System and method of wirelessly triggering portable devices

• US 20030104824A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
• Inventors: Green, Reynold Duane, McLaughlin, Harold Andrew, Hale, Gregory B., Wiedefeld, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,785,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/58 including a multilanguage function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system and method of wirelessly triggering portable devices to provide a user with audio and/or visual information related to a show or attraction, for example, or for the purposes of captioning, language translation, assistive listening, and descriptive audio. As a person moves about a venue, a portable device receives signals from transmitters at venue locations. Transmissions may be via infrared or radio signals. The receiving device decodes each signal as a venue location, event time, or device trigger. The receiving device processes the signal and its memory to start a presentation on the device. The portable device memory contains audio, text, graphics, and/or visual content; device playback may contain one or many of these stored contents. The stored content may be synchronized with the user'"'"'s location, time of travel, time of day, time of a show, or an event in a show. Stored content may be in one or many languages. Presentation of stored content on the portable device may also be altered by user preference, stored logic constraints, automatic learning of user behavior, or user interaction with other devices.

Claims

1. A method for presenting data relating to a venue on a portable device, the method comprising the steps of:

loading the data onto the memory of the portable device at a predetermined time;

providing at least one wireless transmitter at a location within the venue;

broadcasting a code from the wireless transmitter identifying the location;

receiving the code on the portable device when in range of the wireless transmitter;

locating data corresponding to the code on the device; and

triggering the correlative data to be displayed on the user device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of distributing the portable device to a guest at the venue.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the code is transmitted by way of an infrared signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the code is transmitted by way of a radio frequency signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data comprises a plurality of smaller portions of data, and the venue comprises a plurality of locations within the venue, each location having at least one smaller portion of data relating to the location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the venue is an amusement park.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the venue is a hotel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the venue is a museum.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable device is a personal digital assistant.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable device is a toy.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is a textual narrative.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the data comprises graphics.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter continuously broadcasts the same code.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein a controller is used to vary the code sent by the wireless transmitter.

15. A method of providing textual narratives during a presentation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a viewer with a portable device, the portable device being pre-programming with data representing a narrative of the presentation;

wirelessly transmitting (time) codes during the presentation;

receiving the (time) code at the device; and

displaying the pre-programmed information on the device upon receipt of the time code in synchronization with the presentation.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the handheld device is a personal digital assistant.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the code is transmitted by way of an infrared signal.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the code is transmitted by way of radio frequency signal.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the presentation is a scripted live presentation.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the scripted live presentation is one of the group consisting of play, animatronic show, and tour.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the presentation is a pre-recorded presentation.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the recorded presentation is a movie.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the textual narrative is displayed in one of a plurality of different languages.

24. A method of audio narratives during a presentation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a viewer of an audience with a portable audio device, the portable audio device being pre-programming with data representing a audio narrative of the presentation;

wirelessly transmitting (time) codes during the presentation;

receiving the (time) code at the device;

processing the time code to determine where to start the narrative; and

automatically playing the audio narrative in synchronization with the presentation.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the code is transmitted by way of an infrared signal.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the code is transmitted by way of a radio frequency signal.

27. An apparatus for triggering digital data on a portable device during a media presentation comprising:

a memory device storing the digital data prior to transmission;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting the digital data, the wireless transmitter having a communications interface;

a wireless receiver coupled to the portable device for receiving the digital data; and

at least one interface controller for supplying data to the wireless transmitter.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the interface controller has a memory and internal timing mechanism, and sends data to transmitters in a pre-programmed sequence.

29. A method for presenting information to a recipient on a portable device, the information relating to at least one location in a venue having a plurality of locations, comprising the steps of:

providing a portable device to the recipient, the portable device holding information in a memory;

broadcasting a wireless signal identifying said location, to be received by the portable device;

receiving the signal by the portable device; and

said portable device displaying the information related to said location.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the received signal triggers the display of information by the portable device.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein at least a portion of the information is related to a specified time prompt;

broadcasting a wireless signal identifying a specified time prompt;

said portable device displaying the information related to said time prompt.

32. A method for presenting information to a recipient on a portable device, the information to be displayed upon receiving a specified synchronization code:

providing a portable device to the recipient, the portable device holding information in a memory;

broadcasting a wireless signal including a synchronization code, to be received by the portable device;

receiving the signal by the portable device; and

said portable device displaying the information related to said synchronization code.