Method and system for selecting and broadcasting audio/video content based on location

• US 8,234,677 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fellenstein, Craig William, Jackson, Steven Van
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl, Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chae, Kyu
• Application Number:
  US11/849,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20090064241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 725/35, 725/60, 725/61, 725/78, 725/81, 340/988, 340/995.14, 340/995.24, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 725/74
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00

Abstract

A selection method and system. The method comprises receiving by a tracking apparatus data comprising audio/video data segments with associated tracking data segments. The audio/video data segments and the associated tracking data segments are associated with a plurality of locations. The tracking apparatus is moved within a specified proximity of a first location of the locations. The tracking apparatus senses the first location. The tracking apparatus retrieves a first audio/video data segment of the audio/video data segments associated with the first location. The retrieving is based on a first tracking data segment of the associated tracking data segments associated with the first audio/video data segment. The tracking apparatus broadcasts a specified portion of the first audio/video data segment. The specified portion is dependent on a specified condition of the tracking apparatus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a tracking apparatus comprising a removable memory device and a digital compass, data, said data comprising audio/video data segments with associated tracking data segments, said audio/video data segments and said associated tracking data segments associated with a plurality of locations, each audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments and each associated tracking data segment of said tracking data segments associated with a different location from said plurality of locations, each said location at a different geographical area;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, a plurality of preprogrammed specified distances from a first location of said locations;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, a plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods associated with said first location of said locations;

storing, by said tracking apparatus within said removable memory device attached to said tracking apparatus, said data, said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances, and said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods;

moving said tracking apparatus within a specified proximity of said first location of said locations;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, said first location of said locations;

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a first audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments describing said first location, said retrieving based on a first tracking data segment of said associated tracking data segments associated with said first audio/video data segment;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances and a signal strength received from a device at said first location, a specified distance that said tracking apparatus is from first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods, an amount of time that said tracking apparatus has been located within said specified proximity of said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus, a specified speed of travel of said tracking apparatus towards said first location, wherein said specified speed of travel indicates that a user of said tracking apparatus is moving quickly towards said first location and that the user may not be within a first viewing range of the first location for a long time period;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on first orientation data supplied by said digital compass, a direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said first audio/video data segment, said specified portion dependent on said specified distance, said amount of time, said specified speed of travel, and said direction, said specified portion comprising a small abbreviated portion of said first audio/video data segment consistent with said first viewing range;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances and a second signal strength received from a device at said first location, a second specified distance that said tracking apparatus is from first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods, an additional amount of time that said tracking apparatus has been located within said specified proximity of said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus, a second specified speed of travel of said tracking apparatus towards said first location, wherein said second specified speed of travel indicates that said user is moving slowly towards said first location and that the user will be within a second viewing range of said first location for a time period associated with enough time to receive an entire description for said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on second orientation data supplied by said digital compass, a second direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a second specified portion of said first audio/video data segment, said second specified portion dependent on second specified distance, said additional amount of time, said second specified speed of travel, and said second direction, said specified portion differing from said second specified portion, said second specified portion comprising an entire portion of said first audio/video data segment consistent with said second viewing range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, wherein said first associated tracking data segment comprises a first GPS data segment associated with said specified condition, wherein said sensing comprises retrieving a GPS location for said first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said first GPS data segment with said specified condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

pivoting, said tracking apparatus towards a second location;

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a second audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments associated with said second location, said retrieving said second audio/video data segment based on orientation data supplied by said digital compass and said GPS location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said second audio/video data segment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein said first location comprises a first structure, wherein said first structure comprises a first RFID tag, wherein said first tracking data segment comprises information related to said RFID tag, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said information with said first RFID tag.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said information comprises a serial number for said first RFID tag.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a removable memory unit, and wherein said data is stored on said removable memory unit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said removable memory unit is selected from the group consisting of a read only memory (ROM) unit and a flash memory unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first audio/video data segment comprises information describing said first location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said specified portion of said first audio/video data segment does not comprise an entire portion of said first audio/video data segment.

10. A tracking apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a removable computer-readable memory unit and a digital compass, said memory unit comprising data and instructions that when executed by the processor implement a tracking method, said data comprising audio/video data segments with associated tracking data segments, said audio/video data segments and said associated tracking data segments associated with a plurality of locations, each audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments and each associated tracking data segment of said tracking data segments associated with a different location from said plurality of locations, each said location at a different geographical area, said method comprising;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, said data;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, a plurality of preprogrammed specified distances from a first location of said locations;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, a plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods associated with said first location of said locations;

storing, by said tracking apparatus within said removable computer-readable memory unit attached to said tracking apparatus, said data, said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances, and said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods;

moving said tracking apparatus within a specified proximity of said first location of said locations;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, said first location of said locations;

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a first audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments describing said first location, said retrieving based on a first tracking data segment of said associated tracking data segments associated with said first audio/video data segment;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances and a signal strength received from a device at said first location, a specified distance that said tracking apparatus is from first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods, an amount of time that said tracking apparatus has been located within said specified proximity of said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus, a specified speed of travel of said tracking apparatus towards said first location, wherein said specified speed of travel indicates that a user of said tracking apparatus is moving quickly towards said first location and that the user may not be within a first viewing range of the first location for a long time period;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on first orientation data supplied by said digital compass, a direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said first audio/video data segment, said specified portion dependent on said specified distance, said amount of time, said specified speed of travel, and said direction, said specified portion comprising a small abbreviated portion of said first audio/video data segment consistent with said first viewing range;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances and a second signal strength received from a device at said first location, a second specified distance that said tracking apparatus is from first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods, an additional amount of time that said tracking apparatus has been located within said specified proximity of said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus, a second specified speed of travel of said tracking apparatus towards said first location, wherein said second specified speed of travel indicates that said user is moving slowly towards said first location and that the user will be within a second viewing range of said first location for a time period associated with enough time to receive an entire description for said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on second orientation data supplied by said digital compass, a second direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a second specified portion of said first audio/video data segment, said second specified portion dependent on second specified distance, said additional amount of time, said second specified speed of travel, and said second direction, said specified portion differing from said second specified portion, said second specified portion comprising an entire portion of said first audio/video data segment consistent with said second viewing range.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, wherein said first associated tracking data segment comprises a first GPS data segment associated with said specified condition, wherein said sensing comprises retrieving a GPS location for said first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said first GPS data segment with said specified condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a digital compass, and wherein said method further comprises:

pivoting, said tracking apparatus towards a second location;

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a second audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments associated with said second location, said retrieving said second audio/video data segment based on orientation data supplied by said digital compass and said GPS location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said second audio/video data segment.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein said first location comprises a first structure, wherein said first structure comprises a first RFID tag, wherein said first tracking data segment comprises information related to said RFID tag, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said information with said first RFID tag.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said information comprises a serial number for said first RFID tag.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said memory unit comprises a removable memory unit, and wherein said data is stored on said removable memory unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said removable memory unit is selected from the group consisting of a read only memory (ROM) unit and a flash memory unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first audio/video data segment comprises information describing said first location.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said specified portion of said first audio/video data segment does not comprise an entire portion of said first audio/video data segment.

19. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable memory device comprising data and a computer readable program code embodied therein, said data comprising audio/video data segments with associated tracking data segments, said audio/video data segments and said associated tracking data segments associated with a plurality of locations, each audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments and each associated tracking data segment of said tracking data segments associated with a different location from said plurality of locations, each said location at a different geographical area, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm adapted to implement a tracking method within a tracking apparatus comprising removable memory device and a digital compass, said method comprising:

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, data;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, a plurality of preprogrammed specified distances from a first location of said locations;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, a plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods associated with said first location of said locations;

storing, by said tracking apparatus within said removable memory device attached to said tracking apparatus, said data, said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances, and said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods;

moving said tracking apparatus within a specified proximity of said first location of said locations;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, said first location of said locations;

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a first audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments describing said first location, said retrieving based on a first tracking data segment of said associated tracking data segments associated with said first audio/video data segment;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances and a signal strength received from a device at said first location, a specified distance that said tracking apparatus is from first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods, an amount of time that said tracking apparatus has been located within said specified proximity of said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus, a specified speed of travel of said tracking apparatus towards said first location, wherein said specified speed of travel indicates that a user of said tracking apparatus is moving quickly towards said first location and that the user may not be within a first viewing range of the first location for a long time period;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on first orientation data supplied by said digital compass, a direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said first audio/video data segment, said specified portion dependent on said specified distance, said amount of time, said specified speed of travel, and said direction, said specified portion comprising a small abbreviated portion of said first audio/video data segment consistent with said first viewing range;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified distances and a second signal strength received from a device at said first location, a second specified distance that said tracking apparatus is from first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on said plurality of preprogrammed specified time periods, an additional amount of time that said tracking apparatus has been located within said specified proximity of said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus, a second specified speed of travel of said tracking apparatus towards said first location, wherein said second specified speed of travel indicates that said user is moving slowly towards said first location and that the user will be within a second viewing range of said first location for a time period associated with enough time to receive an entire description for said first location;

determining, by said tracking apparatus based on second orientation data supplied by said digital compass, a second direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a second specified portion of said first audio/video data segment, said second specified portion dependent on second specified distance, said additional amount of time, said second specified speed of travel, and said second direction, said specified portion differing from said second specified portion, said second specified portion comprising an entire portion of said first audio/video data segment consistent with said second viewing range.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, wherein said first associated tracking data segment comprises a first GPS data segment associated with said specified condition, wherein said sensing comprises retrieving a GPS location for said first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said first GPS data segment with said specified condition.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

pivoting, said tracking apparatus towards a second location;

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a second audio/video data segment of said audio/video data segments associated with said second location, said retrieving said second audio/video data segment based on orientation data supplied by said digital compass and said GPS location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said second audio/video data segment.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein said first location comprises a first structure, wherein said first structure comprises a first RFID tag, wherein said first tracking data segment comprises information related to said RFID tag, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said information with said first RFID tag.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said information comprises a serial number for said first RFID tag.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said computer usable medium comprises a removable computer usable medium, and wherein said data is stored on said removable computer usable medium.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said removable computer usable medium is selected from the group consisting of a read only memory (ROM) unit and a flash memory unit.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said first audio/video data segment comprises information describing said first location.

27. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said specified portion of said first audio/video data segment does not comprise an entire portion of said first audio/video data segment.