Light, sound, and motion receiver devices

• US 8,354,918 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen W. Boyer
• Original Assignee: Stephen W. Boyer
• Inventors: Boyer, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US12/546,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 105, 340/7.53, 340/7.23, 340/539.1, 446/454, 446/175, 446/265, 700/246, 846/45, 841/04, 704/270, 704/272
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

A method to elicit a behavior in response to a simplex communication signal comprises receiving, at a receiver device, an encoded simplex communication signal from a transmitter device, the simplex communication signal including an identifier. The method further comprises referencing a stored program in the receiver device to a stored program block corresponding to the identifier. The receiver device then initiates execution of the program block and renders a behavior in accordance with or corresponding to the program block corresponding to the simplex communication signal. The receiver device includes a program database, wherein the receiver is programmed to reference a stored program block of the program database corresponding to the identifier. The receiver device also includes mechanisms to enable a behavior in accordance with the program block to be audibly and visibly perceived.

Claims

1. A method to enable or elicit a behavioral response in a receiving device, the method comprising:

transmitting from a transmitter device an encoded simplex communication signal;

receiving, at a first receiver device different from the transmitting device, the encoded simplex communication signal, the simplex communication signal including an event identifier and a source identifier, the event identifier being an announcement of an event of the transmitting device, the source identifier identifying a source of the signal;

determining whether the source identifier is valid, and if valid,

referencing a stored program in the receiver device to a stored program block in response to the source identifier;

initiating execution of the program block; and

rendering a behavioral response corresponding to the simplex communication signal and the program block, the behavioral response being at least one of audible sound, physical movement and illumination,

wherein the receiving device does not transmit a signal to the transmitting device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a second receiver device receives the simplex communication signal including the event identifier and the source identifier and references a program block different from the program block of the first receiver device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the behavioral response of the first receiver device is different from and coordinated with a behavioral response of the second receiver device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein an Internet-based networking application is open on a web-enabled computer and the Internet-based networking application communicates the simplex communication signal to the receiver device through the transmitter device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver device receives the signals via wired or wireless connections.

6. A receiver device that renders a behavior in response to a simplex communication signal sent from a transmitter, the receiver device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an encoded simplex communication signal having an event identifier and a source identifier, the event identifier being an announcement of an event of the transmitting device, the source identifier identifying a source of the signal, the receiver device being different from the transmitter;

a program database, wherein the receiver is programmed to determine whether the source identifier is valid, and if valid, to reference a stored program block of the program database in response to the source identifier; and

one or more mechanisms to enable a behavior corresponding to the program block referenced in response to the simplex communication signal, the behavior being at least one of, an audible sound, a physical movement and illumination,

wherein the receiver device is not capable of transmitting a signal to the transmitter.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the behavior corresponding to the program block is at least one of audible sound, physical movement, and illumination.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein a second receiver device receives the simplex communication signal including the event identifier and the source identifier, and references a program block different from the program block of the first receiver device.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the behavior of the first receiver device is different from and coordinated with the behavior of the second receiver device.

10. A computer program product, comprising a computer usage medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method to elicit a behavior in one or more receiver devices in response to a simplex communication signal transmitted by a transmitter device, the method comprising:

receiving an encoded simplex communication signal at the one or more receiver devices from a transmitter device, the simplex communication having an event identifier and a source identifier, the event identifier being an announcement of an event of the transmitting device, the source identifier identifying a source of the signal, the one or more receiver devices being different from the transmitter device;

determining whether the source identifier is valid, and if valid,

referencing a stored program in the one or more receiver devices to a stored program block in response to the event identifier;

initiating execution of the program block; and

enabling the one or more receiver devices to render the behavior corresponding to the program block, the behavior being at least one of an audible sound, a physical movement and illumination,

wherein the receiver device does not transmit a signal to the transmitter device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein there are at least two receiver devices and wherein the behavior of the first receiver device of the one or more receiver devices is different from a behavior of a second receiver device of the one or more receiver devices.

12. A system for eliciting one or more behavioral responses in a plurality of receiver devices in response to a simplex communication signal from a transmitter device, the system comprising:

a transmitter device, the transmitter device configured for transmitting the simplex communication signal that includes an event identifier and a source identifier, the event identifier being an announcement of an event of the transmitting device, the source identifier identifying a source of the signal;

a first receiver device, the first receiver device configured to receive the simplex communication signal, determine whether the source identifier is valid, and if valid, to reference a program block, and to perform a behavior in response to the simplex communication signal, the first receiver device being different from the transmitter device; and

a second receiver device, the second receiver device configured to receive the simplex communication signal, determine whether the source identifier is valid, and if valid, to reference a program block, and to perform a behavior in response to the simplex communication signal, the second receiver device being different from the transmitter device,

wherein the behavior of the first receiver device is different from the behavior of the second receiver device in response to the simplex communication signal, and wherein the receiver devices do not transmit a signal to the transmitter device.