U.S. patent application number 13/286670 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-28 for system effective to demodulate a modulated code and provide content to a user.
The applicant listed for this patent is Alex Bell, Jonathan Glanz. Invention is credited to Alex Bell, Jonathan Glanz.
Application Number | 20130079057 13/286670 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47008308 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130079057 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bell; Alex ; et al. |
March 28, 2013 |
SYSTEM EFFECTIVE TO DEMODULATE A MODULATED CODE AND PROVIDE CONTENT
TO A USER
Abstract
A system and method effective to provide content to a user. The
system may include a sound device, a smart phone, and a processor.
The sound device may produce a modulated code where different
frequencies represent respectively logic 0s and 1s. The smart phone
may apply a transform and peak detector to the modulated code to
determine logic 0s and 1s to demodulate the code. The smart phone
may send the demodulated code to a processor. The processor may
receive the code, determine content associated with the code, and
send the content over the network to the smart phone. The smart
phone may further receive the content and output the content on a
display.
Inventors: |
Bell; Alex; (New York,
NY) ; Glanz; Jonathan; (New York, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bell; Alex
Glanz; Jonathan |
New York
New York |
NY
NY |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47008308 |
Appl. No.: |
13/286670 |
Filed: |
November 1, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61538370 |
Sep 23, 2011 |
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61538395 |
Sep 23, 2011 |
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61538443 |
Sep 23, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/556.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/12 20130101; H04M
1/505 20130101; H04M 3/4878 20130101; H04M 1/2757 20200101; H04M
1/2155 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/556.1 |
International
Class: |
H04W 88/00 20090101
H04W088/00 |
Claims
1. A system effective to provide content to a user, the system
comprising: a sound device effective to output a sound wave
including a modulated code; a smart phone in communication with the
sound device, the smart phone effective to receive the modulated
code, apply the modulated code to a transform to produce a signal,
the signal relating to a volume magnitude of frequencies in the
modulated code, apply the signal to a peak detector to produce a
peak history, analyze the peak history to determine a proposed
logic 0 and a proposed logic 1 for the modulated code, demodulate
the modulated code with the proposed logic 0 and proposed logic 1
to reproduce the code, and send the code over a network as a query
to a processor; the processor effective to receive the query
including the code, determine content associated with the code, and
send the content to the smart phone; and the smart phone further
effective to receive the content and output the content.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the smart phone
includes an operating system, a memory and an application stored in
the memory; and the application is effective to wake up the
operating system and control the processor to listen for the
modulated code at a designated time interval.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sound device is
further effective to output another sound wave audible to a
human.
4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the smart phone
includes an operating system, a memory and an application stored in
the memory; the smart phone is effective to receive a service set
identifier; and the application is effective to wake up the
operating system and control the processor to listen for the
modulated code after receipt of the service set identifier.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the smart phone
includes an operating system, a memory and an application stored in
the memory; the smart phone is effective to receive a service set
identifier; and the application is effective to wake up the
operating system and control the processor to listen for the
modulated code after receipt of the service set identifier and
after a determination by the processor that the smart phone is in a
defined geographic area.
6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart phone is
effective to apply the modulated code to a fast Fourier transform
module to produce the signal.
7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the peak history
includes an indication of frequencies with volume magnitudes above
a threshold.
8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the smart phone is
effective to analyze the peak history to determine a first set of
frequencies and a second set of frequencies with the greatest
number of volume magnitude peaks in the peak history respectively,
where the first set of frequencies has a lower frequency range than
the second set of frequencies; assign a logic 0 to the first set;
and assign a logic 1 to the second set.
9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein: the modulated code
includes a payload; and the smart phone is further effective to
assign the logic 0 to the first set of frequencies in the payload
and assign the logic 1 to the second set frequencies in the payload
to determine a proposed payload.
10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein: the modulated code
includes a checksum; and the smart phone is further effective to
assign the logic 0 to the first set of frequencies in the checksum
and assign the logic 1 to the second set frequencies in the
checksum to determine a proposed checksum; and compare the proposed
payload with the proposed checksum to determine whether the
proposed payload matches the proposed checksum.
11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein: when the proposed
payload does not match the proposed checksum, the smart phone is
effective to assign a logic 0 to a third set of frequencies; and
assign a logic 1 to a fourth set of frequencies.
12. A method for providing content to a user, the method
comprising: outputting, by a sound device, a sound wave including a
modulated code; receiving, by a smart phone, the modulated code;
applying, by the smart phone, the modulated code to a transform to
produce a signal, the signal relating to a volume magnitude of
frequencies in the modulated code; applying, by the smart phone,
the signal to a peak detector to produce a peak history; analyzing,
by the smart phone, the peak history to determine a proposed logic
0 and a proposed logic 1 for the modulated code; demodulating, by
the smart phone, the modulated code using the proposed logic 0 and
proposed logic 1 to reproduce the code; sending, by the smart
phone, the code over a network as a query to a processor;
receiving, by the processor, the query including the code;
determining, by the processor, content associated with the code;
sending, by the processor, the content to the smart phone;
receiving the content by the smart phone; and outputting the
content by the smart phone.
13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising waking up
an operating system of the smart phone to listen for the modulated
code at a designated time interval.
14. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:
receiving a service set identifier by the smart phone; and waking
up an operating system of the smart phone and listening for the
modulated code after receiving the service set identifier.
15. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising: applying
the modulated code to a fast Fourier transform module to produce
the signal; and wherein the peak history includes an indication of
frequencies with volume magnitudes above a threshold.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein analyzing the peak
history includes: determining a first set of frequencies and a
second set of frequencies with the greatest number of volume
magnitude peaks in the peak history respectively, where the first
set of frequencies has a lower frequency range than the second set
of frequencies; assigning a logic 0 to the first set; and assigning
a logic 1 to the second set.
17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein: the modulated code
includes a payload and a checksum; and the method further comprises
assigning the logic 0 to the first set of frequencies in the
payload and assigning the logic 1 to the second set frequencies in
the payload to determine a proposed payload; assigning the logic 0
to the first set of frequencies in the checksum and assigning the
logic 1 to the second set frequencies in the checksum to determine
a proposed checksum; and comparing the proposed payload with the
proposed checksum to determine whether the proposed payload matches
the proposed checksum.
18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein: when the proposed
payload does not match the proposed checksum, the method further
comprises assigning a logic 0 to a third set of frequencies; and
assigning a logic 1 to a fourth set of frequencies.
19. A smart phone effective to provide content to a user, the smart
phone comprising: a microphone; a memory; an application stored in
the memory; and a first processor in communication with the
microphone and the memory; wherein the microphone is effective to
receive a sound wave including a modulated code; the first
processor is effective to receive the modulated code and, in
response to instructions from the application apply the modulated
code to a transform to produce a signal, the signal relating to a
volume magnitude of frequencies in the modulated code, apply the
signal to a peak detector to produce a peak history, analyze the
peak history to determine a proposed logic 0 and a proposed logic 1
for the modulated code, demodulate the modulated code with the
proposed logic 0 and proposed logic 1 to reproduce the code, send
the code over a network as a query to a second processor, receive
content from the second processor in response to the query; and
output the content.
20. The smart phone as recited in claim 19, wherein: the smart
phone includes an operating system, a memory and an application
stored in the memory; the modulated code includes a payload and a
checksum; the peak history includes an indication of frequencies
with volume magnitudes above a threshold; and the processor is
effective to apply the modulated code to a fast Fourier transform
module to produce the signal; analyze the peak history to determine
a first set of frequencies and a second set of frequencies with the
greatest number of peaks in the peak history respectively, where
the first set of frequencies has a lower frequency range than the
second set frequencies; assign the logic 0 to the first set of
frequencies in the payload and assign the logic 1 to the second set
frequencies in the payload to determine a proposed payload; assign
the logic 0 to the first set of frequencies in the checksum and
assign the logic 1 to the second set frequencies in the checksum to
determine a proposed checksum; and compare the proposed payload
with the proposed checksum to determine whether the proposed
payload matches the proposed checksum.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to provisional
application No. 61/538,370 entitled "SYSTEM EFFECTIVE TO ENCODE A
SIGNAL AND PROVIDE CONTENT TO A USER" filed Sep. 23, 2011 naming
Alex Bell and Jonathan Glanz as inventors, which is co-pending; and
claims priority to provisional application No. 61/538,395 entitled
"SYSTEM EFFECTIVE TO DECODE A SIGNAL AND PROVIDE CONTENT TO A USER"
filed Sep. 23, 2011 naming Alex Bell and Jonathan Glanz as
inventors, which is co-pending; and to provisional application No.
61/538,443 entitled "DEVICE EFFECTIVE TO ENCODE A SIGNAL AND TO
PROVIDE CONTENT TO A USER" filed Sep. 23, 2011 naming Alex Bell and
Jonathan Glanz as inventors, which is co-pending; the entirety of
these three applications is hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This disclosure relates to a system and method effective to
provide targeted content to a potential user in sound communication
with a sound device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A smart phone may include devices and structures capable of
communicating over a cellular or satellite network. Smart phones
may also be capable of storing an application capable of utilizing
some of the data available to the smart phone. For example, the
application may be able to combine a user's contact list and
location to generate additional content for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One embodiment of the invention is a system effective to
provide content to a user. The system may comprise a sound device
effective to output a sound wave including a modulated code. The
system may comprise a smart phone in communication with the sound
device. The smart phone may be effective to receive the modulated
code, and apply the modulated code to a transform to produce a
signal, the signal relating to a volume magnitude of frequencies in
the modulated code. The smart phone may be effective to apply the
signal to a peak detector to produce a peak history, and analyze
the peak history to determine a proposed logic 0 and a proposed
logic 1 for the modulated code. The smart phone may be effective to
demodulate the modulated code with the proposed logic 0 and
proposed logic 1 to reproduce the code, and send the code over a
network as a query to a processor. The processor may be effective
to receive the query including the code, determine content
associated with the code, and send the content to the smart phone.
The smart phone may be further effective to receive the content and
output the content.
[0007] Another embodiment of the invention is a method for
providing content to a user. The method may comprise outputting, by
a sound device, a sound wave including a modulated code. The method
may further comprise receiving, by a smart phone, the modulated
code. The method may further comprise applying, by the smart phone,
the modulated code to a transform to produce a signal, the signal
relating to a volume magnitude of frequencies in the modulated
code. The method may further comprise applying, by the smart phone,
the signal to a peak detector to produce a peak history. The method
may further comprise analyzing, by the smart phone, the peak
history to determine a proposed logic 0 and a proposed logic 1 for
the modulated code. The method may further comprise demodulating,
by the smart phone, the modulated code using the proposed logic 0
and proposed logic 1 to reproduce the code. The method may further
comprise sending, by the smart phone, the code over a network as a
query to a processor. The method may further comprise receiving, by
the processor, the query including the code. The method may further
comprise determining, by the processor, content associated with the
code. The method may further comprise sending, by the processor,
the content to the smart phone. The method may further comprise
receiving the content by the smart phone. The method may further
comprise outputting the content by the smart phone.
[0008] Yet another embodiment of the invention is a smart phone
effective to provide content to a user. The smart phone may
comprise a microphone, a memory, an application stored in the
memory, and a first processor in communication with the microphone
and the memory. The microphone may be effective to receive a sound
wave including a modulated code. The first processor may be
effective to receive the modulated code and, in response to
instructions from the application apply the modulated code to a
transform to produce a signal, the signal relating to a volume
magnitude of frequencies in the modulated code. The first processor
may be further effective to apply the signal to a peak detector to
produce a peak history. The first processor may be further
effective to analyze the peak history to determine a proposed logic
0 and a proposed logic 1 for the modulated code. The first
processor may be further effective to demodulate the modulated code
with the proposed logic 0 and proposed logic 1 to reproduce the
code. The first processor may be further effective to send the code
over a network as a query to a second processor. The first
processor may be further effective to receive content from the
second processor in response to the query. The first processor may
be further effective to output the content.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will
become more fully apparent from the following description and
appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only some
embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are therefore not
to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be
described with additional specificity and detail by reference to
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a system drawing of a system effective to decode a
signal and provide content to a user in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a system drawing of a system effective to decode a
signal and provide content to a user in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process that may be
performed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof. In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components
unless context indicates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments
described in the detailed description, drawings and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized and other
changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of
the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood
that the aspects of the present disclosure as generally described
herein and as illustrated in the accompanying figures can be
arranged, substituted, combined, separated and/or designed in a
wide variety of different configurations all of which are
explicitly contemplated herein.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system 100 in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In summary, a smart
phone 104 may be configured to receive audio waves 136 output by a
sound device 106. Waves 136 may be frequency modulated to modulate
a binary code 138. Smart phone 104 may demodulate code 138 from
modulated code 152 sent in waves 136 to reproduce code 138. Smart
phone 104 may send an enhanced code 140 across a network 116 as a
query to a processor 150. In response to a query including enhanced
code 140, processor 150 may send content 148 to smart phone 104 to
be output by smart phone 104. User 102 may be informed of receipt
of content 148 such as through a vibration of smart phone 104.
Content 148 may be anything that can be outputted by a smart phone
such as a coupon, audio, video, audio-video, digital piece of
content, movie, web page, a pointer to content, etc.
[0015] Smart phone 104 may include an antenna 112, a display 116, a
memory 118, a user interface 146, a microphone 145 and a camera 144
all in communication with a processor 113. Antenna 112 may enable
wireless communications with a cellular base station 144 or
satellite 142 in network 122. Memory 118 may store an application
134 effective to provide instructions for processor 113.
[0016] Sound device 106 may be any device capable of outputting
sound waves. For example, sound device 106 may be a smart phone
120, a television 124, a computer 126, a badge 130 such as a
participant may wear in a conference, a speaker 128 such as a
beacon, etc. In examples where sound device 106 is a beacon 128,
beacon 128 could be placed on, for example, a shelf 154 in a store.
Speaker 128 could also be a speaker effective to output sound waves
audible by a human such as in a public address system. Sound device
106 may include and/or be in communication with a processor 156 and
a memory 132 that may include code 138. Sound device 106 may be
configured to adjust a volume magnitude of sound waves 136 based on
desired distance between sound device 106 and a potential user 102
using smart phone 104. Based on a volume magnitude of sound waves
136 a range may be defined including locations where smart phone
104 has difficulty demodulating modulated code 152, and locations
where smart phone 104 can demodulate modulated code 152.
[0017] The inventors have discovered that, as many different types
of devices may be used for sound device 106, many different ranges
of frequencies may be used to modulate code 138 on to sound waves
126 making demodulation of modulated code 152 complex. Further, an
environment around sound device 106 may be noisy. Code 138 may be a
binary code comprised of logic 0s and logic 1s. Sound device 106
may be configured, such as through processor 156, to modulate and
output modulated code 152 by assignment of a first range of
frequencies for a logic "0" and assignment of a second range of
frequencies for a logic "1". This allows modulated code 152 to be
output from a plurality of distinct sound devices 106 which may
have different speaker resolution outputs.
[0018] For example, a logic "0" may be assigned to sound pulses in
wave 136 with a frequency in the range between about 20,550 Hz and
about 21,000 Hz. Similarly, a logic "1" may be assigned to sound
pulses with a frequency in the range from about 21,000 Hz to about
22,000 Hz. Each sound pulse may be, for example, about 1 ms in
duration. Sound device 106 may thus be able to generate modulated
code 152, including a series of logic 0s and 1s, by outputting
sound pulses in a first range of frequencies, and a second range of
frequencies, respectively. The entire modulated code 152 may last
about 32 ms long and may include 32 logic bits. Modulated code 152
may be repeatedly and periodically output by sound device 106. In
an example, a clock pulse may be output in between each sound
pulse. For example, the clock pulse may be in a third set of
frequencies, such as that centered in between the first and second
ranges of frequencies. In the example, the clock pulse may be at
21,000 Hz. The clock pulse may be used to denote the beginning of a
new bit.
[0019] Smart phone 104 may be configured to listen for sound waves
136 in a variety of methods. In some examples, these methods may
include passive activation techniques. For example, on owner of
application 134 may provide application 134 with a time when sound
waves 136 will be output by sound device 106. For example,
application 134 may be related to a particular brand and the
company that owns the brand may plan to output waves 136 at a
designated time interval. In the example, company X may seek to
output waves 136 relating to brand Y at a particular time.
[0020] Application 134 may then wake up the operating system of
smart phone and control processor 113 to listen for modulated code
140 at the time interval. For example, television 124 may output an
advertisement audible to a human. During or after the
advertisement, television 124 may output sound waves 136 with
modulated code 152 that will result in server 150 outputting
further content 148 relating to the advertisement. In this way,
advertisements to potential users may be targeted based on time.
Advertisements may also be augmented with additional
information.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, in another example, a WIFI router 160
may be used to broadcast an SSID (service set identifier) 162.
Application 134 may control processor 113 of smart phone 104 to
listen for particular SSID values associated with an owner of
application 134--such as SSID values related to brands owned by the
same company that owns application 134. After smart phone 102
receives SSID 162, application 134 wakes up an operating system of
smart phone 102 and controls processor 113 to listen for modulated
code 152. A user 102 may tailor preferences in application 134 so
that application 134 can only wake up the operating system of smart
phone 134 when processor 113 determines that smart phone 134 is
within a defined geographic area. Similarly, application 134 may
limit the SSIDs that may wake up smart phone 104. Application 134
may also limit the codes capable of being demodulated by smart
phone 104 to limit the types of content 150 that may be requested
by smart phone 104.
[0022] Modulated code 152 may come from a variety of distinct sound
devices 106 with different speaker capabilities and resolutions.
Moreover, an environment around sound device 106 may be noisy. A
decoding algorithm 158 may be implemented by application 134 or
processor 150 to demodulate code 138 from modulated code 152. In
examples where processor 150 performs the demodulating, enhanced
code 140 may include modulated code 152 plus any additional context
information as discussed herein.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, decoding algorithm 158 may be configured
to apply modulated code 152 to a FFT (fast Fourier transform)
module 166 to produce a signal 172 including volume magnitudes of
frequencies in frequency ranges in modulated code 152. Decoding
algorithm 158 may apply signal 172 to a peak detector module 168 to
produce a peak history 170. Peak detector module 168 may, for
example, detect volume magnitude values in signal 172 where a
polarity of a derivative of the value with respect to frequency
changes on either side of the value. Modules may be implemented
using hardware or software.
[0024] Each bit in modulated code 152 may be output for a time step
length of time, such as 1 ms. Modulated code 152 may then be the
total number of bits (e.g. 32) multiplied by the time step. Peak
history 170 may be for example, 100 ms long corresponding to the
length of one or more repetitions of modulated code 152. Peak
history 170 may include an indication of frequencies with volume
magnitudes above a threshold magnitude value designated by peak
detector module 168. Such peaks may include logic 0s and 1s in
modulated code 152, and may also include noise such as someone
rubbing a microphone or sneezing, or other loud sounds, etc.
[0025] Decoding algorithm 158 may then analyze peak history 170 and
determine the number of occurrences of peaks for each frequency
range. If more than a threshold number of peaks occurred within a
particular frequency range it is likely that the particular
frequency range includes a logic 0 or 1 and not noise. An example
frequency range may be an increment of 100 hz.
[0026] Decoding algorithm 158 may then determine a first and a
second set of frequencies with the greatest number of peaks in peak
history 170. Decoding algorithm may assign a logic value of 0 to
the set of frequencies with the lower frequency values and assign a
logic value 1 to the set of frequencies with the higher frequency
values. For example, if 30 peaks occurred at frequencies centered
around 20,500 Hz, 8 peaks occurred at frequencies centered around
20,400 Hz, and less than 8 peaks occurred centered around other
frequencies, it is likely that frequencies centered around 20,500
Hz and 20,400 Hz respectively, were used to modulate for logic 0s
and 1s. Decoding algorithm 158 may then analyze modulated code 152
and assign each occurrence of a frequency in the first set of
frequencies as a logic value of 0 and each occurrence of a
frequency in the second frequencies as a logic value of 1 to
produce a proposed demodulated code.
[0027] Modulated code 152 may include a preamble 174, a payload 176
including code 138, and a checksum 178. Decoding algorithm may
apply checksum 178 to the same modules above to determine a
proposed checksum. Decoding algorithm 158 may compare the proposed
demodulated code with a proposed checksum. If the proposed checksum
corresponding to the logic 0s and the proposed checksum
corresponding to the logic 1s match the proposed demodulated code,
then decoding algorithm 158 has successfully reproduced code 138
from modulated code 152. If the proposed checksum corresponding to
the logic 0s and the proposed checksum corresponding to the logic
1s do not match the proposed demodulated code, decoding algorithm
158 may iterate through modulated code 152 and assign logic 0 and
logic 1 to different sets of frequencies.
[0028] Sound waves 136 may be received by microphone 145 of smart
phone 104 and processed by processor 113 using instructions in
application 134. Processor 113 may demodulate modulated code 152 to
reproduce code 138. Processor 113 may then add additional context
data to code 138 relating to smart phone 104 to produce enhanced
code 140. For example, processor 113 may add information relating
to an owner of application stored on smart phone 104 such as an
indication of a particular brand, mark, or company. For example,
application 134 may be owned by company X and may be used to
promote sale of products relating to product X. Enhanced code 140
may include information regarding a location of smart phone 104
and/or a location of sound device 106. Enhanced code 140 may
include an identifier of smart phone 104 so that, upon receipt of
enhanced code 140, processor 150 may not repeatedly send content
148 to smart phone 104.
[0029] As mentioned above, enhanced code 140 may be sent over
network 116 as a query to processor 150. In response to enhanced
code 140, processor 150 may send content 148 over network 116 to
smart phone 104 for output on display 116.
[0030] In an example, beacon 128 may sit on shelf 154 and output
waves 136 including code 138 relating to brand X. Smart phone 104
may receive waves 136, demodulate code 138 and generate enhanced
code 140. Processor 150 may receive enhanced 140 and send content
148 to smart phone 104 relating to brand X. For example, content
148 may include a coupon relating to brand X.
[0031] Among other benefits, an advertiser using a system in
accordance with this disclosure may be able to inexpensively reach
a user's smart phone when the user is in sound communication with a
real world place or when the user is experiencing media. Expensive
hardware need not be used as in other devices that require
processors and feedback loops to ensure that a particular frequency
is emitted--as in situations where the particular value of the
frequency is used as a query. A potential user's smart phone may be
targeted at a particular location such as in an aisle in a store.
In another example, a conference participant may wear an
inexpensive, disposable badge with a beacon effective to output a
sound wave with a modulated code. The code may result in content
148 indicating that a person (with the badge) is in close proximity
of the smart phone and may further provide information about the
person wearing the badge. A television commercial can output a code
inaudible to humans in conjunction with an audible commercial.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a process which may be
performed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The
process could be implemented using, for example, system 100
discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown, at a step
S2, a sound device may be effective to output a modulated code.
[0033] At step S4, a smart phone may receive the modulated code. At
step S5, the smart phone may apply the modulated code to a
transform to produce a signal, the signal relating to a volume
magnitude of frequencies in the modulated code. At step S6, the
smart phone may apply the signal to a peak detector to produce a
peak history. At step S7, the smart phone may analyze the peak
history to determine a proposed logic 0 and a proposed logic 1 for
the modulated code. At step S8, the smart phone may demodulate the
modulated code to reproduce the code. At step S10, the smart phone
may send the code over a network as a query to a processor.
[0034] At step S12, the processor may receive the query including
the code from the smart phone. At step S14, the processor may
determine content associated with the code. At step S16, the
processor may send the content to the smart phone.
[0035] At step S18, the smart phone may receive the content. At
step S20, the smart phone may output the content.
[0036] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed
herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed
herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be
limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the
following claims.
* * * * *