Content processing system capable of event detection and content management

• US 8,451,117 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Goto, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/645,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.26, 340/573.1, 340/691.2, 340/692, 340/506, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.3, 340/568.8, 340/571, 375/224, 600/509, 600/513, 235/385, 345/173
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

In accordance with at least some embodiments, a process for transmitting a signal is presented. The process may be implemented to detect an occurrence of a predetermined event associated with an object and in response to detecting the occurrence of the predetermined event, transmit a signal relating to a content associated with the object.

Claims

1. An object event detection device, comprising:

an event detection unit configured to detect an occurrence of a first predetermined event and an elapse of time after the occurrence of the first predetermined event, wherein the first predetermined event is associated with an object coupled to the object event detection device; and

a signal transmitting unit configured to transmit a first signal relating to a first content associated with the object, wherein the first content is determined in response to the detection of the occurrence of the first predetermined event and the elapse of time, the first content is for advertising the object, and the first signal is for controlling processing of the first content.

2. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first signal includes content data.

3. The object event detection device as recited in claim 2, further comprising

memory storage configured to store the content data.

4. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first signal includes a content identifier.

5. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first signal includes control information to control processing of the first content associated with the object.

6. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first signal includes control information indicative of a type of information included in the first signal.

7. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first signal is an ultra-sonic frequency signal.

8. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, further comprising

memory storage configured to store a set of conditions for transmitting the first signal relating to the first content associated with the object.

9. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the event detection unit includes a sensor unit configured to detect movement of the object.

10. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the event detection unit is further configured to detect an occurrence of a second predetermined event, and

the signal transmitting unit is further configured to transmit a second signal relating to a second content associated with the object, in response to the detection of the occurrence of the second predetermined event.

11. The object event detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the event detection unit is further configured to detect an occurrence of a second predetermined event, and

the signal transmitting unit is further configured to transmit a second signal to control operations associated with the first content, in response to the detection of the occurrence of the second predetermined event.

12. A content processing system, comprising:

an object event detection device having

an event detection unit configured to detect an occurrence of a first predetermined event and an elapse of time after the occurrence of the first predetermined event, wherein the first predetermined event is associated with an object coupled to the object event detection device, and

a signal transmitting unit configured to transmit a first signal relating to a first content associated with the object, wherein the first content is determined in response to the detection of the occurrence of the first predetermined event and the elapse of time, and the first content is for advertising the object; and

a content management device having

a signal receiving unit configured to receive the first signal from the object event detection device, and

a content retrieving unit configured to perform an action to the first content based on the first signal, wherein the action is for controlling processing of the first content.

13. The content processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein

the content retrieving unit is configured to retrieve content data for the first content from the first signal.

14. The content processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein

the content management device further comprises a content database configured to store one or more contents corresponding to one or more content identifiers, and

the content retrieving unit is further configured to retrieve the first content from the content database based at least in part on a first content identifier contained in the first signal.

15. The content processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein

the content retrieving unit is further configured to retrieve the first content from a content database through a network based at least in part on a first content identifier contained in the first signal.

16. The content processing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising

an authentication unit configured to verify whether the content management device is authorized to retrieve the content data.

17. The content processing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising

an output unit configured to control outputting of the content data based on control information included in the first signal.

18. A signal transmitting method, comprising:

detecting an occurrence of a predetermined event and an elapse of time after the occurrence of the predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event is associated with an object; and

transmitting a signal relating to a content associated with the object, wherein the content is determined in response to the detecting of the occurrence of the predetermined event and the elapse of time, the content is for advertising the object, and the signal is for controlling processing of the content.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein

the occurrence of the predetermined event and the signal relating to the content are detected and/or transmitted by an object event detection device coupled to the object.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the method is embodied in a machine-readable medium as a set of instructions which, when executed by an object event detection device, cause the object event detection device to perform the method.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the detected predetermined event associated with the object indicates the object is being picked up, and the signal includes control information to start outputting the content.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the detected predetermined event associated with the object indicates a period of time is elapsed after the object is picked up, and the signal includes control information to stop outputting the content.

23. A content management method, comprising:

receiving a signal relating to a content associated with an object, wherein the signal is generated in response to detecting an occurrence of a predetermined event associated with the content and an elapse of time after the occurrence of the predetermined event, wherein the content is for advertising the object and the signal is for controlling processing of the content; and

retrieving the content when the signal includes content data or a content identifier for the content or

performing an action to the content when the signal includes control information having a control operation requested to be performed.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the signal relating to the content is received, the content is retrieved, and/or the action to the content is performed by a content management device.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the method is embodied in a machine-readable medium as a set of instructions which, when executed by a content management device, cause the content management device to perform the method.

26. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the performing the action to the content comprising

upon a determination that the control operation is to output the content data, outputting the content data via an output device.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the performing the action to the content comprising

upon a determination that the control operation is to stop outputting the content data, stopping the outputting of the content data via the output device.