Smartphone-Based Methods and Systems

• US 20120116559A1
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Bruce L., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,218,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/041 File watermark, i.e. embedding a hidden code in an electrophonic musical instrument file or stream for identification or authentification purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera

Abstract

Methods and arrangements involving portable devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, are disclosed. One arrangement enables a creator of content to select software with which that creator'"'"'s content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another arrangement utilizes the camera of a smartphone to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some of the detailed technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, in a portable audio device, audio data representing audio content;

applying an algorithm to the received audio data to derive identification data therefrom;

by reference to the derived identification data, selecting a particular software program for use with said audio content, said selecting being performed by a processor in the portable audio device that is configured to perform such act; and

launching said selected software program;

wherein selection of the particular software program used with the audio data is based on identification data derived from the audio data.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the selecting comprises selecting a particular rendering codec for the audio content, from among plural possible rendering codecs.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the selecting proceeds with reference to the derived identification data, and also with reference to context data, wherein a first software program is selected in a first context, and a second software program is selected in a second context.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the context data comprises age data.

5. The method of claim 3 in which the context data comprises gender data.

6. The method of claim 1 that includes downloading the selected software program to the portable audio device from a cloud repository after said selecting.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the portable audio device already includes a software program for use with said audio content, but said selecting identifies a different software program, wherein the method includes downloading said different software program and launching said different software program.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the selecting comprises identifying plural different software programs, and checking which of said identified software programs is available in storage of the portable audio device.

9. The method of claim 8 that includes finding that two or more of the identified software programs are available in storage of the portable audio device, and then automatically choosing between the available software programs based on an algorithm.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the receiving comprises receiving ambient audio using a microphone of the portable audio device.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, in a portable audio device, audio data representing audio content;

applying an algorithm to the received audio data to derive identification data therefrom;

by reference to the derived identification data, selecting a favored software program for use with said audio content, said selecting being performed by a processor in the portable device that is configured to perform such act; and

indicating the favored software program to a user;

wherein the favored software program used with the audio data is selected based on identification data derived from the audio data.

12. The method of claim 11 that includes:

receiving user input identifying a software program for use with said audio content; and

if the software program identified by the received user input is not the favored software program, then limiting use of the identified software program with the audio content.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, in a portable audio device, audio data representing audio content, the audio content being of a type that can be rendered by first software in the portable audio device; and

in response to an attempt to render the audio content with the first software, the portable audio device indicating that second software should be used instead;

wherein a creator of the audio content designated the second software as preferred, for that creator'"'"'s audio.

14. The method of claim 13 that includes refusing to render the audio content with the first software.

15. The method of claim 13 that includes allowing only limited use of the audio content with the first software.

16. A method comprising:

with a microphone of a portable device, receiving audio from an ambient environment;

applying an algorithm to audio data representing the received audio to derive identification data therefrom;

by reference to the derived identification data, selecting a corresponding fulfillment service to be used for commerce involving the audio;

wherein first received audio leads to selection of a first fulfillment service to be used for commerce involving the first audio, and second, different received audio leads to selection of a second, different fulfillment service to be used for commerce involving the second audio.

17. A method comprising:

identifying audio in a user'"'"'s ambient environment, the audio having been earlier sampled by a user device;

publishing information about the identified audio, together with user context information;

in response to said published information, receiving one or more third party bids;

determining a third party associated with a winning bid; and

enabling software identified with the determined third party to present a buying opportunity to the user on said user device.