System and method of wirelessly triggering portable devices

• US 7,224,967 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Green, Reynold Duane, Nguyen, Phu Van, Wiedefeld, William George, Hale, Gregory Brooks, McLaughlin, Harold Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US10/897,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20050003811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.4, 455/39, 455/41.2, 455/432.1, 455/66.1, 455/412.1, 340/825.22, 340/825.27, 340/825.29
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/58 including a multilanguage function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system and method of wirelessly triggering portable devices to provide a user with audio and/or visual information related to a show or attraction, for example, or for the purposes of captioning, language translation, assistive listening, and descriptive audio. As a person moves about a venue, a portable device receives signals from transmitters at venue locations. Transmissions may be via infrared or radio signals. The receiving device decodes each signal as a venue location, event time, or device trigger. The receiving device processes the signal and its memory to start a presentation on the device. The portable device memory contains audio, text, graphics, and/or visual content; device playback may contain one or many of these stored contents. The stored content may be synchronized with the user'"'"'s location, time of travel, time of day, time of a show, or an event in a show. Stored content may be in one or many languages. Presentation of stored content on the portable device may also be altered by user preference, stored logic constraints, automatic learning of user behavior, or user interaction with other devices.

Claims

1. A portable device for providing a narrative during a presentation, comprising:

a memory configured to store the narrative associated with the presentation;

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive at least one time code;

a logic unit configured to interpret the at least one time code to determine when to initiate play of the narrative; and

an output device configured to provide the narrative in synchronization with the presentation.

2. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the narrative comprises audio.

3. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the narrative comprises text.

4. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the narrative comprises video.

5. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the output device is a display.

6. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the output device is a speaker.

7. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the output device is a headphone jack.

8. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the portable device is a personal digital assistant.

9. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the narrative is pre-loaded into the memory through a wired connection.

10. The portable device of claim 9 wherein the narrative is pre-loaded into the memory through use of a docking station.

11. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the narrative is pre-loaded into the memory through a wireless network.

12. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the devices recognizes if the narrative is not already stored in memory and automatically downloads the narrative.

13. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

14. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver comprises a radio frequency receiver.

15. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the presentation is a movie.

16. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the presentation is a live show.

17. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the presentation is a video.

18. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the memory is further configured to store usage patterns.

19. The portable device of claim 18 wherein the usage patterns are used to alter the narrative provided on the portable device.

20. The portable device of claim 1 wherein the memory is further configured to store user preferences.

21. The portable device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting data.

22. A portable device for providing data related to a presentation during a presentation, comprising:

a memory configured to store the data associated with the presentation;

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive at least one time code;

a logic unit configured to interpret the at least one time code to determine when to initiate presentation of the data; and

an output device configured to provide the data in synchronization with the presentation.

23. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the time code indicates an elapsed time.

24. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the time code indicates a time of day.

25. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the data comprises audio.

26. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the data comprises text.

27. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the output device is a display.

28. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the output device is a speaker.

29. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the output device is a headphone jack.

30. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the portable device is a personal digital assistant.

31. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the data is pre-loaded into the memory through a wired connection.

32. The portable device of claim 31 wherein the data is pre-loaded into the memory through use of a docking station.

33. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the data is pre-loaded into the memory through a wireless network.

34. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the logic unit recognizes if the data is not already stored in memory and automatically downloads the data.

35. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the wireless receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

36. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the wireless receiver comprises a radio frequency receiver.

37. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the presentation is a movie.

38. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the presentation is a live show.

39. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the presentation is a video.

40. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the memory is further configured to store usage patterns.

41. The portable device of claim 40 wherein the usage patterns are used to alter the data provided on the portable device.

42. The portable device of claim 40 wherein the usage patterns are used to alter the data provided on the portable device.

43. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the memory is further configured to store user preferences.

44. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the memory is further configured to store user preferences.

45. The portable device of claim 22 further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting data.

46. A portable device for providing data related to a presentation during a presentation, comprising:

a memory configured to store the data associated with the presentation;

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive at least one time code;

a logic unit configured to interpret the at least one time code to determine a location within the data to initiate presentation of the data; and

an output device configured to provide the data in synchronization with the presentation.

47. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the time code indicates an elapsed time.

48. The portable device of claim 47 wherein the data is pre-loaded into the memory through use of a docking station.

49. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the time code indicates a time of day.

50. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the data comprises audio.

51. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the data comprises text.

52. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the output device is a display.

53. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the output device is a speaker.

54. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the output device is a headphone jack.

55. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the handheld device is a personal digital assistant.

56. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the data is pre-loaded into the memory through a wired connection.

57. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the data is pre-loaded into the memory by streaming through a wireless network.

58. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the logic unit recognizes if the data is not already stored in memory and automatically downloads the data.

59. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the wireless receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

60. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the wireless receiver comprises a radio frequency receiver.

61. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the presentation is a movie.

62. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the presentation is a live show.

63. The portable device of claim 46 wherein the presentation is a video.

64. The portable device of claim 46 further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting data.