Displaying information on a portable digital device by transmission of a universal resource locator over a short-range radio frequency link

• US 20020022961A1
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stefan Sepanaho
• Original Assignee: Stefan Sepanaho
• Inventors: Sepanaho, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US09/682,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A short-range radio transmitter establishes a link to a portable digital device (user device) within the transmitters range and transmits a universal resource locator (URL) to the device. As the user device receives the transmission, software is launched, and the software requests information from the transmitted URL via a different radio frequency link. The present invention allows individuals and businesses to install short-range radio transmitters in specific locations and cause a user device within a definable range to automatically display relevant information associated with that location. The information includes advertising, product, equipment, inventory, online payment processing, and information relating to any additional field.

Claims

1. A method for disseminating information related to a locale, the method comprising:

locating a transmitter in an area frequented by persons potentially desirous of information related to the locale;

broadcasting a universal resource locator (URL) capable of being received by a user device carried by such persons;

receiving the URL at the user device;

initiating an inquiry by the user device to an information database; and

receiving information from the information database related to the locale.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a programmable radio frequency transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises a portable computer, digital mobile phone, personal digital assistant, or any other portable digital device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises software operable for interpreting a radio frequency transmission, translating the radio frequency transmission into a URL, launching additional software programs on the user device, retrieving information represented by the URL, storing information, and handling and transmitting information over a secondary radio frequency link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter further comprises a preprogrammed non-volatile random access memory unit, a universal resource identifier (URI), or an Internet protocol (IP) address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information database comprises an application server, a web server, a file server, or a database server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises advertising, product, transaction, online payment processing, equipment tracking, identification, warehouse management, and any additional information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises advertising, product, transaction, online payment processing, equipment tracking, identification, warehouse management, and any additional information.

8. A system for disseminating information related to a locale, the system comprising:

a short-range radio transmitter, located in an area frequented by persons potentially desirous of information related to the locale, operable for broadcasting a universal resource locator (URL)

a user device carried by such persons operable for receiving the URL; and

an information database operable for receiving/sending locale related information to/from the user device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitter comprises a programmable radio frequency transmitter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a portable computer, digital mobile phone, personal digital assistant, or any other portable digital device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises software operable for interpreting a radio frequency transmission, translating the radio frequency transmission into a URL, launching additional software programs on the user device, retrieving information represented by the URL, storing information, and handling and transmitting information over a secondary radio frequency link.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitter further comprises a preprogrammed non-volatile random access memory unit, a universal resource identifier (URI), or an Internet protocol (IP) address.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the information database comprises an application server, a web server, a file server, or a database server.