IP Library Granted Patent US 7,590,992
Granted Patent B2
US 7,590,992 · App. 11/686,156 · Granted Sep 15, 2009

Universal methods and device for hand-held promotional opportunities

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,590,992
App. No.
11/686,156
Granted
Sep 15, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for auxiliary data detection. Data is received on a hand-held device from a display of a signal on a monitor. The signal is visually displayed on the monitor at a frequency. A modulated video signal is received on the hand-held device from a display device. The modulated video signal contains auxiliary data modulated within a video signal in a substantially invisible way. The modulated video signal is demodulated to obtain the auxiliary data. At least one of the data or the auxiliary data is processed to identify a promotional opportunity available through the hand-held device. The user of the hand-held device is notified of availability of the promotional opportunity through the hand-held device.

Claims (63)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of images emanating from a monitor on a hand-held device, wherein a first image of the plurality of images includes a visible frequency image having data and a second image of the plurality of images does not include the visible frequency image and contains no data, the plurality of images being visually displayed on the monitor;

receiving a modulated video signal on the hand-held device from a display device, the modulated video signal containing auxiliary data modulated within a video signal in a substantially invisible way;

demodulating the modulated video signal to obtain the auxiliary data;

processing at least one of the data in the plurality of images or the auxiliary data in the modulated video signal to identify a promotional opportunity available through the hand-held device; and

notifying the user of the hand-held device of availability of the promotional opportunity through the hand-held device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the promotional opportunity is selected from a group of promotional opportunities consisting of a promotion, a transfer of information, a collection of data from the hand-held device, commercial verification, and educational information.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitor emanates a particular image of the plurality of images during a refresh of the monitor.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first image including the visible frequency image having data represents a data bit of one and the second image represents a data bit of zero.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visible frequency image is an 18 kHz image.

6. A method comprising:

receiving a modulated video signal on a hand-held device from a display device, the modulated video signal containing auxiliary data modulated within a video signal in a substantially invisible way;

demodulating the modulated video signal to obtain the auxiliary data;

processing the auxiliary data to identify a promotional opportunity available on the hand-held device, the promotional opportunity to enable a user of the hand-held device to purchase a song related to the modulated video signal;

notifying the user of the hand-held device of availability to purchase the song related to the modulated video signal;

receiving a request to purchase the song;

processing the request through use of the hand-held device to facilitate purchase of the song; and

providing the song to the user through a computerized network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein providing the song to the user through a computerized network further comprises:

providing a reward to the user for purchase of the song.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the reward is selected from a group of rewards consisting of an unreleased song, a live song, and a future discount.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the song is a digital audio music track.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein notifying the user of the hand-held device of availability to purchase the song related to the modulated video signal comprises:

notifying the user of the hand-held device on the hand-held device of availability to purchase the song related to the modulated video signal.

11. A method comprising:

accessing a horizontal frequency of a monitor;

adjusting a frequency of a signal to be visually displayed within a visual image based on the horizontal frequency of the monitor; and

selectively displaying the signal in the visual image on the monitor to transmit data.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein accessing a horizontal frequency of a monitor comprises:

determining a horizontal frequency by performing a calculation using a number of pixels on a line, a number of lines in a screen, and a vertical refresh rate of a monitor.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein selectively displaying the frequency in the visual image on the monitor to transmit data comprises:

displaying the signal in the visual image to transmit a one data bit; and

displaying the visual image without the signal to transmit a zero data bit.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting a frequency of a signal to be visually displayed within a visual image based on the horizontal frequency of the monitor comprises:

adjusting a frequency of a signal to display a solid white color within a visual image, the white color to indicate to a detector a first type of data bit; and

adjusting the frequency of the signal to display alternating white and black lines within the visual image, the alternating white and black lines to indicate to a detector a second type of data bit.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the visual image is located in a title bar of a web browser.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the visual image includes a box shape.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the monitor includes a computer monitor.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the frequency includes an 18 kHz frequency.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising wherein the data includes a binary data stream.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising capturing data received from the signal on a hand-held device.

21. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

access a horizontal frequency of a monitor;

adjust a frequency of a signal to be visually displayed within a visual image based on the horizontal frequency of the monitor; and

selectively display the signal in the visual image on the monitor to transmit data.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein instructions causing the machine to adjust a frequency of a signal to be visually displayed within a visual image based on the horizontal frequency of the monitor further causes the machine to:

adjust a frequency of a signal to display a solid white color within a visual image, the white color to indicate to a detector a first type of data bit; and

adjust the frequency of the signal to display alternating white and black lines within the visual image, the alternating white and black lines to indicate to a detector a second type of data bit.

23. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of images emanating from a monitor on a hand-held device, wherein a first image of the plurality of images includes a visible frequency image having data and a second image of the plurality of images does not include the visible frequency image and contains no data, the plurality of images being visually displayed on the monitor;

means for receiving a modulated video signal on the hand-held device from a display device, the modulated video signal containing auxiliary data modulated within a video signal in a substantially invisible way;

means for demodulating the modulated video signal to obtain the auxiliary data;

means for processing at least one of the data in the plurality of images or the auxiliary data in the modulated video signal to identify a promotional opportunity available through the hand-held device; and

means for notifying the user of the hand-held device of availability of the promotional opportunity through the hand-held device.

24. A method comprising:

receiving a modulated video signal on a hand-held device from a display device, the modulated video signal containing auxiliary data modulated within a video signal in a substantially invisible way;

demodulating the modulated video signal to obtain the auxiliary data;

processing the auxiliary data to identify a promotional opportunity available on the hand-held device, the promotional opportunity to enable a user of the hand-held device to purchase a song related to the modulated video signal;

notifying the user of the hand-held device of availability to purchase the song related to the modulated video signal;

receiving a request to purchase the song;

processing the request through use of the hand-held device to facilitate purchase of the song; and

reproducing the song available on the hand-held device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2022
From: KOPLAR INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ADVOCADO, INC.
Reel/Frame 061395/0575 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2021
From: ADVOCADO, INC.
To: CRESCENT COVE CAPITAL II, LP
Reel/Frame 058236/0206 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2010
From: KOPLAR, EDWARD J.; CIARDULLO, DANIEL A.; WITHERS, JAMES G.; CHUPP, CHRISTOPHER E.
To: KOPLAR INTERACTIVE SYTEMS INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 024213/0543 →