U.S. patent application number 10/654292 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for method and system for identifying data locations associated with real world observations.
This patent application is currently assigned to Microvision, Inc.. Invention is credited to Tarbouriech, Philippe.
Application Number | 20050010787 10/654292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23170226 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050010787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tarbouriech, Philippe |
January 13, 2005 |
Method and system for identifying data locations associated with
real world observations
Abstract
A method and system for identifying data locations or uniform
resource locators associated with physical observations in the real
world. The method and system includes selecting certain physical
parameters based upon an observation of real world objects and
events and associating such physical parameters with data locations
on the Internet or other computer network. When the real world
object is observed or a real world event occurs, physical
parameters relating to the object or event are sensed and recorded.
These stored physical parameters are then communicated to a
database, which returns a data location corresponding to the
observed physical parameters. Thus, the present invention allows a
user to "click" on objects or events in the real world in order to
find data locations related to the objects or events in the on-line
world.
Inventors: |
Tarbouriech, Philippe; (San
Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Intellectual Property Counsel
Microvison, Inc.
19910 North Creek Parkway
PO Box 3008
Bothell
WA
98011
US
|
Assignee: |
Microvision, Inc.
Bothell
WA
|
Family ID: |
23170226 |
Appl. No.: |
10/654292 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10654292 |
Aug 29, 2003 |
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09303021 |
Apr 30, 1999 |
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6674993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
713/185 ;
707/E17.11; 707/E17.112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/9537 20190101;
G06F 16/955 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
713/185 |
International
Class: |
H04K 001/00 |
Claims
1. A method for identifying an explicit data location on a computer
network corresponding to a physical observation, wherein said
physical observation includes at least one physical parameter,
wherein said physical parameter(s) does not directly identify an
explicit data location, said method comprising the steps of (a)
associating a data location with a physical observation to allow
selection of said data location based on said physical observation;
and (b) selecting said data location based on said physical
observation.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the associating step (a) further
includes the steps of (a1) accessing a database including a
designation of a physical observation and an indication of the data
location; and (a2) using the designation of the physical
observation and the indication of the data location to associate
the data location with the physical observation to allow selection
of the data location based on the physical observation.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data location includes an
Internet domain address.
4. An apparatus for identifying an explicit data location on a
computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said
physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data
location, said apparatus comprising (a) data storage means for
storing data locations and physical parameters corresponding to
said data locations; and (b) means for selecting a data location
based on said corresponding physical parameters.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for receiving
physical parameters.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for
transmitting data location to a client computer.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for
transmitting data locations to a client computer.
8. An apparatus for identifying an explicit data location n a
computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said
physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data
location, said apparatus comprising a database having a list of
data locations, said database storing associated physical
parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations; a
processor coupled to said database, said processor also being
coupled to receive a data location request containing physical
parameters, said processor accessing said database according to
said physical parameters in said data location request to retrieve
the data location corresponding to said physical parameters.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said processor is coupled to
transmit a data location in response to said data location
request.
10. A method of identifying an explicit data location based upon
observed physical parameters corresponding to a broadcast, wherein
said physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data
location, said method comprising the steps of (a) associating a
data location with a first physical parameter and a second physical
parameter to allow selection of said data location based upon said
first and second physical parameters; said first physical parameter
being broadcast frequency and said second physical parameter being
time, and (b) selecting said data location based upon said first
and second physical parameters.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the associating step (a) further
includes the steps of (a1) accessing a database including a
designation of first and second physical parameters and an
indication of said data location; (a2) using the designation of
said first and second physical parameters and said indication of
the data location to associate the data location with said first
and second physical parameters to allow selection of said data
location based upon said first and second physical parameters.
12. An apparatus for identifying an explicit data location on a
computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said
physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data
location, said apparatus comprising a database having a list of
data locations, said database storing associated first and second
physical parameters for corresponding ones of said data locations;
a processor coupled to said database, said processor also being
coupled to receive a data location request containing said first
and second physical parameters, said processor accessing said
database according to said first and second physical parameters in
said data location request to retrieve the data location
corresponding to said first and second physical parameters; wherein
said first physical parameter is broadcast frequency and said
second physical parameter is time.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said database further stores
associated third physical parameters for corresponding ones of said
data locations; wherein said third physical parameters is
geographic location, and wherein said processor accesses said
database according to said first and second physical parameters in
said data location request to retrieve the data location
corresponding to said first, second and third physical
parameters.
14. A method for identifying an explicit data location on a
computer network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said
physical parameters do not directly identify an explicit data
location, said method comprising the steps of: (a) observing a
physical event or object by sensing at least one physical
parameter; (b) transmitting said physical parameter(s) to a
database, said database having a list of data locations, said
database storing associated physical parameters for corresponding
ones of said data locations.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said observing step (a) further
includes storing said at least one physical parameter.
16. The method according to claim 14 wherein said observing step
(a) comprises the steps of (a1) observing the broadcast frequency
to which a radio receiver is tuned; (a2) observing the time at
which said broadcast frequency was observed.
17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said transmitting stop
(b) comprises (b1) transmitting said observed broadcast frequency
and said observed time according to steps (a1) and (a2), wherein
said associated physical parameters of said database include
broadcast frequency and time for corresponding ones of said data
locations.
18-34. (canceled)
35 A system for identifying an explicit data location a computer
network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical
parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said
system comprising A physical parameter data sensing unit comprising
means for sensing a physical parameter, and means for communicating
a data location request including said physical parameter; and a
data location identifier operatively coupled to said data sensing
unit comprising a database having a list of data locations, said
database storing associated physical parameters for corresponding
ones of said data locations; a processor coupled to said database,
said processor also being coupled to receive a data location
request containing physical parameters, said processor accessing
said database according to said physical parameters in said data
location request to retrieve the data location corresponding to
said physical parameters.
36 The system of claim 35 wherein said physical parameter data
sensing unit further comprises means for storing said physical data
parameter.
37 A system for identifying an explicit data location on a computer
network corresponding to physical parameters, wherein said physical
parameters do not directly identify an explicit data location, said
system for use on an interactive network, comprising a physical
parameter data sensing unit comprising means for sensing a physical
parameter, and means for communicating physical parameters to a
remotely located terminal, a remotely located terminal operatively
connected to said data sensing unit, said remotely located terminal
including means for communicating a data location request including
said physical parameter; and a centrally located data location
request processing unit, a database provided at said data location
request processing unit, said database having a list of data
locations, said database storing associated physical parameters for
corresponding ones of said locations; a processor coupled to said
database, said processor also being coupled to receive a data
location request containing physical parameters, said processor
accessing said database according to said physical parameters in
said data location request to retrieve the data location
corresponding to said physical parameters, and a communication
network which interfaces said remotely located terminal with said
centrally located data location request processing unit, said
communication network transferring said data location request from
said remote terminal to said centrally located processing unit.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and system for
sensing physical parameters corresponding to an object or event in
the physical world and, based on the observed physical parameters,
retrieving a data location on a computer network pointing to
information associated with the physical world object or event.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The increasing use of wide area networks such as the
Internet has resulted in an explosion in the provision of on-line
services. Computer users can access a vast wealth of information
and services by utilizing a wide area network to establish a
connection with other computers connected to the network.
[0003] The Internet is a global network of millions of computers
belonging to various commercial and non-profit entities such as
corporations, universities, and research organizations. The
computer networks of the Internet are connected by gateways that
handle data transfer and conversion of messages from a sending
network to the protocols used by a receiving network. The
Internet's collection of networks and gateways use the TCP/IP
protocol. TCP/IP is an acronym for Transport Control
Protocol/Interface Program, a software protocol developed by the
Department of Defense.
[0004] Typically, the computers connected to a wide area network
such as the Internet are identified as either servers or clients. A
server is a computer that stores files that are available to other
computers connected to the network. A client is a computer
connected to the network that accesses the files and other
resources provided by a server. To obtain information from a
server, a client computer makes a request for a file or information
located on the server using a specified protocol. Upon receipt of a
properly formatted request, the server downloads the file to the
client computer.
[0005] The World Wide Web is a system of Internet servers using
specified Internet protocols and supporting specially formatted
documents. The HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the underlying
protocol used by the World Wide Web. HTTP defines how messages are
formatted and transmitted, and what actions Web servers and
browsers should take in response to various commands. The other
main standard of the World Wide Web is Hyper-Text Markup Language
(HTML), which covers how documents and files are formatted and
displayed. HTML supports links to other documents, as well as
graphics, audio, and video files.
[0006] Users access the content contained on the Internet and the
World Wide Web with an Internet Browser, which is a software
application used to locate and display web pages. Files on a web
server are identified by a uniform resource locator. A Uniform
Resource Locator ("URL") is the global address of files and other
resources on the Internet. The address indicates the protocol being
used and specifies the IP address or the domain name where the file
or resource is located. Typically, a URL identifies the name of the
server and the path to a desired file on the server. For example, a
URL for a web server may be constructed as follows:
"http://<server>/<filepath>", where <server>
identifies the server on which the file is located and
<filepath> identifies the path to the file on the server.
Thus, with the name of the server and the correct path to a file, a
properly formatted URL accesses a desired file on a server
connected to the World Wide Web.
[0007] As one can imagine, there are myriad documents and files
accessible over the Internet. However, as discussed above,
retrieving desired information on the Internet requires knowledge
of an associated URL. Accordingly, if, for example, a consumer
wishes to obtain information about or order a particular company's
product on the World Wide Web, she must know the URL (data
location) corresponding to that company's web site.
[0008] Conversely, if a corporation desires the public to visit its
web site containing information about its products, it will
typically advertise its web site and corresponding URL in
television, radio, print or other media. A consumer may then enter
this URL, assuming he remembers it, into a browser and access the
web site.
[0009] When a specific URL or data location is not known, search
engines are a way of locating desired information. Typically, a
user enters key words or search terms into a search engine, which
returns a list of URLs corresponding to web sites or USENET groups
where the key words or search terms were found. Often a search
engine will return a large list of web sites, through which the
user must wade in order to locate the few web sites relevant to his
query.
[0010] Due in part to the proliferation of commercial web sites,
consumers have become accustomed to the notion that there is a
corresponding web site for the vast majority of products and
services being commercially offered. Yet, as described above,
access to a particular web site on the Internet, requires knowledge
of the actual URL or access to a search engine. This becomes
problematic, however, when there is no immediate access to a
computer connected to the Internet. For example, when a radio
listener hears a song on the radio and desires more information
about it, he must remember the song title and the artist.
[0011] Later, the listener can enter the song title or the artist
as search terms in a typical search engine. Beyond this method,
there are no alternative ways of identifying data locations or URLs
based upon an observation of a particular product or event. In
light of the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for
alternative methods of identifying URLs or other data locations on
a computer network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention provides a method and system for
identifying data locations or uniform resource locators associated
with physical observations in the real world. The method and system
includes selecting certain physical parameters based upon an
observation of real world objects and events and associating such
physical parameters with data locations on the Internet or other
computer network. When the real world object is observed or a real
world event occurs, physical parameters relating to the object or
event are sensed and recorded. These stored physical parameters are
then communicated to a database, which returns a data location
corresponding to the observed physical parameters.
[0013] Thus, the present invention allows a user to use an
appropriate sensing device to merely mark or key in on objects or
events in the real world in order to find data locations related to
the objects or events in the on-line world.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the system of the invention,
one observed physical parameter is the channel or carrier frequency
of a broadcast. The system includes a means for sensing the channel
or carrier frequency of the broadcast. As set forth in more detail
below, the means for identifying may be a remote device or
"clicker" that uses a chirp signal to identify the channel or
carrier frequency of the broadcast. The sensing unit may also be a
hand-held, laptop, desktop, or other computer programmed to contain
a list of available broadcasts that can be selected by the user.
The system further includes a computer database having stored
associations between these physical parameters (here, the channel
or frequency of the broadcast) and one or more data locations,
uniform resource locators, or Internet addresses. Thus, when the
sensing means identifies and provides the channel of a broadcast,
the computer database selects the corresponding uniform resource
locator, Internet address or other data location. The system thus
enables the identification and selection of an Internet address
containing information corresponding to the broadcast, even though
neither the broadcast nor the user provides an explicit Internet
address.
[0015] In other preferred embodiments, the sensing means also
includes a clock or other means for identifying the time, so that
the physical observation may include a set of physical parameters
including not only the channel of the broadcast, but also the time
of the broadcast. Furthermore, the sensing means may include
computer memory or other storage means for storing the channel and
time so that these physical parameters may be provided to the
computer database at a later time. Alternatively, the memory may
store the Internet address provided by the database.
[0016] One aspect of the present invention includes a "clicker" or
sensing unit for sensing physical parameters associated with the
operation of a radio receiver. In one embodiment, the physical
parameters include the frequency to which the radio receiver is
tuned. The clicker includes a transducer for transmitting a chirp
signal to the radio receiver during a chirp transmission time. A
chirp signal is an audio signal modulated at a range of carrier
frequencies during a chirp transmission time in a predetermined
manner. The carrier frequency of the chirp signal varies over a
range that includes the possible channels to which the receiver may
be tuned. For example, in the FM radio frequency band, the chirp
signal may vary from about 88 to 108 megahertz. The clicker also
includes a receiver for receiving the audio output of the radio
receiver. When the frequency of the chirp signal enters the range
of the broadcast channel to which the radio receiver is tuned, the
radio receiver receives and processes the chirp signal, thereby
producing a corresponding output. The chirp receiver detects the
audio output of the radio receiver. The clicker also includes a
detector coupled to the chirp receiver for generating a detector
signal when the detector detects the audio output corresponding to
the chirp signal. Accordingly, the frequency of the chirp signal at
which the detector signal is generated identifies the channel or
frequency to which the radio receiver is tuned.
[0017] According to the present invention, a listener to a radio
broadcast on a radio receiver may use the clicker to identify the
channel of the broadcast by pressing a button on the clicker to
initiate a chirp signal. The clicker then operates as discussed
above to identify the frequency to which the radio receiver is
tuned.
[0018] In yet other embodiments, the clicker includes the ability
to identify and record other concurrent physical parameters, such
as the time when the clicker or chirp signal is activated. For
example, the clicker may include a real-time clock that provides a
clock signal corresponding to the time the listener presses the
clicker to initiate the chirp signal. Preferred embodiments of the
clicker also include memory to store the channel or frequency of
the broadcast and the time the listener activated the chirp signal,
as well as means for transmitting the channel and time to the
database of the present invention.
[0019] Other embodiments of the clicker for use in connection with
a radio receiver include a "passive" sensing mechanism. The clicker
of this embodiment includes a transducer for receiving the output
of a radio receiver. The clicker also includes a first receiver for
receiving modulated radio signals and a circuit for demodulating
the radio signal into a demodulated signal with respect to a range
of frequencies. The clicker further includes a detector for
detecting a correlation between the audio output of the radio as
provided by the transducer and the second demodulated signal
processed by the demodulating circuit.
[0020] The database corresponding to the clicker described above
may include Internet addresses or other data locations specific to
a particular channel or frequency and a range of times. For
example, the listener may become interested in the subject matter
of a particular radio advertisement broadcast on a radio channel.
According to the invention, the listener activates the clicker,
which identifies and stores in memory the frequency to which the
radio receiver is tuned and the time the clicker was activated.
This information is transmitted to the database, as more fully
described below, to identify the Internet address associated with
the observed broadcast frequency and time and, hence, the radio
advertisement. Thus, an Internet address associated with the time
and channel of the broadcast may be determined even though access
to the Internet is not available at the time of the broadcast and
even though no Internet address is given. Moreover, the device
described above allows the listener to essentially perform a search
of the Internet without articulating a query and entering it into a
search engine.
[0021] One skilled in the art will readily recognize that other
embodiments of the invention for use in other contexts are
possible. For example, the physical observation may include
physical parameters such as geographical location, sound, voice,
image, bar code or other event. Furthermore, the identifying means
may include a telephone, television remote control unit or task bar
application on a computer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a flow chart diagram illustrating several
embodiments of the present invention for use in the radio broadcast
context.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a first preferred
sensing unit for identifying the frequency to which a radio
receiver is tuned.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a second preferred
sensing unit for identifying the frequency to which a radio
receiver is tuned.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a hand-held computer which
has been configured according to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram illustrating the general
process steps performed by a first preferred server of the present
invention as applied to the radio broadcasting context.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of the system of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates a third preferred sensing unit for
identifying the frequency to which a radio receiver is tuned.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] As discussed above, the present invention provides methods
and apparatuses for identifying a data location based upon physical
observations in the real world. The method and system generally
include identifying one or more physical parameters corresponding
to physical observations of real world objects or events and
associating such physical parameters with data locations. Another
aspect of the present invention identifies data locations based
upon physical observations. The method of this aspect of the
present invention generally comprises sensing physical parameters
associated with physical objects or events and transmitting the
observed physical parameters to a database, which includes
associations between these physical parameters and one or more data
locations.
[0030] The present invention is applicable to the radio broadcast
context. According to the invention, a radio listener is provided
with a frequency sensing unit, which the listener activates when
he/she hears a song or advertisement that is of interest. The
sensing unit observes the frequency to which the radio is tuned. In
preferred form, the sensing unit also observes the time the
listener activated the sensing unit. The sensing unit is then
operably connected to a database server of the present invention
such that it transmits the observed physical parameters for
identification of a data location or URL.
[0031] The database according to this embodiment of the present
invention includes a list of data locations or URLs which relate to
certain radio broadcasts. These data locations or URLs, for
example, may point to the web site of a recording artist or a
record label. The data location may also point to the web site of a
corporation that advertises over a particular radio station.
Associated with each of these data locations are the physical
parameters of broadcast frequency and time. More specifically, the
database of the present invention is arranged such that certain
physical parameters or ranges of physical parameters correspond to
each data location. For example, a particular data location
pointing to a recording artist will have associated with it the
frequency of the radio broadcast and the time(s) during which one
or more of his songs was played. Therefore, when a listener hears
that recording artist or song on the radio and desires more
information relating to it, he simply activates the sensing unit.
The sensing unit senses and stores the frequency of the broadcast
and time of activation. This information is transmitted to the
database of the present invention, which identifies a data location
and transmits the data location to the listener. In this manner,
the listener has gathered physical parameters from the real world
off-line and subsequently used the physical parameters to search
for information corresponding to these physical parameters on the
Internet. Furthermore, unlike prior art search engines, the
listener has performed a search without ever articulating any
search terms. Additionally, the search terms used by the listener
comprised physical parameters (time and frequency, in this
circumstance) corresponding to the occurrence of a song in the real
world. Such search terms would be meaningless to prior art
searching techniques and systems.
[0032] In one preferred embodiment, the database is arranged into a
series of records each having four fields. The four fields include
1) the radio station or broadcast frequency, 2) the name of the
song or advertisement, 3) the start time of the song or
advertisement, and 4) the artist or entity associated with the song
or advertisement and a data location. Other preferred databases
include a fifth field designating the type of item stored in the
record, i.e., whether the record represented a song or an
advertisement. In a preferred form, the records of the database are
arranged such that the record with the latest start time value with
respect to each broadcast frequency is scanned first. Therefore, as
illustrated in FIG. 5, when the server is presented with a
broadcast frequency/radio station and a time, it scans the database
for the most recent record whose frequency/radio station matches
the query and whose start time is anterior to the time presented by
the query. If the server finds a record matching the user's query,
it returns at least one data location or URL associated with these
physical parameters.
[0033] Delivery of the data locations can be accomplished in a
variety of ways. The data locations can be delivered via e-mail,
fax, or even regular mail. The data location may also be delivered
as part of an HTML document and accessed by the user's Internet
browser. The data location may also be delivered as an Internet
browser bookmark. The data location may further be stored in a
user-specific account file on a server connected to the Internet. A
user may access the account using an Internet browser and click on
the data location to access the corresponding web site.
[0034] The sensing unit for use in the radio broadcasting example
described above may comprise any suitable unit for recording a
frequency and an activation time. FIG. 1 illustrates some of the
methods and systems for capturing physical parameters associated
with radio broadcasts and identifying associated data locations. As
more fully described below, the sensing unit could observe the
frequency to which the listener's radio is tuned. In other
embodiments, the sensing unit is a hand-held computer programmed to
display a listener's favorite radio stations. When the listener
hears something that is of interest, he simply taps the screen on
the icon representing the radio station to which he is listening.
The sensing unit is also incorporated into a general purpose
computer as a task bar application. The present invention also
contemplates the use of a telephone as a sensing unit.
[0035] In some preferred embodiments, the sensing unit itself
captures the frequency of the broadcast. More specifically and in
one preferred embodiment, the sensing unit, when activated, emits a
chirp signal over a range of frequencies and monitors the output of
the radio receiver to detect the frequency to which the radio
receiver is tuned. As shown in FIG. 2, a first preferred sensing
unit 10 generally comprises microcontroller 12, frequency
synthesizer 14, real-time clock 16, activation button 18, and
microphone 20. Sensing unit 10 further includes a suitable power
unit, such as a battery (not shown).
[0036] Microcontroller 12 includes frequency bus 22 and signal bus
24, both of which connect to frequency synthesizer 14.
Microcontroller 12 sends a carrier frequency over frequency bus 22
and a chirp signal over signal bus 24 to frequency synthesizer 14.
As is conventional in the art, frequency synthesizer 14 emits a
chirp signal over the carrier frequency specified by
microcontroller 12. Frequency synthesizer 14 can be any tunable
modulator known in the art. In the first preferred embodiment,
sensing unit 10 works in conjunction with a conventional FM radio
receiver. Accordingly, frequency synthesizer 14 is a tunable
frequency modulator.
[0037] As alluded to above, sensing unit 10 emits a chirp signal
over a range of frequencies to detect the frequency to which the
listener's radio is tuned. In a preferred form, the listener
activates sensing unit 10 by depressing button 18. Microcontroller
12 starts at the lowest carrier frequency in the FM radio band
(about 88 megahertz) and directs frequency synthesizer 14 to emit a
chirp signal. Microcontroller 12 is then programmed to wait for a
pre-determined amount of time. If the listener's radio 30 is tuned
to this frequency, its audio output will correspond to the chirp
signal. Microphone 20 senses the audio output of radio 30 thereby
allowing microcontroller 12 to detect a correspondence between the
audio output of radio 30 and the chirp signal. If, after the
pre-determined amount of time, microcontroller 12 detects no
correlation, microcontroller steps the carrier frequency up to the
next possible carrier frequency according to the frequency spacing
of the particular radio band and directs frequency synthesizer 14
to emit another chirp signal. This process is repeated until
microcontroller 12 detects the chirp signal in the audio output of
radio 30. When a correlation is detected, microcontroller 12 stores
the corresponding carrier frequency and time from real-time clock
16 in memory.
[0038] The chirp signal may comprise any suitable signal. In the
radio context, the frequency of the chirp signal is limited by the
bandwidth of each channel. In preferred form, the chirp signal is a
tone having a primary frequency between about 400 to 3000 Hz. The
tone is preferably pleasing to the ear as it is within the audible
range. The duration of the chirp signal, in one preferred
embodiment, is about 10 milliseconds. In addition, microcontroller
12 is programmed with a delay of a 10 millisecond delay to allow
for recognition of the chirp signal in the audio output of the
radio. Of course, the chirp signal duration and delay between chirp
signals provided above are merely examples and are only limited by
the constraints of the hardware and software being used, and the
propagation time required for the audio output of radio 30 to reach
microphone 20. In the case of sensing a frequency in the FM band,
the strength or power of the chirp signal emitted from sensing unit
10 must be sufficient to "overpower" the radio signal of the
broadcast station to which the FM receiver is tuned.
[0039] In addition, microcontroller 12 can be programmed to reduce
the time during which it seeks for the desired frequency. In one
embodiment, microcontroller 12 is programmed to store the carrier
frequency of the listener's favorite radio stations and to start
with these frequencies before stepping through the entire frequency
band. In other embodiments, sensing unit takes advantage of the
side bands in the power spectra of the chirp signal. In this
embodiment, microcontroller 12 begins with the next-to-lowest
frequency in the radio band and steps through every two possible
carrier frequencies. Of course, the power spectra of the chirp
signal must have sufficient power in the sidebands to overpower the
radio broadcast signal. If microcontroller detects a correspondence
between the audio output of radio 30 and the chirp signal, it steps
the carrier frequency down or up to seek a stronger radio output
signal.
[0040] Sensing unit 10 also includes a means for transmitting
stored physical parameters to a user's computer or directly to the
server of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates the system of
the present invention where stored physical parameters are
transmitted to a client computer connected to the Internet. The
client computer accesses the server of the present invention and
transmits a data location request. In the first preferred
embodiment, sensing unit 10 includes speaker 26 for transmitting
the stored physical parameters to the listener's computer.
Microcontroller 12 is programmed to distinguish between a short
depression of button 18 and a long depression. A short depression
of button 18 causes activation of sensing unit 10 to detect and
store a frequency and activation time as described above. A long
depression of button 18 causes transmission of stored physical
parameters through speaker 26. The microphone input of the
listener's computer receives the audio output of microphone 26. The
listener's computer is programmed to store the data and to access
the database of the present invention to identify a data location
or URL that corresponds to the observed physical parameters. Of
course, any suitable data transmission means could be used,
including but not limited to infrared devices and hard-wired
connections.
[0041] The listener's computer can be any conventional personal
computer known in the art. In one preferred embodiment, the
listener's computer is connected to the Internet via a dial-up
connection or through a network line. Such communication could also
be wireless. The listener's computer is further programmed, as
discussed above, to receive at a standard microphone input the
audio signal emitted by the sensing unit 10 and to transmit these
observed physical parameters to the database of the present
invention. In other preferred embodiments, the database of the
present invention is not connected to the Internet. In this
instance, the listener's computer includes appropriate
communications software and a modem to access the database. In
either of these embodiments, the listener's computer may also be
configured to transmit a user identification number and password
before access to the database is permitted.
[0042] Sensing unit 10 can also communicate directly to the
database of the present invention. In this embodiment, the listener
directly dials the server and, when prompted, depresses button 18
to transmit the stored physical parameters to the server through
speaker 26 to the microphone in the telephone handset. In this
embodiment, sensing unit 10 could also be configured to transmit a
user identification number and password along with the stored
physical parameters. Upon verification of the user's identification
and password, the server uses the stored physical parameters to
search the database for associated data locations or URLs. The
server can then send any identified data locations to the user's
e-mail account or back to the sensing unit.
[0043] Sensing unit 10 can be incorporated into a variety of
devices. For example, sensing unit 10 comprises a stand-alone unit
and is small enough to be used as a key chain similar to keyless
remote systems for automobiles. Sensing unit 10 can also be
incorporated as an additional feature of a common hand-held or
other portable computer.
[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a second preferred frequency sensing unit
of the present invention. The second preferred sensing unit, rather
than emitting a chirp signal, demodulates radio signals with
respect to a range of frequencies and compares the demodulated
signal to the observed audio output of the radio receiver. As FIG.
3 shows, sensing unit 110 generally comprises microcontroller 112,
receiver 114, real-time clock 116, activation button 118, and
microphone 120.
[0045] As described above, when the listener desires more
information relating to a particular broadcast, she presses
activation button 118 to energize sensing unit 110. Microcontroller
112 through data bus 122 tunes receiver 114 to the lowest carrier
frequency in the FM band. Receiver 114 delivers the demodulated
signal to microcontroller 112. Microcontroller detects the
correlation, if any, between the audio output of radio 130 as
captured by microphone 120 and the demodulated signal delivered by
receiver 114. If no correlation is detected, microcontroller 112
tunes receiver 114 to the next available carrier frequency and
compares the demodulated signal to the audio output of radio 130.
This process is repeated until microcontroller 112 detects the
requisite correlation. When the correlation is detected,
microcontroller 112 stores the frequency at which the correlation
was detected and the time, as provided by real-time clock 116, such
correlation was detected. This information is then communicated to
the listener's computer through speaker 126 as discussed above.
[0046] FIG. 7 shows a third preferred embodiment of the sensing
unit of the present invention. The third preferred embodiment
transmits a chirp signal to the listener's radio receiver as in the
first preferred embodiment, but includes different frequency
modulation means. The third preferred embodiment generally
comprises microcontroller 312, real-time clock 314, low-pass filter
316, multiplier 318, amplifier 320 and oscillator 322. Real-time
clock 314 keeps accurate track of time based on the oscillation of
a 32.567 KHz quartz, as is conventional in the art.
[0047] Oscillator 322 of the third preferred embodiment is an
outside resistor-capacitor circuit, that generates a clock signal
for microcontroller 312, as is standard in the art. However, unlike
prior art devices, the reference voltage for oscillator 322 is the
output of low-pass filter 316, which filters a pulse-width
modulated signal from microcontroller 312 to extract the average
voltage of the signal over its period. Accordingly, a signal having
a larger duty cycle yields a higher output voltage from low-pass
filter 316. Therefore, as one skilled in the art will recognize,
the frequency of the clock signal provided to microcontroller 312
depends upon the duty cycle of the signal from microcontroller
312.
[0048] The signal output from oscillator 322 is also provided to
multiplier 318, which multiplies the frequency of the signal to
achieve the desired result. In the third preferred embodiment,
oscillator 322 is configured to run at a predetermined range of
frequencies including 4 megahertz. Therefore, if the oscillator
output frequency is 4 megahertz, for example, 25-times frequency
multiplication achieves a signal having a frequency of about 100
megahertz, which lies within the FM radio band. Of course,
different frequencies are achieved by varying the output frequency
of oscillator 322. As one skilled in the art will recognize, other
clock speed and frequency multiplication parameters can be applied.
In the third preferred embodiment, this multiplication occurs in
two stages of 5-times multiplication to reduce the constraints and
costs of the filters used for multiplication. Each multiplication
stage involves filtering for the fifth harmonic of the signal. In
the third preferred embodiment, a Schmitt trigger is used to
condition the signal output of oscillator 322 and achieve a signal
having a square waveform in order to maximize the power in the
harmonics of the signal. The fifth harmonic of the square wave
signal is filtered in a first multiplication stage. In the second
multiplication stage, a second filter isolates the fifth harmonic
of the waveform resulting from the first multiplication to achieve
the desired frequency multiplication.
[0049] Amplifier 320 amplifies this frequency-multiplied signal and
transmits it to the listener's radio. Thus, similar to that
described above, the duty cycle of the signal provided by
microcontroller 312 to low-pass filter 316 also controls the
frequency of the signal ultimately transmitted to the listener's
radio receiver. For each carrier frequency there exists a
corresponding pulse width or duty cycle. Accordingly, to transmit a
chirp signal (e.g. a 400 Hz tone) over a particular carrier
frequency, microcontroller 312 modulates the pulse-width or duty
cycle of the signal corresponding to a particular carrier frequency
according to the 400 Hz chirp signal.
[0050] Additionally, identifying the exact speed of microcontroller
312 requires certain calibration steps. This involves running a
program and timing it using real-time clock 314. Real-time clock
314 interrupts the program after a specified amount of time (1
second for example). The speed of the processor is derived by
counting how many instructions the processor executed in the
specified time. In one preferred embodiment, this count is
simplified by using a program whose sole function is to increment a
counter. This processor speed is then multiplied as appropriate to
yield the resulting carrier frequency. In the case of the third
preferred embodiment, the ratio of the frequency of oscillator 322
to the internal clock speed of microcontroller 312 is 1:4.
Therefore, the processor speed is divided by four and multiplied by
twenty-five to yield the resulting carrier frequency. The device is
calibrated by running the processor at a low speed (88
megahertz/25, for example) and a relatively high speed (108
megahertz/25) and then comparing the observed frequencies with the
intended frequencies.
[0051] Other than as set forth above, the third preferred
embodiment operates much like the first preferred embodiment.
Depression of button 334 activates microcontroller 312 which then
outputs a pulse-width modulated signal corresponding to the lowest
carrier frequency in the FM radio band. Microcontroller 312
monitors the output of the listener's radio through microphone 332.
If the chirp signal is detected, the carrier frequency of the chirp
signal is measured by timing the processor execution speed as
described above. The corresponding frequency and time of activation
are then stored in memory. These stored physical parameters are
transmitted to the listener's computer through speaker 330, as with
the first preferred embodiment. If the chirp signal is not
detected, microcontroller 312 increases the pulse-width of the
signal provided to low-pass filter 316 such that the signal
corresponds to the next possible carrier frequency. This process
described above is repeated until the chirp signal is detected in
the audio output of the listener's radio.
[0052] Other embodiments of the sensing unit depend on the listener
to specify the frequency of the broadcast. FIG. 4 illustrates one
such embodiment in the form of a common hand-held computer 210
having a touch-activated screen 212. According to the invention,
hand-held computer is programmed to display buttons 214 on screen
212. Buttons 214 correspond to the particular listener's preferred
radio stations. When the listener desires more information about a
particular broadcast, she simply touches the pre-programmed buttons
214 corresponding to the radio station to which the radio receiver
is tuned. Hand-held computer 210 is programmed to store the radio
station selected and the time it was selected. The listener
synchronizes hand-held computer 210 with a standard notebook or
desktop computer by any suitable means or uses hand-held computer
210 to communicate directly with the server of the present
invention.
[0053] Yet another embodiment of the sensing unit of the present
invention includes a software application activated by a button on
the task bar of a typical graphical user interface on the
listener's computer. This embodiment has especial application in
the context of Internet audio and video streams, where the listener
is typically at or near her computer. In a preferred embodiment,
when the listener clicks on the button on the task bar, the task
bar application presents the listener with a list of stations in a
pop-up menu. The application stores the selected broadcast station
and the time for subsequent transmission to the database.
[0054] Lastly, the listener may use the telephone to communicate
observed physical parameters directly to the server of the. present
invention. In this embodiment, the listener notes the frequency of
the broadcast and telephones the server. The server prompts the
listener for the frequency and the time of the observation. The
server may use the time of the phone call as a default time value,
unless otherwise specified by the listener. Additionally, the
server may prompt the listener for the location of the observation
or trace the location of the call through conventional means, if
possible.
[0055] As discussed above, the database for use with physical
parameters identifying radio broadcasts associates the physical
parameters of frequency and time with data locations or URLs. In
addition, a database that includes information relating to more
than one geographic area may also include the broadcast area as an
additional physical parameter. The broadcast area parameter could
be provided by the listener after transmission of the observed
physical parameters. Similarly, the broadcast area could be a
default value based upon the listener's profile or membership
information. In addition, the sensing unit may include a global
positioning (GPS) unit providing the listener's geographic location
when the user activates the sensing unit.
[0056] To construct the database for a particular geographic area,
the play lists of participating or desired radio stations must be
obtained. A typical play list includes the song title, artist, and
a starting time. A play list may also include information relating
to the broadcast or advertising. The play list data is used to
associate data locations with the physical parameters of time and
frequency. For example, a hypothetical musical group named
"RockBand" may have a web site denoted by the URL,
http://www.rockband.com/.
[0057] A playlist from a particular radio station, broadcasting
over the 102.1 megahertz carrier frequency, reveals that RockBand's
latest song will play on May 30, 1999 at 13:05:32 (hh:mm:ss).
According to the invention, the data location
"http://www.rockband.com/" will be associated with the frequency of
102.1 megahertz and the time of May 30, 1999 at 13:05:32. In one
preferred embodiment, a record will be created that includes the
frequency of the broadcast, the start time of the song, the name of
the song and artist, and the associated data location or URL. As
discussed above, this record may also include the geographic area
of the broadcast station.
[0058] According to the invention, a server receives queries from a
client computer over a computer network or a direct dial-up
connection and scans the database of the present invention for data
locations corresponding to received physical parameters. The server
of the present invention may be implemented in hardware or
software, or preferably a combination of both. In preferred form,
the server is implemented in computer programs executing on
programmable computers each comprising at least one processor, a
data storage system (including volatile and non-volatile media), at
least one input device, and at least one output device. In
addition, the server of the present invention may also store the
results of each query to develop user profiles and other
statistical data for subsequent use.
[0059] Additionally, other physical parameters may be employed in
the radio broadcasting context according to the present invention.
In one preferred embodiment, the physical parameter includes an
audio signature or "watermark" embedded in the digital recording
data. The sensing unit of this embodiment is programmed to sense
the watermark particular to a song or advertisement. The sensing
unit stores the watermark upon activation of the unit by the
listener. The watermark comprises a unique identification number.
According to this embodiment, the server includes records having
the unique identification number and at least one corresponding
data location or URL. Accordingly, a query that contains an
identification number will return an associated data location.
[0060] Television Broadcasting
[0061] Another application of the present invention lies in
television broadcasting.
[0062] According to the invention, the server is configured
similarly to that discussed above in the radio broadcasting
context. Each data location has corresponding physical parameters
of time and channel frequency. Additional physical parameters may
also include broadcast location.
[0063] The sensing unit for use with television broadcasting may be
incorporated into the remote control unit of the user's television.
In one embodiment, the sensing unit stores the currently viewed
television channel in a buffer and includes a real-time clock. When
the user presses a button on the remote control that activates the
sensing unit, the television channel and the signal from the clock
are stored in memory. In one embodiment, these stored physical
parameters may be transmitted from the remote unit to a computer
equipped with an infrared device.
[0064] Concert Poster and Other Bar Codes
[0065] Another embodiment of the present invention includes the use
of bar codes or other graphical patterns to convey information.
Accordingly, the observed bar codes or other graphical patterns are
the physical parameters observed by a sensing unit and communicated
to the server of the present invention. The sensing unit of one
preferred embodiment includes a standard bar code reader and a
means for storing the data captured by the bar code reader.
[0066] By way of example, a concert promoter typically advertises a
particular concert by, among other things, displaying posters in a
particular area. According to the invention, a bar code or other
graphical representation is provided on the poster. If the reader
of the poster desires to find a web site with ticket ordering or
other information about the concert, he swipes the bar code reader
of the sensing unit over the bar code provided on the poster. In
one preferred embodiment, the bar code, when read, provides a
unique identification number, which the sensing unit stores in
memory. When the user has access to a computer, the identification
number is transmitted to the server of the present invention, which
returns the associated data location or URL.
[0067] As one can imagine, bar codes may appear in myriad
locations. A vendor could include a bar code in several locations
at a trade show booth. Furthermore, many products already include
bar codes expressing UPC information. This UPC information could
similarly be associated with a data location pointing to the
product manufacturer's web site. In another embodiment, a retail
store can include bar codes on price tags or stickers. A customer
can walk through the retail store show room and scan the bar codes
on the price tags using the sensing unit discussed above. Later,
when the customer has returned to her home, she may transmit these
stored physical parameters to her home computer and access the
server of the present invention. The server returns the data
location corresponding to the retail store's web site and a list of
the items scanned by the customer. The customer uses this list to
order these products on the retail store's web site.
[0068] In yet another embodiment, the retail store price tag may
include UPC information and a vendor identification number. The
server of this embodiment returns the data location of the product
manufacturer's or distributor's web site to the customer based on
the product number. When the customer orders the product through
this web site, the vendor identification number is also
transmitted. This allows, for example, the retail store to receive
a commission on the sale.
[0069] Real World Images
[0070] In another embodiment, the physical parameters are actual
images captured in the physical world. One such image for example,
could be a car manufacturer's logo or emblem. The sensing unit of
this embodiment includes a digital camera that captures and stores
images in digital form. A user seeing a car that is of interest
simply points the digital camera at the emblem appearing on the
hood and captures the image. The server according to the invention
compares the image captured by the digital camera with digital
images stored in its database. If a matching image is located, the
server returns the associated data location, which in this instance
could be the car manufacturer's web site, a local dealer's web
site, or both.
[0071] Business Card Link
[0072] Other embodiments of the present invention contemplate the
exchange of physical parameters between sensing units. The sensing
units of one preferred embodiment store an identification number
that is unique to a particular individual or business entity and
have the capability of transmitting this identification number by
means of an infrared or sound transmitter. The sensing units of
this embodiment also include the ability to read and store the
identification number transmitted by other sensing units. For
example and in a preferred embodiment, each sensing unit includes
an activator button. To exchange identification numbers, the
sensing units are pointed at one another and the buttons depressed
causing an exchange of identification numbers. Thus, in this
instance, the observed physical parameters are infrared or sonic
signals expressing an identification number.
[0073] The server of the present invention stores an association
between these identification numbers and corresponding data
locations or URLs. In this manner, two people can exchange links to
each other's contact information. This information exchange is
dynamic in the sense that, rather than exchanging the information
itself, which may change over time, links to information or data
locations are exchanged. Therefore, while the link or data location
remains the same, the information corresponding to the data
location may be constantly refreshed.
[0074] Yet another embodiment features a retail store equipped with
a radio beacon that transmits infrared or sonic signals expressing
an identification number. When a customer is in the retail store,
the user may activate the sensing unit to sense the signal and
store the retail store's identification number. As above, the
customer later transmits the identification number to the server of
the present invention to retrieve a data location corresponding to
that retail store.
[0075] Sightseer/Tourist Example--GPS System
[0076] Geographic location may be the primary physical parameter in
a server designed to assist sightseers and tourists. The sensing
unit in this circumstance may comprise a hand-held or other
portable computer equipped with a GPS unit. The user activates the
sensing unit such that it records the geographic location provided
by the GPS unit. Of course, any suitable device for sensing
geographic location may be used, including but not limited to
radio-based systems, such as LORAN.RTM., or other satellite
receiver navigation systems. The user can also enter into the
hand-held computer such search terms as "restaurant," "dining," or
"museums" and even a geographic radius within which information is
desired. The hand-held computer can then transmit the observed
geographic location together with other user-specified information
to the server of the present invention by any conventional means.
The server then retrieves data locations or URLs corresponding to
the observed geographic location and the search terms entered by
the user. In a preferred embodiment, the hand-held computer may
include an Internet browser such that the user can access the
desired information immediately subsequent to receiving the data
locations from the server.
[0077] Movie Theater
[0078] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the observed physical parameter is an audio signature embedded in
the audio track of a movie preview. The sensing unit of the present
invention is configured to recognize the audio signature and store
it in memory upon activation by the user. Therefore, when the user
desires more information about the movie being previewed, he simply
activates the device during the movie preview to store the audio
signature. The server of the present invention in response to a
data location request containing such audio signature returns the
data location corresponding to that particular movie. The web site
itself offers, for example, advance ticket sales, a sound track of
the movie on CD play times, promotional items, theater locations,
and reviews.
SUMMARY
[0079] With respect to the above-provided description, one skilled
in the art will readily recognize that the present invention has
application in a variety of contexts. The foregoing description
illustrates the principles of the present invention and provides
examples of its implementation. Accordingly, the description is not
intended to limit the scope of the claims to the exact embodiments
shown and described.
* * * * *
References