U.S. patent application number 11/288962 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for method and apparatus for embedding routing information to remote web site in a header for a transmitted program.
This patent application is currently assigned to LV Partners, LP. Invention is credited to David Kent Mathews, Jeffry Jovan Philyaw.
Application Number | 20060265505 11/288962 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35405380 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060265505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Philyaw; Jeffry Jovan ; et
al. |
November 23, 2006 |
Method and apparatus for embedding routing information to remote
web site in a header for a transmitted program
Abstract
A redirect system is provided which is operable to redirect
information over a network (1610). This information is associated
with a compressed MP3 audio file which is initially transmitted
through the network from a source (1612) to a user PC (1600). The
user PC (1600) will then play the information and, upon playing the
information, embedded information within the audio file will be
detected by an application program (1604). This will cause a
browser (1602) to launch and route the embedded information to an
intermediate node (1620). This information will be matched with
information in a database (1624), which information provides
routing information to a producer location (1614). This is
transmitted back to the user PC (1600) which will then effect a
connection with the producer (1614) to either view in the simple
case a web page and, in the more complex case, actually transmit
information from the database (1624) through the user PC (1600) to
the producer (1614) to provide a customized communication in the
form of a customized web page.
Inventors: |
Philyaw; Jeffry Jovan;
(Dallas, TX) ; Mathews; David Kent; (Carrollton,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWISON & ARNOTT, L.L.P
P.O. BOX 741715
DALLAS
TX
75374-1715
US
|
Assignee: |
LV Partners, LP
Dallas
TX
|
Family ID: |
35405380 |
Appl. No.: |
11/288962 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09378222 |
Aug 19, 1999 |
6970914 |
|
|
11288962 |
Nov 29, 2005 |
|
|
|
09151530 |
Sep 11, 1998 |
6098106 |
|
|
09378222 |
Aug 19, 1999 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/227 ;
709/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 29/12594 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04L 61/30 20130101; H04L 67/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/227 ;
709/217 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A method for effecting a connection between a user node on a
first network and a destination node on the first network with an
information program provided via the first network from a content
provider at a content provider node on the first network, wherein
the user node and destination nodes as well as the content provider
node are all on a substantially common network, comprising the
steps of: receiving at the user node the information program
provided via the first network from the content provider node, the
information program having embedded therein a unique header code;
detecting the unique header code at the user node during the
presentation of the information program at the user node; in
response to detecting the output of the unique header code during
presentation of the information program at the user node,
assembling the unique header code into a message packet for
transmission to an intermediate node on the first network; and
causing the user node to be interconnected with the destination
node without user intervention over the first network as a result
of actions at the intermediate node such that the destination node
can transmit information to the user node.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of causing the
destination node to be connected to the user node comprises the
steps of: matching the information regarding the unique code
transmitted to the intermediate node from the user node with
routing information stored in a routing database at the
intermediate node, which routing information defines a location on
the first network of a plurality of destination nodes, the routing
information in the routing database, such that the routing database
provides a relationship between the unique header code in the
information program and the routing information to the destination
node; and if there is a match, then causing the destination node
and the user node to be connected together such that the
destination node can transfer information to the user node.
13. A method for effecting a connection between a user node on a
first network and a destination node on the first network with an
information program provided via the first network from a content
provider at a content provider node on the first network, wherein
the user node and destination nodes as well as the content provider
node are all on a substantially common network, comprising the
steps of: receiving at the user node the information program
provided via the first network from the content provider node, the
information program having embedded therein a unique header code;
detecting the unique header code at the user node during
presentation of the information program at the user node; in
response to detecting output of the unique header code during
presentation of the information program at the user node, without
user intervention assembling the unique header code into a message
packet and transmitting information regarding the unique header
code over the first network to an intermediate node on the first
network; matching the received information regarding the unique
header code with routing information stored in a database at the
intermediate node, which routing information defines the location
on the first network of a plurality of destination nodes, the
database having stored therein a correspondence between unique
header codes and select ones of the destination nodes; and if there
is a match between the received unique header code and a unique
header code stored in the database, causing the destination node
and the user node to be connected over the first network with the
corresponding routing information, such that the destination node
can transmit information to the user node.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the unique header code is an
audible code.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the unique header code
comprises a unique tone.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitted information
regarding the unique header code comprises substantially all of the
unique header code.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first network comprises a
global communication network.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of causing the
destination node and the user node to be connected if there is a
match comprises: transmitting back to the user node the routing
information determined to be stored in the database and
corresponding to the received unique header code as associated with
the information regarding the unique header code at the
intermediate node; the user node utilizing the received routing
information to effect a connection to the destination node from the
user node; and the destination node, in response to being connected
to the user node via the routing information, operable to transfer
information to the user node.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the user node further includes
user ID information that uniquely identifies the user node, and
wherein the database at the intermediate node includes a stored
profile which is associated therein with the user ID information of
the user node, and wherein the step of transmitting information
regarding the unique code over the first network to the
intermediate node also includes transmitting the user ID
information to the intermediate node and the step of matching the
information regarding the unique header code with the routing
information in the database further comprises matching the received
user ID information of the user node with stored profile
information associated with the received user ID information, and
wherein the step of transmitting back to the user node the routing
information further includes appending to the routing information
the stored profile information, wherein the stored profile
information is transmitted to the destination node via the user
node.
20. A system for effecting a connection between a user node on a
first network and a destination node on said first network with an
information program provided via said first network from a content
provider at a content provider node on the first network, wherein
the user node and destination nodes as well as the content provider
node are all on a substantially common network, comprising: a
unique header code embedded in said information program provided
via said first network from the content provider node, said
information program received at said user node and presented
thereat; a detector for detecting said unique header code at said
user node during presentation of said information program at said
user node when received; and wherein said detector detects the
output of said unique code during presentation of said information
program at said user node; a transmitter for assembling said unique
header code into a message packet for transmission to an
intermediate node on said first network; and a receiver for
receiving routing information from said intermediate node; a router
for causing said user node without user invention to be
interconnected with said destination node over said first network
such that said destination node can transmit information to said
user node.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein information regarding said
unique header code is transmitted over said first network to said
intermediate node on said first network, and said information
regarding said unique header code transmitted to said intermediate
node from said user node is matched with routing information stored
in a routing database at said intermediate node, which said routing
information defines a location on said first network having a
plurality of destination nodes, said routing information in said
routing database such that said routing database provides a
relationship between said unique header code in said information
program and said routing information to said destination node, and
if there is a match, then causing said destination node and said
user node to be connected together such that said destination node
can transfer information to said user node.
22. A system for effecting a connection between a user node on a
first network and a destination node on said first network with an
information program provided via said first network from a content
provider at the content provider node on the first network, wherein
the user node and destination nodes as well as the content provider
node are all on a substantially common network, comprising: a
unique header code embedded within said information program
provided via said first network from the content provider node,
said information program received at said user node and presented
thereat; a detector for detecting said unique header code at said
user node during presentation of said information program at said
user node when received such that the user is presented the unique
header code in association with the content of said information
program; a transmitter for transmitting to an intermediate node
disposed on said first network information regarding said unique
header code, said information regarding said unique header code
being assembled into a message packet and transmitted by said
transmitter without user intervention over said first network to
said intermediate node in response to said detector detecting
output of said unique header code during play of said information
program at said user node; routing information stored in a database
at said intermediate node, such that said routing information is
matched with said received information regarding said unique header
code, which said routing information defines a location on said
first network having a plurality of destination nodes, said
database having stored therein a correspondence between said unique
header codes and select ones of said destination nodes; and if
there is a match between said received unique header code and a
said unique header code stored in said database, said intermediate
node causing said destination node and said user node to be
connected over said first network with the corresponding said
routing information such that said destination node can transmit
information to said user node.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein said unique header code is an
audible code.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein said unique header code
comprises a unique tone.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein said transmitted information
regarding said unique header code comprises substantially all of
said unique header code.
26. The system of claim 22, wherein said first network comprises a
global communication network.
27. The system of claim 22, wherein if there is a match, said
routing information determined to be stored in said database and
corresponding to said received unique header code as associated
with said information regarding said unique header code at said
intermediate node is transmitted back to said user node, said user
node utilizing said received routing information to effect a
connection to said destination node from said user node, said
destination node in response to being connected to said user node
via said routing information is operable to transfer information to
said user node.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein said user node further includes
user ID information which uniquely identified said user node, and
wherein said database at said intermediate node includes a stored
profile which is associated therein with said user ID information
at said user node, and wherein said user ID information is
transmitted to said intermediate node, the received said user ID
information of said user node is matched with stored profile
information associated with said received user ID information, and
wherein said stored profile information is appended to such routing
information such that said stored profile information is
transmitted to said destination node via said user node.
29. The method of claim 11, wherein the unique code is an audible
code.
30. The system of claim 20, wherein said unique code is an audible
code.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/378,222 entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
EMBEDDING ROUTING INFORMATION TO A REMOTE WEB SITE IN AN
AUDIO/VIDEO TRACK" filed on Aug. 19, 1999, which is a
Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/151,530
entitled "METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COMPUTER WITH AN AUDIO SIGNAL"
filed on Sep. 11, 1998, and issued on Aug. 1, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No.
6,098,106, and is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/151,471 entitled "METHOD FOR INTERFACING SCANNED PRODUCT
INFORMATION WITH A SOURCE FOR THE PRODUCT OVER A GLOBAL NETWORK"
filed on Sep. 11, 1998; and is related to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/378,220 entitled, "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING
A COMPUTER FROM A REMOTE LOCATION" filed on Aug. 19, 1999.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is related to a method of computer control,
and particularly for automatically directing a web browser
application on the computer to retrieve and display information in
response to an analog signal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With the growing numbers of computer users connecting to the
"Internet," many companies are seeking the substantial commercial
opportunities presented by such a large user base. For example, one
technology which exists allows a television ("TV") signal to
trigger a computer response in which the consumer will be guided to
a personalized web page. The source of the triggering signal may be
a TV, video tape recorder, or radio. For example, if a viewer is
watching a TV program in which an advertiser offers viewer voting,
the advertiser may transmit a unique signal within the television
signal which controls a program known as a "browser" on the
viewer's computer to automatically display the advertiser's web
page. The viewer then simply makes a selection which is then
transmitted back to the advertiser.
[0004] In order to provide the viewer with the capability of
responding to a wide variety of companies using this technology, a
database of company information and Uniform Resource Locator
("URL") codes is necessarily maintained in the viewer's computer,
requiring continuous updates. URLs are short strings of data that
identify resources on the Internet: documents, images, downloadable
files, services, electronic mailboxes, and other resources. URLs
make resources available under a variety of naming schemes and
access methods such as HTTP, FTP, and Internet mail, addressable in
the same simple way. URLs reduce the tedium of "login to this
server, then issue this magic command . . . " down to a single
click. The Internet uses URLs to specify the location of files on
other servers. A URL includes the type of resource being accessed
(e.g., Web, gopher, FTP), the address of the server, and the
location of the file. The URL can point to any file on any
networked computer. Current technology requires the viewer to
perform periodic updates to obtain the most current URL database.
This aspect of the current technology is cumbersome since the
update process requires downloading information to the viewer's
computer. Moreover, the likelihood for error in performing the
update, and the necessity of redoing the update in the event of a
later computer crash, further complicates the process.
Additionally, current technologies are limited in the number of
companies which may be stored in the database. This is a
significant limitation since world-wide access presented by the
Internet and the increasing number of companies connecting to
perform on-line commerce necessitates a large database.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention disclosed and claimed herein comprises
a method and apparatus for effecting a connection between a user's
node on a network and a destination node on a network with an audio
program. The audio program is played at the user's node wherein the
audio program has embedded therein a unique code. The unique code
is detected at the user's node during the playing of the audio
program and, in response to the detection thereof, information
regarding the unique code is transmitted over the network to an
intermediate node on the network. At the intermediate node, this
received unique code is compared with a database of unique codes
having associated routing information therewith. The routing
information defines the location on the network of a plurality of
destination nodes. Since there is a correlation between each unique
code stored in the database and one or more of the destination
nodes, a match between the received unique code and a unique code
in the database defines corresponding routing information. This
routing information is then utilized to cause the destination node
and the user node to be connected over the network such that the
destination node can then transmit information to the user
node.
[0006] In other aspects of the present invention, the user node is
connected to the destination node by first transmitting back to the
user node the routing information determined to be stored in the
database and corresponding to the received unique code. The user
node then utilizes this received routing information to effect a
connection to the destination node from the user node. The
destination node, in response to being connected to the user node
via the routing information, is then operable to transfer
information to the user's node.
[0007] In a yet further aspect of the present invention, the user's
node includes the user ID information that uniquely identifies the
user node. The database at the intermediate node further includes a
stored profile which is associated therein with the user ID
information with the user ID information of the user node. When
information is transmitted to the intermediate node regarding the
unique code over the network, the user ID information is also
transmitted therewith to the intermediate node. During the matching
operation, user profile information associated with the user ID
information is then extracted and transmitted back to the user's
node as an appendage to the routing information transmitted
thereto. This user ID information will then be relayed to the
destination node, the destination node then utilizing this user ID
information in a predetermined manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a more complete understanding of the present invention
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the preferred
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates the computer components employed in this
embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates system interactions over a global
network;
[0012] FIGS. 4a-4e illustrate the various message packets
transmitted between the source PC and network servers used in the
preferred embodiment; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting operation of the system
according to the preferred embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of actions taken by the
Advertiser Reference Server ("ARS") server;
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of the interactive process
between the source computer and ARS;
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a web browser page receiving the modified
URL/advertiser product data according to the preferred
embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of the
disclosed embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates a more detailed, simplified block
diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
[0019] FIG. 11 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a method for
performing the routing operation;
[0020] FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of an alternate
embodiment utilizing an optical region in the video image for
generating the routing information;
[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram illustrating the
generation of a profile with the disclosed embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart for generating the profile
and storing at the ARS;
[0023] FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for processing the profile
information when information is routed to a user;
[0024] FIG. 16 illustrates a block diagram of an alternate
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 17 illustrates a diagrammatic view of the headers that
are assembled for the embodiment of FIG. 16;
[0026] FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart depicting the operation for
transmitting MP3 audio;
[0027] FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart for controlling the user PC
to launch the browser; and
[0028] FIG. 20 illustrates a flowchart depicting the operation of
operating the audio player software.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a block
diagram of a system for controlling a personal computer ("PC") 112
via an audio tone transmitted over a wireless system utilizing a
TV. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, there is provided a
transmission station 101 and a receive station 117 that are
connected via a communication link 108. The transmission station
101 is comprised of a television program source 104, which is
operable to generate a program in the form of a broadcast signal
comprised of video and audio. This is transmitted via conventional
techniques along channels in the appropriate frequencies. The
program source is input to a mixing device 106, which mixing device
is operable to mix in an audio signal. This audio signal is derived
from an audio source 100 which comprises a coded audio signal which
is then modulated onto a carrier which is combined with the
television program source 104. This signal combining can be done at
the audio level, or it can even be done at the RF level in the form
of a different carrier. However, the preferred method is to merely
sum the audio signal from the modulator 102 into the audio channel
of the program that is generated by the television program source
104. The output thereof is provided from the mixing device 106 in
the form of broadcast signal to an antenna 107, which transmits the
information over the communication link 108 to an antenna 109 on
the receive side.
[0030] On the receive side of the system, a conventional receiver
110, such as a television is provided. This television provides a
speaker output which provides the user with an audible signal. This
is typically associated with the program. However, the receiver 110
in the disclosed embodiment, also provides an audio output jack,
this being the type RCA jack. This jack is utilized to provide an
audio output signal on a line 113 which is represented by an audio
signal 111. This line 113 provides all of the audio that is
received over the communication link, 108 to the PC 112 in the
audio input port on the PC 112. However, it should be understood
that, although a direct connection is illustrated from the receiver
110 to the PC 112, there actually could be a microphone pickup at
the PC 112 which could pick the audio signal up. In the disclosed
embodiment the audio signal generated by the advertiser data input
device 100 is audible to the human ear and, therefore, can be heard
by the user. Therefore, no special filters are needed to provide
this audio to the PC 112.
[0031] The PC 112 is operable to run programs thereon which
typically are stored in a program file area 116. These programs can
be any type of programs such as word processing programs,
application programs, etc. In the disclosed embodiment, the program
that is utilized in the system is what is referred to as a
"browser." The PC 112 runs a browser program to facilitate the
access of information on the network, for example, a global
communication network known as the "Internet" or the World-Wide-Web
("Web"). The browser is a hypertext-linked application used for
accessing information. Hypertext is a term used to describe a
particular organization of information within a data processing
system, and its presentation to a user. It exploits the computer's
ability to link together information from a wide variety of sources
to provide the user with the ability to explore a particular topic.
The traditional style of presentation used in books employs an
organization of the information which is imposed upon it by
limitations of the medium, namely fixed sized, sequential paper
pages. Hypertext systems, however, use a large number of units of
text or other types of data such as image information, graphical
information, video information, or sound information, which can
vary in size. A collection of such units of information is termed a
hypertext document, or where the hypertext documents employ
information other than text, hypermedia documents. Multimedia
communications may use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP"),
and files or formatted data may use the Hypertext Markup Language
("HTML"). This formatting language provides for a mingling of text,
graphics, sound, video, and hypertext links by "tagging" a text
document using HTML. Data encoded using HTML is often referred to
as an "HTML document," an "HTML page," or a "home page." These
documents and other Internet resources may be accessed across the
network by means of a network addressing scheme which uses a
locator referred to as a Uniform Resource Locator ("URL"), for
example, "http://www.digital.com."
[0032] The Internet is one of the most utilized networks for
interconnecting distributed computer systems and allows users of
these computer systems to exchange data all over the world.
Connected to the Internet are many private networks, for example,
corporate or commercial networks. Standard protocols, such as the
Transport Control Protocol ("TCP") and the Internet Protocol ("IP")
provide a convenient method for communicating across these diverse
networks. These protocols dictate how data are formatted and
communicated. As a characteristic of the Internet, the protocols
are layered in an IP stack. At higher levels of the IP stack, such
as the application layer (where HTTP is employed), the user
information is more readily visible, while at lower levels, such as
the network level (where TCP/IP are used), the data can merely be
observed as packets or a stream of rapidly moving digital signals.
Superimposed on the Internet is a standard protocol interface for
accessing Web resources, such servers, files, Web pages, mail
messages, and the like. One way that Web resources can be accessed
is by browsers made by Netscape.RTM. and Microsoft Internet
Explorer@.
[0033] Referring again now to FIG. 1, the user can load this
program with the appropriate keystrokes such that a browser window
will be displayed on a display 118. In one embodiment, the user can
run the browser program on the PC 112 such that the browser window
is displayed on the display 118. While watching a preferred
program, the user can also view display 118. When an audio signal
is received by the receiver 110 and the encoded information is
contained therein that was input thereto by the advertiser, the PC
112 will then perform a number of operations. The first operation,
according to the disclosed embodiment, is to extract the audio
information within the received audio signal in the form of digital
data, and then transmit this digital data to a defined location on
the global communication network via a modem connection 114. This
connection will be described hereinbelow. This information will be
relayed to a proprietary location and the instructions sent back to
the PC 112 as to the location of the advertiser associated with the
code, and the PC 112 will then effect a communication link to that
location such that the user can view on the display 118 information
that the advertiser, by the fact of putting the tone onto the
broadcast channel, desires the viewer to view. This information can
be in the form of interactive programs, data files, etc. In one
example, when an advertisement appears on the television, the tone
can be generated and then additional data displayed on the display
118. Additionally, a streaming video program could be played on the
PC received over the network, which streaming video program is
actually longer than the advertising segment on the broadcast.
Another example would be a sports game that would broadcast the
tone in order to allow a user access to information that is not
available over the broadcast network, such as additional statistics
associated with the sports program, etc.
[0034] By utilizing the system described herein with respect to the
disclosed embodiment of FIG. 1, an advertiser is allowed the
ability to control a user's PC 112 through the use of tones
embedded within a program audio signal. As will described
hereinbelow, the disclosed embodiment utilizes particular routing
information stored in the PC 112 which allows the encoded
information in the received audio signal to route this information
to a desired location on the network and then allow other routing
information to be returned to the PC 112 for control thereof to
route the PC 112 to the appropriate location associated with that
code.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a computer
204, similar to computer 112, connected to display information on
display 118. The computer 204 comprises an internal audio or
"sound" card 206 for receiving the transmitted audio signal through
receive antenna 109 and receiver 110. The sound card 206 typically
contains analog-to-digital circuitry for converting the analog
audio signal into a digital signal. The digital signal may then be
more easily manipulated by software programs. The receiver 110
separates the audio signal from the video signal. A special trigger
signal located within the transmitted advertiser audio signal
triggers proprietary software running on the computer 204 which
launches a communication application, in this particular
embodiment, the web browser application located on the PC 204.
Coded advertiser information contained within the audio signal is
then extracted and appended with the address of a proprietary
server located on the communication network. The remote server
address is in the form of a URL. This appended data, in addition to
other control codes, is inserted directly into the web browser
application for automatic routing to the communication network. The
web browser running on PC 204, and communicating to the network
with a through an internal modem 208, in this embodiment, transmits
the advertiser information to the remote server. The remote server
cross-references the advertiser product information to the address
of the advertiser server located on the network. The address of the
advertiser server is routed back through the PC 204 web browser to
the advertiser server. The advertiser product information is
returned to PC 204 to be presented to the viewer on display 118. In
this particular embodiment, the particular advertiser product
information displayed is contained within the advertiser's web page
212. As mentioned above, the audio signal is audible to the human
ear. Therefore the audio signal, as emitted from the TV speakers,
may be input to the sound card 206 via a microphone. Furthermore,
the audio signal need not be a real-time broadcast, but may be on
video tapes, CDs, DVD, or other media which may be displayed at a
later date. With the imminent implementation of high definition
digital television, the audio signal output from the TV may also be
digital. Therefore, direct input into a sound card for A/D purposes
may not be necessary, but alternative interfacing techniques to
accommodate digital-to-digital signal formats would apply.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a source PC
302, similar to PCs 204 and 112, connected to a global
communication network 306 through an interface 304. In this
embodiment, the audio signal 111 is received by PC 302 through its
sound card 206. The audio signal 111 comprises a trigger signal
which triggers proprietary software into launching a web browser
application residing on the PC 302. The audio signal 111 also
comprises advertiser product information which is extracted and
appended with URL information of an Advertiser Reference Server
("ARS") 308. The ARS 308 is a system disposed on the network that
is defined as the location to which data in the audio signal 111 is
to be routed. As such, data in the audio signal 111 will always be
routed to the ARS 308, since a URL is unique on the network system.
Connected to the ARS 308 is a database 310 of product codes and
associated manufacturer URLs. The database 310 undergoes a
continual update process which is transparent to the user. As
companies sign-on, e.g., subscribe, to this technology,
manufacturer and product information is added to the database 310
without interrupting operation of the source PC 302 with frequent
updates. When the advertiser server address URL is obtained from
the ARS database 310, it and the request for the particular
advertiser product information is automatically routed back through
the web browser on PC 302, over to the respective advertiser server
for retrieval of the advertiser product information to the PC 302.
It should be noted that although the disclosed invention discusses
a global communication network, the system is also applicable to
LANs, WANs, and peer-to-peer network configurations. It should be
noted that the disclosed architecture is not limited to a single
source PC 302, but may comprise a plurality of source PCs, e.g., PC
300 and PC 303. Moreover, a plurality of ARS 308 systems and
advertiser servers 312 may be implemented, e.g., ARS 314, and
advertiser server A 316, respectively.
[0037] The information transactions, in general, which occur
between the networked systems of this embodiment, over the
communication network, are the following. The web browser running
on source PC 302 transmits a message packet to the ARS 308 over
Path "A." The ARS 308 decodes the message packet and performs a
cross-reference function with product information extracted from
the received message packet to obtain the address of an advertiser
server 312. A new message packet is assembled comprising the
advertiser server 312 address, and sent back to the source PC 302
over Path "B." A "handoff" operation is performed whereby the
source PC 302 browser simply reroutes the information on to the
advertiser server 312 over Path "C," with the appropriate source
and destination address appended. The advertiser server 312
receives and decodes the message packet. The
request-for-advertiser-product-information is extracted and the
advertiser 312 retrieves the requested information from its
database for transmission back to the source PC 302 over Path "D."
The source PC 302 then processes the information, i.e., for display
to the viewer. The optional Path "E" is discussed hereinbelow. It
should be noted that the disclosed methods are not limited to only
browser communication applications, but may accommodate, with
sufficient modifications by one skilled in the art, other
communication applications used to transmit information over the
Internet or communication network.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 4a, the message packet 400 sent from
the source PC 302 to ARS 308 via Path "A" comprises several fields.
One field comprises the URL of the ARS 308 which indicates where
the message packet is to be sent. Another field comprises the
advertiser product code or other information derived from the audio
signal 111, and any additional overhead information required for a
given transaction. The product code provides a link to the address
of the advertiser server 312, located in the database 310. Yet
another field comprises the network address of the source PC 302.
In general, network transmissions are effected in packets of
information, each packet providing a destination address, a source
address, and data. These packets vary depending upon the network
transmission protocol utilized for communication. Although the
protocols utilized in the disclosed embodiment are of a
conventional protocol suite commonly known as TCP/IP, it should be
understood that any protocols providing the similar basic functions
can be used, with the primary requirement that a browser can
forward the routing information to the desired URL in response to
keystrokes being input to a PC. However, it should be understood
that any protocol can be used, with the primary requirement that a
browser can forward the product information to the desired URL in
response to keystrokes being input to a PC. Within the context of
this disclosure, "message packet" shall refer to and comprise the
destination URL, product information, and source address, even
though more than a single packet must be transmitted to effect such
a transmission.
[0039] Upon receipt of the message packet 400 from source PC 302,
ARS 308 processes the information in accordance with instructions
embedded in the overhead information. The ARS 308 specifically will
extract the product code information from the received packet 400
and, once extracted, will then decode this product code
information. Once decoded, this information is then compared with
data contained within the ARS advertiser database 310 to determine
if there is a "hit." If there is no "hit" indicating a match, then
information is returned to the browser indicating such. If there is
a "hit," a packet 402 is assembled which comprises the address of
the source PC 302, and information instructing the source PC 302 as
to how to access, directly in a "handoff" operation, another
location on the network, that of an advertiser server 312. This
type of construction is relatively conventional with browsers such
as Netscape(V and Microsoft Internet Explorers and, rather than
displaying information from the ARS 308, the source PC 302 can then
access the advertiser server 312. The ARS 308 transmits the packet
402 back to source PC 302 over Path "B." Referring now to FIG. 4b,
the message packet 402 comprises the address of the source PC 302,
the URL of the advertiser server 312 embedded within instructional
code, and the URL of the ARS 308.
[0040] Upon receipt of the message packet 402 by the source PC 302,
the message packet 402 is disassembled to obtain pertinent routing
information for assembly of a new message packet 404. The web
browser running on source PC 302 is now directed to obtain, over
Path "C," the product information relevant to the particular
advertiser server 312 location information embedded in message
packet 404. Referring now to FIG. 4c, the message packet 404 for
this transaction comprises the URL of the advertiser server 312,
the request-for-product-information data, and the address of the
source PC 302.
[0041] Upon receipt of the message packet 404 from source PC 302,
advertiser server 312 disassembles the message packet 404 to obtain
the request-for-product-information data. The advertiser server 312
then retrieves the particular product information from its
database, and transmits it over Path "D" back to the source PC 302.
Referring now to FIG. 4d, the message packet 406 for this
particular transaction comprises the address of the source PC 302,
the requested information, and the URL of the advertiser server
312.
[0042] Optionally, the ARS 308 may make a direct request for
product information over Path "E" to advertiser server 312. In this
mode, the ARS 308 sends information to the advertiser server 312
instructing it to contact the source PC 302. This, however, is
unconventional and requires more complex software control. The
message packet 408 for this transaction is illustrated in FIG. 4e,
which comprises the URL of the advertiser server 312, the
request-for-product-information data, and the address of the source
PC 302. Since product information is not being returned to the ARS
308, but directly to the source PC 302, the message packet 408
requires the return address to be that of the source PC 302. The
product information is then passed directly to PC 302 over Path
"D."
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 5, the method for detecting and
obtaining product information is as follows. In decision block 500,
a proprietary application running resident on a source computer PC
302 (similar to PC 204) monitors the audio input for a special
trigger signal. Upon detection of the trigger signal, data
following the trigger signal is decoded for further processing, in
function block 502. In function block 504, the data is buffered for
further manipulation. In decision block 506, a determination is
made as to whether the data can be properly authenticated. If not,
program flow continues through the "N" signal to function block 520
where the data is discarded. In function block 522, the program
then signals for a retransmission of the data. The system then
waits for the next trigger signal, in decision block 500. If
properly authenticated in decision block 506, program flow
continues through the "Y" signal path where the data is then used
to launch the web browser application, as indicated in function
block 508. In function block 510, the web browser receives the URL
data, which is then automatically routed through the computer modem
208 to the network interface 304 and ultimately to the network 306.
In function block 514, the ARS 308 responds by returning the URL of
advertiser server 312 to the PC 302. In function block 516, the web
browser running on the source PC 302, receives the advertiser URL
information from the ARS 308, and transmits the URL for the product
file to the advertiser server 312. In block 518, the advertiser
server 312 responds by sending the product information to the
source PC 302 for processing.
[0044] The user may obtain the benefits of this architecture by
'simply downloading the proprietary software over the network.
Other methods for obtaining the software are well-known; for
example, by CD, diskette, or pre-loaded hard drives.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a flowchart of
the process the ARS 308 may undergo when receiving the message
packet 400 from the source PC 302. In decision block 600, the ARS
308 checks for the receipt of the message packet 400. If a message
packet 400 is not received, program flow moves along the "N" path
to continue waiting for the message. If the message packet 400 is
received, program flow continues along path "Y" for message
processing. Upon receipt of the message packet 400, in function
block 602, the ARS 308 decodes the message packet 400. The product
code is then extracted independently in function block 604 in
preparation for matching the product code with the appropriate
advertiser server address located in the database 310. In function
block 606, the product code is then used with a look-up table to
retrieve the advertiser server 312 URL of the respective product
information contained in the audio signal data. In function block
608, the ARS 308 then assembles message packet 402 for transmission
back to the source PC 302. Function block 610 indicates the process
of sending the message packet 402 back to the source PC 302 over
Path "B."
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a flowchart of
the interactive processes between the source PC 302 and the
advertiser server 312. In function block 700, the source PC 302
receives the message packet 402 back from the ARS 308 and begins to
decode the packet 402. In function block 702, the URL of the
advertiser product information is extracted from the message packet
402 and saved for insertion into the message packet 404 to the
advertiser server 312. The message packet 404 is then assembled and
sent by the source PC 302 over Path "C" to the advertiser server
312, n function block 704. While the source PC 302 waits, in
function block 706, the advertiser server 312 receives the message
packet 404 from the source PC 302, in function block 708, and
disassembles it. The product information location is then extracted
from the message packet 404 in function block 710. The particular
product information is retrieved from the advertiser server 312
database for transmission back to the source PC 302. In function
block 712, the product information is assembled into message packet
406 and then transmitted back to the source PC 302 over Path "D."
Returning to the source PC 302 in function block 714, the
advertiser product information contained in the message packet 406
received from the advertiser server 312, is then extracted and
processed in function block 716.
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 8, after receipt of a trigger signal,
a web browser application on a source PC 302 is automatically
launched and computer display 800 presents a browser page 802.
Proprietary software running on the source PC 302 processes the
audio signal data after being digitized through the sound card 206.
The software appropriately prepares the data for insertion directly
into the web browser by extracting the product information code and
appending keystroke data to this information. First, a URL page 804
is opened in response to a Ctrl-O command added by the proprietary
software as the first character string. Opening URL page 804
automatically positions the cursor in a field 806 where additional
keystroke data following the Ctrl-O command will be inserted. After
URL page 804 is opened, the hypertext protocol preamble http:// is
inserted into the field 806. Next, URL information associated with
the location of the ARS 308 is inserted into field 806. Following
the ARS 308 URL data are the characters /? to allow entry of
variables immediately following the /? characters. In this
embodiment, the variable following is the product information code
received in the audio signal. The product code information also
provides the cross-reference information for obtaining the
advertiser URL from the ARS database 310. Next, a carriage return
is added to send the URL/product data and close the window 804.
After the message packet 400 is transmitted to the ARS 308 from the
source PC 302, transactions from the ARS308, to the source PC 302,
to the advertiser server 312, and back to the source PC 302, occur
quickly and are transparent to the viewer. At this point, the next
information the viewer sees is the product information which was
received from the advertiser server 312.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a block
diagram of a more simplified embodiment. In this embodiment, a
video source 902 is provided which is operable to provide an audio
output on an audio cable 901 which provides routing information
referred to by reference numeral 904. The routing information 904
is basically information contained within the audio signal. This is
an encoded or embedded signal. The important aspect of the routing
information 904 is that it is automatically output in realtime as a
function of the broadcast of the video program received over the
video source 902. Therefore, whenever the program is being
broadcast in realtime to the user 908, the routing information 904
will be output whenever the producer of the video desires it to be
produced. It should be understood that the box 902 representing the
video source could be any type of media that will result in the
routing information being output. This could be a cassette player,
a DVD player, an audio cassette, a CD ROM or any such media. It is
only important that this is a program that the producer develops
which the user 908 watches in a continuous or a streaming manner.
Embedded within that program, at a desired point selected by the
producer, the routing information 904 is output.
[0049] The audio information is then routed to a PC 906, which is
similar to the PC 112 in FIG. 1. A user 908 is interfaced with the
PC to receive information thereof, the PC 906 having associated
therewith a display (not shown). The PC 906 is interfaced with a
network 910, similar to the network 306 in FIG. 3. This network 910
has multiple nodes thereon, one of which is the PC 906, and another
of which is represented by a network node 912 which represents
remote information. The object of the present embodiment is to
access remote information for display to the user 908 by the act of
transmitting from the video program in block 902 the routing
information 904. This routing information 904 is utilized to allow
the PC 906 which has a network "browser" running thereon to "fetch"
the remote information at the node 912 over the network 910 for
display to the user 908. This routing information 904 is in the
form of an embedded code within the audio signal, as was described
hereinabove.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 10, there is illustrated a more
detailed block diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 9. In this
embodiment, the PC 906 is split up into a couple of nodes, a first
PC 1002 and a second PC 1004. The PC 1002 resides at the node
associated with the user 908, and the PC 1004 resides at another
node. The PC 1004 represents the ARS 308 of FIG. 3. The PC 1004 has
a database 1006 associated therewith, which is basically the
advertiser database 310. Therefore, there are three nodes on the
network 910 necessary to implement the disclosed embodiment, the PC
1002, the PC 1004 and the remote information node 912. The routing
information 904 is utilized by the PC 1002 for routing to the PC
1004 to determine the location of the remote information node 912
on the network 910. This is returned to the PC 1002 and a
connection made directly with the remote information node 912 and
the information retrieved therefrom to the user 908. The routing
information 904 basically constitutes primary routing
information.
[0051] Referring now to FIG. 11, there is illustrated a
diagrammatic view of how the network packet is formed for sending
the primary routing information to the PC 1004. In general, the
primary routing information occupies a single field which primary
routing information is then assembled into a data packet with the
secondary routing information for transfer to the network 910. This
is described hereinabove in detail.
[0052] Referring now to FIG. 12, there is illustrated an alternate
embodiment to that of FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the video source
902 has associated therewith an optical region 1202, which optical
region 1202 has disposed therein an embedded video code. This
embedded video code could be relatively complex or as simple as a
grid of dark and white regions, each region in the grid able to
have a dark color for a logic "1" or a white region for a logic
"0." This will allow a digital value to be disposed within the
optical region 1202. A sensor 1204 can then be provided for sensing
this video code. In the example above, this would merely require an
array of optical detectors, one for each region in the grid to
determine whether this is a logic "1" or a logic "0" state. One of
the sensed video is then output to the PC 906 for processing
thereof to determine the information contained therein, which
information contained therein constitutes the primary routing
information 904. Thereafter, it is processed as described
hereinabove with reference to FIG. 9.
[0053] Referring now to FIG. 13, there is illustrated a block
diagram for an embodiment wherein a user's profile can be forwarded
to the original subscriber or manufacturer. The PC 906 has
associated therewith a profile database 1302, which profile
database 1302 is operable to store a profile of the user 908. This
profile is created when the program, after initial installation,
requests profile information to be input in order to activate the
program. In addition to the profile, there is also a unique ID that
is provided to the user 908 in association with the browser program
that runs on the PC 906. This is stored in a storage location
represented by a block 1304. This ID 1304 is accessible by a remote
location as a "cookie" which is information that is stored in the
PC 906 in an accessible location, which accessible location is
actually accessible by the remote program running on a remote
node.
[0054] The ARS 308, which basically constitutes the PC 1004 of FIG.
10, is operable to have associated therewith a profile database
1308, which profile database 1308 is operable to store profiles for
all of the users. The profile database 1308 is a combination of the
stored in profile database 1302 for all of the PCs 906 that are
attachable to the system. This is to be distinguished from
information stored in the database 310, the advertiser's database,
which contains intermediate destination tables. When the routing
information in the primary routing information 904 is forwarded to
the ARS 308 and extracted from the original data packet, the
look-up procedure described hereinabove can then be performed to
determine where this information is to be routed. The profile
database 1302 is then utilized for each transaction, wherein each
transaction in the form of the routing information received from
the primary routing information 904 is compared to the destination
tables 310 to determine what manufacturer it is associated with.
The associated ID 1304 that is transmitted along with the routing
information in primary routing information 904 is then compared
with the profile database 1308 to determine if a profile associated
therewith is available. This information is stored in a transaction
database 1310 such that, at a later time, for each routing code
received in the form of the information in primary routing
information 904, there will associated therewith the IDs 1304 of
each of the PCs 906. The associated profiles in database 1308,
which are stored in association with IDs 1304, can then be
assembled and transmitted to a subscriber as referenced by a
subscriber node 1312 on the network 910. The ARS 308 can do this in
two modes, a realtime mode or a non-realtime mode. In a realtime
mode, each time a PC 906 accesses the advertiser database 310, that
user's profile information is uploaded to the subscriber node 1312.
At the same time, billing information is generated for that
subscriber 1312 which is stored in a billing database 1316.
Therefore, the ARS 308 has the ability to inform the subscriber
1312 of each transaction, bill for those transactions, and also
provide to the subscriber 1312 profile information regarding who is
accessing the particular product advertisement having associated
therewith the routing information field 904 for a particular
routing code as described hereinabove. This information, once
assembled, can then be transmitted to the subscriber 1312 and also
be reflected in billing information and stored in the billing
information database 1316.
[0055] Referring now to FIG. 14, there is illustrated a flowchart
depicting the operation for storing the profile for the user. The
program is initiated in a block 1402 and then proceeds to a
function block 1404, wherein the system will prompt for the profile
upon initiation of the system. This initiation is a function that
is set to activate whenever the user initially loads the software
that he or she is provided. The purpose for this is to create, in
addition to the setup information, a user profile. Once the user is
prompted for this, then the program will flow to a decision block
1406 to determine whether the user provides basic or detailed
information. This is selectable by the user. If selecting basic,
the program will flow to a function block 1408 wherein the user
will enter basic information such as name and serial number and
possibly an address. However, to provide some incentive to the user
to enter more information, the original prompt in function block
1404 would have offers for such things as coupons, discounts, etc,
if the user will enter additional information. If the user selects
this option, the program from the decision block 1406 to a function
block 1410. In the function block 1410, the user is prompted to
enter specific information such as job, income level, general
family history, demographic information and more. There can be any
amount of information collected in this particular function
block.
[0056] Once all of the information is collected, in either the
basic mode or the more specific mode, the program will then flow to
a function block 1412 where this information is stored locally. The
program then flows to a decision block 1414 to then go on-line to
the host or the ARS 308. In general, the user is prompted to
determine whether he or she wants to send this information to the
host at the present time or to send it later. If he or she selects
the "later" option, the program will flow to a function block 1415
to prompt the user at a later time to send the information. In the
disclosed embodiment, the user will not be able to utilize the
software until the profile information is sent to the host.
Therefore, the user may have to activate this at a later time in
order to connect with the host.
[0057] If the user has selected the option to upload the profile
information to the host, the program will flow to the function
block 1416 to initiate the connect process and then to a decision
block 1418 to determine if the connection has been made. If not,
the program will flow along a "N" path to a time to decision block
1420 which will time to an error block 1422 or back to the input of
the connect decision block 1418. The program, once connected, will
then flow along a "Y" path from decision block 1418 to a function
block 1428 to send the profile information with the ID of the
computer or user to the host. The ID is basically, as described
hereinabove, a "cookie" in the computer which is accessed by the
program when transmitting to the host. The program will then flow
to a function block 1430 to activate the program such that it, at
later time, can operate without requiring all of the set up
information. In general, all of the operation of this flowchart is
performed, with a "wizard" which steps the user through the setup
process. Once complete, the program will flow to a Done block
1432.
[0058] Referring now to FIG. 15, there is illustrated a flowchart
depicting the operation of the host when receiving a transaction.
The program is initiated at a start block 1502 and then proceeds to
decision block 1504, wherein it is determined whether the system
has received a routing request, i.e., the routing information 904
in the form of a tone, etc., embedded in the audio signal as
described hereinabove with respect to FIG. 9. The program will loop
back around to the input of decision block 1504 until the routing
request has been received. At this time, the program will flow
along the "Y" path to a function block 1506 to receive the primary
routing information and the user ID. Essentially, this primary
routing information is extracted from the audio tone, in addition
to the user ID. The program then flows to a function block 1508 to
look up the manufacturer URL that corresponds to the received
primary routing information and then return the necessary command
information to the originating PC 108 in order to allow that PC to
connect to the destination associated with the primary routing
information. Thereafter, the program will flow to a function block
1510 to update the transaction database 1310 for the current
transaction. In general, the routing information 904 will be stored
as a single field with the associated IDs. The profile database, as
described hereinabove, has associated therewith detailed profiles
of each user on the system that has activated their software in
association with their ID. Since the ID was sent in association
with the routing information, what is stored in the transaction
database is the routing code, in association with all of the IDs
transmitted to the system in association with that particular
routing code. Once this transaction database has been updated, as
described hereinabove, the transactions can be transferred back to
the subscriber at node 312 with the detailed profile information
from the profile database 1308.
[0059] The profile information can be transmitted back to the
subscriber or manufacturer in the node 312 in realtime or
non-realtime. A decision block 1512 is provided for this, which
determines if the delivery is realtime. If realtime, the program
will flow along a "Y" path to a function block 1514 wherein the
information will be immediately forwarded to the manufacturer or
subscriber. The program will then flow to a function block 1516
wherein the billing for that particular manufacturer or subscriber
will be updated in the billing database 1316. The program will then
flow into an End block 1518. If it was non-realtime, the program
moves along the "N" path to a function block 1520 wherein it is set
for a later delivery and it is accrued in the transaction database.
In any event, the transaction database will accrue all information
associated with a particular routing code.
[0060] With a realtime transaction, it is possible for a
manufacturer to place an ad in a magazine or to place a product on
a shelf at a particular time. The manufacturer can thereafter
monitor the times when either the ads are or the products are
purchased. Of course, they must be scanned into a computer which
will provide some delay. However, the manufacturer can gain a very
current view of how a product is moving. For example, if a cola
manufacturer were to provide a promotional advertisement on, for
example, television, indicating that a new cola was going to be
placed on the shelf and that the first 1000 purchasers, for
example, scanning their code into the network would receive some
benefit, such as a chance to win a trip to some famous resort in
Florida or some other incentive, the manufacturer would have a very
good idea as to how well the advertisement was received. Further,
the advertiser would know where the receptive markets were. If this
advertiser, for example, had placed the television advertisement in
ten cities and received overwhelming response from one city, but
very poor response from another city, he would then have some
inclination to believe that either one poor response city was not a
good market or that the advertising medium he had chosen was very
poor. Since the advertiser can obtain a relatively instant response
and also content with that response as to the demographics of the
responder, very important information can be obtained in a
relatively short time.
[0061] It should be noted that the disclosed embodiment is not
limited to a single source PC 302, but may encompass a large number
of source computers connected over a global communication network.
Additionally, the embodiment is not limited to a single ARS 308 or
a single advertiser server 312, but may include a plurality of ARS
and advertiser systems, indicated by the addition of ARS 314 and
advertiser server A 316, respectively. It should also be noted that
this embodiment is not limited only to global communication
networks, but also may be used with LAN, WAN, and peer-to-peer
configurations.
[0062] It should also be noted that the disclosed embodiment is not
limited to a personal computer, but is also applicable to, for
example, a Network Computer ("NetPC"), a scaled-down version of the
PC, or any system which accommodates user interaction and
interfaces to information resources.
[0063] One typical application of the above noted technique is for
providing a triggering event during a program, such as a sport
event. In a first example, this may be generated by an advertiser.
One could imagine that, due to the cost of advertisements in a high
profile sports program, there is a desire to utilize this time
widely. If, for example, an advertiser contracted for 15 seconds
worth of advertising time, they could insert within their program a
tone containing the routing information. This routing information
can then be output to the user's PC which will cause the user's PC
to, via the network, obtain information from a remote location
typically controlled by the advertiser. This could be in the form
of an advertisement of a length longer than that contracted for.
Further, this could be an interactive type of advertisement. An
important aspect to the type of interaction between the actual
broadcast program with the embedded routing information and the
manufacturer's site is the fact that there is provided in the
information as to the user's PC and a profile of the user
themselves. Therefore, an advertiser can actually gain realtime
information as to the number of individuals that are watching their
particular advertisement and also information as to the background
of those individuals, demographic information, etc. This can be a
very valuable asset to an advertiser.
[0064] In another example, the producer of the program, whether it
be an on-air program, a program embedded in a video tape, CD-ROM,
DVD, or a cassette, can allow the user to automatically access
additional information that is not displayed on the screen. For
example, in a sporting event, various statistics can be provided to
the user from a remote location, merely by the viewer watching the
program. When these statistics are provided, the advertiser can be
provided with demographic information and background information
regarding the user. This can be important when, for example, the
user may record a sports program. If the manufacturer sees that
this program routing code is being output from some device at a
later time than the actual broadcast itself, this allows the
advertisers to actually see that their program is still being used
and also what type of individual is using it. Alternatively, the
broadcaster could determine the same and actually bill the
advertiser an additional sum for a later broadcast. This is all due
to the fact that the routing information automatically, through a
PC and a network, will provide an indication to the advertiser for
other intermediary regarding the time at which the actual
information was broadcast.
[0065] The different type of medium that can be utilized with the
above embodiment are such things as advertisements, which are
discussed hereinabove, contests, games, news programs, education,
coupon promotional programs, demonstration media (demos),
photographs, all of which can be broadcast on a private site or a
public site. This all will provide the ability to allow realtime
interface with the network and the remote location for obtaining
the routed information and also allow for realtime billing and
accounting.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 16, there is illustrated a flowchart
depicting an alternate embodiment of the disclosure. As described
hereinabove, the transmission of encoded information is sensed by a
user's computer which, when sensed and decoded, indicates to the
computer that the computer is to launch the browser and then
forward this information to an intermediate point for effecting a
connection between an advertiser or producer and the user's PC.
[0067] Referring further to FIG. 16, there is illustrated a user PC
1600 which has associated therewith browser software 1602 and an
application program 1604. The user PC 1600 is operable to run the
application program 1604 in the background or the foreground. This
application program 1604, as described hereinabove, is an
application program that can detect certain inputs to the user PC
1600, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow. In addition
to the application program 1604 running on the user PC 1600 and the
browser program 1602 being capable of being run on the user PC
1600, there is also provided an audio player program 1606. This
audio player program 1606 is a conventionally available program
that allows the user PC 1600 to play audio. This audio is typically
received in the form of a compressed audio format-an MP3 format.
This compressed format is basically a compressed form of the
conventional MPEG format. Again, this is a conventional format.
[0068] The user PC 1600 is interfaced to a global communication
network 1610. As described hereinabove, the global communication
network 1610 is a conventional network typically referred to by the
name "Internet" involving a plurality of interconnecting nodes and
routers. This allows the user PC 1600, through known addressing
schemes, to interconnect to a remote location and forward
information thereto and receive information therefrom, typically
utilizing a TCP/IP protocol. In conventional operation utilizing
the network 1610, the user PC 1600 is operable to interface with an
audio source node 1612 to receive MP3 audio therefrom over the
network 1604. This can be in the form of a popular song or the like
such that is transferred thereto. This audio source node 1612 could
be associated with an acquaintance of the user or even a commercial
establishment. However, the primary information transmitted from
the audio source 1612 to the user PC 1600 is an MP3 encoded audio
program. This MP3 audio program, as will be described hereinbelow,
is modified by the originating source of the audio to contain
therein in an encoded format some routing information which is
sensed by the application program 1604 when the audio player
program 1606 actually plays the audio. Of course, once the audio is
received in the MP3 format, it must first be decoded and then
output as an audio signal, this requiring both the decoding step
and an analog-to-digital data conversion operation, this being
conventional. This is then output on an audio output device
1613.
[0069] The audio source 1612 must receive the audio program from
some originating source. This may typically be from some other
location which generated the audio source and which has transmitted
it to an end user. The end user may receive the source, copy the
source and transmit it to multiple individuals. This MP3 audio
program could be transmitted to many individuals in a chain. As
will be described hereinbelow, it is the user PC 1600 having the
application program 1604 running in the background that will
provide an interconnection to a producer node 1614. It is noted
that the application program 1604 will typically be integrated with
the audio player program 1606, although this need not be the
case.
[0070] In operation, after an audio program with an MP3 format
encoded with the routing information therein is received by the
user PC 1600 and stored locally thereat on a hard disk 1618 and
then played utilizing the audio player program 1606, or
alternatively, received and immediately played with the audio
player program 1606, the application program 1604 will sense
routing information in the program, which was embedded therein by
the originator of the program. This is typically not readily
apparent to the user when listening to the audio program, although
it is, in the preferred disclosure, audible. When the audio program
is played, the application program 1604 senses the information in
the embedded product information, utilizes this information to
launch the web browser and the browser program 1602 and contact an
ARS location 1620 over the network 1610. It is noted that the
embedded information may be any information that can be recognized
by the application program, and need not be actual information
about the product. It could be some type of information correlating
to an advertiser. As will be described hereinbelow, the embedded
information has no relationship with anything except as defined in
an MP3 header database at the ARS location 1620, as will be
described hereinbelow.
[0071] The information transmitted to the ARS location 1602 by the
application program 1604 comprises the embedded information from
the audio program, user information stored at the user PC 1600 and
the user's location on the network 1610. The ARS location 1620
utilizes this information to extract pre-stored and associated
information from the MP3 header database 1624. As will be described
hereinbelow, this information is pre-stored by the producer which
allows the ARS 1620 to determine where the user PC 1600 should be
directed over the network 1610. This pre-stored information,
derived from a matching operation, is then transmitted back to the
user PC 1600 and the browser software 1602 instructing the browser
software 1602 to connect to a predefined location on the network
1610. This predefined location is the producer location 1614. In
addition to instructing the browser 1602 what location to connect
to, information forwarded back to the user PC 1600 by the ARS 1620
can also provide some user information or other information for
delivery to the producer node 1614. The producer node 1614 will
then make contact with the user PC 1600 and the browser software
1602 in order to provide a display to the user, i.e., it will
effect a network connection thereto via a TCP/IP link. For example,
while the user is listening to the audio program, advertising can
be provided to the listener at the associated user PC 1600. This
will allow the producer 1614 not only to derive information about
who is listening to their software, legally or illegally, but also
will allow the producer to possibly provide some information to the
user, solicit additional sales from the user, etc.
[0072] Merely by playing the audio program, the audio player
program 1608 will now interface with the application program 1604
to launch the browser 1602 in order to contact the producer. By
storing information at the ARS location 1620, the producer need not
store a great deal of the actual reading information in the MP3
audio track. The large portion of the routing information required
by the user PC 1600 in order to connect to the producer 1614 is
contained within the application program 1604. This allows a single
program to access a single location, the ARS location 1620, in
order to facilitate a connection with a producer 1614. If, for
example, the producer 1614 were to change locations on the network
1610, i.e., change the universal resource locator (URL), this need
only be updated in a single MP3 database, the MP3 header database
1624 at the ARS location 1620. Further, the small amount of
information required to be stored in the MP3 audio header on the
audio program is minimized due to the interaction with the
application program 1604 and the fact that the actual routing
information is stored at the ARS location 1620.
[0073] Referring now to FIG. 17, there is illustrated a
diagrammatic view of the information required to be forwarded to
the ARS location 1620 and then to the producer location 1614. The
original MP3 audio program is comprised of an actual compressed MP3
audio track 1700 which has associated therewith some type of
audible routing or product information as a product header 1710.
This is a tone which can be decoded due to the fact that it is
comprised of multiple tones that are outputted in a predetermined
sequence. (However, this need not be a tone. It could be any type
of encoded information, in either the digital or audio domain.)
This sequence, when decoded, indicates certain binary numbers. This
tone can be embedded at any location within the MP3 audio track
1700, although it is illustrated in FIG. 17 as being at the
beginning, i.e., a header. Depending upon the producer's desire,
this program can be placed at any desirable location which would
not aesthetically detract from the program.
[0074] When this audio program is played, the routing or product
information in the product header 1710 is then sensed by the
application program 1604. In addition to being sensed by the
application program 1604, this tone or audio header contains
information that uniquely identifies the audio program, albeit only
at the ARS location 1620. Therefore, this information is assembled
into a packet for being transmitted to the ARS location 1620. The
application program 1604 has predisposed information contained
therein as to the location of the ARS 1620 on the network 1610.
Therefore, it need only assemble this information and route it to
the ARS 1620. However, in addition to this information contained in
header 1710, additional information such as information about the
user at the user PC 1600 may be transmitted in the form of a user
ID. This user ID is associated with information at the ARS location
1620 that is typically input to the ARS location 1620 from the user
PC 1600 when the user PC 1600 is loaded with the audio player
program 1606 or the application program 1604, the preferable
situation being when the audio player program 1606 is integrated
with the application program 1604. This user information at the ARS
location 1620 can contain an entire user profile of the user.
However, when created, this user profile is immediately transmitted
to the ARS location 1620 and stored in a database associated
therewith. All that is transmitted from the user PC 1600 thereafter
is the user ID which is assigned to that user when installing
either the application program 1604 or the combination of the
application program and the audio player program 1606.
[0075] When assembling the packet for transmission to the ARS
location 1620, the routing or product information in the product
header 1710 is stored in the field 1712 as unique program
information. A field 1714 is associated with the user ID and then
an ARS routing field 1716 is provided in the packet. There is
provided with this packet certain TCP/IP overhead in a field 1718.
This is transmitted to the browser 1602, after launching thereof,
as a URL string. This URL string typically is comprised of the
domain name of the ARS location 1620 uniquely defining the ARS
location on the network 1610, followed by informational characters.
These information characters will comprise the information in the
field 1712 and the field 1714. The field 1716 constitutes the ARS
location 1620 routing code. Routing this information to the ARS
1620 is a conventional process.
[0076] Once the ARS location 1620 receives the routed packet
comprised of the field 1712-1718, then this ARS location 1620 will
create a packet for routing back to the user PC 1600. This packet
will contain re-routing information in a field 1720 which instructs
the browser 1602 where the location of the producer 1614 is on the
net 1610, i.e., this is a hands-off operation. In addition to the
re-routing information in field 1720, there is provided a field
1722 associated with the user information which was extracted from
the MP3 header database 1624 and the product information in a field
1724 which was also extracted from the MP3 header database 1624.
Also contained within the packet is a field 1726 instructing the
network 1610 how to route this information back to the user PC
1600, in addition to a TCP/IP overhead field 1728. This is directed
to the user PC 1600 which will then, through the conventional use
of the browser 1602 and the HTML language, create an additional
packet consisting of a producer routing field 1730, a user
information field 1732 corresponding to the user information field
1722, a product information field 1734, corresponding to the
product information field 1724 and a TCP/IP overhead field 1736.
This will be utilized by the browser 1602 in order to determine how
to route the information in fields 1732 and 1734 over to the
producer 1614 for use thereby. At this point, a network connection
has been made to the producer location 1614 and information relayed
to the producer at node 1614 with information as contained in the
MP3 header database 1624, all of this transparent to the actual
user.
[0077] Referring now to FIG. 18, there is illustrated a flowchart
for the overall system operation. The program is initiated at a
System block 1800 and then proceeds to a function block 1802
wherein the MP3 audio is transmitted to the user PC 1600. The user
PC 1600 is then operable to store the information in the hard disk
1618, or other similar storage media, and then play will then be
stored MP3 audio followed with the audio player program 1601. This
is played for audio output on an audio output device 1613. The
application program 1604 may be a separate program as described
hereinabove or be integrated with the audio player program 1606.
This receive and play operation is indicated by a function block
1804. It should be understood that the actual receipt of the
information may trigger the audio player program 1606 to actually
decompress and play the audio file. Although the application
program 1604 may be embedded in the audio player 1606, the
application program 1604 is operable to always be active in the
background, such that the playing of the audio file will trigger
the application program 1604 to launch the browser 1602. This is
facilitated through a detect function, as indicated by a function
block 1806, wherein playing of the audio file, i.e., decompression
and output thereof through the audio output device 1630, results in
output of the embedded product information associated with the
audio program. Detection can be either in the audible domain or the
digital domain, prior to conversion to the audio audible output
signal 1630 from the digital domain. In any event, it is the
detection of the signal that triggers the overall operation
described hereinbelow.
[0078] When the MP3 signal is received by the user PC 1600, it is
typically received along a path labeled MP3 in FIG. 16. This path
is connected to the audio source 1612. After detection, this
product information contained in the "tone" or other product header
1710, is then forwarded to the ARS location 1620, as indicated by
function block 1808. This is funneled along a path labeled "Routing
Info" to the ARS location 1620. A matching operation is then
performed in the ARS location 1620 utilizing the MP3 header
database 1624, as indicated by a function block 1810. This
operation then performs a "hand off" operation to the user. This is
indicated by a Redirect path from ARS location 1620 back to the
user PC 1600, as indicated in FIG. 16. This, as described
hereinabove, provides information as to the user profile, product
information, all of which were stored in the MP3 header database
1624. This information is extracted due to the fact that the ARS
location 1620 has received from the user PC 1600 both the user ID
information and minimal product information through the code
embedded within the product header 1710 in the audio track.
[0079] The program then flows to a function block 1812 wherein this
information redirected from the ARS location 1620 back to the user
PC 1600 is utilized to provide a connection with the producer
location 1614 through a path 1632 within the network 1610. This is
illustrated as a bidirectional path, since a TCP/IP protocol is
utilized requiring packets to be transferred from the user PC 1610
to the producer's network location 1614 and then returned. As
described hereinabove, this is typically in the form of a "web
page" which provides information about the producer or
manufacturer. Since the user not only has information as to the
query, i.e., a request for web page information, but also includes
user information, this allows the producer location 1614 to
"customize" the information transferred back to the user in the
form of both information corresponding to the actual product that
triggered the connection and to some information about the user.
For example, if the song was a popular song by singer John Doe,
requested by user Jane Doe, then the producer could provide
information regarding this song and similar types of songs
associated with the type of music performed by John Doe to a user
of the female gender. However, there could be demographics
contained within the user profile and this could be utilized to
further refine the information sent back to the user PC 1600. This
return of information from the web page of the producer location
1614 is indicated by a function block 1814. Once this connection
has been made, the program flows to an End block 1816.
[0080] Referring now to FIG. 19, there is illustrated a flowchart
depicting the operation at the user PC 1600. The program is
initiated at a Start block 1900 and then proceeds to a function
block 1902. At the function block 1902, the function of monitoring
the audio player program 1606 for a tone is indicated. Since the
audio player program 1606 is required in order to extract the
information from the MP3 audio program file stored in either the
hard disk 1618 or received directly from the audio source 1612,
launching of the audio player program 1606 will also launch the
application program 1604. The program will then flow to decision
block 1904 to determine if the tone has been detected within the
audio program file. It should be understood that each audio program
file played by the audio player 1606 may not contain the tone or
the embedded product information. If not, the program will flow
along the "N" path back to the input of function block 1902.
However, if the tone or embedded product information is detected,
the program will flow along the "Y" path to a function block 1906
wherein the browser will be launched. The program will then flow to
a function block 1908 to assemble a packet indicated in FIG. 17 for
transfer to the ARS location 1620 and then to a function block 1910
to transmit the packet back to the location ARS 1620. This
transmission is facilitated by the fact that the application
program 1604 is aware of the address or URL of the ARS 1620 on the
network 1610. The program then flows to an End block 1912. Once
this operation has been initiated, the information transferred to
the ARS location 1620 and that information processed at the ARS
location 1620, then the application program 1604 is not required
for further processing. This merely then requires interface between
the ARS 1620 and the browser program 1602 using, typically, an HTML
program language.
[0081] Referring now to FIG. 20, there is illustrated a program
depicting the operation of the audio player program 1606. This is
initiated at a block 2000 and then proceeds to a function block
2002 to receive the MP3 file, either directly from the network 1610
in the audio source 1612 or from the hard disk 1618. The program
then flows to a function block 2004 to decode this MP3 file, i.e.,
decompress and play the program in an audio format, and then to a
function block 2006 to output the audio on the audio output device
1630. The program then proceeds to an End block 2008. As described
hereinabove, this audio output operation requires a data conversion
operation, with the application program 1604 operable to detect the
tone or embedded product information in either the digital version
of the file after decompression thereof or in the audio version on
the other side of the analog-to-digital conversion operation.
[0082] In summary, there has been provided a system to allow an
audio file that is transmitted over a global communication network
to have embedded therein product code information that is
associated with a routing operation to a predefined location. When
this audio file is received at a user's PC and decoded and output,
a detection program detects the presence of embedded information.
This embedded information is then utilized by a resident
application program in the user's PC to launch a browser and
transfer this embedded information to a remote intermediate
location. This remote intermediate location has associated
therewith a database, which database is operable to match the
database information with the product and also with routing
information for that embedded information. This routing information
is predisposed in the database and may be associated with some
advertiser that would like to reach users of the audio file or with
the producer of the actual audio file. Once the remote intermediate
location has determined this information, it returns the
information back to the user's PC and the browser running thereon
such that the browser can then contact the routed-to location
indicated in the database directly. Additionally, there can be
certain information provided by the remote intermediate location in
addition to the routing information to the end location for use
thereby. Alternatively, the intermediate remote location could
directly contact the desired routed-to location to allow that
location to directly contact the user PC without having to go back
to the browser of the user PC, although this is a more complex
routing operation.
[0083] Although the preferred embodiment has been described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions
and alterations can be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *
References