System, method, and apparatus for communicating information encoded in a light-based signal using a fob device

• US 6,877,665 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ecrio, Inc.
• Inventors: Gannage, Michel E., Challa, Nagesh, Gobburu, Venkata T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/104,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 23546201-46248, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/454, 235/455, 235/456, 235/494, 235/470, 235/375, 235/380
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for communicating information in a light-based signal utilizing a fob device is disclosed. One method disclosed includes encoding transmission information data into a bar code format; generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and actively transmitting the signal as light pulses from the fob device. Alternatively, commercial information data may be transmitted to a light-based data receiving device by generating a signal from commercial information data and actively transmitting the signal as light pulses from a fob device. Transmission information data may also be transmitted from a fob device by generating a first signal from a first encoded format; generating a second signal from a second encoded format; transmitting the first signal as light pulses from a fob device; and transmitting the second signal from the fob device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating transmission information data to a light-based data receiving device with a fob device, the method comprising:

encoding the transmission information data into a bar code format;

generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

actively transmitting the signal as light pulses from a fob device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light-based data receiving device includes a bar code scanner.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the transmission information data with the fob device from a personal computer, a server, a client, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, a wireless operator, or the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the bar code format with the fob device from a personal computer, a server, a client a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, a wireless operator, or an Internet.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the bar code format into the fob device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the signal with the fob device from a personal computer, a server, a client a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, a wireless operator, or an Internet.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising

receiving a scanning beam from the bar code scanner;

and

determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting representative information of the transmission information data using a user output facility of a fob device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the output facility includes a display.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying a static visual image of the bar code format.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission information data is acquired.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission information data is generated.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted via an LED, an infra-red transmitter, or a display screen.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted via light pulses in a visible light spectrum or in an infrared light spectrum.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal is transmitted via altering a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, or a power attribute of the display, or any combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step utilizes a color light source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one color is used that is adapted to be accepted by a bar code scanner.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one color is used that is adapted to be rejected by a bar code scanner.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted via turning an LED on and off, or activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter.

21. A fob device for providing transmission information data encoded in a bar code format to a light-based data receiving device, the fob device comprising:

a first program component for generating a signal from transmission information data encoded in a bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

a light source for actively transmitting the signal as light pulses from a fob device.

22. The fob device of claim 21, further comprising a second program component for encoding transmission information data to obtain the bar code format.

23. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the transmission information data is pre-encoded into the bar code format.

24. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the light-based data receiving device includes a bar code scanner.

25. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

26. The fob device of claim 21, further comprising a display for displaying a static visual image of the bar code format.

27. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the transmission information data is received from a personal computer, a server, a client, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, a wireless operator, or an Internet.

28. The fob device of claim 24, further comprising a receiver adapted to receive a scanning beam from the bar code scanner for determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

29. A fob device of claim 21, further comprising an output facility for presenting representative information of the transmission information data on the fob device.

30. The fob device of claim 29, wherein the output facility includes a speaker.

31. The fob device of claim 29, wherein the output facility comprises a display for further displaying a static visual image of the bar code format.

32. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the transmission information data is acquired.

33. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the transmission information data is generated.

34. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the light source includes an LED, an infra-red transmitter, or a display screen.

35. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the light source transmits the signal in a visible light spectrum, or in an infrared light spectrum.

36. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the light source includes a display for transmitting the signal via altering a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, or a power attribute of the display, or any combination thereof.

37. The fob device of claim 21, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be accepted by a bar code scanner.

38. The fob device of claim 21, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be rejected by a bar code scanner.

39. The fob device of claim 21, wherein the light source transmits the signal via one or more of the group comprising turning an LED on and off and activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter.

40. A system for providing transmission information data from a fob device to a light-based data receiving device, the system comprising:

a server for providing transmission information data;

a fob device including a light source for actively providing a signal as light pulses; and

a transfer agent for providing communications between the server and the fob device,

wherein the transmission information data is encoded and the signal is generated from the encoded data.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising a light-based data receiving device for receiving the signal provided by the fob device.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the transmission information data is encoded into a bar code format.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the signal is generated from the encoded data to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the light-based data receiving device includes a bar code scanner.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the light source includes an LED, an infra-red transmitter, or a display screen.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the transfer agent includes a personal computer, a second server, a client, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, a wireless operator, or the Internet.

48. The system of claim 42 wherein the encoded data is received by the fob device.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein the signal is received by the fob device.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein the fob device is adapted to receive a scanning beam from the bar code scanner to determine a scan rate of the scanning beam.

51. A system for providing transmission information data to a light-based data receiving device, the system comprising:

a server;

a light-based data receiving device operatively connected to the server; and

a fob device including a light source,

wherein the fob device actively provides transmission information data as light pulses from the light source to a light-based data receiving device.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the fob device further comprises an output facility, wherein the fob device presents representative information on the output facility.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the light-based data receiving device provides information to the server in response to receiving the transmission information data from the fob and the server provides a second transmission information data to the light-based data receiving device in response to the transmission information data.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the information provided by the light-based data receiving device to the server is at least a portion of the transmission information data provided by the fob device to the light-based data receiving device.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the transmission information data is encoded into a bar code format.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the signal is generated from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein the light-based data receiving device includes a bar code scanner.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

59. The system of claim 52, wherein the output facility comprises a display for displaying a static visual image of the bar code format.

60. The system of claim 51, wherein the transmission information data is acquired by the server.

61. The system of claim 51, wherein the transmission information data is generated by the server.

62. The system of claim 51, wherein the light source includes an LED, an infra-red transmitter, or a display screen.

63. The system of claim 51, wherein the light source transmits the signal in a visible light spectrum, or in an infrared light spectrum.

64. The system of claim 51, wherein the light source transmits the signal via altering a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, or a power attribute of the display, or any combination thereof.

65. The system of claim 51, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be accepted by a bar code scanner.

66. The system of claim 51, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be rejected by a bar code scanner.

67. The system of claim 51, wherein the light source transmits the signal via turning an LED on and off, or activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter.

68. The system of claim 51, wherein the server retrieves the transmission information data via a personal computer, a second server, a client, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, a wireless operator, or an Internet.

69. The system of claim 55, wherein the bar code format is received by the fob device.

70. The system of claim 51, wherein the signal is received by the fob device.

71. The system of claim 57, wherein the fob device is adapted to receive a scanning beam from the bar code scanner to determine a scan rate of the scanning beam.

72. The system of claim 52, wherein the output facility and the light source are the same.

73. A fob device for transmitting transmission information data to a light-based data receiving device, the fob device comprising:

generating means for generating a signal to simulate the reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of a bar code format; and

transmission means for transmitting the signal as light from a fob device.

74. The fob device of claim 73, further comprising encoding means for encoding the transmission information data into the bar code format.

75. The fob device of claim 73, further comprising a presentation means for presenting representative information of the transmission information data.

76. The fob device of claim 73, wherein the light-based data receiving device includes a bar code scanner.

77. The fob device of claim 73, further comprising identification means for identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

78. The fob device of claim 73, wherein the bar code format is displayed on the presentation means in a static visual form.

79. The fob device of claim 73, further comprising acquisition means for acquiring the transmission information data.

80. A fob device for providing transmission information data as light pulses, the fob device comprising:

a scanner for scanning a bar code;

a program component responsive to the scanner for generating a signal from the bar code; and

a transmitter for transmitting the signal as light pulses.

81. The fob device of claim 80, further comprising a program component for decoding the bar code.

82. The fob device of claim 80, wherein the program component for generating the signal generates the signal to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across the static visual image of the bar code.

83. A method of communicating commercial information data to a light-based data receiving device, the method comprising:

generating a signal from commercial information data; and

actively transmitting the signal as light pulses from a fob device.

84. The method of claim 83, further comprising encoding the commercial information data prior to generating the signal from the commercial information data.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the commercial information data is encoded into a bar code format.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the generation of the signal simulates a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format.

87. The method of claim 83, wherein the commercial information data is pre-encoded.

88. A method of communicating transmission information data from a fob device, the method comprising:

generating a first signal from a first encoded format;

generating a second signal from a second encoded format;

transmitting the first signal as light pulses from a fob device; and

transmitting the second signal from the fob device.

89. The method of claim 88, further comprising encoding a first transmission information data into the first encoded format.

90. The method of claim 88, further comprising encoding a second transmission information data into the second encoded format.

91. The method of claim 88, wherein the first and the second transmission information data are the same.

92. The method of claim 88, wherein the first encoded format includes a bar code format.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the first signal simulates a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the second encoded format includes at least one of an IrDA protocol, an IRFM protocol, a Bluetooth™

protocol, a radio frequency protocol, a serial protocol, an USB protocol, a parallel protocol, a wireless protocol, an over-the-air wireless protocol, a wireless paging protocol, a FLEX™

protocol, a ReFLEX™

protocol, a wireless cellular protocol, a WAP protocol, and an SMS protocol.

95. Them method of claim 92, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a first bar code type and the second encoded format includes a second bar code format corresponding to a second bar code type.

96. The method of claim 88, wherein the first encoded format includes at least one of an IrDA protocol, an IRFM protocol, a Bluetooth™

protocol, a radio frequency protocol, a serial protocol, an USB protocol, a parallel protocol, a wireless protocol, an over-the-air wireless protocol, a wireless paging protocol, a FLEX™

protocol, a ReFLEX™

protocol, a wireless cellular protocol, a WAP protocol, and an SMS protocol.

97. The method of claim 88, further comprising loading the first transmission information data onto the fob device.

98. The method of claim 88, further comprising loading the first encoded format onto the fob device.

99. The method of claim 88, further comprising loading the first signal onto the fob device.