Radio frequency tags for media access and control

• US 6,717,507 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
• Inventors: McCabe, Mark A., Bayley, Oliver T., Kerr, Bernard J., Smith, Geoffrey M., Dishman, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/351,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.1, 340/5.5, 340/5.61, 340/5.74, 340/5.86, 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/10.42, 340/568.1, 340/568.8, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 345/721, 345/739, 725/133, 725/141
• US Class Current: 340/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/17 Card-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/657 Memory in disc [MID]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier

Abstract

Provided are RF tags configured to access and/or control electronic media. These tags have a memory programmed to access a particular media source when polled by a RF transceiver connected with (preferably integrated with) a media player. The memory of tags may also be programmed with control parameters relating to the accessed piece of electronic media content. That is, the tags'"'"' memories may be written to with information relating to the tag user'"'"'s preferences with respect to the piece of media, for example parameters such as volume or language for an audiovisual piece of media. Such preferences may be determined, for example, based on previous uses of the media. Or, the memory may register the place in the playback of the media when the tag is removed from the RF field of the RF transceiver so that playback may be resumed from that place when the tag again enters the field and is polled by the transceiver. RF media access and control systems incorporating such tags, and methods of using them are also provided.

Claims

1. A radio frequency tag apparatus, comprising:

a passive radio frequency transponder, including,

an antenna,

an integrated circuit configured to receive data associated with signals received at said antenna from a radio frequency transceiver and to return to the transceiver via said antenna a signal comprising an access parameter relating to a piece of limited access electronic media content, and

a memory connected to said integrated circuit and operative to provide storage and retrieval of data relating to said access parameter and a control parameter, said access parameter and said control parameter modified by playing said piece of limited access electronic media content and saved to said memory after playing said piece of limited access electronic media content;

wherein access to the piece of limited access electronic media content is limited and access to the limited access electronic media content is provided to an authorized person by providing said authorized person with a physical article comprising the passive radio frequency transponder.

2. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein said limited access electronic media content is audio.

3. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein said limited access electronic media content is visual.

4. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein said limited access electronic media content is audiovisual.

5. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 2, wherein said limited access electronic media content is prerecorded music.

6. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 4, wherein said limited access electronic media content is a motion picture.

7. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein said limited access electronic media content comprises information on a computer network.

8. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 7, wherein said computer network comprises the Internet.

9. The radio frequency tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface for receiving an external stimulus, and

one or more integrated circuit components responsive to an external stimulus received at said interface to change the state of said transponder.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said change of state of said transponder signals said transceiver to effect a control function with respect to a player of said limited access electronic media.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control function comprises at least one of play, stop, pause, fast-forward, rewind, volume and track selection.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said interface comprises one or more buttons.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said interface comprises a plurality of buttons.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is usable more than once, and said memory stores data relating to user control function preferences.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said memory is written void after providing access to a piece of limited access electronic media content, such that said apparatus is usable only once.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical article is a puck comprising plastic.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical article is comprised of a paper material.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical article comprises a consumer product.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical article comprises packaging material for a consumer product.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical article is advertising literature.

21. A radio frequency media access and control system, comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver, including,

an antenna,

a radio frequency field generator associated with said radio frequency transceiver antenna, and

a processor configured to control said radio frequency generator to produce a signal and provide said signal to said antenna, and responsive to a signal returned by a passive radio frequency transponder and received via said antenna to provide access to a piece of limited access electronic media content;

said passive radio frequency transponder, including,

an antenna,

an integrated circuit configured to receive data associated with signals received at said passive radio frequency transponder antenna from said radio frequency transceiver and to return to the transceiver via said passive radio frequency transponder antenna a signal comprising an access parameter relating to a piece of limited access electronic media content, and

a memory connected to said integrated circuit and operative to provide storage and retrieval of data relating to said access parameter and a control parameter, said access parameter and said control parameter modified by playing said piece of limited access electronic media content and saved to said memory after playing said piece of limited access electronic media content;

wherein access to the piece of limited access electronic media content is limited and access to the limited access electronic media content is provided to an authorized person by providing said authorized person with a physical article comprising the passive radio frequency transponder.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said transceiver is comprised in a cable television set-top box and said limited access electronic media content is accessed via a cable television network system.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said transceiver is comprised in a personal computer system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said personal computer system is connected to a computer network.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said computer network comprises the Internet.

26. A method for providing subscriber-specific electronic media access and control, comprising:

providing a subscriber with a physical article comprising a passive radio frequency transponder having a memory programmed with an electronic media access parameter and a control parameter, said access parameter and said control parameter modified by playing limited access electronic media content and saved to said memory after playing said limited access electronic media content;

wherein said access parameter allows the subscriber to access particular limited access electronic media content defined by the parameter when said transponder is read by a radio frequency transceiver connected with a player for said limited access electronic media; and

wherein access to said limited access electronic media content is limited and access to the limited access electronic media content is provided to said subscriber person by providing said subscriber with said physical article comprising the passive radio frequency transponder.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said media access parameter comprises a universal resource locator (URL).

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said media access parameter comprises a cable television signal access code.