Patent Publication Number: US-2019196776-A1

Title: Process and system for hearing impaired to hear sound at a movie venue

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF ANY) 
     None 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a process for the hearing impaired and more particularly one that is used with movie venues. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     One in eight people in the United States (13 percent, or 30 million) Aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears, based on standard hearing examinations. About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. Approximately 324,200 people worldwide have received cochlear implants The Justice Department, in 2010 said it was a considering a rule that 50% of movie screens offer captioning and video description services Hearing loss is a major public health issue that is the third most common physical condition after arthritis and heart disease. 
     Individuals with hearing conditions attend movies, they often do not have the full theater experience or avoid theaters all together. 
     There is still room for improvement in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The current invention is system and application that lets an hearing impaired user search for theaters and allows the user to sync up with a movie that is showing. The user can choose an option of using an increased sound, closed caption or subtitles on their smart phone or tablet. The system uses an application that eliminates the need to provide additional devices to patrons and reduces cost of lost or dysfunctional devices. The system can utilize Bluetooth capabilities to connect to audio within the theater. The system will have zero sound bleed from surrounding theaters. The phone remains on silent mode and the screen is off to prevent disruptions 
     The system, in the preferred embodiment, would work like a smartphone application, this product would be available through the respective marketplace for smartphones. 
     The innovative process is more efficient, effective, accurate and functional than the current art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows an overview of how Users access the system; 
         FIG. 2  shows a sample of a login screen; 
         FIG. 3  shows a sample of a home screen; 
         FIG. 4  shows a location screen; 
         FIG. 5  shows a sample of a theater near the location; 
         FIG. 6  shows a sample sync option screen; 
         FIG. 7  shows the purchase tickets function; 
         FIG. 8  shows the sync with device function; and 
         FIG. 9  shows a sample of a profile screen. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     There are a number of significant design features and improvements incorporated within the invention. 
     The current invention is a system and application  1  that lets an hearing impaired user search for theaters  400  and allows the user to sync up with movie that is showing. The user can choose an option of using an increased sound, closed caption or subtitles on their smart phone or tablet. 
       FIG. 1  displays the preferred embodiment of the system architecture  1  accessed through an Internet, Intranet and/or Wireless network  500 . However, the system could be implemented on a device-to-device, wirelessly or client/server architecture as well. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the system  1  is accessed from a user&#39;s smart phone  20  through a web browser over HTTP and/or HTTPS protocols  500  or wireless network or cell phone to cell phone connection. A smart phone  20  that can access the system  1  must have some version of a CPU, CPU memory, local hard disk, keyboard/keypad/input and display unit. The smart phone  20  can also be replaced by another computing device such as a desktop, laptop, tablet or general purpose computing device with an appropriate amount of memory suitable for this purpose and an active connection to the Internet  500 . Computing devices like this are well known in the art and are not pertinent to the invention. 
     The system  1 , data and processing code can reside in the non-transitory memory  310  of the one or more computing devices. The system  1  in the preferred embodiment would be written to act like a smart phone application (app) where the different apps can communicate with each. The system  1  may work with a central server as shown in  FIG. 1  or in parallel which each smart phone  20  communicating with others within the system  1 . The smart phone  20  may be connected to a headset  25  or wireless earplugs. The system  1 , data and processing code can reside in the non-transitory memory  310  of the one or more computing devices. The system  1  in the preferred embodiment would be written to act like a smart phone application (app). The system  1  can sync up with a movie or show at a movie theater  400 . 
     Brief Overview 
     The system  1  uses an application for a smart phone  20  that eliminates the need to provide additional devices to patrons and reduces cost of lost or dysfunctional devices. The system  1  can utilize Bluetooth or other wireless  450  capabilities to connect to audio within the theater  400 . The system  1  will have zero sound bleed from surrounding theaters. The phone  20  remains on silent mode and the screen is off to prevent disruptions. The sound would go to earphones  25  and in the preferred embodiment, noise cancelling earphones so that the sounds and dialogue from the desired movie will only be heard by the user. 
     The users would sign-in directly or using social logins as shown in  FIG. 2  with the user registering the app, 
     The system  1  will have a home page as shown in  FIG. 3 . The home page will connect the user to the functions and options of the system such as profile, location, movies, settings and log out. 
     The system and application  1  lets a user search for the theater near the user&#39;s location as shown in the location sample screen in  FIG. 4 . The system  1  uses GPS technology. When a user selects a theater a location map is shown. 
     Once a theater is chosen the user will have the option to choose a movie that is showing at that theater and the time to view the movie as shown in  FIG. 5 . The user will have the option to purchase the tickets for that movie as shown in the purchase tickets screen as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a sample sync option screen. The user can choose an option of using an increased sound, closed caption or subtitles on their smart phone  20  or tablet. The system  1  can utilize Bluetooth capabilities  450  to connect to audio within the theater  400 . The system will have zero sound bleed from surrounding theaters. The phone  20  remains on silent mode and the screen is off to prevent disruptions. The system  1  can provide sound through headphones  25  connected to the smart phone or smart head phones or earplugs.  FIG. 8  shows the sync with device function which always the user to choose the device to sync with. 
     The user will set up their profile for the system using the profile screen as shown in  FIG. 9 . This would allow the user to set up their personal information and information about their favorite theaters and types of movies. 
     Advantages 
     The current invention eliminates the need to provide additional devices to patrons and reduces cost of lost or dysfunctional devices. It utilizes Bluetooth capabilities to connect to audio within the theater with zero sound bleed from surrounding theaters. The user&#39;s phone remains on silent mode and the screen is off to prevent disruptions. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. The system is not limited to any particular programming language, computer platform or architecture. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.