Interactive optical cards and other hand-held devices with increased connectivity

• US 7,627,879 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koplar Interactive Systems International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Koplar Interactive Systems International, LLC
• Inventors: Ciardullo, Daniel A., Koplar, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli; Dominic D
• Application Number:
  US11/876,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 725/23
• US Class Current: 725/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4185 for payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system for deriving benefits from the reception and processing of composite video signals by a hand-held device, such as a smart card. Video signals are modulated with auxiliary data creating composite video signals. The composite video signals are then transmitted to and received by a hand-held device. The auxiliary data is then detected in the modulated video signal by circuitry of the hand-held device. The user receives benefits resulting from the reception of the auxiliary data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

optically receiving on a hand-held device a modulated video signal, the modulated video signal including auxiliary data modulated in the modulated video signal in a substantially invisible way;

decoding the modulated video signal on the hand-held device to reproduce the auxiliary data;

comparing the auxiliary data against prestored data on the hand-held device to determine whether a data match was identified;

enabling a prestored promotional opportunity within read only memory of the handheld device when the data match was identified; and

allocating one or more points on the hand-held device based on the enabling of the prestored promotional opportunity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modulating a video signal with the auxiliary data to create the modulated video signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modulated video signal is received on the hand-held device through a photodetector, the photodetector being associated with the hand-held device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a notification to a remote computer of the allocating of the one or more points, the remote computer being capable of receiving the notification and associating the one or more points with a user of the hand-held device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing an indicia of a previous award reception on the hand-held device, the indicia received from the remote computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a point increase notification from a point source; and

receiving one or more additional points in accordance with the point increase notification.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting an input request for presentation on the hand-held device;

receiving a response to the input request from a user of the hand-held device; and

allocating one or more additional points in accordance with the receiving of the response from the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a future action prediction from a user associated with the hand-held device, the future action prediction being based on an event presented through the modulated video signal;

wherein the allocating of the one or more points is in accordance with the enabling of the prestored promotional opportunity and the future action prediction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

altering a running point total in accordance with the allocating of the one or more points.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a reset instruction; and

resetting the hand-held device in accordance with the receiving of the reset instruction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the modulated video signal is associated with at least one of a television show, a movie, or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more points are allocated to an application running on the hand-held device, the application being capable of using the one or more points.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the points are bonus points.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary data is modulated within an active portion of the video signal in the substantially invisible way.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary data is modulated in luminance of the modulated video signal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand-held device is an interface card.

17. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:

optically receive on a hand-held device a modulated video signal, the modulated video signal including auxiliary data modulated in the modulated video signal in a substantially invisible way;

decode the modulated video signal on the hand-held device to reproduce the auxiliary data;

compare the auxiliary data against prestored data on the hand-held device to determine whether a data match was identified;

enable a prestored promotional opportunity within read only memory of the handheld device when the data match was identified; and

allocate one or more points on the hand-held device based on the enabling of the prestored promotional opportunity.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:

modulate a video signal with the auxiliary data to create the modulated video signal.