Here's a great way for restaurants around the world to solve the problem of foreign visitors who can't read their menus: Each menu has a bar-code version, which the visitor can scan with a special pocket-size device that translates it into his/her own language. The visitor need scan only the bar codes that look particularly appetizing.
-- Ander, Jul 26 2000

Government agencies. https://www.youtube...watch?v=ONFj7AYgbko
[doctorremulac3, Jun 20 2023]

US5950173 https://patents.goo...m/patent/US5950173A
published 7 September 1999. System and method for delivering consumer product related information to consumers [xaviergisz, Jun 20 2023]

Or just put 'em in English... everyone reads English...

(Just kidding, mostly.)
-- egnor, Jul 26 2000


yet another function for your palm pilot!!
-- interpreter, Jul 27 2000


The opposite of this would be great at IHOP and other restaurants that have waiters with low IQs. All waiter has to do is scan in what you point at and take it to the cook.
-- da5id, Aug 05 2000


Or we could just set up user terminals at the tables where you place your order via touch-pad.
-- sorrow786, May 15 2001


::kicks self so no one else has to::
-- sorrow786, May 15 2001


<sign on back of sorrow786>KICK ME!</sign on back of sorrow786>
-- thumbwax, May 16 2001


This is a thing now, BTW. Not sure if I should be asking for royalties.
-- Ander, Jun 17 2023


Probably can't get royalties, but you could ruin someone's day if they have a patent on this that post dates July 26th, 2,000. If so, you can point out that you published this before the date they claimed priority and their patent claim is void.

As for your claim, once you publish something you have 12 months to file either a provisional or a final utility patent. Missed that date by about 22 years unfortunately.

Have a consolation bun though. [+]
-- doctorremulac3, Jun 19 2023


//point out that you published this before the date they claimed priority//
I tried that when Boeing got a patent for my Fusion Beam idea.
The Patent Office didn't care.
You could consider the opposite: point out to a patent-holders competitors that the idea is in the public domain.
-- neutrinos_shadow, Jun 20 2023


Or let them know you might do that, like "Hey, nice patent ya got there, be a shame if something happened to it."

Patents supposedly can be invalidated. If you provide proof of prior art, that proves that it wasn't invented by them. Unfortunately the Patent Office is a government agency. (see link)
-- doctorremulac3, Jun 20 2023


This idea probably isn't quite an "enabling disclosure" so couldn't be used to invalidate a patent. Also, it was not a new idea even at 26 July 2000.
-- xaviergisz, Jun 20 2023



random, halfbakery