System and method employing portable device for capturing and using broadcast source content to operate other digital devices

• US 20040186767A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ma, Yue, Sitnik, Eran, Khandelwal, Rajesh Bhagwandas, Chang, Chieh-Chung
• Application Number:
  US10/393,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186767A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

A handheld device (such as a personal digital assistant or a cellular telephone) is capable of receiving digital information obtained from a broadcast source during, for example, the vertical blanking interval or from the Internet. The handheld device is capable of both formulating an instruction based on the digital information received and transferring the information and/or instruction to a remote electronic device. The instructions are used by the remote electronic device to perform a particular operation.

Claims

1. A hand-held device adopted to affect operation of a remote device based on information extracted from a broadcast signal, comprising:

an input adapted to receive the information extracted from a broadcast signal;

an instruction formulation module operable to formulate an instruction adapted to operate the remote device based on the information; and

an output adapted to communicate the instruction to the remote device, thereby affecting operation of the remote device based on the information extracted from the broadcast signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said input is adapted to receive software corresponding to an interactive game extracted from the broadcast signal, and said instruction formulation module operable to formulate the instruction based on the game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said input is adapted to receive trial software extracted from the broadcast signal, and said instruction formulation module operable to formulate the instruction based on the trial software.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said input is adapted to receive an electronic coupon extracted from the broadcast signal, and said instruction formulation module operable to formulate the instruction based on the coupon.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the coupon applies to ingredients in a recipe.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said input is adapted to receive driving directions extracted from the broadcast signal, and said instruction formulation module operable to formulate a navigational instruction based on the driving directions.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said input is adapted to receive monetary credits extracted from the broadcast signal, and said instruction formulation module operable to formulate at least one of an account debit instruction and an account credit instruction based on the driving directions.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the monetary credits are redeemable for an expense incurred by a user in traveling to a location to purchase an advertised product.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising:

an device interface adapted to communicate with a remote device adapted to acquire information over a communications network; and

a synchronization engine adapted to link information extracted from the broadcast signal to related information acquired over the communications network.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the information extracted from the broadcast signal is a recipe and the related information is a coupon for an ingredient of the recipe.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said output is adapted to communicate instructions to a translation-capable remote device adapted to translate instructions from one language to another, thereby affecting translation of the instructions from one language to another.

12. A method of operation for use with a hand-held device, comprising:

receiving information extracted from a broadcast signal;

formulating an instruction adapted to operate a remote device based on the information; and

communicating the instruction to the remote device, thereby affecting operation of the remote device based on the information extracted from the broadcast signal.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising:

receiving software corresponding to an interactive game extracted from the broadcast signal; and

formulating an instruction based on the game.

14. The method of claim 12 comprising:

receiving trial software extracted from the broadcast signal; and

formulating an instruction based on the trial software.

15. The method of claim 12 comprising:

receiving an electronic coupon extracted from the broadcast signal; and

formulating an instruction based on the coupon.

16. The method of claim 12 comprising:

receiving an electronic coupon extracted from the broadcast signal, wherein the coupon applies to ingredients in a recipe; and

formulating an instruction based on the coupon.

17. The method of claim 12 comprising:

receiving driving directions extracted from a broadcast signal; and

formulating a navigational instruction based on the driving directions.

18. The method of claim 12 comprising:

receiving monetary credits extracted from a broadcast signal; and

formulating at least one of an account debit instruction and an account credit instruction based on the driving directions.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the monetary credits are redeemable for an expense incurred by a user in traveling to a location to purchase an advertised product.

20. The method of claim 12 comprising:

communicating with a remote device adapted to acquire information over a communications network; and

linking information extracted from the broadcast signal to related information acquired over the communications network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the information extracted from the broadcast signal is a recipe and the related information is a coupon for an ingredient of the recipe.

22. The method of claim 12 comprising:

communicating with a translation-capable remote device adapted to translate instructions from one language to another; and

communicating instructions to the translation-capable remote device, thereby affecting translation of the instructions from one language to another.