Abstract:
A method for capturing information related to an audio signal includes broadcasting an acoustic signal capable of human perception, broadcasting an RF signal containing information related to content of the acoustic signal, receiving the acoustic signal, receiving the RF signal with a portable device, and using the portable device, storing the information related to the content of the acoustic signal. A similar method is used to capture information related to a visual display.

Description:
ORIGIN OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention described herein was made by an employee of the United States Government, and may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefore. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to methods for identifying and storing information related to an audio broadcast or a visual display. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In some areas frequented by humans, for example, restaurants, shopping malls, bars, taverns, medical complexes, office buildings, hotels, motels, airports, bus terminals, subway stations, etc., audio signals are broadcast. In even more areas, visual images, such as billboards or other advertisements, are displayed. The broadcast audio signals and the visual images can have one or more purposes, such as entertainment, amusement, general information, advertisement, etc. 
         [0004]    In the case of audible music, the listener may often desire to know the name of a musical selection, the artist, and/or where the musical selection can be purchased or otherwise accessed. In the case of audio or visual advertisements, the listener may be interested in the product or service being advertised, but may forget how or where to contact the advertiser. 
         [0005]    The Radio Broadcast Data System (RDS) is a known standard for sending small amounts of digital information using conventional FM radio broadcasts. The RDS system standardizes several types of information transmitted, including time, track/artist information and station identification. RDS uses a 57 kHz subcarrier to carry data at 1187.5 bits per second. Thus, if one is listening to FM radio music with a suitable FM receiver, one may be able to view the name of the artist and the musical selection on the display of the receiver. However, to obtain the RDS information, one must be tuned to an FM radio broadcast. Thus, in the case of acoustic signals or visual images, the RDS information is not available. 
         [0006]    Some companies, such as AT&amp;T, offer music identification services in conjunction with a mobile or wireless phone. In these services, one dials the service number and then holds the phone near a speaker for ten to fifteen seconds so that the service can record an audio clip. The service attempts to match the audio clip to a database of musical selections. If a match occurs, the service sends a text message with the name of the song and the artist to the user&#39;s mobile phone, in about a minute. Of course, these services are limited to music and further limited to the particular selections in the service&#39;s database. In addition, the audio quality must be sufficient to transmit over a mobile phone. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In one aspect, a method for identifying and storing information related to an audio broadcast includes broadcasting an acoustic signal capable of human perception, broadcasting an RF signal including information related to content of the acoustic signal, receiving the acoustic signal, receiving the RF signal with a portable device, and using the portable device, storing the information related to the content of the acoustic signal. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a method for identifying and storing information related to a visual display includes providing a visual display capable of human perception, broadcasting an RF signal including information related to content of the visual display, viewing the visual display, receiving the RF signal with a portable device, and using the portable device, storing the information related to the content of the visual display. 
         [0009]    Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a method according to the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a portable device for use with the method of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustration a second embodiment of a method according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an acoustic signal source  10  broadcasts an acoustic signal  12 . The acoustic signal source  10  can be, for example, one or more speakers that transform electrical signals into acoustic signals. The acoustic signal source  10  can be located in a variety of areas, including but not limited to, restaurants, shopping malls, bars, taverns, medical complexes, office buildings, hotels, motels, airports, bus terminals, subway stations, etc. The acoustic signal  12  can include, for example, a musical selection or an advertisement. 
         [0014]    A user, for example, human  18 , receives the acoustic signal  12 . The user  18  may desire more information related to the acoustic signal  12 . For example, if the acoustic signal  12  includes a musical selection, the user may wish to know the title and/or artist of the musical selection or locations where the musical selection may be accessed or purchased. If the acoustic signal  12  includes an advertisement, the user may wish to know the contact information for the advertiser. 
         [0015]    Simultaneously with the broadcasting of the acoustic signal  12 , a radio frequency (RF) signal  16  is broadcast by an RF signal source  14  in the same vicinity as the acoustic signal  12 . The RF signal  16  includes information related to the content of the acoustic signal  12 . For example, the information in the RF signal  16  can include, but is not limited to, the name, artist, or place of purchase of a musical selection, a phone number, a mailing address, an email address, a URL, a website address, etc. The acoustic signal  12  and the RF signal  16  can be synchronized so that the information in the RF signal  16  corresponds to the particular acoustic signal  12  being broadcast. 
         [0016]    The user  18  can be provided with a portable device  20  ( FIG. 2 ) that includes an RF receiver for receiving the RF signal  16 , a non-volatile memory  28  for storing the information in the RF signal  16 , and a switch  36  for selectively recording the RF signal  16 . When the user  18  hears a song or advertisement or other acoustic signal  12  and desires to record information related to acoustic signal  12 , the user can switch the device  20  into the record mode. The device  20  can then record the RF signal  16  for a predetermined length of time. The predetermined length of time is, for example, a length of time sufficient to capture at least one complete cycle of the information in the RF signal  16 . The device  20  can store the information from the RF signal  16  in a non-volatile memory  28 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of the portable device  20 . Device  20  includes an RF receiver  22  for receiving the RF signal  16 , a record switch  36 , a converter circuit  26  for converting the information in the RF signal  16  into a form suitable for storage, a non-volatile memory  28  and a battery  24 . Device  20  can include a visual display  30  so that the user can immediately access the information in memory  28 . 
         [0018]    Device  20  can include a wireless card  32  so that the user can access the Internet to visit the URL or website stored in the memory  28 . Device  20  can include a docking port  34  so that the device can be connected directly to the USB port of a computer, or indirectly to the USB port of a computer through a converter. Once connected to another computer, the contents of the memory  28  can be downloaded to the computer. Or, the memory  28  can be removable from the device  20  and, if the memory  28  is supplied with a USB port, the memory  28  can be directly connected to the USB port of a computer, or, if not supplied with a USB port, the memory  28  can be indirectly connected to the USB port of a computer through an appropriate converter. 
         [0019]    In addition, device  20  can be integrated with another portable device, such as a mobile phone, an iPod®, a PDA, a Blackberry®, etc. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method according to the invention. A visual display  40 , including but not limited to an advertisement, is provided in an area frequented by humans. An RF signal source  14  is located such that the RF signal  16  can be received by a user  18  who is viewing the visual display  40 . The RF signal  16  includes information related to the content of the visual display  40 . For example, the information in the RF signal  16  can include, but is not limited to, a phone number, a mailing address, an email address, a URL, a website address, etc. The RF signal  16  can be received and can be stored by a portable device  20 , as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0021]    Although the above description may contain specific details, they should not be construed as limiting the claims in any way. Other configurations of the described embodiments of the invention are part of the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the appended claims and their legal equivalents should only define the invention, rather than any specific examples given.