Venue-based device control and determination

• US 8,989,779 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Centore, Michael A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/976,674
• Time in Patent Office: 2,706 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4563, 307 1- 8
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for venue-based device control and user/position/venue context determinations. Venue corresponds to a geographic region. Venue relevant information is information associated with a venue. A controlled quasi-transient signal comprises a signal, emitted by an entity intrinsic to the venue and not intended to be utilized for operation of the device, coupled with a quasi-transient signal that is coded with the venue relevant information. When a device located in a venue receives a controlled quasi-transient signal, venue-relevant information associated with the venue can be extracted from the controlled quasi-transient signal. Based on the extracted venue relevant information, the device can be controlled in accordance with a control signal generated based on the venue relevant information.

Claims

1. A method for a controllable device, comprising steps of:

receiving a controlled quasi-transient signal superimposed on a venue-intrinsic signal propagated in the air or through distance in a venue where a controllable device is, wherein;

(a) the venue-intrinsic signal is emitted from infrastructure intrinsic to the venue and is otherwise unintended for wireless communication via the infrastructure with the controllable device, wherein the venue-intrinsic signal includes at least one of an electric signal emitted by a utility line or by an electric wire,

(b) the controlled quasi-transient signal comprises a quasi-transient signal coded with venue-relevant information, and

(c) the controlled quasi-transient signal is a signal generated for application to the venue-intrinsic signal for emission from the infrastructure intrinsic to the venue as one or more fast rise-time bursts with spectral and power density characteristics similar to the uncontrolled transients of the venue-intrinsic signal;

extracting the venue-relevant information, associated with the venue where the controllable device is, from the controlled quasi-transient signal; and

controlling at least one function of the controllable device in accordance with a control signal generated based on the venue-relevant information, wherein the venue-relevant information corresponds to a geographic region related to the venue.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the venue-intrinsic signal further includes at least one of:

a sound wave;

an electric signal emitted by utility supply equipment;

an electric signal emitted by an electric wire;

an electric signal emitted by an electric entity; and

a signal reflected by an entity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the venue-relevant information includes at least one of:

a physical address of the venue;

a classification of the venue; and

a control requirement associated with the venue.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the physical address of the venue includes at least one of:

a postal address;

a building description;

floor information; and

room information.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the classification of the venue includes:

a classification of a public locale; and

a classification of a private a classification of a non-public and non-private locale.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the classification of a public locale includes at least one of:

a theater;

a church;

a school or classroom;

a hospital;

an airport;

a bus station;

a public transportation vehicle;

a place of business; and

a government owned property.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the classification of a private locale includes at least one of:

a private residence;

a private school or classroom;

a private business place; and

a privately owned property.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the control requirement associated with a venue includes at least one of:

mandatory on/off status directed at one or more components of the device;

mandatory device on/off;

mandatory device self-identification;

mandatory device delivery of a message;

conditional on/off status directed at one or more components of the device;

conditional device on/off;

conditional device self-identification; and

conditional device delivery of a message.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein:

the message is an alert signal sent to the device by an authority associated with the venue; and

the alert signal is delivered to warn an emergent situation.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the control requirement associated with the venue has one or more associated exceptions, including an exception, associated with a requirement of mandatory device on/off, for an emergency connection made by either the device to a third party or by a third party to the device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is generated by the device based on the venue-relevant information.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is generated by an external control unit outside of the device, wherein the controlling comprises:

transmitting the venue-relevant information to an external control decision unit via a network;

receiving the control signal generated by the external control decision unit based on the venue-relevant information via the network; and

operating the device based on the received control signal.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the external control decision unit is operated by at least one of:

a network operator;

a service provider; and

a third party service provider.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal provides an operational instruction to the device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the operational instruction includes at least one of:

an instruction to direct the device to switch its operational mode to non-operational and vice-versa;

an instruction to direct the device to transmit its identification information;

an instruction to direct the device to deliver a message;

an instruction to direct the device to switch its operational mode to non-operational and vice-versa when a given condition is met;

an instruction to direct the device to transmit its identification information when a given condition is met; and

an instruction to direct the device to deliver a message when a given condition is met.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the operational instruction is provided based on at least one of:

the identity of the device;

the identity of a user associated with the device;

the nature of the message; and

a profile characterizing a user associated with the device.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising processing, by the device, the controlled quasi-transient signal to:

demodulate the controlled quasi-transient signal with reference to the venue-intrinsic signal source; and

decode the demodulated quasi-transient signal to obtain the venue relevant information.

28. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controllable device is a mobile station.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the venue-relevant information includes at least one of:

a physical address of the venue;

a classification of the venue; and

a control requirement associated with the venue.

30. The method according to claim 28 wherein the receiving is performed through a sensing device residing in the mobile station.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the sensing device includes at least one of a microphone, a speaker used in reverse, and an earpiece in the mobile station.

32. The method according to claim 28, wherein the receiving is performed through at least one of:

a transceiver;

an electrode; and

a transducer.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiving is performed via the sensing device of at least one of:

an electric field;

a charge;

a magnetic field; and

an electromagnetic field.

34. The method according to claim 28, wherein the control signal instructs the mobile station to receive content selected in accordance with the venue relevant information.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the selected content includes at least one of an advertisement, a reward, a discount offer, and special content specific to the venue and/or to the identity of the mobile station.

36. The method according to claim 28, wherein the venue-intrinsic signal includes at least one of:

a sound wave;

an electric signal emitted by a utility line;

an electric signal emitted by utility supply equipment;

an electric signal emitted by an electric wire;

an electric signal emitted by an electric entity; and

a signal reflected by an entity.

18. A method, comprising steps of:

receiving, by a controlled quasi-transient signal receptor in a controllable device, a controlled quasi-transient signal superimposed on a venue-intrinsic signal propagated in the air or through distance in a venue, wherein;

(a) the venue-intrinsic signal is emitted from infrastructure intrinsic to the venue, the venue-intrinsic signal includes at least one of an electric signal emitted by a utility line or by an electric wire and is otherwise unintended for wireless communication with the controllable device;

(b) the controlled quasi-transient signal comprises a quasi-transient signal coded with venue-relevant information, and

(c) the quasi-transient signal is a signal generated for application to the venue-intrinsic signal for emission as one or more fast rise-time bursts with spectral and power density characteristics similar to uncontrolled transients of the venue-intrinsic signal;

extracting the venue-relevant information from the controlled quasi-transient signal;

transmitting the venue-relevant information over a wireless network via a transceiver of the controllable device to a server, wherein the controllable device transceiver is coupled to the wireless network; and

in response to the transmitted venue-relevant information, receiving, by the controllable device transceiver, a control signal sent over the wireless network, wherein the venue-relevant information corresponds to a geographic region related to the venue; and

in response to the received control signal, controlling the controllable device in accordance with the control signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein:

the venue intrinsic signal includes at least one of;

a sound wave,

an electric signal emitted by a utility wire,

an electric signal emitted by utility supply equipment,

an electric signal emitted by an electric wire,

an electric signal emitted by an electric entity, and

a signal reflected by an entity; and

the venue-relevant information includes at least one of;

a physical address of the venue,

a classification of the venue, and

a control requirement associated with the venue.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein:

the physical address of the venue includes at least one of;

a postal address,

a building description;

floor information associated with a physical address, and

room information associated with a physical address;

the classification of the venue includes at least one of;

a classification of a public locale, and

a classification of a private locale; and

the control requirement associated with venue includes at least one of;

mandatory device on/off,

mandatory on/off status of one or more components of the device,

mandatory device self-identification,

mandatory device delivery of a message,

conditional device on/off,

conditional on/off status of one or more components of the device,

conditional device self-identification, and

conditional device delivery of a message.

21. A method for delivering information, comprising steps of:

obtaining venue relevant information to be delivered to a controllable device located in a venue to which the venue relevant information is relevant;

identifying a venue-intrinsic signal to be emitted from infrastructure intrinsic to the venue and propagated in the air or through distance, wherein emission of the venue-intrinsic signal from the infrastructure is otherwise unintended for use within a wireless network, wherein the venue-intrinsic signal includes at least one of an electric signal emitted by a utility line or an electric signal emitted by an electric wire;

generating a controlled quasi-transient signal, wherein;

(a) the controlled quasi-transient signal comprises a quasi-transient signal coded with the information to be delivered via the infrastructure intrinsic to the venue, and

(b) the quasi-transient signal is a signal generated for application to the venue-intrinsic signal for emission as one or more fast rise-time bursts with spectral and power density characteristics similar to uncontrolled transients of the venue-intrinsic signal; and

coupling the quasi-transient signal coded with the information to be delivered with the venue-intrinsic signal via the infrastructure intrinsic to the venue so that the information is propagated in the air or through distance, in the venue.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the venue-intrinsic signal includes at least one of:

a sound wave;

an electric signal emitted by a utility wire;

an electric signal emitted by utility supply equipment;

an electric signal emitted by an electric wire;

an electric signal emitted by an electric entity; and

a signal reflected by an entity.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the information to be delivered includes venue-relevant information associated with the venue corresponding to a geographical region in which the information is delivered.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the venue-relevant information includes at least one of:

a physical address of the venue;

a classification of the venue; and

a control requirement associated with the venue.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the physical address of the venue includes at least one of:

a postal address;

a building description;

floor information; and

room information.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the classification of the venue includes:

a classification of a public locale; and

a classification of a private locale.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the control requirement associated with the venue includes at least one of:

mandatory device on/off;

mandatory on/off status of one or more components of a device;

mandatory device self-identification;

mandatory device delivery of a message;

conditional device on/off;

conditional on/off status of one or more components of a device;

conditional device self-identification; and

conditional device delivery of a message.

37. A mobile station, comprising:

a transceiver for sending and receiving signals via a wireless network;

a controlled quasi-transient signal receptor, for receiving a controlled quasi-transient signal superimposed on a venue-intrinsic signal propagated via infrastructure of a venue in which the mobile station is in the air or through distance in a venue where the device is, wherein;

(a) the venue-intrinsic signal is emitted from an entity intrinsic to the venue, the venue-intrinsic signal includes at least one of an electric signal emitted by a utility line or by an electric wire and is otherwise unintended for wireless communication with the device,

(b) the controlled quasi-transient signal comprises a quasi-transient signal coded with venue-relevant information, and

(c) the quasi-transient signal is a signal generated for application to the venue-intrinsic signal for emission as one or more fast rise-time bursts with spectral and power density characteristics similar to uncontrolled transients of the venue-intrinsic signal;

a controlled quasi-transient signal processor, coupled to the controlled quasi-transient signal receptor, for processing the received controlled quasi-transient signal superimposed on a venue-intrinsic signal;

a controlled quasi-transient signal decoder, coupled to the controlled quasi-transient signal processor, for extracting the venue-relevant information, associated with the venue where the device is, from the processed controlled quasi-transient signal; and

a device controller responsive to the extracted venue-relevant information, wherein the venue corresponds to a geographic region.

38. The mobile station as in claim 37, wherein the device controller is configured for controlling at least one function of the device in accordance with a control signal generated based on the venue-relevant information.

39. The mobile station as in claim 37, wherein the device controller is configured for controlling the device to perform functions, comprising functions to:

transmit the extracted venue-relevant information over a network;

receive a control signal sent over the network in response to the transmitted venue-relevant information; and

control the device in accordance with the received control signal.

40. A system, comprising:

a venue entity comprising one or more electrical conductors, electric circuits, wiring, fixtures, electrical equipment, or appliances installed within a venue;

a source of venue relevant information to be delivered to a mobile station located within the venue; and

a controlled quasi-transient signal generator, coupled to the venue entity and the source of venue relevant information, configured to;

receive the venue relevant information from the venue relevant information source;

couple a quasi-transient signal coded with the venue relevant information;

and generate a controlled quasi-transient signal by superimposing the quasi-transient signal coded with the venue relevant information on a venue-intrinsic signal, wherein the venue-intrinsic signal includes at least one of an electric signal emitted by a utility line or by an electric wire; and

output the generated, controlled quasi-transient signal to the venue entity.