Patent Abstract:
An audience response system includes a peripheral machine device capable of storing data and input/output circuitry physically connected to the transmitter unit and configured to enable operative communication between the peripheral machine device and the processor logic, where the processor logic disables selected functionality of the transmitter unit until valid data passes from the peripheral machine device and the processor logic.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/803,901 filed Jun. 5, 2006. 
     
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    This specification relates to the networking arts. In one embodiment, its teachings find application in networks that collect data from a plurality of spaced transmitters such as audience response systems. 
         [0003]    Audience response systems typically use a plurality of wired or wireless transmitters to send data, including user responses and/or answers to one or more centrally located receivers. In some networks, it is not important to have particular transmitters associated with particular users. Such anonymous networks include conference settings or generally environments where the collected data itself is of independent value or interest or user anonymity is desired. Occasionally, transmitter licenses expire or software updates are required but this information may not be provided to the network in time to permit that transmitter&#39;s data to be accepted in a particular session or until such time as the defect is noticed independently. 
         [0004]    In other networks, it is desirable to maintain a one-to-one correlation of transmitters to users. Such networks include those in the classroom or testing setting where the network is helpful for an instructor or moderator to identify individuals who are participating or who need additional discussion on a particular topic. Often instructors assign an identifiable transmitter to an individual who is then assumed to be the sole user. Then, data collected from that transmitter is attributed to the assigned individual. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0005]    In the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, embodiments are illustrated which, together with the detailed description given below, serve to describe exemplary embodiments. It will be appreciated that the illustrated boundaries of elements (e.g. boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent but exemplary boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, for example, that one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. An element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. The drawings and components therein are not to any scale. Certain components may be omitted and others shown enlarged to facilitate understanding. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a device capable of performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a device capable of performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a simplified diagram illustrating communication between devices capable of performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a simplified diagram illustrating communication between devices capable of performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a simplified diagram illustrating communication between devices capable of performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating embodiments of devices capable of performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating embodiments of devices capable of performing aspects of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Generally speaking, one embodiment of a system and method is provided to register transmitters and users in an audience response collecting session. Such a session may include collecting and transmitting real-time, or storing for future transmission, answers, replies, selections, responses or options; to tests, quizzes, polls, queries, surveys, scoring or performance monitoring situations, or opinions. Stimuli for user responses include audio, visual, oral, observed or written interactivity. In one example, system transmitters can include stored user identifying data or transmitters may be adapted to read such data from a machine readable medium in operable connection with the transmitter. Upon initiation of device registration, the transmitter may format a registration package including user identifying data, device identifying data, license information and the like. Once prepared, the transmitter may transmit the package to a response collecting processor for validation and registration. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example block diagram of a user transmitter device  110 . Preferably the device  110  is adapted to be hand carried and may be operable with a keyboard, keypad, touch sensitive screen, GUI and the like. The device  110  may be controlled by a processing logic  120  that may be in data communication with a first machine readable medium  130  configured to contain operating instructions, for example, embodied as software code. The processor may be in data communication with a second machine readable medium  140 , configured to contain user information such as name, identifying numbers (e.g. social security number, an assigned identifying number, and the like). In addition, the second machine readable medium  140  may also contain license information, operating system version identifiers, historical use information and other desired data. 
         [0018]    It is appreciated that while the description and illustration of two machine readable media are presented for ease of distinction and understanding, the separation may be logical, physical, machine addressable and the like. In other words, the device  110  may have a single memory partitioned or otherwise segregated with operating software in one logical area and user information in another. Alternatively, the device  110  may employ a single internal memory configured to contain an operating system, with a physically separate, internal memory configured to retain the user information. In yet another embodiment, the device  110  may contain an internal memory with operating instructions and an externally connectable memory device such as a memory stick, USB flash memory, magnetic strip and the like with user identifying and licensing data. Variations and combinations of the embodiments discussed, alone or with other known means may be substituted without departing from the teachings here. 
         [0019]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the device  110  may also include transceiver  150  configured to communicate signals from the device  110  to a response collection system. The transceiver  150  may communicate using any known means or those later developed such as radio frequency, light, electrical or magnetic signals and may be wireless or wired. The device may also include input/output logic  160  to enable operative communication with peripheral devices including human devices  170  for interaction primarily with the human sensory system and machine devices  180  for interaction primarily with machines. The human devices  170  may include screens, displays, speakers, keypads, keyboard, pointer devices, joysticks and the like. The machine devices  180  may include processors, logic, or other devices for storing, creating, modifying, sending, and/or receiving signals. 
         [0020]    With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a response collection system  210  may be controlled by processing logic  220  that may be in data communication with a machine readable medium  230  configured to contain operating instructions, for example, embodied as software code. Machine readable medium  230  may also be configured to store group response software, particular presentations and user registration data, audience responses, statistics and like. The system  210  may also include transceiver  240  configured to receive or exchange signals from a user or participant transmitter. The transceiver  240  may communicate using any known means or those later developed such as radio frequency, light, electrical or magnetic signals and may be wireless or wired. The device may also include input/output logic  250  to enable operative communication with peripheral devices including human devices  260  for interaction primarily with the human sensory system and machine devices  270  for interaction primarily with machines. 
         [0021]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a user transmitter  310  may initiate a registration process via, for example, manual action such as a combination of key presses or the process may be commenced by automated methods such as upon receipt of a send request, polling request or instruction from a response system. The transmitter  310  formats registration data and sends signals  320  corresponding to the registration data to a receiver  330  in operable connection with a response system  340 . As further discussed below, the response system  340  may then process the registration data. In one embodiment, the registration data may include only a transmitter identifier, so that the response system may uni-directionally receive, or multi-directionally poll or request data from the transmitter when responses are sought. In another embodiment, the registration data may include user identifying information so that responses may be associated with a particular user. In yet another embodiment, registration data may include license information or other data relating to transmitter software. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , if the registration process succeeds, the transmitter  410  may then participate in an audience response session. During a session, the transmitter  410  occasionally formats a response, such as to a proffered query, and transmits signals  420  corresponding to the response. The transmission can be triggered by a polling request from the response system or by a send request such as user action on the transmitter  410  (e.g. a key press). The response may then be received at a receiver  430  in operable connection with a response system  440 , and processed accordingly. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , if the registration process fails, the response system  510  may format an invalid registration packet which is transmitted by a transmitter  520 . Signals  530  corresponding to the invalid registration packet are received by a transmitter  540  and processed. In one embodiment, a user may receive an indication that the registration failed and that the user will be unable to participate in the audience response session. In another embodiment, the transmitter disables transmission or completely powers down until the failure is remedied. Such a remedy may be obtaining proper licensing, updating records and the like. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment a transmitter may format a registration packet  610  including license data such as expiration date, version and the like corresponding to the transmitter software, in this instance embodied as firmware. The packet is communicated to the response processor, for example over a wireless signal communication protocol. The response processor decodes the packet and checks licensing data,  620 . If the license is current, the firmware data, such as firmware version, is checked,  630 . If both the license and firmware checks prove valid, the response processor registers the transmitter,  640 . Optionally, the response processor may then format an acknowledgement data packet  650  for communication to the transmitter. Once received at the transmitter the acknowledgement is decoded if needed, and displayed to the user. The transmitter may then participate in the audience response session,  660 . In the event either the licensing data check  620  or firmware data check  630  are invalid, then the response processor does not register the transmitter, and the transmitter is not able to participate in the audience response session. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment a transmitter may format a registration packet  710 , for example in response to a registration trigger generated either by a user or by a response system. Here, the packet may include data that identifies a user. The user identification data may be loaded into the device or contained on other machine readable media that can be associated with the transmitter only during the registration process or anytime when the transmitter is to be used. The user data may include employee identifiers, student identifiers, or registrant data that may or may not be associated with a particular person. The packet is communicated to the response processor, for example, over a wired signal communication protocol. The response processor decodes the packet and checks user data,  720 . If the data meets acceptance criteria, the response processor causes the transmitter to be registered,  730 . In the user data is determined to be invalid, then the response processor does not register the transmitter, and the transmitter is not able to participate in the audience response session. 
         [0026]    With reference now to  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment a transmitter may format a registration packet  810 . The packet may then be communicated to a response processor, for example, using a radio frequency signal communication protocol. The response processor decodes the packet and checks registration data,  820 . Should the registration data not satisfy registration parameters, the response processor may format a participation denial packet,  830 . The denial packet may include an error code or display explaining why participation is denied, and/or may cause the transmitter to become inoperative until the condition is remedied. The packet is communicated to the transmitter, and the device may be disabled from participation,  840 . 
         [0027]    With reference now to  FIG. 9 , a transmitter device  910  is shown with logic  920 , for example a USB flash memory device, attached. Logic  920  may contain user identification data, license data and the like, be readable, writable or either selectively. In one embodiment, the logic  920  may be attached for the registration process. Here, internal transmitter logic may read the required data from the logic as needed to prepare a registration packet. After registration, the logic  920  may be removed while the transmitter participates in the audience response session. In another embodiment, the logic  920  may be required to maintain connection to the transmitter  910  to continue participation in the audience response session. In yet another embodiment, the transmitter device may include machine readable media for retaining user and/or licensing data. In this embodiment, the required information may be provided to the machine readable medium specifically over a wireless link, for example, or other peripheral machine device  930  in operable communication with the transmitter  910 . In another embodiment, a user may slide a magnetic strip encoding the desired data through a reader in the transmitter  910 . In yet another embodiment, a user may enter the data in response to prompts or otherwise on the transmitter keypad  940  or other peripheral human device. 
         [0028]    With reference now to  FIG. 10 , a transmitter device  1010  is shown with logic  1030 , for example a proximity card in communication. Logic  1030  may contain user identification data, license data, firmware updates and the like. In one embodiment, the logic  1030  may be closely positioned for the registration or update process. Here, logic internal to the transmitter  1010  may read or receive the required data from the logic as needed to prepare a registration packet. After registration, the logic  1030  may be stored while the transmitter participates in the audience response session. In another embodiment, the logic  1030  may be required to maintain communication with the transmitter  1010  to continue participation in the audience response session. In yet another embodiment, the transmitter device may include machine readable media for retaining user and/or licensing data. In this embodiment, the required information may be provided to the machine readable medium specifically over a wireless link, for example, or other peripheral machine device  1030  in operable communication with the transmitter  1010 . In another embodiment, logic  1030  may communicate via wireless 802.11 protocol, for example, through a receiver in the transmitter  1010 . In yet another embodiment, a user may enter the data in response to prompts or otherwise on the transmitter keypad  1040  or other peripheral human device, such as keypad, GUI and the like. 
         [0029]    While the systems, methods, and so on have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the systems, methods, and so on provided herein. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicants&#39; general inventive concept. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the preceding description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0030]    To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed in the claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both”. When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Similarly, when the applicants intend to indicate “one and only one” of A, B, or C, the applicants will employ the phrase “one and only one”. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7