication media. The computer system  5006  is also configured to be in communication with remote content  5020 . As described in more detail below, exemplary computer system  5006  includes a process  5022  and may include any number of other devices, such a storage device  5024 , a user input  5026  (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, etc.), and an output device  5028  (e.g., a display monitor, a speaker, a printer, etc.).  
     [0165] The remote content  5020  may include any type of material that a person may desire to access. For example, the remote content  5020  may include electronic media that is accessible by a computer, including data files, universal resource locators (URLs), video clips (e.g., MPEG video, etc.), photographs (e.g., GIF, JPEG, etc.), audio clips, web-page addresses, and so on. The remote content  5020  may be located on local storage media (e.g., hard disks, CD-ROMs, etc.) at the computer system  5006  and may be located at remote locations accessible via an network such as a LAN, WAN, intranet, the Internet, etc. Given this wide range of diversity, the remote content  5020  may be divided into a plurality of items  5030   a ,  5030   b ,  5030   c , . . . ,  5030   n . Each item  5030  may represent, for example, an image, a video clip, an audio clip, a URL, a web address, a data file, and so on.  
     [0166] According to the present invention, one or more of the elements  5010  of the content  5008  of the binder  5002  is associated with and linked to a respective item  5030  of the remote content  5020 . In doing so, a customized interactive binder  5032  is authored by the user for a desired application or function.  
     [0167] Exemplary methodology for customizing the interactive binder  5032  of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 35. To customize, a user may first of all provide a computer system  5006  (step  5034 ) and then a binder  5002  and an input device  5004  (step  5036 ). The user may then provide any type of binder content  5002  (step  5038 ) as discussed above. For example, if the interactive binder  5032  is to be customized as a golf training binder, then the binder content  502  may include text and photographs.  
     [0168] A user may then initiate an application (step  5040 ) on the computer system  5006 . The initiation step may include any known method and apparatus for loading and/or running a software application on a computer. The application software that is initiated is configured in accordance with the present invention to cause the computer system  5006  to link the access signals  5014  with items  5030  of the remote content  5020 . The application software of the invention may also be configured to cause the computer system  5006  to receive access signals, to retrieve remote content, and to output content for the user, which will be discussed in more detail below.  
     [0169] A user may also associate each element  5010  of the binder content  5002  with a unique access signal  5014  (step  5042 ). For example, if the input device  5004  is configured in accordance with keyboard  2022  as shown in FIG. 20, then a user may associate a page of content, which may be represented by element  5010   a , with access signal  5014   a , which, in turn, may be generated by actuating switch  5016   a . Continuing with the exemplary preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 20, each of the switches  5016  may represent a signal-generation process where a user depresses switch  1  and then switch A, the combination of which may generate access signal  5014   a . Alternatively, exemplary keyboard  2022  may be configured so that a user need only actuate one of the switches A-O.  
     [0170] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 36, an embodiment of an example of binder content  5008  is shown for the purposes of this description as a three-hole punched page  5044  for a conventional three-ring binder. The page  5044  includes text and graphics which represent elements  5010  of the content  5008 . Each of the elements  5010  is associated with one of the switches  5016  which are represented by tags  5046 , that is, element  5010   a  with tag  5046   a , element  5010   b  with tag  5046   b , element  5010   c  with tag  5046   c , and element  5010   d  with tag  5046   d . Each of the tags  5046  is, in turn, associated with a one of the access signals  5014  by, for example, a unique combination of switches  1 - 8  and switches A-O as shown in FIG. 20. Accordingly, if a user wanted to gain more information, such as a video clip corresponding to element  5010   b , then the user may depress switch  2  and switch B on the keyboard  2022 , which will be discussed below.  
     [0171] With continued reference to FIG. 35, a user may then cause the computer system  5006  to link each of the access signals  5014  associated with the switches  5016  with respective items  5030  of remote content  5020  (step  5048 ). To do so, the initiated application may allow a user to enter with the user input  5026  a unique identifier associated with each of the switches  5016  and then enter, for example, a computer-readable address where a particular item  5030  may be accessed. The processor  5022  may then store the unique identifiers in a look-up table in the storage device  5024 . Accordingly, when in use and an access signal  5014  is received, the processor  5022  may access the look-up table to determine the location of the item  5030  linked to the received access signal and then retrieve the item for output on the user output  5028 .  
     [0172] The process for associating elements  5010  of binder content  5008  with access signals  5016  and then linking access signals  5016  with items  5030  of remote content  5020  may continued (step  5050 ) until the user has completed customizing the interactive binder  5032 , which is then ready for user (step  5052 ), which is discuss below. If desired, a user may then modify the interactive binder  5032  (step  5054 ) and re-modify a plurality of times.  
     [0173] Referencing FIG. 37, to utilize the interactive binder  5032  (step  5056 ) as customized according to the methodology of the present invention, a user connects the input device 50 l 4  with a computer system  5006  (step  5058 ). This connection may be either a tethered connection or a wireless connection. The user may then initiate an application (step  5060 ) of the system  5006 , which application is configured to retrieve and output remote content  5020  in response to receiving access signals  5016 . The computer system  5006  is configured to await an initiation signal (step  5062 ) from a user via, for example, the user input  5026 , and then, upon receipt of such signal (step  5064 ), load the application (step  5066 ). The computer system  5006  is then configured to await the receipt of an access signal  5016  at the interface circuitry  5018  (step  5068 ).  
     [0174] The user may then access the binder content  5008  at his or her leisure. If the user desires to access remote content  5020  (step  5072 ) associated with a particular element  5010  of the binder content  5008 , for example, for expansion upon a particular element  5010 , then the user may generate the access signal  5016  (step  5074 ) associated with the particular element  5010  of binder content  5008 . The access signal  5016  may be generated as discussed above. The computer system  5006  receives the access signal  5016  (step  5076 ) and then retrieves the item  5030  of remote content  5020  linked with the signal (step  5078 ). The computer system  5006  then outputs the retrieved item  5030  on one of more of the user outputs  5028  (step  5080 ), for example, on a display and on a speaker. The user may then view/listen to the output item (step  5082 ).  
     [0175] The process of accessing binder content  5008  and retrieving items  5030  of remote content  5020  associated with elements  5010  of binder content may continue as desired by the user (step  5084 ). When desired, the user may initiate the closing of the application (step  5086 ) which, when received (step  5088 ), the computer system  5006  closes the application (step  5090 ).  
     [0176] Exemplary customizable interactive binder  5002  of the present invention has any number of uses and applications, from training to presentation to educational. The system  5000  enables identifying, locating, and accessing content  5020  by a simple “one click” hand operation of the input device  5004 . In a preferred training embodiment, exemplary interactive binder  5032  reinforces live training, making such training more memorable and effective. For example, video or audio links can be produced and directed to remind a student what a particular class covered on a particular day. In addition, training may be documented, providing the “emotion around the experience,” and by linking only the most meaningful content.  
     [0177] The interactive binder  5032  of the present invention has a number of advantages. For example, there is a certain degree of intuitiveness about interacting with physical binder content, such as a physical book or manual, which has control over to multimedia or the Internet (versus a keyboard or a mouse). Students can more naturally interact with both hardcopy and digital information while assuming a relaxed, comfortable posture (as opposed to a more rigid or sitting position in front of a PC, mainly deploying one&#39;s vision and fingertips). In addition, the interactive binder  5032  employs a number of methods by which people learn effectively: reading, looking at and studying pictures and graphics, watching video, and listening to audio. The customizable interactive binder  5032  engages more of the total body for a fuller, more human-like, kinesthetic learning experience, integrating the best of the training tools used by trainers today: hardcopy manuals, video, and computer-based training.  
     [0178] Moreover, exemplary customizable interactive binder  5032  provides users with superior navigation abilities of paper and access to random video segments without having to spend time fast forwarding or searching for electronic content. Paper provides the ability to randomly access hardcopy information by flipping pages, going back and forth, and skipping around at will. Much like paper, random-access video segments provide the ability to go back and forth and skip around multimedia at will. This behavior supports the way people best learn. The interactive binder  5032  provides users with the opportunity to directly interact with paper, including marking up and jotting down notes. In addition, the binder  5032  may be configured to allow a user to freeze frame multimedia to make a detailed study of video. Having random access to hardcopy and multimedia, the user has complete freedom and flexibility to learn in his or her own individual way.  
     [0179] Although the interactive binder  5032  may be used to reinforce live training experiences and materials, the binder  5032  may also be used as a tool for providing training between live training sessions, thereby successfully abbreviating the amount of required live training. As such, the customizable interactive binder  5032  may save corporations training expenses, including travel and entertainment.  
     [0180] XIII. Conclusion  
     [0181] While the invention has been described in connection with various embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.