System for playing files associated with tagged interest items

• US 9,984,727 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brent C. Walters, Bryant E. Walters, Gregory Lee Walters, Jonathan A. Mai
• Original Assignee: Brent C. Walters, Bryant E. Walters, Gregory Lee Walters, Jonathan A. Mai
• Inventors: Walters, Bryant E., Walters, Brent C., Walters, Gregory Lee, Mai, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): MESA, JOSE M
• Application Number:
  US15/378,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20170186465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 386230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor

Abstract

The application provides an electronic tagging and playback system and methods of use for displaying files associated with tagged interest items. System embodiments may comprise an electronic tag storing a tag ID and disposed on at least one user interest item. A communications device may have a tag scanner in communication with a playback application activatable by the user for retrieving the tag ID when the tag scanner is in a proximity zone of the tag. A playback database may link to the playback application and may contain a playback file associated with the tag ID. The user may upload the playback file for a number of purposes, including memory enhancement, displaying a reminder, and/or assisting with language learning. The playback file may be any appropriate file displayed by the communication device when the playback application is activated and after the tag ID has been retrieved. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An electronic tagging and playback system for displaying playback files associated with tagged interest items, comprising:

an electronic tag storing a wirelessly accessible tag ID and disposed upon at least one physical interest item of a user;

a communications device having a tag scanner associated with a playback application that is activatable by the user for retrieving the tag ID when the tag scanner is within a proximity zone of the electronic tag, the playback application comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) having a capture architecture presenting a number of pre-configured screens on the GUI that guide the user in generating and storing a playback file associated with the tag ID, the playback file comprising at least two media components including at least one new user-generated media component not previously stored on the communications device or any other device; and

a playback database communicatively linked to the playback application and storing the playback file associated with the tag ID, wherein;

the playback file is uploaded to the playback database by the user via the playback application; and

the playback file is displayed by the communications device when the playback application is activated and after the tag ID has been retrieved.

2. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1,

wherein:

the electronic tag is an RFID tag; and

the tag scanner contains an RFID reader for reading the RFID tag.

3. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 2, wherein the RFID tag is passive.

4. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 2, wherein the RFID tag comprises a three-dimensional memory stone configured for attachment to a non-visible portion of the interest item.

5. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic tag is a near-field communications (NFC) tag; and

the tag scanner contains a NFC reader for reading the NFC tag.

6. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic tag is a bar code or a QR code; and

the tag scanner contains a bar code reader or a QR code reader for reading the bar code or the QR code, respectively.

7. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, wherein the playback application is a mobile application installed on the communications device.

8. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 7, wherein the communications device is a smartphone.

9. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, wherein the media components comprise one or more of an audio file, a video file, a PDF file, and a data file related to the interest item, and the at least one new user-generated media component comprises one of a photo captured by the user, a video captured by the user, and a data file generated by the user.

10. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, wherein:

the playback application is communicatively coupled with at least one language-translation module; and

the media components comprise one or more of an audio file and a display file containing a select-language translation for the interest item.

11. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, wherein the playback database is stored in the communications device or in a cloud-based storage system accessible via at least one communication channel.

12. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, further comprising a second playback file associated with the tag ID, wherein the playback application is configured to allow the user to select which one of the playback file and the second playback file is displayed upon retrieving the tag ID.

13. The electronic tagging and playback system of claim 1, wherein the playback application comprises a continuous detection mode in which the tag scanner continuously retrieves additional tag IDs stored in additional electronic tags entering the proximity zone for automatic display of additional playback files associated with the additional tag IDs.

14. A method for displaying information associated with tagged items of interest, comprising:

disposing, upon a physical interest item of a user, an electronic tag having a wirelessly accessible tag ID stored within the electronic tag;

initiating a playback application installed upon a communications device, the playback application in communication with a tag scanner configured to activate the electronic tag within a proximity zone of the tag scanner, the playback application comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) having a capture architecture presenting a number of pre-configured screens on the GUI that guide a user in generating and storing a playback file associated with the tag ID;

using the pre-configured screens of the capture architecture of the playback application, generating a least one new media component not previously stored on the communications device or any other device;

using the playback application, storing a playback file in a playback database in communication with the playback application, the playback file associated with the tag ID and including the at least one new media component generated via the pre-configured screens of the capture architecture of the playback application;

activating the tag scanner;

retrieving the tag ID from the electronic tag;

receiving, from the playback database, the playback file; and

displaying, via the GUI of the playback application, the playback file to the user.

15. The method of claim 14,

wherein the at least one new media component comprises one of an audio file, a video file, a PDF file, and a data file.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the audio file comprises a select-language translation for the physical interest item.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic tag is a three-dimensional RFID tag configured for placement on a visual portion or a non-visual portion of the physical interest item.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing a second playback file in the playback database, the second playback file associated with the tag ID; and

selecting, after the activating the tag scanner and the retrieving the tag ID from the electronic tag, one of the playback file and the second playback file for display.

19. A method for displaying information associated with items of interest to a user, comprising:

generating, using a playback application operating upon a user communications device having a tag scanner, at least one new media component not previously stored on the communications device or any other device;

storing, within a playback database in communication with the playback application installed upon the user communications device, a playback file including the at least one new media component, the playback file associated with a wirelessly accessible tag ID stored on an RFID tag, the RFID tag attached to a physical user interest item, the playback application comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) having a capture architecture presenting a number of pre-configured screens on the GUI that guide the user in the generating the at least one new media component and the storing the playback file associated with the tag ID;

detecting, via the tag scanner when the tag scanner and the RFID tag are both located within a proximity zone, the tag ID stored on the RFID tag;

in response to the detecting, retrieving the playback file from the playback database; and

displaying, via the GUI of the playback application, the playback file to the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the RFID tag comprises a three-dimensional memory stone configured for attachment to the user interest item on a non-visible portion of the user interest item.