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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing an
audio information signal to a portable receiver, in which a plurality of
receivers are serviced by a single information transmitter system, and in
which the received information content is selected or influenced by a user
and directed specifically to that user. The present invention also relates
to a wireless receiver information retrieval database system which
operates in an environment, allowing mobility of a user within the
environment while receiving selected audio information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various systems for providing personalized information to mobile users are
known. These include systems dedicated for this functionality, and those
which incidentally include this functionality. The simplest systems are
mobile half or full duplex radio transceivers, which allow sharing of a
single transmission channel or pair of channels with any number of users.
These systems may be used with voice or data. Another type of
communication system is the known switched telephone system, in which
voice and/or data is communicated on dedicated channels between users,
with a central switch controlling the linking. A further type of
communication system employs an addressed packet communication system in
which packets of information are addressed to a recipient over a common
channel, thereby allowing a large number of users to share a common
channel. Spread spectrum systems allow independent communication between
transceivers over a shared radio frequency band, particularly where band
occupancy is low.
In order to avoid the need for decoding addresses for each information
packet, multiple communications channels are employed. Such systems
include physical communications media, such as copper wire and optic
fiber, as well as wireless channels which may vary in frequency, timing,
polarization, or other characteristic which allows selection at the
receiver regardless of the data content of the channel. Thus, cellular
telephone systems exist which allow multiple frequency bands (FDMA) or
timeslots (TDMA) to be employed for full duplex analog or digital
communications (CPDP).
Cellular telephone transceivers may be used with known information
distribution systems to provide a selective information distribution to
mobile users based on a selection criteria provided by the user. Thus,
various dial-up databases and phone-messaging systems may be accessed
through wireless transceivers. Unidirectional and bi-directional paging
systems are known, in which many users share a common transmission medium
and common communications channel with addressed packet messages.
Bi-directional pagers may employ a separate and/or different communication
system for data uplink. Low power systems are known which allow
point-to-point communications of voice or data over channels within a
band, or via spread spectrum communications.
Known systems allow the storage and retrieval of music on a database server
system, which may be accessed through telephone systems, computer networks
or the Internet. These systems provide, in the various implementations,
dedicated send and receive channels for each user, an addressed packet
information delivery transmission protocol, or a combination thereof.
These systems generally provide symmetric data links, employing the same
protocol and data transmission formats for both uplink and downlink.
Asymmetric data links are also known, but such systems generally employ
addressed packet information in a high speed downlink and multiple
dedicated communication channels in an uplink.
Systems are also known, e.g., Internet, which convert information from a
dedicated channel to a common channel with addressed information packets.
Radio frequency uplink bar code scanners are known, which scan a bar code
of an object and uplink the code to a centralized system. Further, systems
are known wherein multiple bar code terminals may operate simultaneously
with a central database system. In addition, it is known to provide a
terminal for use by a person, having a bar code scanner and which receives
information resulting or relating to a bar code scan from a central
system, through a wireless link. These systems are generally used for
digital data transmission in automated inventory and warehousing
applications. Virtual reality simulations may include audio signals
presented to a user through a wireless link. Bar code equipped terminals
may also be fitted with audio output devices. One such known system is a
supermarket cash register with integral bar code scanner and voice
synthesis, which is connected to a central database for bar code-based
look-up and return of product identification and pricing information.
Infrared communications are known, and with a number of emerging standards,
such as IrDA. In these systems, an infrared LED is digitally modulated at
a high data rate to illuminate an environmental area with a beam including
the signal. A photodetector, generally a silicon bipolar device based
detector, receives the infrared signal, which is generally processed to
suppress background illumination effects and demodulate the signal. It is
known to transmit audio information using such methods, such as to
wireless headphones or speakers.
A video cassette recorder system manufactured by Matsushita provides a bar
code scanner which transmits control sequences via an infrared beam to a
VCR. As a result of these transmitted sequences, the VCR may reproduce a
desired audio-visual sequence. Optical disk systems are also known in
which addressing information is provided through a bar code reader, and so
that a portion of the information stored on an optical video-disk is
retrieved and presented based on a printed bar code which is scanned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,874, incorporated herein by reference, relates to a
system for the tuning of a broadcast radio receiver to a receive a signal
from a transmitter of a certain type of program using RDS (radio data
system) information. The broadcast radio receiver is first tuned to
receive a convenient program signal, which is in accordance with the
wishes of the listener. The PTY (program type information) information
retrieved from the RDS data of such transmitter is stored by operation of
an associated control element in order to set a filter, whose filter
condition is the agreement with such PTY information. For subsequent
tuning of the broadcast radio receiver to another program, as for example
by means of a search sweep, such program is only considered to be suitable
for reception if it fulfills the filter condition. PTY information is a
standardized characteristic indicating the type of program, which is
broadcast by the respective transmitter, as for instance news services,
sporting news, entertainment music or classical music.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,215, incorporated herein by reference, relates to a
system for simultaneously interrogating a plurality of portable data
cards. Operable over a plurality of radio frequencies, the interrogation
system sequentially communicates with each portable data card as it comes
within communication range on a first one of the plurality of radio
frequencies for determining a unique identification number associated with
each data card. Once the identification number for a card is obtained by
the interrogation system, a predetermined transaction, such as
deactivating an electronic barrier to entering a limited access area, for
the holder of the identified card is initiated. The interrogation system
then selects and moves with each card to a different one of the plurality
of radio frequencies for completing a data transfer portion of the
transaction. The interrogation system simultaneously completes each
predetermined transaction of reading from and writing data to each one of
the plurality of cards while communicating with each card on the
respectively selected ones of the plurality of radio frequencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,946, incorporated herein by reference, relates to a
system for interactive multimedia entertainment that stores a plurality of
video and/or songs and allows for the receipt of information concerning
the cost of each song and other relevant information. The system has
application to music listening, video entertainment and Karaoke
entertainment systems.
It is also known to store audio information, as samples or synthesized
music or voice, in a semiconductor memory device. Technologies used for
this storage include masked ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, multivalued stored charge
potentials, and RAM.
The known systems may be expensive, both in equipment cost, and in the
opportunity cost of the radio frequency spectrum usage. Further, these
systems do not provide for simple automated identification of an object
concerning which information is desired with subsequent automated receipt
of an audio signal regarding that object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore provides a system adapted for distribution
of differing information to a plurality of mobile users. The distributed
information is preferably audio information. Each of the mobile users may
individually select desired information. This system generally has
asymmetric data communications requirements, with the selection
information corresponding or relating to specific information and the
information itself being a real time analog data stream. Thus, the
selection and the delivery, also known as the uplink and downlink, are
quantitatively and qualitatively different. The system according to the
present invention thus separates these communications functions.
Because of the nature of the information to be delivered, it is preferred
that separate communications channels be provided for each mobile
receiver. Thus, the receiver need only select the appropriate channel to
receive the selected information. Optionally, multiple receivers may be
assigned the same channel, or channel assignments may change during
information delivery.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an efficient mobile receiver
design and communications system adapted for use in a retail environment
by consumers. The operation of the device requires little training and
information delivery is automated.
It is therefore an object according a first embodiment of the present
invention to provide a multichannel switched communication system having a
plurality of communication channels, comprising a plurality of information
records stored in a database relating to a plurality of identified
objects; a database server system for selectively accessing information
records based on a selection criteria; and a multichannel distribution
system capable of simultaneously transmitting a plurality of selectively
accessed information records on different channels, characterized in that
a common input receives a plurality of selection criteria associated with
an identification of a receiver, said selection criteria including object
identification information.
It is also an object according to the present invention to provide a
multichannel switched communication system further comprising a plurality
of receivers, each of said receivers having an audio transducer for
producing audio information relating to said selectively accessed
information record and a data input for transmitting information relating
to said selection criteria to said common input. The information records
may comprise audio information, preferably music. The database system may
retrieve information based on an identity of a musical work, and said
selection criteria may include an identification of a portion of a
compilation of musical works. It is another object according to the
present invention to provide a system for identifying a portion of a
musical compilation to be transmitted. The identifying system may include
a database of user characteristic information, each of said receivers
being associated with a user, said selecting means accessing user
characteristic information associated with each user.
It is a further object according to the present invention to provide a
multichannel switched communication system wherein said multichannel
distribution system transmits to said receivers using a frequency division
multiplex scheme and said receivers transmit to said common input with
addressed information packets. The receivers may transmit to said common
input through an infrared beam and said multichannel distribution system
transmit to said receivers through a radio frequency channel.
It is a further object according to the present invention to provide a
multichannel switched communication system having a command input
associated with each of said receivers for controlling said selecting
means.
It is a still further object according to the present invention to provide
a multichannel switched communication system having a plurality of
receivers, wherein each of said receivers comprises a portable housing, a
pair of headphones, and a bar code reader. In a preferred embodiment, said
bar code reader comprises an LED and a semiconductor photodetector, said
LED being further modulable to transmit information to said database
server system, and said photodetector detecting modulated optical
information from said database server system, whereby in a first
operation, a bar code present on an object is scanned by light emitted by
said LED and detected by said photodetector, and in a second operation
said LED transmits bar code data to said database server system. During
said second operation, said photodetector may detect an absence of other
optical data transmission prior to said LED transmitting bar code data.
Optionally, in a third operation, a confirmation of transmission is
transmitted optically from said database server system to said
photodetector; or by said multichannel distribution system over said
identified communications channel.
According to one aspect of the present invention, said receivers may
transmit selection data by radio frequency modulated signal to said
database server system and said identified receiver is a radio frequency
receiver. Optionally, said receivers transmit a digitally modulated radio
frequency signal on a common signaling channel.
According to another aspect of the present invention, selection information
is input by a bar code reader, reading a bar code on a product.
Preferably, the bar code is imprinted on audio recording packaging. More
preferably, said information records correspond to audio recordings, said
bar code corresponding to a compilation of audio recordings, and the
system further comprises means for selecting a portion of said compilation
for transmission.
It is another object according to the present invention to provide a
multichannel switched communication system having a database for storing
information relating to said identification of said receiver, said
database server system selectively accessing information records based on
said selection criteria and said information relating to said
identification of said receiver.
It is an object according to a second embodiment of the invention to
provide a multichannel communication system having a plurality of
communication channels, operating in an environment having a plurality of
objects each having an identification, comprising a plurality of stored
information records including audio information; a transmitter, for
transmitting at least two of said plurality of stored information records
on different channels; a receiver, selectively receiving said transmitted
information from one of said channels; and an audio transducer for
reproducing said audio information included in said received information,
characterized in that said selected received information is based on an
identification of an object; said identification of said object being
obtained by an object identification system associated with said receiver.
It is an object according to a further embodiment of the invention to
provide a communication transceiver comprising a wireless electromagnetic
receiver for receiving a transmitted stereo audio signal transmitted on a
channel in a band, said band having a plurality of channels; and a pair of
audio transducers for producing stereo audio information from said
received stereo audio signal, characterized in that the communication
transceiver includes a sensor for reading stored information in a storage
medium proximate to said sensor; and an information transmitter for
broadcasting said sensed stored information.
It is a further object according to the present invention to provide a
transceiver wherein said wireless receiver may optionally be assigned a
predetermined channel of said band, or select said channel digitally or by
scanning said channels of said band and comparing said signal to said
criterion.
It is another object according to the present invention to provide a
transceiver in which the sensor is optionally a bar code reader, an
optical indicia reader, a magnetic information sensor, a radio frequency
identification sensor or an electronic serial number sensor.
It is still another object according to the present invention to provide a
transceiver wherein said information transmitter transmits information
optionally on a modulated infrared beam or on a modulated radio frequency
wave, which may be the same communications channel as the information
transmission.
These and other objects will become apparent through a review of drawings
and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features in accordance with the invention are illustrated,
by way of example, in specific embodiments of the invention now to be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a central server system according to the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a receiver according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a central server having a remote mass storage
system of user of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a fixed FDMA transmission scheme according to
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a simple selection criteria database according to
the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a multiple selection criteria, multiple related
audio information record database according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an infrared uplink, radio frequency downlink
embodiment according to the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a radio frequency uplink and downlink
embodiment according to the present invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the Figures. Identical elements in the various figures
of the present invention are designated with the same reference numerals.
The present system comprises a number of components, including a mass store
of information, an information record retrieval system, optionally a
information sub-selection system, a multichannel information transmission
system, a mobile receiver, and an information-bearing channel selection
system.
The mass storage system and information retrieval system are referred to
herein as the central system. This central system may be modular,
dispersed, and or include redundant elements. In fact, a plurality of
"central systems" may be provided, with each central system being capable
of servicing a plurality of receivers.
Thus, in one aspect, a central system maintains a library of information
relating to a plurality of predefined objects, each object having an
identification, a system for simultaneously transmitting the information
from the library to a plurality of receivers through communications
channels, and a plurality of mobile receivers each for receiving the
information, based on the identification, from the communications band or
a channel within the band and presenting the information through an output
to the user. The information is preferably audio information, and the
output is preferably a portable audio transducer. Further, the desired
object identification may be provided from each of the mobile receivers
and uplinked to the central system, or processed locally at the mobile
receiver to select an appropriate channel.
Thus, a signal may be transmitted from a portable receiver to a database
system identifying an object in the environment about which audio
information is desired. A data base, which stores the audio information,
may be accessed and a corresponding database record transmitted. The
portable receiver then receives the audio information. The transmitted
signal identifying the audio information is preferably a coded signal,
including digital information, but may also be semantic instructions or
analog data. The database management system services a plurality of
receivers simultaneously, and thus includes a system for supplying audio
information essentially in real time to a plurality of receivers. This
means that audio information is reproduced without unintended gaps, at a
normalized speed; however, the present system tolerates a limited latency
in commencing delivery of audio information and may deliver a limited
amount of audio information, instead of an entire composition or
compilation.
Mass Store
The system includes a mass store device, which preferably stores audio
information. This audio information is more preferably music, and may be
in the form of musical clips, songs or compilations. For example, music is
commonly distributed on audio compact disks (CDs), and therefore the mass
store may comprise a jukebox for housing and accessing a plurality of such
distributed audio CDs. The mass store may also comprise specially produced
CDs having a number of songs, selections or portions of songs, which may
be from many different sources. Other formats are known, such as compact
disk read only memory (CD-ROM) and recordable compact disk read only
memory (R-CD-ROM), which may be used to store audio data in various
formats, including compressed formats, and which are addressed by a
computerized device. Further, the mass store may comprise magnetic or
semiconductor memory devices, as known in the art.
A number of known systems are available for storing the audio information
relating to the objects. Where the objects are compact disks containing
music, these may be placed in a jukebox system. One copy of each musical
CD is stored in the jukebox system, which may potentially accommodate
hundreds or thousands of CDs. Generally, however, the scale of such
systems will be larger than desired in a typical retail environment. In
this case, the jukebox system may be physically separate from the retail
environment, and in fact such a jukebox system may service a number of
individual retail environments. A plurality of telecommunications links
may therefore be provided from a centralized jukebox to service many
retail outlets. In this instance, a three level architecture exists: the
centralized information database server, a plurality of transmitters each
for communicating with a plurality of mobile receivers, and the receivers
themselves. Where an entire CD compilation of music is stored in a
jukebox, it is generally desired that only a small portion of the stored
information be delivered. For example, copyright and administrative
convenience allows a typical CD from inventory to be placed in the jukebox
without significant customization or processing. For example, a CD may be
identified with its own manufacturer's packaging bar code. As stated
above, where the stored information exceeds the desired level of delivered
information, a selection process is required to limit the information
delivery. While a simple criterion, e.g., "first 45 seconds of first track
of CD" may be employed, more sophisticated criteria are possible, and may
be preferable, e.g., where a | | |
