Abstract:
A method of developing a visual/audio campaign for delivery to a device having a radio wave receiver is disclosed. The method includes a managing node receiving broadcast specific information from a plurality of radio stations, the managing node receiving broadcast non-specific information, the managing node creating the visual/audio campaign at least partly by matching an item of broadcast non-specific information with an item of broadcast specific information, and delivering the visual/audio campaign to the device via radio waves.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to U.S. provisional application No. 60/351,935 filed Jan. 24, 2002, and PCT application PCT/US2002/04769 filed Feb. 14, 2002, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The field of the invention is radio frequency communications. 
   2. Description of the Background 
   Transmission of data via radio signals is an effective means of communication to a variety of devices located within range of the signal. An advertiser or other provider of the data (including content) may pre-select a radio frequency carrier type (e.g. FM sub-carrier, AM sub-carrier, Cellular etc. . . . ), a broadcasting station (e.g. KIIS FM), and/or a frequency over which the data will be broadcast (e.g. 102.7 MHz 57 kHz RBDS) based on the geographic location of the target audience. The particular frequency may be chosen because of its popularity with the target audience, its spectrum availability, the type or device that will receive the signals, and importantly because its signals will cover (i.e. reach) the targeted audience. 
   Covering the target audience is deemed essential, and since many applications of radio frequency (RF) communication target an audience existing within a relatively small geographic area, often coverage is not a problem. For example, it is common to broadcast music or news over a pre-selected frequency to all areas of an office building. Pre-selection of the frequency and pre-tuning of the receivers to that frequency is a relatively easy process. Another example of an RF communication within a relatively small area is a radio controlled car that is set to receive signals broadcast over a pre-selected frequency. Yet another example is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,218 to Lowe et al. (October 2001). The &#39;218 patent targets audiences within a few feet of the transmitting device. This is exemplified by an athletic club environment in which a user device receives different broadcasts on different frequencies depending on his proximity to specific pieces of gym equipment having transmitters. Thus, those applications that target audiences over a relatively small area typically work well with pre-selection of the frequency and the station. Coverage becomes an issue and complications arise, however, when the target audience is spread over an area that encompasses more than one frequency, station, and/or band. These complications are due in part to the necessity to pre-select many, perhaps hundreds or thousands, of frequencies and stations in order to cover the entire target audience. Thus, pre-selection of frequencies becomes extremely burdensome when a wide spread audience has been targeted. 
   The need to employ several stations simultaneously is addressed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,562 to Martinez (May 1985), however the &#39;562 patent still does not solve or even recognize problems related to the difficulty of scheduling and coordinating communications over a wide spread area. These problems are exacerbated by competition for available RF spectrum and perhaps the distance between a data provider and a data recipient. 
   There is a need for systems and methods which facilitate use of radio signals to communicate to devices that may be spread over a relatively large area. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes systems and methods of developing and delivering visual/audio radio frequency campaigns. A managing node receives broadcast specific information and broadcast non-specific information, and the managing node matches at least one item of broadcast non-specific information with an item of broadcast specific information as part of the development of a visual/audio campaign that is delivered to a remote device preferably via a sub-carrier frequency. 
   Another aspect includes a system for developing and delivering a visual/audio campaign to a device having a radio wave receiver in which a managing node is programmed to: receive broadcast specific information from a plurality of radio stations; automatically develop the visual/audio campaign as a function of the broadcast specific information and broadcast non-specific information; and deliver the visual/audio campaign to the device using radio waves having a sub-carrier frequency. 
   A further aspect includes a system comprising a remote device having a display area that is within line of sight of an information user that requests a visual/audio campaign from the remote device. A plurality of radio stations are responsive to a request for broadcast specific information, and a managing node is responsive to a request for visual/audio information, the response based on either or both of the broadcast specific information and broadcast non-specific information. The visual/audio campaign is broadcast to the remote device via a sub-carrier frequency. 
   It should be appreciated that the inventive subject matter is especially useful for providing a visual campaign to a car stereo system. 
   Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic of a prior art system of delivering visual data to a radio. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic of an embodiment in which broadcast specific and broadcast non-specific information is received by a managing node. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a prior art system  100  includes a broadcasting station  110 , various types of information  120 - 160 , and radios  170 . It is known for a radio station to deliver visual information in the form of stock quotes  120 , headline news  130 , traffic reports  140 , sports scores  150 , and weather reports  160  to radios  170 . 
   In  FIG. 2 , a system  200  generally includes a plurality of radio stations  210  that deliver broadcast specific information  215  to a managing node  220 . A managing node  220  also may receive broadcast non-specific information such as stock quotes  230 , headline news  240 , traffic reports  250 , advertisements  260 , sports scores  270 , and weather reports  280 . Broadcast specific information and broadcast non-specific information are typically part of a visual campaign (not shown) that is delivered to an RF transmitter  290  for subsequent broadcast to a device  295  such as a car radio or mobile telematics device. 
   As defined herein, a visual/audio campaign is comprised of information (i.e. data) that can either be optically (visually) sensed by the human eye or audibly sensed by the human ear. A visual/audio campaign may include graphics, audio, text, symbols, pictures, and images that are stored electronically, and therefore visual/audio information may be temporarily not susceptible to being optically or audibly sensed. Thus, data traveling by radio waves may be part of a visual/audio campaign even though the data may not be viewable or audibly discernable in its present state. A visual/audio campaign typically comprises content data and schedule related data such as delivery times, broadcast frequencies, RF transmitter locations. Additionally, a visual/audio campaign may be formatted to comply with known technologies such as RDS (radio data service), RBDS (radio broadcast data service), and DARC (Data Radio Channel), and thus a visual campaign may include the data associated to the following fields: Program Identification (PD; Program Service (PS) name; Automatic Frequency Switch (AF) list; Traffic Programme (TP) identification; Traffic Announcement (TA) signal; Program Type Name (PTYN); Radio Text (RT); Traffic Message Channel (TMC); and Programme Type (PTY). While a visual/audio campaign may include at least one item of broadcast specific information and/or broadcast non-specific information, it should be pointed out that this is not a requirement. Thus, the subject of visual/audio campaign may be an advertisement that does not comprise any broadcast specific information. 
   Radio stations  210  are generally entities that transmit information to common radios and other devices by radio waves (e.g. KIIS FM, KBIG, WNEW and so on). It should be appreciated, however, that the concept of a radio station should not be limited except to the extent that a station can send broadcast specific information  215  to a managing node  220 . 
   Broadcast specific information  215  is information related to a broadcast of radio wave information. For example, broadcast specific information includes a play list (e.g. names or content of songs and associated times and dates that the songs will be played), program information (e.g. a names or content of programs, segments, or spots and associated times and dates of broadcast), available spectrum (e.g. available frequency for delivery of a visual campaign), advertisement times slots, content of advertisements, physical location of radio station transmitter, and the coverage area of a radio station broadcast. Preferably broadcast specific information  215  is sent to a managing node  220  via the Internet, but other paths and modes of transportation may be appropriate including non-electronic modes such as US mail. 
   Broadcast non-specific information  230 - 280  is defined in the negative as information received by the managing node that is not broadcast specific information. Broadcast nonspecific information advantageously enters a system as a result of a communication between a source (not shown) and a managing node  220 , and this communication is likely an asynchronous communication of digital data over the Internet. It is contemplated that much of the broadcast non-specific information will come from news services such as AP and UPI, however the source of broadcast non-specific information is not a limitation to the overall inventive concept. 
   A managing node  220  generally consists of a plurality of servers that are preferably Web-based i.e., coupled to the Internet) and centralized, but may even be distributed. Servers, including RAID drives, may be geographically distributed and mirrored. 
   Whether a device classifies as a managing node  220  generally depends upon functionality. Among the functions of a managing node  220  are scheduling delivery of visual campaigns, selecting frequencies, selecting RF transmitters, encoding data to comply with appropriate protocols and technologies, targeting devices (e.g. by serial number, lot number, location, demographic information; psychographic information, meta data parameter), confirmation and audit (including 3rd party audit) of actual RF delivery through a feedback loop, providing detailed reporting, dynamically pricing based on availability or other criteria (e.g. Auctions); interfacing applications for 3rd party software integration, and maintaining a subscriber (source) and consumer (remote device user) web interface. A managing node  220  is also responsible for partnering with market leaders (e.g. in the sale of electronics and broadcast of RF signals) and receiving, maintaining and matching broadcast specific and broadcast non-specific information from radio stations. Since scheduling of broadcasts and selecting of frequencies are functions of a managing node  220 , a device scheduling broadcasts or selecting frequencies is by definition a managing node regardless of other factors such as location. For example, a device that selects a frequency at a regional broadcast station is a managing node  220 . 
   RF transmitters  290  are preferably operated by the radio stations  210  that have transmitted broadcast specific information  215  to the managing node  220 . In other less preferred embodiments, RF transmitters may be independent from radio stations and may be employed simply to transmit and optionally encode visual campaigns. A visual/audio campaign may be encoded for radio broadcast by the managing node  220  or some other entity including the RF transmitters. It is contemplated that such transmitters are those capable of broadcasting radio signals within AM, FM, TV (NTSC, DTV in N. America, PAL and DVB in some other countries), Cellular/PCS, and Satellite bands, and it is anticipated that both primary and sub-carrier channels will be utilized to transmit data. 
   A preferred device  295  is a car stereo that is RDBS, RDS, and/or DARC enabled. The device may also be enabled with other appropriate technology that allows receipt of a visual/audio campaign broadcast over radio waves. In addition to a car stereo, the following is a non-inclusive list of contemplated devices: mobile telematics device, PDA, cell phone, GPS device, mass transit displays, mall displays (e.g. kiosks), airport displays, entertainment venue displays, sporting event displays, street furniture (e.g. benches at a bus stop), video games, TVs, and mobile audio devices (e.g. a walkman, an MP3 player, and so on). 
   With respect to a device  295 , it is generally contemplated that a display (not shown) will be coupled to the device  295 . An example of a display is an LCD on the front of a radio. The size of the display is not to be construed as a limitation herein, however, a preferred display is only about a half inch high by 2 inches long. As such, information that is displayed on the display (i.e. the visual/audio campaign) may be scrolled or paged over the display area. It is further contemplated that a visual/audio campaign may be used to feed a GPS or other supplemental system. Consider a visual/audio campaign that includes traffic information. The traffic information may optionally be used to feed a GPS system that will consider the traffic information and plan a detour. An expansion on this concept includes transportation department information related to road closures. 
   In a preferred class of embodiments, a user has the option to store visual/audio campaigns and or portions of the campaigns. The option to store may be actuated by pressing a button on the steering wheel or by other appropriate means such as a voice command of “store”. This capability is especially useful for a driver of an automobile that wants to retain campaign information. 
   A device  295  may have a button or some other means of enable/disabling receipt of a visual/audio campaign. Additionally, a visual/audio campaign may be the subject of a subscription requiring advance payment, and as such an access parameter (not shown) may be used to control whether a device  295  receives a broadcast communication. In embodiments that utilize an access parameter, a user may submit a request to set the access parameter, which generally resides on a remote device. Such a request is typically submitted to a managing node  220 . Thus, a broadcast communication may include a unique identifier (e.g. serial number, VIN) of a remote device  295 , and the remote device  295  may receive the communication as a function of a value of the access parameter. While this example targets a single remote device, no requirement should be inferred that access parameters operate with only a single remote device, and in fact communications may target multiple serial numbers or lot numbers. 
   Another aspect includes broadcasts that may be overlapped to increase the probability of a successful communication. For example, a single device may be within range of more than one RF transmitter  295 , and therefore, each transmitter within range may issue a “duplicate” transmission. This may be especially helpful should a transmitter  295  go down or have problems with interference. 
   Information confirming an RF communication may be tracked by a confirmation server  298  and may include an acknowledgement of receipt, a date and time received, as well as other useful information in response to the device&#39;s receipt of RF data. Failure of a communication may indicate that a remote device is inoperable or no longer within the geographical range of an RF transmitter. 
     FIG. 2  may be readily understood by reference to a specific example. KIIS, a southern California radio station, sends a play list to a managing node. Included in the play list is a song by Brittany Spears. The managing node compares the string “Brittany Spears” with broadcast non-specific information. Perhaps a match occurs with an item in a file containing concert dates. The managing node takes the matching information and creates a visual/audio campaign comprising a message of “See Brittany Spears at Staples on June 22”. This message becomes part of the visual campaign that is scheduled by the managing node and delivered to a plurality of RF transmitters in accordance with delivery schedules developed by the managing node. The RF transmitters deliver the campaign via a subcarrier frequency to devices. In another embodiment, the visual/audio campaign may comprise audible data that says, “Hi, this is Brittany. Thanks for listening to my song”. 
   In another example, a driver in his car has enabled RBDS on his in-dash stereo. Radio stations, responding to requests for broadcast specific information send such information to a managing node. In this example, radio station A may send the following broadcast specific information “stock report 10:30 am”, and radio station B may send the following broadcast specific information “stock report 11:25 am”. Using the broadcast specific information, the managing node may match broadcast non-specific information of “Microsoft up 6 points.” The managing node may then develop a visual/audio campaign in which the message “Microsoft up 6” is displayed at 10:30 am for devices tuned to station A, and at 11:25 am for devices tuned to station B. Transmission of the visual/audio campaign may utilize a sub-carrier frequency and will preferably occur while information is being broadcast on the primary frequency. 
   Thus, specific embodiments and applications of dynamic creation, selection, and scheduling of radio frequency communications have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.