JP2003513550A - Improved interactive communication device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY The present invention uses an acoustic data transmission system to communicate with a remote item, such as a toy or other brand new item. The control data is embedded in the sound signal and transmitted to the toy. A toy near the receiver receives this data. The behavior of the toy can be modified by receiving the embedded data. The receiver is a television receiver, which broadcasts data along with television programs.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to improved interactive communication devices and methods, and in particular to interacting with remote items such as toys, home appliances or innovations via unwanted electromagnetic waves emitted from electronic devices. Method and device.

Television (TV) screens and video display units (VTUs)
Are known to emit unwanted electromagnetic waves (EM), often referred to as noise. Noise is generated by electronic components that generate images and sounds. It is known to reconstruct the original image or sound using this noise.

Currently, some toys can be pre-programmed to perform a particular task in response to a predetermined signal. This signal is an electrical signal or an acoustic signal or a physical signal such as pressure. For example, some dolls make a voice when pressed or dance in response to music being played.

However, the response range of these types of toys is limited, and it is not easy to change the program. Moreover, these toys are not able to interact with signals from, for example, television (TV) broadcasts.

It is an object of the present invention, for example, to provide a system in which unwanted electromagnetic waves are encoded by information broadcast from a TV station and this signal can then be downloaded to a device such as a toy.

Another object of the present invention is to use this information to program or modify the operation of the device.

According to the invention, a device for communicating with a remote article, a broadcasting means for transmitting a signal with embedded data and a receiver for receiving said signal, the radiation being emitted from the receiver. A receiver that encodes undesired electromagnetic waves with its data, and located near a remote item to detect the undesired electromagnetic waves and interpret the data,
A device for communicating with a remote item is provided that comprises a further receiver that modifies the control of the remote item.

Preferably, the data is transmitted by the video component of the signal, which is an analog or digital signal.

The data is a modulated signal and the broadcasting means is a television broadcast or webcast. The receiver is a television, radio or satellite decoder.
Unwanted electromagnetic waves are generated by the electronic components of the receiver. The receiver is a video display unit, a liquid crystal display or a plasma display.

[0010]   The remote item is a toy, home appliance, cell phone or other innovation.

The remote item may be programmed and / or reprogrammed with its data to display or play a promotional message.

[0012]   The data can be encrypted to prevent abuse.

The signal may include data for modifying the program of the remote item for advertising purposes.

Further in accordance with the present invention, a method of communicating with a remote article for transmitting data, receiving transmitted data, encoding the data in an unwanted electromagnetic wave, and encoding the undesirable signal. Provided is a method of communicating with a remote article, comprising the steps of transmitting an electromagnetic wave, receiving an encoded unwanted electromagnetic wave, interpreting the encoded data contained in the unwanted electromagnetic wave, and modifying the operation of the remote article. To be done.

Advantageously, the present invention does not require the addition of new hardware to the receiver. Moreover, the present invention operates independently of the broadcast system.

Advantageously, the present invention can be used to augment educational or promotional messages.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the basic concept of the invention, for example, while a child 1 is watching a television program on a monitor 2, there is a remote item, such as a toy robot 4. The broadcast station 3 transmits a signal 6 containing the television program the child is watching. Television programs are displayed on the monitor as they are received. This signal 6 contains not only audio and video components, but also a data burst containing information for controlling the toy robot 4.

The monitor 2 emits an undesired electromagnetic wave, which is coded to contain the data transmitted with the signal 6 from the broadcasting station. This data can be encoded in unwanted electromagnetic waves or noise by modulation techniques. The toy receives this noise and interprets the data. The action of a toy is
It can be modified in response to the interpreted data. The toy then appears to interact with the educational or promotional message that reinforces the program. It is also intended to update the toy with new software to add new features, behaviors or vocabularies via the same data path. This can be a great incentive to get kids to watch the broadcast while playing with toys.

FIG. 2 shows the basic transmission process 20 of a broadcasting system. The broadcast is preferably an analog broadcast. The term "analog broadcast" refers to all PAL, NTSC
, SECAM broadcasting, FM and AM radio broadcasting in the HF, VHF, UHF bands as well as analog satellite and cable systems. The audio content 21 of the broadcast program is transmitted as part of the baseband audio broadcast. Digital control data 25 for controlling a remote article such as the toy robot shown in FIG. 1 is encrypted by the encryption means 26. This control data can be encrypted by either asymmetric or symmetric encryption methods. The data is then subjected to multidimensional modulation schemes including, for example, angle modulation such as FSK, PSK, DPSK or CPSK, pulse position modulation or all spread spectrum schemes such as direct spread spectrum, chirp modulated carrier or frequency hopping. Then, it is modulated on the carrier by the modulation means 27. The spread spectrum method is a modulation method in which the occupied bandwidth exceeds the information bandwidth. The modulated data is then amplified by amplifier 28 and then combined with the audio content of the program by adding means 23. Carriers are either simple tones or frequency popped, chirped, or spread spectrum carriers such as direct spread spectrum. The broadcasting means 24 transmits a signal 26, which is a combination of the audio content 21 and the digital control data 25, via the broadcasting antenna 29. The broadcasting means 24 is VH
It may be F, UHF television broadcast or AM or FM radio broadcast.

FIG. 3 receives a signal 6 broadcast by the transmission system shown in FIG. 2, which signal 6 is an unwanted electromagnetic signal encoded to contain information or data for controlling a remote article 4. The receiving system 30 converting to 36 is shown. The receiving system 30 includes a home receiver 31 and a remote device receiver 32. The remote device receiver 32 should preferably be located near the source of the encoded unwanted electromagnetic signal 36 within the domestic receiver 31. Home receiver
It is preferably part of a television or radio receiver. Remote device receiver 3
2 must be located near the remote item to be controlled, and is preferably on or within the remote item.

The operation of the receiving system is as follows. The home receiver 31 receives the signal 6 by the home antenna 33, demodulates the video component of the signal 6 by the demodulation means 34, and then displays it on the display means 45. This display means
A television screen is preferable. The unwanted electromagnetic waves 36 emitted from the television are received by the antenna 37 in the receiver 32 of the remote item,
Amplification means 38 amplifies and demodulation means 39 demodulates. The demodulation means then
The digital control data 25 is reproduced. This control data is sent to the decryption means 40, which produces the required control data 41 for use by the remote item.

The remote item contemplated in the above example is a toy robot. The digital control data 41 can also be sent to a microcontroller and used to update a program stored in the toy robot's local memory. Alternatively,
Digital control data allows toy actuators and / or speakers 5
It is also possible to generate control signals for use by a voice synthesizer connected to 8. Further, if the toy robot has local feedback capability, the robot may be directed to a child playing with the robot by encoding the unwanted electromagnetic wave signal 36.
It is also possible to request to move to an area where reception of is improved.

In order to maximize the signal reception efficiency, the various forms of transmission and reception systems described above can be used.

The data capacity of the broadcast channel is equal to the achievable data rate times the time for transmitting the data. With a relatively small amount of transmitted data, such as 4 to 8 bytes, this information can trigger a programmed response that triggers a series of actions or phrases. When the amount of data increases to about 1000 bytes, use the information to modify the programmed response, add new words or actions, or download new data for field programmable devices and macro controllers. You can

Furthermore, it helps prevent abuse of broadcast channels when control data encryption is not required. The need for encryption becomes increasingly important as the amount of data sent to the device increases. For example, triggering a given response may not require the same level of protection as a complete download of new data.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a facility is provided that allows a broadcaster to send a reset code to restore factory settings. In addition, the toy can be provided with a reset button that, when pressed, resets the toy to factory settings.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various modifications and design changes can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1]   FIG. 1 shows the basic system.

[Fig. 2]   FIG. 2 shows a transmission system.

[Figure 3]   FIG. 3 shows a receiving system.

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Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A device for communicating with a remote article, which is a broadcasting means for transmitting a signal in which data is embedded, and a receiver for receiving the signal, which is an unwanted electromagnetic wave emitted from the receiver. A receiver that encodes the data with the data and another receiver that is located near the remote item to detect unwanted electromagnetic waves and interpret the data to modify the control of the remote item. A communication device for remote items. 2. The data is transmitted by the video component of the signal.
Equipment. 3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal is an analog signal. 4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the signal is a digital signal. 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the broadcasting means comprises means for encrypting the data. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the further receiver includes data decryption means. 7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the receiver is a television receiver. 8. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the data modifies the program of the remote item. 9. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the data includes a code that, upon receipt by a remote item, resets the item to a predetermined program. 10. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the remote item includes means for resetting the item to a predetermined program. 11. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the remote item is a toy. 12. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the data is a modulated signal. 13. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the broadcast signal is further configured to modulate the data. 14. A method of communicating with a remote article, comprising transmitting data, receiving transmitted data, encoding the data into an unwanted electromagnetic wave, transmitting the encoded undesirable electromagnetic wave, A method of communicating with a remote item, comprising the steps of receiving encoded undesired electromagnetic waves and interpreting encoded data contained in the undesired electromagnetic waves to modify the operation of the remote item. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of encrypting the data before the step of transmitting the data and decrypting the data before the step of interpreting the data. 16. The data is transmitted by a video component of a broadcast.
Or 15 ways. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the broadcast is a television broadcast.