Abstract:
A system and method is presented for awarding content to users of mobile devices for attending events, appearing at locations, or viewing audiovisual content. One embodiment also automatically alters the configuration of mobile devices, which is particularly useful in movie theaters. An application on the device recognizes an audible signal provided at the location or in the audiovisual content. The signal can also be used to unlock content. In this way, desired content is available only when the user has attended an event such as an event sponsored by the content creator. The content can relate to the event, and can be synchronized to the event. The signal can also trigger an application or unlock content at a store location. For example, a scavenger hunt can be guided by an application on the mobile device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application relates to the field of mobile devices such as cellular phones. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to triggering applications running on those devices through the use of an audible sonic signal, where such applications award the user with desired content or alter the device&#39;s current operating parameters. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    One embodiment of the present invention provides an application that puts mobile devices into a configuration appropriate for use in movie theaters. This is accomplished by an application on the device that recognizes a signal provided in the movie theater. In one embodiment, the signal is audible. The embodiment also works at other locations where the signal is present, such as a retail store or during the playing of audiovisual content on a television or computer display. 
         [0003]    The signal can also be used to unlock or otherwise provide access to content. In this way, desired content is awarded to a user only when the user has performed the steps desired by the signal creator, such as attending an event or viewing particular audiovisual materials. In some embodiments, the awarded content relates to the event at which the signal is received. In these embodiments, the awarded content may synchronize with the event. In the context of a movie theater, the awarded content could be synchronized with the content displayed on a movie screen, such as during movie&#39;s credits. In another embodiment, the content is available after receiving the signal, but is not synchronized with the event at which the signal was received. 
         [0004]    In yet another embodiment, the signal is used to trigger an application to unlock content at a store location. For example, a scavenger hunt can be guided by an application on the mobile device. The receipt of a signal or the use of Wi-Fi triangulation can trigger the unlocking of content, such as an application, entertainment content, or a digital coupon. In this way customers can be incentivized to visit the store. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the primary elements of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing the primary elements of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a first method of using an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a second method of using an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Altering Device Settings—Movie Mode 
       [0009]    A system  10  using one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 , in which a portable device  100  is located within an event location  200 . The portable device  100  could be a cell phone, a personal organizer, a pocket PC, a tablet computer, a media reader, a portable media player, or the like. The portable device  100  is preferably personally sized and easily carried by the user (under two pounds). The device  100  contains non-transitory, tangible, digital memory  110  such as RAM, ROM, physical hard drive, or FLASH memory. This memory  110  contains at least one application  120 , device settings  130 , and various types of content including the awarded content  140 . The application  120  is a digital program that operates on a processor  150 . This processor  150  could be any of the standard, general purposes processors or chipsets available on the market, such as the RISC chips developed by ARM Holdings of Cambridge, England or the Apple A4 (or A5) system-on-a-chip developed by Apple Inc. of Cupertino Calif. 
         [0010]    In this embodiment, application  120  is capable of putting the device  100  into a configuration appropriate for use in the event location  200 . For instance, the event location  200  may be a movie theater in which a feature movie  210  is showed to an audience. Alternatively, the event location  200  could be a playhouse or a concert auditorium, and the event content  210  could be a live play or musical concert. The configuration of the device  100  by the application  120  is accomplished by changing the device settings  130  stored in memory  110 . In one embodiment, the application  120  will put the device  100  in “movie mode” when in a movie theater, changing the device settings  130  so as to:
       1) prevent the operation of recording devices (camera and audio recording),   2) bring the ringer volume to silent or to enter vibration mode, and   3) dim the screen light.
 
The movie mode setting may also change other device settings  130 , such as putting the device into a low battery consumption configuration. In fact, the device settings  130  could even disable the ability to make or receive phone calls and SMS or MMS messages. In some circumstances, these settings  130  can be accomplished by placing the device  100  in a predefined mode, such as “airplane mode.” In other circumstances, the settings  130  are altered individually by the application  120 .
       
 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, different versions of the application  120  are created for different types of portable devices  100 . For example, separate versions could be created for mobile devices that operate Windows, Android, Blackberry, and Apple&#39;s iOS operating systems. These different applications  120  may have separate functionality depending upon the capabilities of the devices  100  and their operating systems. For example, it is relatively simply to dim the screen on devices  100  running all four of these operating systems through the application  120 . In contrast, while some devices  100  allow an application  120  to disable the audible ringer through the device&#39;s API, devices  100  running other operating systems require that the user manually turn off the ringer. In the latter case, the application  120  must determine if the device is set to have an audible ring, and if so then require that the user turn off the ringer before proceeding. 
         [0015]    In some cases, the application  120  will need to be launched on the device before the application  120  is able to monitor the receiver  160  for the signal  220 . In these cases, the user will need to be prompted or otherwise encouraged to launch the application  120 . For instance, a movie theater may present an introductory video encouraging users to turn on the application  120  at the beginning of every movie. Similarly, a retail store may post a sign within the store reminding customers to turn on their application  120  in order to gain access to desired content. In other devices  100 , the application  120  can run continuously in the background, thereby allowing the user to simply enter the event location  200  and have the device  100  automatically detect the signals  220 . 
       Signals  220   
       [0016]    In order for the application  120  to know when the settings  130  for the device  100  should be changed for an event location  200 , the application  120  monitors a receiver  160  found on the device  100 . In one embodiment, the receiver  160  is a microphone that receives one or more audible signals  220  that are recognized by the application  120  as indicative of the event location  200 . In another embodiment, these signals  220  are radio signals. In yet another embodiment, the signals  220  can take the form of a visual signal (i.e., a bar code) that is triggered by viewing the visual signal with a camera embedded on the device  100 . These signals  220  are transmitted by one or more signaling devices  230  found in the event location  200 . For audible signals  220 , the signaling devices  230  may take the form of speakers capable of creating the signal  220 . In the context of a movie theater, a concert auditorium, or a playhouse, the speakers  230  could be speakers already used by the event location  200  for supporting the event content  210 . Radio signals  220  can be transmitted by a radio transmitter  230 . Many devices  100  are able to locate their position by examining the known location of Wi-Fi transmitters that transmit signals being received by the device  100 . These devices  100  could therefore identify when the device is within the event location  200  through Wi-Fi transmitter identification. Visual signals  220  could be displayed on a wall or screen of the event location  200 , or even on a smaller sign that is encountered by users when entering or within the event location  200 . 
         [0017]    If the signal is audible, the signal can take the form of a sequence of audible frequencies that the device is configured to recognize. Other signals may include inaudible frequencies or visual cues. An audible signal  220  could take the form of a unique set of frequencies, durations, number of tones, arrangement of tones, etc. A particular configuration of the signal  220  should be tested in a variety of locations  200  under real-world conditions in order to determine the likelihood that all devices  100  in that location  200  will receive the signal  220 . Testing has revealed that some of the more successful signals use four successive tones. 
         [0018]    The application  120  monitors inputs from the microphone  160  to recognize the signals  220  as indicative of the event location  200 . Note that in some embodiments, the signals  220  can be indicative of the event content  210  and not the particular location  200 . For example, the signal  220  could be embedded into the beginning of a feature movie  210 . The signals  220  that are generated would be the same in every movie theater  200  that is showing that particular feature  210 . In this embodiment, the same audible signals generated in the movie theater would also be generated when the movie is transferred to a Blu-ray or DVD optical disk and played on a home theater system, or when the movie is transmitted or streamed to the home over a television broadcast or a video on demand service. In some circumstances, additional signals could be embedded in the version of the film intended for home viewing. For instance, versions intended for the movie theater can be encoded so that the application does not present any visual distractions on the mobile device during the movie, while the home theater versions may allow related content to appear on the screen of the mobile device during the movie. The application  120  can be the same in both environments—all that is required is that the signals  220  generated by the movie allow the application  120  to distinguish between these environments. 
         [0019]    It is also possible that the signals  220  could be generated by a movie theater  200  without embedding the signals in the sound track of a particular movie. In this case, a movie theater  200  could present the audible signal  220  before every film  210  presented, with the signals  220  presented by the theater  200  remaining unchanged between different films  210 . 
       Awarding Content 
       [0020]    As explained above, the application  120  is designed to alter the device settings  130  upon receipt of a signal  220  indicative of either the event content  210  or a particular location  200 . In another embodiment, the application  120  uses the signal  220  to award access to particular content, such as awarded content  140 . The user of the device  100  may have downloaded this content  140  when the user downloaded or otherwise installed the application  120 . In this case, the content  140  is locked or otherwise unavailable for use by the user until the device  100  receives the appropriate signal or signals  220 . Alternatively, upon receipt of the signal  220 , the application  120  can allow the downloading of content  140  from a central server at a later time. To allow the downloading of the content  140  only after the receipt of signal  220 , a link to the content  140  can be provided only within the application  120 , where the application  120  can keep the link hidden or inoperative until the signal  220  is received. 
         [0021]    The content  140  could take the form of entertainment content (such as a song or video clip) or an additional application that can be operated on the device  100 . The content could also enhance an existing application, such as adding a new character, adversary, or level for a game application operating on the device  100 . This signals  220  could also be used by the application  120  to identify the current location of the user. In this way, the signals could be used to “check-in” a user at that location in a game or social media application. These types of applications may track user&#39;s whereabouts in a central database that tracks the check-in locations of multiple users, and could award points for the number, frequency, or variety of locations visited by the user and confirmed by the application  120  using these unique signals  220 . 
         [0022]    Users seeking access to content  140  would be required to have application  120  on their mobile device  100  in order to receive the signal  220 . That signal  220  would only be available for receipt at an event, such as at a movie theater, a musical concert, or a sporting event, or at some other location, such as a retail store, coffee shop, or restaurant. Alternatively, the signal  220  could be recorded into a DVD or Blu-ray disc, so that the user would have to view the disc in order to access the content  140 . In yet another embodiment, the signal is recorded in audio/video material available over the Internet or over a television signal, such as retailer or manufacturer&#39;s commercial that is available for viewing on a website or transmitted over a television channel. 
       Synchronization 
       [0023]    When the signal  220  is transmitted at a predetermined point in time in the event content  210 , the application  120  can use the signal  220  to synchronize its operation with the event content  210 . For example, the signal  220  could be encoded into the audio soundtrack of a feature movie  210 . Upon receipt of the signal  220 , the application  120  synchronizes the mobile device  100  with the movie  210  by noting the time at which the signal  220  was received by the device  100 . Once synchronized, the mobile device  100  may deliver additional content to movie viewers that supplements the movie  210 . The application  120  may rely upon a single synchronizing signal. Alternatively, the application  120  may recognize many synchronizing signals  220  in order to ensure that the application remains properly synchronized with the event content  210 . 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the device  100  provides synchronized translations on the device  100  of a nonsensical language spoken by several of the characters in a feature movie or advertisements presented as part of the event content  210 . For example, this translation can take the form of written text on the display of the mobile device  100  during the rolling of the movie credits. The text is synchronized to serve as a “translation” of unintelligible (or foreign language) dialog that is occurring during the credits. All that is required to perform this functionality is a synchronization signal at some point in the movie soundtrack and a timer within the application  120  to present the translated text on the device  100  at the appropriate time in conjunction with the event content  210 . For example, the signal  220  could occur at the beginning of a feature film. The signal could trigger the application  120  to alter the device settings  130 , putting the device into movie mode. The application  120  could also begin a timer, so that when the movie ends and the credits start to roll, the device could synchronize the “translations” with on-screen action. As would be clear to one of ordinary skill, this synchronization capability would allow the phone to present stored content  140  or otherwise interact with the event content  210  in a variety of ways. 
         [0025]    The synchronization routines in the application  120  must reflect the real-world operations of the device  100  so that any delays inherent in a particular type of device  100  are recognized and accounted for by the application  120 . For instance, certain device operating systems or hardware may require additional time between processing the recognition of the signal  220  and the display of synchronized content. 
         [0026]    The significance of this embodiment is that it changes the movie user experience from a traditional view-only experience to having an added dimension of a second communications channel. In one embodiment, this synchronized communication channel provides a translation of a nonsensical language that could not otherwise be deciphered by merely watching the movie  210 . The second layer of significance is that the same sonic signal  220  used for synchronization may also serve as an unlocking cue for additional enhanced content  140 , such as an entertainment file available for later use. Furthermore, when this aspect of the invention is combined with the movie mode alteration of the device settings  130 , it can be seen that the system  10  can reward viewers that use this method to put their phones or other mobile devices  100  into an appropriate configuration  130 . Because the signal  220  can be audible and embedded on a movie soundtrack, the system  10  does not require additional effort on the theater exhibitor&#39;s part and in fact, allows them to partner with groups that will generate additional content  140 , resulting in added value to the movie-going experience. 
       In-Store Mode 
       [0027]    In yet another embodiment, the application  120  recognizes signals  220  in locations other than an event location  200 , such as a retail store site  300 . In this site  300 , the application  120  may still be triggered upon receipt of a signal  320  from a signaling device  330 . The signal  320  may be audible (a sound from a speaker), may be visual (capturing an image on the device&#39;s camera, such as a 2D barcode, a character, or a logo), or may be a radio frequency signal (such as a Wi-Fi identification or even Wi-Fi triangulation where the signal  320  is considered received upon achieving a particular location within the store site  300 ). 
         [0028]    The application  120  can include the ability to interact with the store site  300 . For instance, the application can use Wi-Fi triangulation within the store to present the user with a map of the store and their current location. The signal  320  serves to unlock a scavenger hunt application  120  that will direct users to different locations within the store site  300 . At least three Wi-Fi transmitters  310  within the store site  300  help to identify locations in the store. The application  120  uses these transmitters  310  to provide users with visual or audible feedback measuring the distance to a particular desired location within the store site  300 . Once the user arrives at the location, the application  120  can provide special content or coupons for the user to use at the store. 
         [0029]    In one example, when the user achieves the correct location in the site  300 , the application  120  will display special content on top of a live image created by the mobile device&#39;s camera. This “augmented reality” display may include characters or icons relevant to a co-branding agreement between the store and a third party, such as characters from a newly released movie. Once the character or icon is presented on the device&#39;s display, the user can interact with the display to earn additional content or the store coupon. Store coupons can be electronic, with the application  120  presenting a scannable barcode on the display of the device  100  that can be read by the store&#39;s point of sale checkout devices. 
       Methods 
       [0030]    In  FIG. 3 , a method  400  for implementing one embodiment of the present invention is presented. The first step  410  is for the user to download the application  120  to their device. Once the application  120  is on the device  100 , the user can enter the event location  200  with their device  100  at step  420 . Alternatively, the user could watch content on a television screen or a computer monitor where the appropriate signals have been embedded into the audio track of the content  210 . At step  430 , the event location  200  or the content itself  210  prompts the user to launch the application  120 . This can occur through a verbal or visual reminder, which can be either an explicit request to launch the application  120 , or more simply the display of an icon or logo. The application  120  is then launched to ensure that the application  120  will be active to detect the signal  220 . In some embodiments, the application  120  may be always active and awaiting the signal  220 . In these circumstances, there will be no need for the user to manually launch the application  120 . In other circumstances, the user will launch the application at step  430 . 
         [0031]    At step  440 , the content  210  or the event location  200  transmits the signal  220 . In some embodiments, this occurs at the beginning of the event such as before the beginning of a feature movie presentation. The method splits at step  450  depending upon whether the application  120  was running on the device  100  and the signal  220  was detected by the application  120 . If the signal  220  was detected, the application  120  at step  460  alters the device settings  130  of the device  100 , causing the device  100  to enter “movie mode.” The detection of the signal  220  will also cause the device  100  to synch to the movie content  210 , such as by starting a timer within the device  100 . This occurs at step  470 . The timer then determines when the movie content  210  has reached the point at which the device  100  will provide access to the content  140  that was downloaded along with or as part of the application  120 . At the appropriate time, the device will automatically awaken. For example, the signal at step  440  may be presented at the beginning of a feature movie, with the content  140  to be displayed during the movie credits more than an hour after the signal in step  440 . The application will associate the signal  220  detected at step  450  with the appropriate movie  210  and content  140 , and will therefore know that it should awaken after a given time interval. This occurs at step  480 . Because the device may be in a pocket or on a lap when the device  100  awakens, the device  100  will also prompt the user when the content is about to be provided, such as by triggering vibration of the device  100 . 
         [0032]    With the user now looking at the device  100 , the device will present the content  140  in sync with the event content  210  (e.g., the movie credits) at step  490 . Once the content  140  has been presented and the movie content  210  is over (as determined by the timer triggered at step  470 ), the application  120  will once again alter the device settings  130  and take the device  100  out of movie mode. The process then ends. 
         [0033]    The time counted by the timer before initiating the content in step  490  and altering the device settings  130  in step  500  will generally be stored in the application program  120 . In one embodiment, different signals  220  can be associated within the application program  120  with different time values. The application program  120  looks up the appropriate time value based upon the signal  220  received. Alternatively, it would be possible to encode the delay time values within the signal  220  itself. In this way, the application program would simply identify the time values by decoding the signal, and then use these values to trigger the sharing of the content  140  and the alteration of the device settings  130 . 
         [0034]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , it is possible that the device  100  will not detect the signal in step  450 . This could happen if the receiver  160  did not properly receive the signal  220 , or if the user failed to launch the application  120  in step  430 . In this case, the method  400  continues at step  510 . If the application  120  had been launched and had not received the signal  220 , then the application  120  and the device  100  will eventually go to sleep in step  510 . In order to give users another chance to access the locked content  140 , the event location  200  will again prompt users to launch the application  120  at step  520 . This prompt  520  generally occurs at a different time than prompt  430 , for instance at the end of main movie feature. A short time after this prompt, the event location  200  will issue another signal  220  at step  530 . The device  100  uses this signal to start the synch timer in step  540 . This step  540  is similar to step  470 , except that the timers are being set at different time locations within the event content  210 . In order to allow multiple entries into the stored content  140 , the different signals at steps  440  and  530  must be differentiable by the device  100 . Once the synch timer is started at  540  in response to the second synch signal, the method will proceed with steps  490  and  500 . It is also possible to include additional synch signals during the time period when the device  100  should be displaying content  140  at step  490 . These additional synch signals will allow users who did not comply with the earlier prompts to launch the application  120  in order to view the stored content  140  in progress. 
         [0035]    A second potential method  600  for using the disclosed embodiments of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this method  600 , the user starts the process by downloading the application  120  in step  610 . As explained above, this app  120  may be operated on a variety of devices, including pocket PCs and tablet computers, such as the Apple iPad tablet device. In step  620 , the user watches a television channel with their mobile device operating the app  120 . The app  120  can be the primary application running on the mobile device, or may be running in the background. At step  630 , a commercial appears on the television that contains the audible signal  220  in its soundtrack. The app running on the mobile device detects the signal  640 , and in response awards to the user some desired content in step  650 . In this embodiment, the desired content is made available by allowing the user to download the content over the Internet, which is accomplished by the user in step  660 . In this case, the downloaded content is designed to supplement another application running on the mobile device. For example, the awarded content may be an additional character, monster, or level for a gaming application. The use of the content to supplement the game is shown in  FIG. 4  as step  670 , after which the method  600  ends. 
         [0036]    Of course, the methods  400 ,  600  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  are exemplary and are not the exclusive methods for using the disclosed embodiments. For instance, method  400  could be supplemented by unlocking additional content that could be used by the user after the device cancels the movie mode at step  500 . In addition, method  600  could be used while observing video over the Internet as opposed to watching television, and the method could further be supplemented by presenting synchronized content along with the video. The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the above description. Numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Since such modifications are possible, the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Rather, the present invention should be limited only by the following claims.