Disposable, proximity-based communications systems, devices and methods

• US 7,536,156 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven, Zellner, Samuel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/013,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20060128447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/41.2, 455/563, 455/566, 455/407, 455/343.1, 455/410, 455/11.1, 455/26.1, 455/500, 455/558, 455/569.1, 455/422, 455/557, 455/73, 455/466, 455/41.3, 455/903.3, 455/556.1, 455/90.2, 455/95, 455/555, 455/552.1, 340/572.9, 340/572.1, 380/43, 370/310, 370/401
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers

Abstract

A disposable electronic device includes a housing, a user interface in the housing and a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing. A controller is configured to control the user interface and the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver. A non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery also is provided in the housing. New forms of disposable, proximity-based communications systems, devices and methods thereby may be provided.

Claims

1. A disposable electronic device comprising:

a housing that has an external appearance that is related to an entertainment event;

a light source and/or a sound source in the housing;

a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing;

a controller in the housing that is configured to activate the light source and/or the sound source and to transmit an outgoing message via the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver, in response to a first receipt of an incoming message at the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver, and to ignore a second receipt of the incoming message at the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver; and

a non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery in the housing that is configured to power the user interface, the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver and the controller until the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery discharges.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to activate the light source and/or the sound source and to transmit the outgoing message via the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in response to the first receipt of the incoming message at the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver and in further response to occurrence of a predetermined condition.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined condition comprises activation of the user interface and/or expiration of a predetermined time.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing has an external appearance of a human or animal figure, a toy or a vehicle.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes an image of an admission ticket for the entertainment event on an external surface thereof.

6. An entertainment method for a plurality of venues comprising:

causing messages to pass among a plurality of first disposable electronic devices at a first venue that are carried by attendees of the first venue, the first disposable electronic devices including a housing having an external appearance that is related to an entertainment event at the first venue, a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing that is configured to receive and transmit the messages and a non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery in the housing that is configured to power the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver until the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery discharges, such that the messages that pass among the plurality of first disposable electronic devices at the first venue facilitate entertainment of the attendees of the venue;

causing messages to pass among a plurality of second disposable electronic devices at a second venue that are carried by attendees of the second venue, the second disposable electronic devices including a housing, a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing that is configured to receive and transmit the messages and a non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery in the housing that is configured to power the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver until the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery discharges; and

linking at least one of the first disposable electronic devices with at least one of the second disposable electronic devices via a wide area network.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein causing messages to pass among the plurality of first disposable electronic devices is preceded by:

distributing the plurality of first disposable electronic devices to the attendees of the first venue.

8. A method according to claim 6 further comprising:

causing the plurality of first disposable electronic devices to emit audible and/or visible signals in response to the messages that pass among the plurality of first disposable electronic devices at the first venue.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the audible and/or visible signals are emitted sequentially and/or simultaneously by the plurality of first disposable electronic devices in response to the messages that pass among the plurality of disposable electronic devices at the first venue.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of first disposable electronic devices continue to emit the audible and/or visible signals until the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable batteries discharge.

11. A method according to claim 6 wherein the messages contain therein attendee input selections that are provided to a user interface of a respective first disposable electronic device by a respective attendee who carries the respective first disposable electronic device.

12. A method according to claim 6 wherein causing messages to pass among the plurality of first disposable electronic devices is preceded by:

loading an initial message in at least one of the plurality of first disposable electronic devices.

13. A communication method comprising:

causing two disposable electronic devices that have a same external shape of an item of interest and that are carried by two individuals to automatically emit audible and/or visible signals sequentially and/or simultaneously in response to the two disposable electronic devices being proximate to one another and independent of interaction by the two individuals with the two disposable electronic devices, so as to automatically indicate to the two individuals who are proximate one another their mutual interest in the item of interest, and thereby facilitate social interaction between the two individuals.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising:

causing the two disposable electronic devices that are carried by the two individuals to automatically cease emitting the audible and/or visible signals sequentially and/or simultaneously in response to the two disposable electronic devices no longer being proximate to one another.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the item of interest comprises a human or animal figure, a toy and/or a vehicle.