Acoustic tag for product information display and a system and method for reading an acoustic tag

The embodiments herein provide an audio information label/acoustic tag for delivering product information and system and method for reading an audio information label/acoustic tag. Accordingly, an acoustic tag system comprising an acoustic tag associated with an object is disclosed. The acoustic tag comprises an acoustic reflector surface configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to receiving a trigger in the form of an ambient sound wave and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information relating to the object associated with the acoustic tag and a decoding application installed on a user device, the decoding application configured for receiving the characteristic acoustic signal, decoding the characteristic acoustic signal in order to obtain the information embedded within the characteristic acoustic signal and displaying the information so obtained.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The embodiments herein claim the priority of the Indian Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 201941019279 titled “ACOUSTIC TAG FOR PRODUCT INFORMATION DISPLAY AND A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR READING AN ACOUSTIC TAG”, filed on May 15, 2019 and the contents of which are incorporated in entirety by the way of reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The embodiments herein are generally related to goods or products information labelling and management systems. The embodiments herein are particularly related to a system and method for displaying and retrieving product or goods detail through tags. The embodiments herein are more particularly related to an acoustic tag for retrieving, displaying and providing product or goods information to a user through audio technology by reading acoustic tag for product information.

Description of Related Art

Electronic labelling systems are known in which the electronic labels are placed on goods and shelves, in grocery stores, to serve as price tags. The information displayed on the labels is updated from a central unit communicating with the labels through wired or wireless communication systems.

However, all such electronic shelf labels require a portable power supply unit, such as battery, for powering various components. Therefore the usage of such labels in large numbers is not environmentally sustainable. Hence, there exists a need for an information label that eliminates a need for energy harvesting or storage.

Hence there is a need for a system and method for providing for providing product or goods detail/information to a user through audio technology. Further there is a need for an acoustic tag for retrieving and displaying product or goods information to provide the goods/product information to the user by reading the audio tag. Yet there is a need for a system and method for providing product or goods detail/information to a user through audio technology without requiring a power supply source.

The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein, which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

OBJECTIVES OF THE EMBODIMENTS HEREIN

The primary object of the embodiments herein is to provide a system and method for displaying product information electronically through audio technology.

Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an audio labelling system for products or goods for retrieving and displaying product information in goods shelf in departmental stores without requiring a battery power or energy harvesting.

Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an audio electronic label/acoustic tag that generates characteristic acoustic signal to identify an associated product.

Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an audio electronic label/acoustic tag that employs ambient sound wave for generating acoustic signal.

Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an audio acoustic tag for displaying and retrieving product or goods information.

Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a system and method for reading acoustic tag for providing product information to a user.

Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a seamless shopping experience for the user.

SUMMARY

The various embodiments herein provide an Audio Electronic Labelling System (AESL) that is communicatively coupled to multiple AESLs for not only displaying information related to an associated product but also facilitating an addition and/or deletion of the product associated with the AESL into the virtual can of the user.

The embodiments herein provide an audio information label/acoustic tag associated with an object. The audio information label/acoustic tag comprises an acoustic reflector surface configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to a trigger signal received in a form of an ambient sound wave and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information relating to an object associated with the audio information label.

According to one embodiment herein, an audio information labelling system is provided. The system comprises an audio information label/acoustic tag associated with an object and affixed to the object. The audio information label/acoustic tag comprises an acoustic reflector surface configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to a trigger signal received in a form of an ambient sound wave and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information relating to the object associated and affixed with the audio information label. A decoding application is installed on a user computing device. The decoding application is configured for receiving the characteristic acoustic signal and decoding the characteristic acoustic signal to obtain or retrieve the information embedded within the characteristic acoustic signal and displaying the obtained/retrieved information.

According to one embodiment herein, a method for reading information contained in an audio information label/acoustic tag is provided. The method comprising the steps of imprinting an audio information label/acoustic tag comprising an acoustic reflector surface configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to a trigger signal received in a form of an ambient sound wave from a user computing device, and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information related to the object associated with the audio information label/acoustic tag; arranging for an ambient sound wave to be incident on the audio information label/acoustic tag; receiving a characteristic acoustic signal reflected by the audio information label/acoustic tag in response to the incident ambient sound wave; decoding the characteristic acoustic signal to obtain the information encoded within the characteristic acoustic signal and displaying the information so obtained.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS HEREIN

The various embodiments herein provide an Audio Electronic Labelling System (AESL) that is communicatively coupled to multiple AESLs for not only displaying information related to an associated product but also facilitating an addition and/or deletion of the product associated with the AESL into the virtual cart of the user.

The embodiments herein provide an audio information label/acoustic tag associated with an object. The audio information label/acoustic tag comprises an acoustic reflector surface configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to a trigger signal received in a form of an ambient sound wave and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information relating to an object associated with the audio information label/acoustic tag.

According to one embodiment herein, an audio information labelling system is provided. The system comprises an audio information label/acoustic tag associated with an object and affixed to the object. The audio information label/acoustic tag comprises an acoustic reflector surface configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to a trigger signal received in a form of an ambient sound wave and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information relating to the object associated and affixed with the audio information label/acoustic tag. A decoding application is installed on a user computing device. The decoding application is configured for receiving the characteristic acoustic signal and decoding the characteristic acoustic signal to obtain or retrieve the information embedded within the characteristic acoustic signal and displaying the obtained/retrieved information.

According to one embodiment herein, a method for reading information contained in an audio information label/acoustic tag is provided. The method comprising the steps of imprinting an audio information label comprising an acoustic reflector surface configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to a trigger signal received in a form of an ambient sound wave from a user computing device, and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information related to the object associated with the audio information label/acoustic tag; arranging for an ambient sound wave to be incident on the audio information label/acoustic tag; receiving a characteristic acoustic signal reflected by the audio information label/acoustic tag in response to the incident ambient sound wave; decoding the characteristic acoustic signal to obtain the information encoded within the characteristic acoustic signal and displaying the information so obtained.

According to one embodiment herein, a hand held device is required to the receive, record and display the information received from the reflector surface when a sound burst is incident or directed towards the reflector surface in the acoustic tag. scan a machine-readable barcode that is pasted on an item/product. Whereas in case of Acoustic tag, a sound burst is sent to make each acoustic tag to reflect the embedded information from respective items/product thereby simplifying the information capture process and eliminating a need for manual intervention with each item barcode.

According to one embodiment herein, any source of sound in audible/non-audible range is a form of ambient energy is used to trigger or incident on the acoustic tag to reflect the information.

According to one embodiment herein, the hand held electronic device comprises an application. According to one embodiment herein, the hand held electronic device is a mobile phone (with inbuilt mic) with an application having the capability of recording and showing the product information.

FIG. 1illustrates a product affixed with an audio information label/acoustic tag, according to one embodiment herein. With respect toFIG. 1, an audio information label/acoustic tag100associated with an object101is provided. The audio information label/acoustic tag100is configured for providing object101related information that includes identity information, price information or information related to the product, to the user device202(shown inFIG. 2).

The audio information label/acoustic tag100(like a barcode) is attached to an object101or a product (for example: garment) and carries information of the associated object101. The information that is embedded into the audio information label100is shared through a medium of sound. The ambient sound energy surrounding the audio information label/acoustic tag100functions as a trigger point for the audio information label100to reflect the embedded information in response to an incident sound energy.

The response is in a form of sound and any user device202equipped with a capability of listening this response sound is configured to display or provide the details of the product.

The audio information label/acoustic tag100comprises an acoustic reflector surface102configured for generating a characteristic acoustic signal in response to a trigger signal received in a form of an ambient sound wave and wherein the characteristic acoustic signal is an encoded form of information related to the object101associated with the audio information label100.

The audio information label/acoustic tag100includes an acoustic reflective surface102which reflects sound waves in a pattern that uniquely identifies the tag (similar in principle to barcode which uses light). The incident sound waves is an ambient sound or a directed sound wave (support both audible and non-audible sound waves) Any Source of sound in audible/non-audible range is configured to emit a trigger sound to incident on the audio information label100to reflect the information.

The audio information label/acoustic tag100reflects the incident sound into a unique pattern with high efficiency or amplifies the incident sound such that the reflected pattern is recognized at-least at a distance of about one meter.

A user device202is required to scan a machine-readable barcode that is pasted on an item/product. In case of the audio information label100, a sound burst is sent to make the audio information label/acoustic tag100to reflect the embedded information from respective items/product/object101. Hence information is captured easily and there is no need for a manual intervention with each item barcode.

This capability is used for providing a better customer shopping experience, Inventory management and stock calculation and verification.

According to one embodiment herein, the acoustic reflector surface102is in a form of ink or sticker that is easily printed or distributed. Acoustic reflector surface102sare well known in the art and therefore not described in detail.

According to one embodiment herein, the audio information label/acoustic tag100is a printed electronic circuit that is physically coupled to the object101. The label is tagged, secured or attached to the object101. Alternatively, the audio information label100is imprinted on the object101.

FIG. 2illustrates a block diagram of an audio information labelling system, according to one embodiment herein. With respect toFIG. 2, an audio information labelling system200is disclosed. The audio information labelling system200comprises an audio information label/acoustic tag100associated with an object101(described in conjunction withFIG. 1) and a decoding application installed on a user device202. The decoding application is configured for receiving the characteristic acoustic signal, to decode the characteristic acoustic signal to obtain the information embedded within the characteristic acoustic signal and display the information thus obtained.

According to one embodiment herein, the decoding application module204is installed on any user device202having recording capability. A support installation of application to display the recorded information is installed on a user device202. The user device202is a personal computing device, such as, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook, a netbook, a tablet personal computer (PC), a control panel, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/or any other suitable device operable to send and receive data and display data.

The user device202, comprises an audio receiver (such as a microphone), a display unit (such as a Liquid Crystal Display or a touch screen display), an encoder unit, decoder unit and a buzzer application/module/device. The encoder unit is configured for encoding the information of the object101associated with the audio information label100for generating the acoustic signal. The decoder unit is configured for decoding the information from the characteristic acoustic signal for recovering the product/object101related information. The buzzer application is configured for generating an ambient signal for triggering the acoustic label and the trigger signal is made to or directed to be incident on the reflector surface of the acoustic label.

According to an embodiment herein, the characteristic acoustic signal is generated using an audio tag library and therefore is decoded using the audio tag library. Encoding and decoding techniques employed herein include AES, DES and RSA among other things.

FIG. 3illustrates a flow chart explaining a method of reading information contained in an audio information label, according to one embodiment of herein. With respect toFIG. 3, a method of reading information contained in an audio information label is provided. The method comprising steps of imprinting an audio information label with an acoustic reflector surface and tagging the audio information label to an object (301); arranging for an ambient sound wave to be incident on the audio information label (302); receiving a characteristic acoustic signal reflected by the audio information label in response to the incident ambient sound wave (303); decoding the characteristic acoustic signal to obtain the information encoded within the characteristic acoustic signal (304); and displaying the information so obtained on a user computing device (305).

According to an embodiment herein, a user device is loaded with a buzzer application. The buzzer application is configured to generate a burst of acoustic signals/soundwaves to be incident on the reflector surface of the acoustic tag to release the encoded information as sound waves. The user device is configured to capture the emitted sound waves and decode the information to retrieve and provide a product information to the user. The decoding application is also installed in the user device. The decoding application may be downloaded from the central server and installed on the user device. The retrieved information is displayed to the user through a user interface.

The method300disclosed herein is programmed into a computer readable media. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage medium is any available medium that is accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that is used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that is accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Further, the method300is incorporated as a web application or a mobile application that is installed in a user device202.

Applications, as used herein, include any set of computing instructions. Applications instruct an electronic device to perform specified functions. Applications typically contain logic and methods for accessing, manipulating, and storing data. Examples of applications include word processors, web browsers, email clients, games (e.g., chess games, etc), and media players. Applications contain instructions on displaying and formatting data. For example, an application is configured to instruct an electronic device to access certain data and display it in a specified format and/or at a specified time.

Applications are transported via any method suitable for such purpose. For example, the applications are downloaded to the user device202via a Web browser or transported to the user device202using a “push” type operation via a network protocol over a cable or wireless infrastructure. Possible means for pushing an application or application reference include, but are not limited to, email, embedding in a Web page, part of an RSS feed, a WAP™ push, or a Bluetooth™ transmission. The system for deploying applications to the user device202soptionally include a runtime environment for the application. A runtime environment is software that allows a user device202to execute application code.

In addition, the embodiments herein are implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments required to perform the necessary tasks is stored in a machine readable medium such as storage medium or in a separate storage(s) not shown. A processor is configured to perform the necessary tasks. A code segment is configured to represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment is coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. are passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

The embodiments herein provide one or more of the following advantages. Usage of ambient sound energy from the surrounding without having to use any battery or energy harvesting. Unique pattern emitted/reflected from the audio information label to identify any given product.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such as specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.