Patent Publication Number: US-2003223554-A1

Title: Communication systems and methods

Description:
[0001] This Application claims the benefit of Application Serial No. 60/187,514 of JACK K. ZHANG filed Mar. 7, 2000 for APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS INSTANT MESSAGING IN RESPONSE TO RADIO OR TV BROADCASTING IN OTHER ELECTRONIC MEDIA SESSION, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] This invention relates generally to commercial systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods that allow broadcast audience members to compile and transmit respective messages in response to the broadcast.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0005] Issues affecting a broadcaster and advertisers include a constant interest in knowing about broadcast audience members, and getting interested members to respond anytime, anywhere, and quickly. Proposed methods to address these issues include voice calling, sending a hardcopy letter, sending a fax, sending electronic mail (email), or using a Mobile Track service. These proposed methods have shortcomings, however. For example, there are situations, such as driving a car or doing certain household chores, that do not permit an audience member to respond promptly to a broadcast. Subsequently, the audience member may likely forget important details about what might have interested him in the broadcast, contact information to respond, or to request for more detailed information after a substantial time lapse after the broadcast. Such delay prevents the instantaneous nature of broadcasting to be fully utilized.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient system for communicating with a broadcast audience.  
       [0007] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, there is a method for a system having a transmitter that broadcasts a first signal. The method comprises receiving the first signal; decoding the first signal into a second signal, the second signal being human perceptible; decoding the first signal into a third signal, the third signal being digital; receiving an input from a user, after the decoding steps; generating a fourth signal, responsive to the input; generating a fifth signal by appending the fourth signal to the third signal; and sending the fifth signal. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electronic device in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing use of wireless handheld devices with automated response enabling functions of preferred embodiments of the present invention, connecting to a Web-based information system for broadcasting and response applications (WISBRA) (illustrated only using radio broadcasting.  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing electronic media terminals and wireless handheld device in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing generation of content and UMCID in commercial broadcasting.  
     [0012]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing signal processing in electronic media of preferred embodiments of the present invention for communication with handheld devices.  
     [0013]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing signal processing in one preferred embodiment handheld device of preferred embodiments of the present invention for communication with WISBRA via wireless network.  
     [0014]FIG. 7 is a diagram of example procedures for automatically processing response message from handheld devices of preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 8 is a diagram of signal processing in first preferred embodiment handheld device of preferred embodiments of the present invention for communication with WISRA via wireless network.  
     [0016]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing logic for single-button listener response to radio and other broadcasting.  
     [0017]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing logic for multiple-button listener response to radio and other broadcasting.  
    
    
     [0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention. Throughout the drawings, corresponding parts are labeled with corresponding reference numbers.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019]FIG. 1 shows a device  700  carried by a member  74  of a broadcast audience, in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Device  700  includes a button  712  on an exterior housing of device  700 . Button decode logic  802 , inside the housing of device  700 , receives an on or off signal from button  712  and, responsive to activation of button  712  and the length of activation of button  712 , generates a multi-valued code and sends the code to signal combiner  806 . Device  700  receives a signal  660 , generated by terminal  600 , in response to receiving a broadcast signal  450 . Decoder in device  804  extracts a digital code from signal  660  and sends the code to signal combiner  806 . Transmitter  811  receives a signal from signal combiner  806  and transmits the combined signal over signal path  750 .  
     [0020] Of course, FIG. 1 shows device  700  with a greatly exaggerated physical size, to allow certain structure in device  700  to be shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, device  700  is a small housing that can be carried by the user or worn on the user&#39;s belt.  
     [0021] Decoder  810  receives broadcast signal  450  and, responsive to signal  450 , demodulates a component of signal  450  to produce a human perceptible signal  659 . When device  600  is a radio, this human perceptible signal is a sound wave. In the case of device  600 ′, described below, the human perceptible signal also includes a light signal perceived by user  74 .  
     [0022] Decoder  810  also generates a signal  660 , described in more detail below, and sends the signal  660  to portable device  700 .  
     [0023] Decoder  810  includes modules  620 ,  630 ,  632 ,  634 ,  636 ,  638 ,  640 , and  622  described below. Decoder  802  includes modules  711  and  715 . Decoder  804  includes: modules  720 ,  722 ,  724 ,  726 ,  728  described below in FIG. 6; or modules  720 ,  721 ,  723 ,  725 ,  726 ,  728  described below in FIG. 8. Module  806  includes modules  730 ,  746 , shared modules  741 ,  731 . Module  810  includes module  748  described below.  
     [0024]FIG. 2 shows a system  2000  in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. An object of system  2000  is the provision of a convenient method for TV, radio, or other electronic media audience to individually respond instantly to a program through a handheld device with one single action—pressing a button.  
     [0025] Another objective of system  2000  is the provision of a system and apparatus for a person to easily respond to a media session through any electronic media he/she is exposed to anywhere, anytime.  
     [0026] Yet another object of system  2000  is the provision of a method and system for all electronic media content to be universally identifiable so that audience can easily find the information related to a media session. This also provides valuable information for broadcasting or media companies to monitor their own performance and for manufacturers of electronics to see the use of their particular product.  
     [0027] System  2000  relates to a method, apparatus and system for instantly collecting, distributing and processing audience responses to a broadcast session. System  2000  includes an operating electronic media terminal (radio, TV, CD player, computer, etc.) equipped with an apparatus for receiving, decoding and re-transmitting broadcast content identification information; an apparatus (typically a wireless handheld device) for receiving, decoding and storing the identification information from any one of the electronic media terminals; an interface in the apparatus that can be actuated by a user with one single action; a processor in the apparatus enabling, upon the actuation action from the user, automatic data collection, sampling, compiling and transmitting messages to a response processing center via a public network; and a processing center comprising hardware and software for processing such responses.  
     [0028] System  2000  includes a computer system  10 , broadcast facilities  2100 , internet web  900 , general computer  78 , wireless messaging service provider  940 , an electronic media terminal (radio, TV, CD/DVD/tape player or computer, etc.)  600 , and a wearable wireless device (pager, cell phone, computers, etc)  700 .  
     [0029] Computer system  10  is disclosed in detail in Provisional Application No. 60/168,070, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. In system  2000 , system  10  serves as Web-based Information System for Broadcast Response Applications (WISBRA). Though bearing different name and slight variations in the description for clarity purpose, it is intended to refer to the same general computer system serving electronic media broadcasting, including scheduling, content storage, and all information processing.  
     [0030] Broadcast facility  2100  includes announcer application computer  430 , producer application computer  435 , broadcast program scheduler computer  460 , transmission equipment  400 , connections to the Internet web  830 ,  840 ,  850  and  870 , and a signal converting UMCID encoder  500 . Computers  430 , 435  and  460  are application computers in the sense that they respectively serve as browser interfaces of applications software for a broadcasting function. All the interfaces can reside on the same physical computer or accessible simultaneously via any computer of common browsers, such as Internet Explorer™, Netscape™, etc.  
     [0031] The on-line buyer&#39;s computer  480 , similar to computer  460 , is also an application computer in this sense.  
     [0032] General computer  78 , with email capability, is one designated by broadcast audience members  74  or  76  to receive information.  
     [0033] All the computers described above are connected to the Internet web  900  via DSL or other methods known in the art. The preferred method for computers  430  and  435  are high speed connections such as cable, DSL or Ti for constant-on features. Computers  460  and  480  can be connected to the web through any popular connection methods.  
     [0034] Wireless messaging service provider  940 , capable of sending and receiving email from the internet, represents any of the terrestrial or satellite alpha-numeric paging providers, wireless internet service providers or any other forms of wireless messaging service. Any wired connection serving such purpose of transmitting and receiving messages is an alternative.  
     [0035]FIG. 3 emphasizes subsystem  1100  of system  2000 . Subsystem  1100  comprises an electronic media terminal (radio, TV, computer, etc.)  600  and a wearable wireless device (pager, cell phone, computers, etc)  700 .  
     [0036] Electronic media terminal  600  is any unit of radio receiver, TV set, computer, CD player, cassette player or digital format MP3 player on which an electronic media session can be performed to an audience of one or multiple individuals. Terminal  600 , illustrated using a radio receiver with dial  602 , antenna  604 , display  606  and speaker  608  with all the well-known features and functions found in a radio, receives radio broadcast signal  450 . Broadcast signal  450  can be any electromagnetic signal-carrying analog or digital signals from land based tower or satellite remote to terminal  600 . Terminal  600  includes circuitry to extract information from radio signal  450 , generate and transmit a new signal  660  different from  450 , containing all or partial information in digital packet  670 , through transducer  640  in media that is imperceptible to humans. In this Patent Application, the word circuitry encompasses dedicated hardware, and/or programmable hardware; such as a CPU or reconfigurable logic array, in combination with programming data, such as sequentially fetched CPU instructions or programming data for a reconfigurable array.  
     [0037] Terminal  600 ′ is a television set including circuitry that may receive a broadcast signal, generates signal  660  for reception by device  700 , and generates a human perceptible signal  659  including a light signal and a sound wave.  
     [0038] Terminal  600 ″ is a computer that may receive a broadcast signal and generate signal  660  for reception by terminal  700  and a human perceptible light signal.  
     [0039] Terminal  600 ′″ is a static billboard in a public place, such as an airport for example.  
     [0040] Terminal  600 ′″ receives no broadcast signal, but generates signal  660  for reception by device  700 . Static billboard  600 ′″ may be a static film lighted from an opposite side of the viewing side. In other words, static billboard  600 ′″ may be a panel that sends a human perceptible eight signal to a viewer by transmitting a light signal through the panel. Alternately, static billboard  600 ′″ may be a reflective panel that merely reflects ambient light, allowing the user to view the contents of billboard  600 ′″.  
     [0041] Transducer  640  is one or more energy transducers that can convert one form of energy, such as electricity, to an electromagnetic wave, ultrasound, or Infrared light, for example. Therefore, transducer  640  can be one or a combination of such transducers. The typical transmission from transducer  640  is very short range by design, while fully satisfying application needs, minimizing interference and maximizing the accuracy of identification.  
     [0042] Wearable wireless device  700  includes one of any type of two-way pager, cell phone, PSA, PCS, Laptop, or other device capable of sending a wireless message, such as a wireless email message. Offering all common functions in the type of wireless device and using a pager for illustration only, Device  700  includes electronics not shown, a message display  706 , and an antenna  704 . Device  700  includes a transducer  720  for receiving signals from transducer  640  in  600 , activation buttons  710 ,  712  and  714 , located on the device  700  such that fingers in one hand can conveniently press any button to initiate and send a message from  700 , to request more information or simultaneously activate one or more buttons to express selections in the options given in a media session, an opinion poll for example. Since the device  700  includes circuitry to automatically collect media session information, generate a message with necessary information, send the message to WISBRA  10 , which processes requests from device  700 , the whole process is transparent to a user of device  700 . The user need merely press the appropriate button(s)  710 ,  712 , or  714 , to complete an information request in a single action. The single action can be, in addition to pressing buttons, sliding of buttons, actuating knobs, etc., depending on the actual design of device  700 .  
     [0043] Terminal  600  may generate the tuned-to-frequency component of signal  670  locally, or terminal  600  may extract the tuned-to-frequency component from broadcast signal  450 .  
     [0044] Device  700  generates signal  760  by combining an output of button decoder logic  802  with components from signal  660 . In signal  760 , access information may include an email address, a telephone number, or a combination of such information. Time is a timestamp generated by device  700 . The user id may be an id for identifying the holder of device  700 . User id may be a telephone number, for example. In signal  760 , items in parenthesis are optimizations.  
     [0045] In signal  760 , user selection is the code generated by button decoder  802 .  
     [0046] In signal  760 , program recording is a five second recording of the entire broadcast signal  450 , in cases where a UMCID is not supplied to device  700 , the system may nevertheless be able to identify the broadcast signal with this five second recording.  
     [0047] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, broadcast scheduler  30  and advertisement on-line buyers  50 ,  60  input broadcast content and programming time spots information via computers  460  and  480 , respectively, into WISBRA  10 . The content can be advertisement script, recording, or other materials. Responsive to an advertisement session being entered through  418 , the Unified Media Content Identification (hereafter, UMCID) generator  462  assigns a unique code and attaches the code to advertisement content before uploading the entry through web communication client  432  to WISBRA  10 .  
     [0048] A typical UMCID contains at least 4 segments of information: a segment to identify the content originator, in this case advertisement end buyer; a segment to identify the agency representing the ad buyer; a segment to identify the broadcasting network; and a segment to identify the station/channel from which the audience actually receives the broadcast. The UMCID protocol enables terminals  600  to transmit information in a common format, allowing any device  700  in the vicinity to receive, recognize and understand the information.  
     [0049] Thus, for example, allowing two people in the same car, each having a device  700 , to individually respond to broadcast segments of interest to each one from the same radio receiver. Furthermore, a single person, using the same device  700 , may respond to a radio broadcast segment in the car when he is driving, then to a TV news broadcast when he gets home, and later to a movie from a DVD player.  
     [0050] Thus, system  2000  enables audience members to respond to a media session easily and conveniently, anywhere, anytime and to any media presented through a terminal  600 .  
     [0051] Producer  35  will direct and produce the actual broadcast session partially from the content in existence in WISBRA  10  accessible through application computer  435 . When a pre-recorded advertisement is played, that recording will carry first two sections of UMCID: Advertiser and agency.  
     [0052] When a song is played, producer application client  436  will, through hardwired or wireless connection  442 , give command to activate the broadcast equipment  400  to transmit the signal carrying the song. The song recording will carry first two sections of UMCID: Song/singer and publisher. When the advertisement is to be read by the announcer  40 , the auto/special UMCID generator  437  in producer application client  436  will generate a UMCID consisting all four sections if UMCID is detected missing.  
     [0053] When a polling question is aired, the producer will manually assign a “Polling” UMCID through  437 . Such UMCID will have a question serial number stored in WISBRA  10  in the first section and station or network ID in the second section. When an action is aired, the producer will manually assign an “Auction” UMCID through  437 . Auction UMCID will have the serial number an article description stored in WISBRA  10  in the first section and auctioneer&#39;s ID in the second section. The UMCID generators  462  and  437  will add the last two sections representing network affiliation and station/channel ID.  
     [0054] Each time when a program is broadcast, via connection  510 , the UMCID information is automatically sent to UMCID signal encoder  500  to be prepared for transmission with broadcast signal.  
     [0055] The UMCID is present in recordings as a beacon. As a result the UMCID will be present, for example, at the beginning of the song recording, and is rebroadcast, by encoder  500 , every 20 seconds. Because the UMCIDs can be data-economical, the signal carrying the UMCIDs requires very little bandwidth.  
     [0056]FIG. 5 shows how a broadcast signal  450  is processed by terminal  600  to generate identification signal  660  for reception by device  700 . Through antenna  604 , signal  450  is processed by radio receiver signal amplifying circuitry  610  to produce an audio signal for speaker  608 . This audio signal is a type of human perceptible signal.  
     [0057] The pass through or preprocessed signal from  450  is sent to UMCID Extraction Module  620 . Module  620  extracts the current UMCID  622  of the content in broadcasting, and sends UMCID  622  to state data writer  630 , causing writer  630  to send data into state data register  632 .  
     [0058] Data register  632  is a data holding center, responsible for keeping UMCID, radio receiver actual tuned-to frequency  612 , mostly available from the amplification circuitry  610 , and radio receiver identification number  614 , number  614  is stored in the receiver by the manufacturer.  
     [0059] Register  632  keeps as much state-change history as practical. As receiver ID  614  is typically a constant and frequency data  612  is less changeable as UMCID, the primary function of register  632  is to keep UMCID history.  
     [0060] There are several conditions that cause state data sampler  634  to fetch data from register  632  to initiate a data transmission  660 . When data register  632  has a state change, either as a result of UMCID  622  update or the listener (in the case of radio) changes station resulting new frequency data  612 , it will send a trigger to data sampler  634 , informing sampler  634  to fetch data from register  632 . When there is no change to register  632 , a clock  607  will periodically prompt data sampler  634  to fetch data from register  632 . Each time the data is obtained by  634 , they are forwarded to encoder  636  to assemble into desired format, then to signal transmitter  638  and further to antenna/speaker/IR diode  640  transmitted into signal  660 .  
     [0061] Although terminal  600  uses ultrasound, the combination of all three transmission methods will improve overall ability, performance and versatility of  600  communicating to  700 .  
     [0062] Terminal  600  transmits signal  670 . Signal  670  includes a wake-up segment  662  for waking up device  700 , which is typically in sleeping mode to allow for the intermittent nature of transmission  660 . Signal  670  also includes a segment for UMCID  612 , a segment for tuned-to frequency  612  and radio receiver ID segment  614 . Although terminal  600  employs amplitude modulation, other methods may be employed.  
     [0063] In the cases when a TV is close-caption enabled, that information can be transmitted, via ultrasound in a protocol intended for device  700  to receive and capture. Such information may be used in place of actual recording of audio/video signal for identification purpose with the benefit of saving bandwidth and transmission time.  
     [0064] In FIG. 6, when antenna/sensor  720  receives signal  660  from the radio/TV receiver, the resulting signal is then fed into signal pre-processing module  722  for correction and amplification. The output from module  722  is sent to decoder  724  to be written to handset state register  728  by handset state writer  726 . Handset state register  728  takes input, including current time and handset location information, from handset internal state memory  741 , and even audio signal  717  if desired, as well as handset built-in radio tuned to frequency data  713  in the case when a radio is integrated into a cell phone or pager.  
     [0065] Device  700  may generate a multi-value code in response to the user&#39;s actuation of a single button  712 , as shown in FIG. 8. Device  706  may also generate a code in response to the user&#39;s actuation of multiple buttons, such as button  712  in combination with button  714 . More specifically, referring to FIG. 10, a user has the option of sending a response message at the time of selection or sending the message at a later time. The selection inputs are short pulses when the user releases a button immediately after pressing. When one button is press-released, it represents first/1/yes/for/good, etc; when two buttons are press-released, the input represents second/2/no/against/bad, etc; and three press-release&#39;s stand for third/3/no-opinion/no-opinion/so-so, etc. If one or all buttons are press-held for duration longer than a pre-set time period, the device will send a message including all selections stored in the device.  
     [0066] Therefore, when input  711  from buttons in short pulses representing selections, handset state data register  728  creates an entry including all the state data at the moment of input  711 . The register  728  holds the history log of all state data from all sources corresponding to the moment at which each input from  711  is entered. When input  715  from send button in a long pulse representing send command, handset state data sampler  730  requests a data transfer action from register  728  and handset stored info module  731 .  
     [0067] Data in  731  includes information stored by the device manufacturer and those provided by the user and updateable remotely via radio transmission from a central office of the wireless service provider. Data sampled by  730  are then complied into an email in response message generator  746 . When activated to send the message, through the handset&#39;s own message transmitter  748 , single or multiple messages  760  are transmitted via wireless network connection  750  to WISBRA  10 .  
     [0068] Referring to FIG. 7, through Internet connection  890 , the received message  760  is reassembled into four parts: UMCID and time  761 ; frequency, location and time  762 ; recording, time and location  763 . Redundant information from UMCID, frequency and recording is purposely included here for illustration of how, when only some information present, the response is processed by WISBRA  10 . Such information redundancy is typically desired for better quality of response message and versatility for processing. It is possible, however, the limitation of bandwidth may initially limit the use of actual recording.  
     [0069] If all information is present, message  761  will be given first priority for processing in UMCID server  20 , as it is data-efficient and containing all information to determine the audience&#39;s interest. UMCID server  20  will retrieve all the information related to UMCID is  761  and create a data pack to pass on to logic module  21  to decide where the data pack will be forwarded.  
     [0070] There are at least three types of processing outcome to a response: To provide a reply message including links or info relative to response message; to use the response data to generate a report and email back the media company as the illustrative example “Polling”; to forward part or all information from a response to another system, which can be “bidding”, “voting”, “rating”, etc.  
     [0071] As described earlier, if an UMCID indicates “polling” response, the information output from UMCID server will be send to Polling server  22 , where User ID/Selection/Reply information  764  is combined before sending to Poll report generator  23 . Example of a polling result report  832  is emailed to the polling station (AM630, for instance) at a specific cut off time. Similarly, if the message from audience is in response to a media session requesting “bidding”, “voting”, “rating”, etc. from audience, Poll server  22  and polling report generator  23  will be respective “bidding”, “voting”, “rating”, etc servers and report generators.  
     [0072] Polling can be conducted for situations when only Information of frequency, location and time  762  is available to Station server  18  and programming server  19  to determine the station and program to which the audience responded. If a program is found to be one that requested audience&#39;s opinions and aired time matches the audience response time, all resulting information from processing in server  18  and  19  is send to Polling server  22 , whereon a report is generated and emailed as above described.  
     [0073] Polling may also be conducted for situations when only Information of recording, location and time  763  is available to Station server  18 , programming server  19  and content data server  84  to determine the station and program to which the audience responded. This process is not as efficient as two previous steps as the content data server will run an actual comparison of recording to all program segment aired at the moment response message was created by the audience. If a program is found to be one that requested audience&#39;s opinions and aired time matches the audience response time, all resulting information from processing in server  18 ,  19  and  20  is send to Polling server  22 , whereon a report is generated and emailed as above described.  
     [0074] If the UMCID indicates an information request by the audience, output from UMCID  20  or combined output from station server  18 , programming server  19  and content data server  84  will be read in by listener server  16  along with user ID, selection and reply instruction  764  for processing. Including pertinent link or detail addressing the audience request, response email generator  24  will then compile an email  822 , which will be sent to requesting audience following reply instruction from the particular requester.  
     [0075] It is advantageous for radio stations to have the ability to get listeners&#39; instant feedback. System  2000  enables a listener to send a message to a station in real time via WISBRA  10  by pressing one button  712  in device  700 . Such capability enables radio listeners to vote on polls, bid on offers, interact with a program or announcer simultaneously, anywhere, anytime, without having to call or write-in. This responding ability also minimizes or eliminates common bottlenecking for listener call-ins or the time delay for people writing in.  
     [0076] Media companies can determine audience information quickly and accurately. Such service, when provided to radio/TV stations, greatly improves the radio/TV broadcasting effectiveness as a media. Further, such ability for easy, instant direct response to a broadcast will significantly increase the value of radio/TV airtime, which in turn, increases profit and revenue of electronic media industry.  
     [0077] Methods for communicating between terminal  600  and device  700  will now be described in more detail.  
     [0078] A first preferred way for communication between  600  and  700  is using local oscillating frequency from listener&#39;s radio set. It is known that when a particular station is tuned to a radio set, the radio/TV set&#39;s internal oscillator generates a electromagnetic signal at a particular frequency. And such frequency can be correlated to the broadcasting frequency of the tuned-to station. Using this principle, device  700  is equipped with a radio frequency receiver that registers the frequency of a radio/TV broadcast. The registered frequency generates a piece of data that dynamically changes as the listener changes radio station or getting close to an operating radio unit tuned to a station. The above-mentioned piece of data, as explained later in “Message” of this section, will be included in the message send to WISBRA  10  and is compared with the frequencies of stations in a geological area, of which WISBRA hosts information application service. The listener&#39;s actual location information can also be obtained from wireless providers or GPS output. Such method is preferred at present time due to the fact that almost all existing radio, TV and other electronic media terminals are not compatible for advanced features described in the exemplary system.  
     [0079] Another preferred way of communicating information to  700  is to include UMCID signal in the broadcast and have 600 re-broadcast such UMCID with other desired information to its immediate vicinity using short range wireless communication technologies like Bluetooth, Smart Dust, Portolan Project or Bluesky.  600  is equipped to extrapolate UMCID and prepare the signals for short-range transmit. The device  700  is equipped to recognize, capture and translate the signal into a useful data piece as previously described. This method is actively relaying the information to the vicinity. Therefore it is possible to implement into all forms of electronic media terminals and is preferred over the method described in the following paragraph for future applications. This method is preferred for second phase implementation of the exemplary system for two reasons: it take time for the market to have enough device to be economical; it is a more advanced mode of the exemplary system offering higher data rate and interactivity.  
     [0080] A third way of communicating information to  700  is to modify radio sets to produce a non-intrusive signal, in ultrasound and/or Infrared, reflecting the radio/TV unit&#39;s actual tuned-to frequency, which is readily available for displaying channels or stations to the users. Once captured by device  700 , equipped to receive such signals, and sent to WISBRA  10 , such data piece will provide information for identifying ratio stations a user of device  700  listened to.  
     [0081] Another way of capturing information for radio station identification is to use Ultrasound or Infrared to transmit UMCID into the immediate surroundings simultaneously with regular audio/text/video program by  600 . Device  700  is equipped to receive such information. One advantage for this arrangement is its simplicity. Ultrasound and Infrared cannot go through walls. Therefore such arrangement does not need logic for determining who was in the room vs. next door as required by radio wave transmission such as Bluetooth™.  
     [0082] A fifth way of capturing information for radio station identification is to record the actual audio signal from the radio unit off the radio station actual broadcast. The actual recording is sent to WISBRA  10  along with time and location as described before. The recording then will be compared with the digitized audio from all stations in the listener&#39;s geological area, at the time of sending the message. Using fuzzy logic and background noise processing, the match will automatically identify the station and the program/advertisement of interest to the requester.  
     [0083] A sixth way of identifying UMCID is to embed the UMCID in audio signal with a special coding technique that does not affect the audio quality perceived by listeners. In this case, the  640  is the same as  608   
     [0084] One may also use a combination of two or more ways described above to facilitate communications between media terminals and the mobile device. Such arrangement can yield the more information allowing for more accurate data communication.  
     [0085]FIG. 6 is a generic embodiment of the invention with IR/acoustic/RF, and FIG. 8 is specifically with passive detection of RF emission of radio receivers corresponding to local osculating frequencies.  
     [0086]FIG. 8 details the first method preferred embodiment of the mobile device using passive communication mode, when oscillating signal  661  from the radio/TV receiver is received by antenna  720 , the resulting signal is then feed into signal pre-processing module  721  to filter out unwanted signals and to provide amplification. The output from  721  is sent to Signal Frequency/strength analyzer  723  to identify the frequency with the most signal strength. The result from  723  is feed into a dynamic frequency data generator  725  for creating digital data useful for Frequency State Data writer  726  to input into Device State Data register  728 . Handset state register  728  takes input, including current time and handset location information, from handset internal state memory  741 , and even audio signal  717  if desired as well as handset built-in radio tuned to frequency data  713  in the case when a radio is integrated into a cell phone or pager. The register  728  holds a history log of state changes from all input sources. Such log creation can be programmed either automatically at a pre-set time interval or when it received an input representing Selection Button Activation  711 .  
     [0087]FIG. 9 shows logic in button decode module  802 , allowing a single button  712  to be used to indicate for both selection and transmission. Logic in module  802  detects two types of button activation: press-release, generating a pulse signal with second half immediately follow the first half; and press-hold, generating a pulse signal with second half far apart from the first half. Button  712  generates a DC level for the time that user  74  presses down on button  712 . Logic  802  measures the length of time of the level change, with a sustained level of less than one second being deemed press-release and a duration of greater than one second being deemed press-hold. Logic  802  generates a code equal to 1 when the user does a single press-release of button  712 , generates a  2  when the user generates two sequential press-releases of button  712 , and generates a  3  when the user actuates button  712  to produce three sequential press-releases. As shown in FIG. 9, codes  1 ,  2 , and  3  cause device  700  to save the codes for sending at a later time, and an electronic mail message for example.  
     [0088] When logic  802  detects a press-release followed by a press-hold, logic  802  generates a code equal to four, when logic  802  detects two press-releases followed by a press-hold, logic  802  generates a code equal to 5 etc.  
     [0089] The right part of FIG. 9 indicates how system  2000  may interpret the codes generated by logic  802 , which are subsequently combined with a signal from decoder  804 , and transmitted by transmitter  11 .  
     [0090]FIG. 10 shows an alternate scheme wherein button decoder logic  802  is responsive to signals from button  710  and  714 , as well as button  712 . Pushing one button  712  generates a single press-release, causing decoder logic  802  to generate a 1. Actuating buttons  712  and  714  simultaneously is equivalent to two press-releases, causing button decoder logic  802  to generate a 2. Actuating all three button simultaneously is equivalent to three press-releases of a single button, causing button decoder logic  802  to generate a 3. Press-release is used to indicate for selection, for example, one press-release stands for first/1/yes/for/good, etc; while two consecutive press-release&#39;s stand for second/2/no/against/bad, etc; three consecutive press-release&#39;s stand for third/3/no-opinion/no-opinion/so-so, etc. The practical time allowed for three consecutive pressrelease&#39;s is about one second. So the device can be programmed to detect pulses for a specified duration, as an example 1.2 second.  
     [0091] The press-hold can be used to initiate transmission. Thus when the Button Activation module  719  detects a first half pulse and fails to detect the second half of the pulse for a specified duration, as an example, 1 second, it sends a command  715  to device State Data Sampler  730 .  
     [0092] Upon detecting an input from user button selection  715 , handset state data sampler  730  requests a data transfer from register  728  and stored device information  731 , which is provided by the user and updateable remotely via radio transmission from a central office of the wireless service provider. Data sampled by  730  are then complied into an email in response message generator  746 . When activated to send the message, through the built-in message transmitter  748 , single or multiple messages  760  are transmitted via wireless network connection  750  to WISBRA  10 .  
     [0093] If there is no radio station tuned to at the time of button activation, the last message will not have information for station identification. WISBRA  10  will ignore such data register log entries during message processing.  
     [0094] In summary, system  2000  is for creating and operating an integrated electronic media environment, especially for TV and radio, to enable close to real-time automatic media selling and buying, automatic content indexing and retrieval, automatic recognition of an operating electronic media receiver closest to a responding individual in a multi-receiver environment, and enabling instant wireless messaging in response to a broadcast or a general media session from anywhere and at anytime. System  2000  provides electronic media receivers for exposing the audience to a media session and transmitting information related to the media session at a first location, a wireless handheld device for receiving information related to the media session from the electronic media receiver and for automatic compiling and transmitting one or more messages corresponding to user&#39;s response to the media session at a first location, a computer with web browser and internet service or a internet ready device located at a second location remote or close to first location, a web-based electronic media business application computer system for on-line media selling and buying, universal media content identification (UMCID) generating and management, audience service, station service, content management and security management at a third location remote to the first and second location, a computer with web browser and internet service located at a on-line media buyer&#39;s location, a computer functionally similar to the buyer&#39;s at broadcast programming personnel&#39;s location, a computer functionally similar to the buyer&#39;s at program producer&#39;s location and a computer functionally similar to the buyer&#39;s at a disk jockey&#39;s location. System  2000  allows people to create an on-line advertisement over the internet by the on-line media buyer, the web-based electronic media business application computer system generating a unique UMCID and attaching to that content created, reserve and marling one or more spots as sold in future play-list through browser in the media buyer&#39;s computer and updating such information in real time in the web-based electronic media business application computer system master database, entering text content or importing existing digital content linked to the sold spots through the media buyer&#39;s computer or similar computer into the master database of the web-based electronic media business application computer system, dynamically feed time-driven spot and associated content information from the master database from the computer system into the computers at program producer&#39;s and disk jockey&#39;s locations over the internet, broadcasting the content from programming transmitter programming in audio, video or browser displayable format to one or more electronic media receivers at the first location, receive the content at the receiver, generating humanly perceptible audio, video or browser display output and transmitting a humanly imperceptible signal with UMCID and other desirable information into the environment of the first location.  
     [0095] Device  700  registers a user input by the device upon activation of an interface on the device, generates a dynamic log of the signal, user input and time of the input temporarily stored in the wireless handheld device, automatically compiles an email message including the log and other desirable information at the device, and automatically transmits the message via wireless network to the electronic media business application system upon user activation of a send input interface in the device.  
     [0096] System  2000  then receives the message at electronic media business application system, processes the message at the system according to UMCID in the messages to (a) reply to a response message include links on the internet to information satisfying user&#39;s request; or (b) forward some or all the information in the message to another system or specific locations; or (c) compose and post a report on information in the messages for publishing and access over the internet by authorized users, and returns, through internet per instruction in the message or UMCID, the processing results, to the computer at the second location or an internet ready device at the second location or to the device at the first location; to a computer to another system or specific locations; to one or more specific computers within the computer system or at a location remote to the system.  
     [0097] Terminal  600  may be a TV, CD player, tape player, MP3 player or a computer or any other device for electronically carrying and render information in forms that are humanly perceptible.  
     [0098] Terminal  600  may include circuitry to read and extract the UMCID information sent with regular content to web browsers; generate infrared light as active transmission media for human imperceptible signal; generate radio wave as active transmission media for human imperceptible signal.  
     [0099] Thus the preferred embodiments of the exemplary system provide an apparatus and method for prompt wireless instant messaging in response to radio or tv broadcasting and other electronic media session.  
     [0100] Though the illustrated system shows terminal  600  being a housing and terminal  700  being a separate housing, the functions of terminal  600  and device  700  may be combined into a device with a single portable housing such as a small radio or a combination radio cellular phone handset.  
     [0101] Although signal combiner  806  generates a composite signal by combining the output of decoder  804  in a respective field different from fields occupied by the output of decoder logic  802 , these two types of signals may be combined in a more integrated way, to occupy a single field with a field value derived from the combination of the output of decoder logic  802  and the output of decoder  804 .  
     [0102] Although the illustrated system includes a device  700  that transmits a combined system in an electronic mail message sent over a voice channel of a telephone network, the invention may be practiced with other modes of sending the combined signal. For example, an alternative device  700  may send the combined signal using some type of Short Message Service, sharing the spectrum of a control channel in a wireless cellular telephone system.  
     [0103] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or the scope of Applicants&#39; general inventive concept. The invention is defined in the following claims. In general, the words “first,” “second,” etc., employed in the claims do not necessarily denote an order.