Method for controlling an apparatus with a broadcast signal and apparatus therefor

• US 20040055019A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Marmaropoulos, George
• Application Number:
  US10/242,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20040055019A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/133
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

A receiving device including: a receiver for receiving a broadcast signal for controlling a behavior of the receiving device, the broadcast signal being broadcast within a predetermined area; one or more output devices; and a processor for converting the broadcast signal into one or more control signals and controlling the one or more output devices according to the one or more control signals. The receiving device is preferably a toy, a novelty device, a sporting aid, an educational aid, or a weather indicator. The broadcast signal is preferably a radio broadcast signal, a cellular broadcast signal, or a satellite broadcast signal.

Claims

1. A receiving device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a broadcast signal for controlling a behavior of the receiving device, the broadcast signal being broadcast within a predetermined area;

one or more output devices; and

a processor for converting the broadcast signal into one or more control signals and controlling the one or more output devices according to the one or more control signals.

2. The receiving device of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is selected from a group consisting of a toy, a novelty device, a sporting aid, an educational aid, and a weather indicator.

3. The receiving device of claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal is selected from a group consisting of a radio broadcast signal, a cellular broadcast signal, and a satellite broadcast signal.

4. The receiving device of claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal is a radio broadcast signal having a predetermined frequency.

5. The receiving device of claim 4, further comprising a radio tuner for varying the predetermined frequency.

6. The receiving device of claim 4, wherein the broadcast signal is embedded in a radio program signal, the receiving device further comprising means for separating the embedded broadcast signal from the radio program signal.

7. The receiving device of claim 1, wherein the one or more output devices are selected from a group consisting of a motor, speaker, and light.

8. A system for controlling a receiving device, the system comprising:

a broadcaster for broadcasting a broadcast signal within a predetermined area to control a behavior of the receiving device; and

a receiving device comprising a receiver for receiving the broadcast signal within the predetermined area, one or more output devices, and a processor for converting the broadcast signal into one or more control signals and controlling the one or more output devices according to the one or more control signals.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the broadcaster is selected from a group consisting of a radio broadcaster, a cellular broadcaster, and a satellite broadcaster.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the broadcast signal is a dedicated signal for the control of the one or more output devices of the receiving device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted in parallel with a main signal selected from a group consisting of a radio program signal, a cellular message signal, and a satellite content signal.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiving device is selected from a group consisting of a toy, a novelty device, a sporting aid, an educational aid, and a weather indicator.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more output devices are selected from a group consisting of a motor, speaker, and light.

14. A method for controlling a behavior of a receiving device from a broadcast signal which is broadcast within a predetermined area, the method comprising:

receiving the broadcast signal at the receiving device;

converting the broadcast signal into one or more control signals; and

controlling one or more output devices associated with the receiving device according to the one or more control signals.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising broadcasting the broadcast signal to the predetermined area.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the broadcasting comprises broadcasting a radio broadcast signal having a predetermined frequency, the method further comprising varying the predetermined frequency.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving device is in the form of an animal and has at least one of arms, legs, head, and fingers, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling a movement of at least one of the arms, legs, head, and fingers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving device further has at least one light, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling activation of the at least one light.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving device further has at least one speaker, wherein the controlling step comprises outputting a sound from the at least one speaker.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising demonstrating one of an advertisement, weather indication, exercise instruction, story telling, alarm indication, and educational instruction to a user of the receiving device from the control of the one or more output devices.