Remote control signaling using audio watermarks

• US 20070247278A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IP Acquisitions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Verance Corporation
• Inventors: Petrovic, Rade, Winograd, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,106,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.280
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

A system for using a watermark embedded in an audio signal to remotely control a device. Various devices such as toys, computers, and appliances, equipped with an appropriate detector, detect the hidden signals, which can trigger an action, or change a state of the device. The watermarks can be used with a “time gate” device, where detection of the watermark opens a time interval within which a user is allowed to perform an action, such as pressing a button, typing in an answer, turning a key in a lock, etc.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a user'"'"'s interactions with a media content, comprising:

receiving a media content that is embedded with at least a first substantially imperceptible watermark at a user device;

recovering one or more of said embedded watermarks at said user device;

commencing a time gate; and

enabling a user action in accordance with said recovered one or more watermarks and said time gate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said user action is not permitted outside a duration of said time gate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said user action is not permitted within a duration of said time gate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said user action is permitted after a fixed time from the recovery of said one or more watermarks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more watermarks comprise timing information and said user action is controlled in accordance with said timing information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said user action is permitted when locally generated time at the user device matches said timing information.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said user action is permitted when locally generated time at the user device is within a predefined value of said timing information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more watermarks comprise a counter and said time gate is commenced in accordance with a predefined relationship to said counter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more watermarks comprise duration information of said time gate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein boundaries of said time gate are determined in accordance with a start and a stop watermark.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to provide a response to said user action occurring within a duration of said time gate.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said response to said user action comprises storing information related to said user action.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said response to a user action comprises relaying information related to said user action to a different device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to store information corresponding to said user action.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to relay information related to said recovered one or more watermarks to a different device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said different device comprises one of a television or a computer.

17. A method for controlling a user'"'"'s interactions with a media content, comprising:

embedding at least a first imperceptible watermark in said media content, said watermark being adapted to trigger the commencement of a time gate once said watermark is received and recovered at a user device such that a user action is enabled in accordance with the recovered watermark and the time gate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said user action is not permitted outside a duration of said time gate.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said user action is not permitted within a duration of said time gate.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said user action is permitted after a fixed time from the recovery of said watermark.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said watermark comprises timing information and said user action is controlled in accordance with said timing information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said user action is permitted when locally generated time at the user device matches said timing information.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said user action is permitted when locally generated time at the user device is within a predefined value of said timing information.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said watermark comprises a counter and said time gate is commenced in accordance with a predefined relationship to said counter.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein said watermark comprises duration information of said time gate.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein boundaries of said time gate are determined in accordance with a start and a stop watermark.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein said device is adapted to provide a response to said user action occurring within a duration of said time gate.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said response to said user action comprises storing information related to said user action.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said device response to a user action comprises relaying information related to said user action to a different device.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein said device is adapted to store information corresponding to said user action.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein said device is adapted to relay information related to said recovered watermark to a different device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said different device comprises one of a television or a computer.

33. A method for remotely controlling a device using a media content, comprising:

receiving a media content that is embedded with at least a first substantially imperceptible watermark at a user device; and

recovering one or more of said embedded watermarks at said user device; and

triggering an action at said user device within a time gate in accordance with the recovered one or more watermarks.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said action comprises at least one of:

movement of a mechanical component;

displaying a message;

storing a user response;

or

transmitting information to a different device.

35. A method for remotely controlling a device using a media content, comprising:

embedding a media content with at least a first substantially imperceptible watermark; and

communicating said watermarked media content to said user device;

wherein upon the reception of said watermarked media content by said user device one or more of said watermarks is recovered, and an action is triggered within a time gate in accordance with said recovered one or more watermark.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said action comprises at least one of:

movement of a mechanical component;

displaying a message;

storing a user response;

or

transmitting information to a different device.