Abstract:
A point of sale terminal that can be used to sell commodities such as gasoline, is also used to wirelessly distribute content files, such as MP3 and video files. The content files are addressed to a particular wireless playback receiving device. Wireless distribution of content files at other merchant&#39;s sites whereat point of sale terminals can be used enables the contents of playback devices to be updated without having to couple the device to a computer. Receipt of payment or account information prior to file transmission helps protect against theft.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to portable music players, such as MP3-file players, personal digital assistants and like devices. More particularly this invention relates to an apparatus and method for wirelessly distributing content to such devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     APPLE® has enjoyed considerable success of its iPOD®. As is known, thousands of music files can be loaded into an iPOD® device with each song being selectable for playback by the user. 
     Songs for the iPOD® can be purchased from APPLE® by logging a personal computer onto a web site and downloading files into the computer. Once the files have been downloaded into the computer, they&#39;re downloaded into the iPOD®. After the files have been downloaded into the iPOD®, the iPOD® can play them back. Despite the relatively cumbersome two-step programming process, the APPLE® playback device has enjoyed so much success that other manufacturers are now selling competing products. 
     A problem with portable playback devices like the iPOD®, other portable MP3 players, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) is that they must be physically connected to a computer in order to acquire information. Requiring a physical connection means that the contents of a portable playback device cannot be changed unless it is attached to a computer. A portable playback device would become even more “portable” if it were possible to reprogram or download new information into the device without having to physically connect it to a computer. Thus, a need exists for an apparatus and method by which a portable playback device like an automotive MP3 System, PDA or a portable MP3 player, can be updated with new content wirelessly. 
     If a portable playback device could be loaded with information by a wireless transfer, the usefulness of such devices would be increased. If such devices could be reprogrammed by a wireless reprogramming device located near point of sale terminals that are used to sell other goods and services, it would be possible to purchase items like gasoline from a point of sale terminal, while also purchasing new songs, pictures, news or video files for the playback device. 
     As is known in the prior art, motor vehicle fuels can be purchased using a prior art, point of sale terminal by “swiping” a credit or debit card through a card reader and fueling the vehicle after the account information is verified and payment is assured. MOBIL Corporation operates gasoline stations whereat a purchaser having one of MOBIL&#39;s SPEEDPASS® devices simply waives the SPEEDPASS® device past a transducer on the gas pump. The credit card reader and the transducer in the MOBIL SPEEDPASS®-compatible gas pumps recognizes a purchaser and/or his/her account and links purchases of the products through the point of sale terminal to the individual and/or his/her accounts by which payment is made. The SPEEDPASS® and devices like it use a radio frequency identifier and are referred to herein as “RFID” devices. Such devices identify a particular consumer and at least one of his or her accounts so that the account is debited for purchases made at the point of sale terminal. Enabling the purchase of music files, video files, pictures and data files using a credit card or RFID transponder and wirelessly downloading them into a playback device would be an improvement over the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention in one implementation encompasses a point of sale terminal that can wirelessly transmit content files that are addressed to a particular device such that only a receiving device with the exact same address can receive the files. 
     Another implementation of the invention encompasses a method. The method includes the steps of receiving an identification of an address of a device to which files are to be sent by radio transmission. An account from which payment funds are to be obtained is also identified. Once a file for wireless transmission is obtained, it is addressed to the destination device and transmitted to the device, which then stores the transferred file for subsequent playback. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features of exemplary implementations of the invention will become apparent from the description, the claims, and the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a representation of one implementation of a point of sale terminal device that is part of a point of sale/service system from which digital audio and video can be distributed. 
         FIG. 2  is a representation of another implementation of a point of sale terminal device that is part of a point of sale/service system from which digital audio and video can be distributed. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates extra detail of the functional relationships between the various components of the point of sale terminal device. 
         FIG. 4  shows steps of a method for wireless distribution of content from a point of sale terminal device. 
         FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a wireless playback device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, “content” is considered to include music, news, video, pictures, data, documents and other forms of information. “Content files” are digital files made up of digital data from which the various forms of content can be reproduced using an appropriate playback device. For example, an MP3 file can be played through an MP3 player, which will output audio through one or more speakers. 
       FIG. 1  shows a system  10  for wirelessly distributing content files from a point of sale terminal  14 , to a portable playback device  12 . For purposes of this disclosure, the portable playback device  12  includes playback devices analogous to the currently-popular Apple® iPOD®, other MP3 players, personal digital assistants or “PDAs” and even including portable personal computers (laptops or notebook computers) and properly-equipped cell phones, albeit each having the capability of accepting file transfers wirelessly using protocols like the I.E.E.E. 802.11 protocol, instead of requiring a direct connection to a computer. 
     In a preferred embodiment, wireless file transfers into a playback device is accomplished in part by using the I.E.E.E. 802.11 protocol and wireless data transfer techniques like it. An 802.11-compliant device has its own address to which files can be addressed and transmitted wirelessly. By using the I.E.E.E. 802.11 protocol and others substantially equivalent thereto, a content file can be addressed to a particular device via the media access control or “MAC” address of said device and then broadcast from a standard-compliant radio transmitter over a geographic area. Only a standard-compliant receiver device having the particular MAC address within the transmitter&#39;s range will “receive” the file. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that data files like content files can be transmitted optically as well. Accordingly, for purposes of this disclosure, a wireless file transfer should be considered to include file transfers that occur by the transmission and reception of optical signals onto which content file data has been encoded or modulated. 
     The system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a point of sale terminal  14 , the function and operation of which is analogous to the point of sale terminals that are currently in use at most gasoline stations in the United States, but having the ability to transmit content files wirelessly using a wireless data transfer protocol, such as but not limited to, the aforementioned I.E.E.E. 802.11 protocol. Among other things, the point of sale terminal  14  of  FIG. 1  is provided with a radio-frequency transmitter  1402 , a function of which includes transmitting signals according to a predetermined wireless data transfer protocol, such as the I.E.E.E. 802.11. Signals transmitted from the transmitter  1402  include data that represents the content to be played back from a wireless play back device  12 . As is known, 802.11-compliant receiver devices  12  within the transmission range of the transmitter can receive only a file that is “addressed” to it by its MAC address. 
     In the point of sale terminal  14  depicted in  FIG. 1 , content files that available to be transmitted to a wireless playback device  12 , are stored in at least one content file storage device  1406  within the terminal  14  enclosure, proximate to it by way of a direct, hard-wired connection, or otherwise co-located with it. In the alternate embodiment of the point of sale terminal  14  that is depicted in  FIG. 2 , the content files are stored on a device that is remotely located from the terminal  14  and accessed via the Internet  20  or other network. 
     Hard disk drives, CD-ROM, DVD disks, magnetic tape, Flash Memory, EEPROM are a few of the devices that can store content files such as MP3 music files and from which content files can be read and provided to the transmitter  1402  so that upon the file&#39;s reception, the content file can be played back by the wireless device  12  to which the file was transmitted. The content files stored in the content file storage device  1406  can include music files, in the MP3 or other lossey format, video files in multiple MPEG formats, JPEG files, data files like WORD and PDF files (including transaction receipts, such as a receipt for the purchase of other goods and services from the terminal  14 ) as well. 
     Similar to prior art point of sale terminals, the point of sale terminal  14  shown in  FIG. 1  has a user-interface terminal  1408  on which information can be displayed to a user of the terminal  14  and through which a user can enter various data. Information displayed on and information received from the user interface terminal  1408  is under software control of a processor to which the terminal  1408  is coupled. 
     By way of example, a user of the terminal  1408  can enter his or her name, an account number by which payment will be effectuated, a MAC address of a device. In addition, using the terminal  1408  a user can view a list of content files available and select one or more content files for transmission from the transmitter to his MAC-addressable wireless playback device  12 . The layout and organization of information on the user interface terminal  1408  will depend on the size and type of device and is therefore a design choice. 
     In addition to displaying content files that are available, information displayed in the user-interface terminal can include information pertinent to a user&#39;s purchase of goods, services or commodities from an ancillary sale device  16  such as a gasoline pump, food or beverage dispenser and the like. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the ancillary sales device  16  is coupled to and under the separate control of its own point of sale controller  1410 , depicted in  FIG. 1  as being within the point of sale terminal  14 . In alternate embodiments, the ancillary sales device  16  controller  1410  does not need to be within the point of sale terminal  14 . 
     The separate point of sale controller  1410  functions to effectuate the sale of goods, services or commodities from ancillary sales devices  16  such as a gasoline pump so that sales of content can be handled by a separate controller  1412  and its own associated program instructions. Using two separate controllers can simply the programming required to provide the two different functionalities, i.e., wireless content file distribution and commodity sales. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that while the point of sale terminal  14  shown in  FIG. 1  uses a first processor  1412  for content file sales and a second processor  1410  to control an ancillary sales device  16 , alternate and equivalent embodiments include using a single processor to control both tasks. 
     The first processor  1412  is shown in  FIG. 1  “coupled” to the radio transmitter  1402 , the user-interface terminal  1408 , and the content file storage device  1406 . Such a “coupling” is readily accomplished via the address, data and control bus that is common to virtually all microprocessors and microcontrollers but which are not separately shown in the figures for simplicity because address, data and control lines and their use is well-known. 
     The handling and control of devices that are peripheral to the processor  1412  can be accomplished in a variety of ways, e.g., by polling each device or by one or more devices asserting interrupt requests, etc, and is a design choice. 
     The processor  1412  in the point of sale terminal  14  that handles content file selection by a user, sales, and wireless transmission functionality by executing program instructions stored in one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media  1414 , “operably coupled” to the processor  1412 . Examples of computer-readable and signal-bearing media that can store program instructions include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, Flash memory, EEPROM and combinations of each. 
     Stored within the media  1414  coupled to the processor  1412  are program instructions for the processor  1412 , which when executed by the processor, imbue the point of sale terminal  14  with various capabilities set forth below in the discussion of  FIG. 4  and as claimed in the appurtenant claims. Briefly however, the instructions stored in the computer-readable and signal-bearing media cause the processor to display information on and to read information from the user interface terminal  1408 . 
     The program instructions enable the processor  1412  to display information on the user-interface terminal  1408  that includes, but is not limited to, a listing of songs, videos, files, news or other information that is stored in the content file storage device  1406 . The functionality provided to the user-interface terminal  1408  by the processor  1412  instructions in memory, provides among other things, the ability of a person to select from the information presented, a least one content file to be transmitted into the person&#39;s wireless playback device  12  from the point of sale terminal  14 . The user interface terminal  1408  also enables a user to enter a MAC address, an account number and other information. Accordingly, the program instructions stored in the memory  1414  cause the processor  1412  to read or other wise acquire information from the terminal that identifies at least a particular content file or files to transmit from the content file storage device  1406  to the transmitter  1402 . 
     The processor  1412  handles the task of reading data bytes from the content file storage device  1406 , wherever it might be located, and routing them to the transmitter  1402 . In one embodiment, such a file transfer is performed by the processor  1412  reading the data byte-by-byte or in blocks of bytes, as many bytes from the content file storage device  1406  as the transmitter  1402  can accept for transmission, until the entire file is read from the storage device  1406  and output from the transmitter  1402 . By controllably transferring data to the transmitter  1402 , the processor  1412  effectuates the transmission of the content file selected by a user via the user interface device  1408 , to the user&#39;s wireless playback device  12 , which is presumably within the transmission range of the transmitter  1402  such that the signals from the transmitter  1402  can be received with sufficient amplitude so that the information encoded therein is recovered. 
     As set forth above, adding wireless file distribution to a point of sales terminal can increase revenue for content providers and merchants where such a terminal is put into service. As a practical matter however, increased revenue can only be realized if someone pays for the content files and/or the service of wirelessly distributing them. In a preferred embodiment, payment for a file and/or its wireless distribution into a wireless playback device is accomplished in at least one of two ways. 
     In at least one embodiment, a point of sale terminal  14  includes a radio frequency identification device (RFID) transponder  1418  capable of sensing devices like the SPEEDPASS®. The transponder  1418  is “coupled” to the processor  1412  via the processor&#39;s address, data and control busses. The transponder  1418  “reads” information encoded into a compatible RFID device, such that when the RFID is passed near the transponder  1418 , the RFID device can identify, among other things, a MAC address to which a file is to be transmitted, a person to whom the RFID device was delivered, as well as an account such as a debit or credit account from which funds can be drawn to pay for a file transmission. 
     As is known, the MOBIL® SPEEDPASS® is an example of an RFID device that can be used at MOBIL® gasoline stations to purchase gasoline and other goods. When the SPEEDPASS® is waved pass a transponder in the gasoline pump, the transponder recognizes the particular SPEEDPASS® and charges the subsequent purchase amount to a particular account specified by the user. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the transponder  1418  is embodied as a credit card or debit card reader. As is known, such cards are provided with a magnetic strip into which account information is encoded and by which payment can be accomplished. For purposes of this disclosure a debit card and other such cards with magnetic strips or memory devices into which information is encoded are considered to be a “credit card” in that all such devices identify at least an account from which funds can be transferred to pay for a content file transmission. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the transponder  1418  is coupled to the processor  1412 , which is in turn coupled to a data network interface device  1411 , such as a cable modem or other device. In  FIG. 1 , the network interface device is shown as being part of the point of sale controller  1410 . Data exchanges that effectuate payment for file transfers can occur via an Internet  20  data transfer or via a direct data link  22  to a payment service center  24 . As set forth above, content file transfers are paid for. Payment is effectuated by a data exchange between the payment verification service center (e.g., VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, et al.) and the point of sale terminal  14 . Whether the transponder is a card reader or an RFID transponder, they both detect a content purchaser-identification device (e.g., a credit card, debit card, RFID) such that a content file transfer can be paid for. 
       FIG. 2  shows an alternate embodiment of a system  10  for distributing content files wirelessly. The system shown in  FIG. 2  differs from the system shown in  FIG. 1  by the logical and physical location of the content storage device  1406 . In  FIG. 2 , the content file storage device  1406  is coupled or linked to the point of sale terminal  14  (and hence the transmitter  1402  within the point of sale terminal  14 ) via the Internet  20 . 
     Centrally locating the content file storage device  1406  and linking it to the Internet  20  makes it possible to provide wireless content file distribution services to virtually any point of sale device that is capable of wireless file transfers and that has Internet access. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the centrally located content file storage device  1406  is Internet  20  accessible, thereby eliminating the need for a special network over which content files can be transferred and making the content files available virtually anywhere Internet access is available. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the processor  1412  within the terminal  14  also handles the processing overhead required to access the Internet, such as providing the display of a web browser on the user interface terminal  1408  and/or otherwise, such that files available on the storage device  1406 , can be listed and from which they can be selected for purchase and transmission. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of how the processor  1412  can be coupled to the several peripheral devices in the point of sale terminal  14  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . First, program instructions for the processor  1412  are stored in a memory device  1414 , such as the devices mentioned above. Information about content files that are available can be read by the processor  1412  from the content file storage device  1406  whether the content file storage device  1406  is coupled to the processor&#39;s address/data/control bus or coupled to the processor  1412  via an Internet  20  link. 
     Once the available content files are determined, the processor  1412  sends such data to the user interface terminal  1408  on which the available files are displayed under the control of the processor  1412  so that the files can be selected from the terminal  1408  by a user. 
     Content file selections that are made by a user at the user interface terminal  1408  are “read” by the processor  1412 , causing the processor  1412  to retrieve at least part of the selected file from the content storage device  1406 . The processor thereafter “feeds” all or part of a selected file to a transmitter  1402  for broadcast and hopefully reception by a compatible wireless playback device (not shown) having the MAC address to which the file is addressed. 
     In at least some alternate embodiments, it might be desirable to encrypt or encode content files prior to their transmission. Encryption, encoding or “watermarking” of a content file if desired, can be performed by the processor  1412  under the direction and control of software instructions stored in the memory  1414 , prior to the file&#39;s transmission. In alternate embodiment, encoded and/or encrypted files can be stored as such on the file storage device  1406 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts steps of a method of wirelessly distributing content information. 
     At the outset, in step  402 , information is received at a point of sale terminal that can include a MAC address to which a file, if purchased, should be addressed for transmission. In step  402 , the MAC address can be acquired by the user&#39;s entry at the user interface terminal  1408 , by reading it from an RFID or even via information encoded onto a credit card. 
     In step  406 , prospective purchaser-identifying account information is also obtained. Like step  402 , information acquired in step  406  can be acquired from the terminal  1408 , an RFID or credit card. 
     Whether the MAC address is obtained first or account information is obtained first is a design choice and the two orders in which these two different pieces of information are equivalent. For purposes of claim construction, acquiring a MAC address before or after an account is obtained are equivalent 
     In step  408 , the processor displays available content file information on the user interface terminal. In step  410 , the processor retrieves a user&#39;s selection of a content file is retrieved from the user interface terminal. Upon the selection of a content file, in step  412  the file, such an MP3 file, an MPEG file or a data file, is retrieved by the processor from the content file storage device, wherever it&#39;s located. As set forth above, in step  414  a content file can be optionally encoded for a particular playback device or a particular type of playback device. A file can also be encrypted so as to prevent their piracy. Finally, in step  416 , the content file is transmitted under the control of the processor  1412  to a particular MAC address, whether it is encoded or encrypted. 
     Finally,  FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment of a wireless playback device  12 . 
     An antenna  1202  picks up radio frequency signals and conducts them to an amplifier  1204 . The output of the amplifier  1204  is coupled into an FM demodulator  1206 . The output of the demodulator  1206  is data, which when routed to an appropriate digital to analog converter or other display device, renders human-perceptible content such as music, video or a text message. 
     The various structures of the wireless playback device  12  are coupled to and under the control of at least one processor  1210 , which is coupled to a memory device  1212  wherein instructions for the processor  1210  are stored and accessible to it. By appropriate program control, radio frequency signals that are picked up at the antenna are amplified, demodulated and decoded by the processor to determine whether the signals carried by radio contain data having the MAC address of the playback device  12 . If they do, the data is stored in the file store memory  1208  for subsequent playback through an appropriate playback device (speaker, LCD screen, etc.)  1214 . 
     The point of sale terminal  14  and the wireless playback device  12  comprises two of a plurality of components by which content files can be distributed into playback devices wirelessly. The structures, devices and steps described herein are just exemplary. There may be many variations to these without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified. 
     Wireless data transfer of music, news and/or video from point of sales terminals, (like the point of sale terminals currently in use at gasoline stations through out the United States and elsewhere) can provide increased content sales for content providers and can provide an additional revenue source to merchants who can also sell goods and services using point of sale terminals. The ability to perform wireless file transfers at point of sale terminals can also increase the enjoyment that consumers now experience through devices like the iPOD® by doing away with the need to physically connect a playback device to a computer. 
     By providing a point of sale terminal with the ability to transfer data files wirelessly, such as by way of the I.E.E.E. 802.11 standard and others like it, a point of sale terminal can function as a point of sale terminal for goods and services but it can also become a point of sale terminal for music, video, news and other forms of data that might be of value or interest to a customer of a gas station while he or she is waiting to fuel his or her vehicle. 
     Although exemplary implementations of the invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.