MOVIE MODE AND CONTENT AWARDINGI SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150205578A1
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Pierce, Donald N. Jr., Knapp, Jaclyn, Fox, Dan, Slater, Ken, Tung, Tony, Look, Heather, Anderson, Stacy, Barclay, Carrie, Wortley, William Don, Ebert, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 9,921,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A system and method is presented for awarding content to users of mobile devices for attending events, appearing at locations, or viewing audiovisual content. One embodiment also automatically alters the configuration of mobile devices, which is particularly useful in movie theaters. An application on the device recognizes an audible signal provided at the location or in the audiovisual content. The signal can also be used to unlock content. In this way, desired content is available only when the user has attended an event such as an event sponsored by the content creator. The content can relate to the event, and can be synchronized to the event. The signal can also trigger an application or unlock content at a store location. For example, a scavenger hunt can be guided by an application on the mobile device.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of responding to a signal on a portable electronic device comprising:

a) monitoring a microphone on the portable electronic device for a unique audio signal comprising a sequence of successive tones;

b) detecting the unique audio signal,

c) upon detection of the unique audio signal, providing access to desired content on the portable electronic device by;

i) upon detection of the unique audio signal, starting a timer on the device;

ii) when the timer reaches a first predetermined time, initiating presentation of the desired content on a display of the portable electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

d) upon detection of the unique audio signal, altering device settings for the portable electronic device to at least prevent a ringer from sounding on the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

e) when the timer reaches a second predetermined time, altering device settings for the portable electronic device to at least allow the ringer to sound on the portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first predetermined time occurs before the second predetermined time.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined time is selected by an analysis of the unique audio signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the unique audio signal carries an encoded value from which the first predetermined time is determined.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the sequence of successive tones comprise at least four successive tones.

9. A portable electronic device comprising:

a) a processor;

b) a non-transitory memory;

c) a receiver capable of receiving a signal from outside the portable electronic device;

d) device settings residing the non-transitory memory; and

e) an application program residing in the non-transitory memory and operating on the processor, the application program causing the portable electronic device to;

i) monitor the receiver for a unique signal;

ii) detect the unique signal,

iii) upon detection of the unique signal, alter the device settings to at least prevent a ringer from sounding on the portable electronic device, and

iv) upon detection of the unique signal, start a timer on the device and, when the timer reaches a first predetermined time, alter the device settings for the portable electronic device to at least allow the ringer to sound on the portable electronic device.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the application program further causes the portable electronic device to, when the timer reaches a second predetermined time, initiate a presentation of the desired content on a display of the portable electronic device.

11. A method of responding to a signal on a portable electronic device comprising:

a) monitoring a microphone on the portable electronic device for a unique audio signal;

b) detecting the unique audio signal;

c) upon detection of the unique audio signal, altering device settings for the portable electronic device to prevent a ringer from sounding on the portable electronic device;

d) upon detection of the unique audio signal, starting a timer on the portable electronic device; and

e) when the timer reaches a predetermined time, altering device settings for the portable electronic device to allow the ringer to sound on the portable electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined time is selected by an analysis of the unique audio signal.