Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing user-access to broadcast content in combination with short-range communication content

• US 7,536,151 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Forsberg, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US10/979,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/3.04, 455/3.01, 455/3.03, 348/734, 348/563, 375/316, 370/432, 340/5.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods for providing user access to broadcast content in combination with user access to short-range communication content, such as RFID tag content or the like. A broadcast medium, such as Radio Data Broadcast, that provides for broadcast frequency transmission in unison with other content being carried on alternative frequencies is used to transmit digital broadcast signals that include both broadcast content and short-range communication content. A digital broadcast receiver that is equipped to receive the digital signals will additionally include a short-range communication transponder, such as an RFID tag or the like. The transponder, i.e., tag, will include dynamic updateable memory, such that as digital signals are received with new short-range communication content the information associated with the tag will be updated. The tag allows a reader device to capture and, in many instances, store the tag information for later use.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a digital broadcast receiver configured to receive a broadcasted digital signal, and to output broadcast content of the broadcasted digital signal;

a processor operatively coupled with the digital broadcast receiver, and configured to;

detect short-range communication content in the received broadcasted digital signal, the short range communication content comprising additional information that is related to the outputted broadcast content;

convert the detected short-range communication content in the received broadcast signal into a format suitable for short-range communication; and

insert the converted short-range communication content into an updateable memory; and

a short-range communication tag coupled with the updateable memory, the short-range communication tag configured to transmit at least a portion of the inserted short-range communication content of the updateable memory to a reader device requesting said short-range communication content

wherein the short-range communication tag comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, and wherein the processor is further configured to include a user perceptible indication to the outputted broadcast content when said short-range communication content relating to the outputted broadcast content is available on the updateable memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further defined as chosen from the group of apparatuses consisting of a home appliance, an industrial appliance, a television and a radio.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising parser logic that parses the detected short-range communication content into two or more portions suitable for insertion in the updateable memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a buffer memory in communication with the short-range communication tag, wherein the buffer memory temporarily stores the short-range communication content prior to storage in the updateable memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short-range communication is chosen from the group of communications consisting of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication, Infrared (IR) communication, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication and communication in the about 2.4 GHz frequency band.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast receiver receives one or more broadcasted digital signals and wherein the updateable memory updates the short-range communication content in relation to information in a respective one of the one or more broadcasted digital signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast receiver receives one or more digital broadcast signals, the one or more digital broadcast signals comprising a respective one of one or more short-range communication content, the detected short-range communication content is updated or revised in the updateable memory, based on information in the one or more short-range communication content.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short-range communication content comprises radio frequency identification data (RFID).

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short-range communication tag comprises a transponder.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag that substantially consumes zero power.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcasted digital signal comprises audio or video data and the short-range communication content is related to the audio or video data.

12. A system comprising:

a digital receiver apparatus configured to receive broadcasted digital signals comprising broadcast content and short-range communication content, the receiver apparatus configured to output the broadcast content;

a processor operatively coupled with the digital broadcast receiver, and configured to;

detect the short-range communication content in the received broadcasted digital signals, the short-range communication content comprising additional information that is related to the outputted broadcast content;

convert the detected short-range communication content in the received broadcast signal into a format suitable for short-range communication; and

insert the converted short-range communication content into an updateable memory; and

a short-range communication reader apparatus configured to read at least a portion of the inserted short-range communication content from the updateable memory of a short-range communication tag when the reader is within a predefined range of the digital receiver apparatus,

wherein the short-range communication tag comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, and wherein the processor is further configured to include a user perceptible indication to the outputted broadcast content when said short-range communication content relating to the outputted broadcast content is available on the updateable memory.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a broadcasting device chosen from the group consisting of an audio broadcasting means and a video broadcasting means.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital receiver apparatus further comprises parsing logic for parsing the short-range communication content into two or more portions.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital receiver apparatus further comprises a buffer memory for temporarily storing the short-range communication content prior to storage in the updateable memory.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the short-range communication reader apparatus is further defined as a portable apparatus.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the short-range communication reader apparatus is further defined as chosen from the group of apparatuses consisting of a cellular telephone, a remote control, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising broadcasting means for receiving one or more broadcasting digital signals, the one or more broadcasting digital signals comprising a respective one of one or more short-range communication content, the short-range communication content is updated or revised in the updateable memory, based on information in the one or more short-range communication content.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag that substantially consumes zero power.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the broadcast digital signals comprise audio or video data and the short-range communication content is related to the audio or video data.

21. A short-range communication tag device, comprising:

a broadcast receiver interface configured to communicate with a broadcast receiver that receives one or more broadcast digital signals, and outputs broadcast content and short-range communication content of the broadcasted digital signal, the broadcast receiver interface configured to receive the short-range communication content from the broadcast receiver;

a processor operatively coupled with the broadcast receiver interface, and configured to;

communicate with the broadcast receiver interface;

detect the short-range communication content in the received broadcast digital signals, the short-range communication content comprising additional information that is related to the outputted broadcast content;

convert the detected short-range communication content in the received broadcast digital signals into a format suitable for short-range communication; and

insert the converted short-range communication content into an updateable memory; and

a wireless short-range communication interface in communication with the processor configured to transmit at least a portion of the inserted short-range communication content of the updateable memory to a reader device requesting said short-range communication content,

wherein the tag device comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, and wherein the processor is further configured to include a user perceptible indication to the outputted broadcast content when said short-range communication content relating to the outputted broadcast content is available on the updateable memory.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the broadcast receiver receives one or more digital broadcast signals, the one or more digital broadcast signals comprising a respective one of a one or more short-range communication content, the short-range communication content is updated or revised, based on information in the one or more short-range communication content.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag that substantially consumes zero power.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the broadcast content comprises audio or video data and the short-range communication content is related to the audio or video data.

25. A method comprising:

receiving a signal comprising broadcast content and short-range communication content at a broadcast receiver apparatus equipped with an integrated programmable short-range communication tag;

outputting the broadcast content via the broadcast receiver apparatus;

detecting, via a processor, the short-range communication content in the received signal, the short-range communication content comprising additional information that is related to the outputted broadcast content;

converting the detected short-range communication content in the received signal into a format suitable for short-range communication;

inserting the converted short-range communication content into an updateable memory;

reading at least a portion of the inserted short-range communication content of the updateable memory via a reader apparatus requesting said short-range communication content, the reader apparatus is proximate the broadcast receiver apparatus, wherein the short-range communication tag comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag; and

including, via the processor, a user perceptible indication to the outputted broadcast content when said short-range communication content relating to the outputted broadcast content is available on the updateable memory.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising, parsing the short-range communication content of the received digital signal into two or more portions.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising, inserting one or more of the portions into a temporary buffer memory unit prior providing the one or more portions to the updateable memory unit associated with the programmable short-range communication tag.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising broadcasting a digital signal that includes the broadcast content and the short-range communication content with the short-range communication content being defined to be related to the broadcast content.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising broadcasting a digital signal that includes the broadcast content and the short-range communication content with the short-range communication content being chosen from the group of short-range communications consisting of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication, Infrared (IR) communication, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication and communication in the about 2.4 GHz frequency band.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving one or more broadcast digital signals and updating or revising the short-range communication content provided to the updateable memory in relation to information in a respective one of the one or more broadcast digital signals.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving one or more digital broadcast signals, the one or more digital broadcast signals comprising a respective one of one or more short-range communication content; and

updating or revising the short-range communication content provided to the updateable memory based on information in the one or more short-range communication content.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the short-range communication tag comprises the updateable memory.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the short-range communication content comprises radio frequency identification data (RFID).

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the short-range communication tag comprises a transponder.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag that substantially consumes zero power.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the digital signal comprises audio or video data and the short-range communication content is related to the audio or video data.

37. A method comprising:

receiving a broadcasted digital signal that comprises broadcast content and short-range communication content;

outputting the received broadcast content;

detecting, via a processor, the short-range communication content in the broadcasted digital signal, the short-range communication content comprises additional information that is related to the outputted broadcast content;

converting the detected short-range communication content in the received signal into a format suitable for short-range communication;

inserting the converted short-range communication content into an updateable memory;

transmitting at least a portion of the inserted short-range communication content of the updateable memory to a reader device requesting said short-range communication content, wherein the short-range communication tag comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag; and

including, via the processor, a user perceptible indication to the outputted broadcast content when the short-range communication content relating to the outputted broadcast content is available on the updateable memory.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein receiving a broadcasted digital signal that includes broadcast content and short-range communication content further defines the short-range communication content as related to the broadcast content.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising, parsing the short-range communication content into two or more portions.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising, inserting one or more of the portions into a temporary memory buffer prior to inserting the one or more portions into the updateable memory associated with a short-range communication tag.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving one or more broadcasted digital signals, the one or more broadcasted digital signals comprising a respective one of one or more short-range communication content; and

updating or revising the short-range communication content inserted in the updateable memory based on information in the one or more short-range communication content.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag that does not substantially consume power.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the broadcasted digital signal comprises audio or video data and the short-range communication content is related to the audio or video data.

44. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for detecting short-range communication content in a digital broadcast signal; and

a second executable portion for causing broadcast content of the digital broadcast signal to be output, the short-range communication content comprising additional information that is related to the outputted broadcast content;

a third executable portion for converting the detected short-range communication content in the digital broadcast signal into a format suitable for short-range communication;

a fourth executable portion for inserting the converted short-range communication content into an updateable memory;

a fifth executable portion for causing at least a portion of the short-range communication content of the updateable memory to be transmitted to a reader device requesting said short-range communication content, wherein a short-range communication tag coupled with the updateable memory comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag; and

a sixth executable portion for including a user perceptible indication to the outputted broadcast content when the short-range communication content relating to the outputted broadcast content is available on the updateable memory.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, further comprising a seventh executable portion for parsing the short-range communication content into two or more portions.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, further comprising an eighth executable portion for inserting one or more of the portions into a temporary storage buffer prior to inserting the one or more portions into the updateable memory.

47. The computer program product of claim 44, further comprising:

a seventh executable portion capable of receiving one or more digital broadcast signals, the one or more digital broadcast signals comprising a respective one of one or more short-range communication content;

an eighth executable portion capable of updating or revising the short-range communication content inserted in the updateable memory, based on information in the one or more short-range communication content.

48. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag that does not substantially consume power.

49. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the digital broadcast signal comprises audio or video data and the short-range communication content is related to the audio or video data.

50. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

in response to receipt of a broadcasted digital signal that comprises broadcast content and short-range communication content, cause the broadcast content to be output; and

detect the short-range communication content in the broadcasted digital signal, the short-range communication content comprising additional information that is related to the outputted broadcast content;

convert the detected short-range communication content in the broadcasted digital signal into a format suitable for short-range communication;

insert the converted short-range communication content into an updateable memory that is coupled with a short-range communication tag;

cause at least a portion of the inserted short-range communication content of the updateable memory to be transmitted to a reader device requesting said short-range communication content,

wherein the short-range communication tag comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag; and

include a user perceptible indication to the outputted broadcast content when the short-range communication content relating to the outputted broadcast content is available on the updateable memory.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag that does not substantially consume power.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive one or more broadcasted digital signals and the updateable memory is configured to update the short-range communication content in relation to information in a respective one of the one or more broadcasted digital signals.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the broadcasted digital signal comprises audio or video data and the short-range communication content is related to the audio or video data.