US6300880B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multichannel audio distribution system having portable receivers
Assignee: Pendragon Wireless LLC
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Filing: 1996-01-16
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Granted: 2001-10-09
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Expires: 2016-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A multichannel switched communication system having a plurality of communication channels, with a plurality of information records stored in a database relating to a plurality of identified objects; a database server system for selectively accessing information records based on a selection criteria; a common input, receiving the selection criteria associated with an identification of a receiver, the selection criteria including object identification information; and a multichannel distribution system capable of simultaneously transmitting a plurality of information records, for transmitting the selectively accessed information record to the identified receiver. A plurality of mobile receivers each receives a desired broadcast on one of a plurality of channels. A bar code scanner associated with a mobile receiver identifies desired information record for retrieval. An infrared or radio frequency communication system may be provided for transmitting control data from the mobile receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Eran Sitnik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/80; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/04; H04L67/50; H04L67/60; H04L67/62; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1101; H04L69/00; H04L69/14; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A retail store, comprising: a room in a building, the room containing a plurality of objects each object containing a recording medium, each recording medium storing a first copy of at least one prerecorded music composition, and each object being identified by a unique object identification code; a plurality of portable terminals, adapted to being carried in the room by respective consumers from object to object, each portable terminal including: means for automatically identifying by the object's identification code an object specified by the consumer who is operating the portable terminal; means for transmitting the object's identification code on a first wireless channel; means for receiving a selected portion of a second copy of the at least one prerecorded music composition on a second wireless channel; and means to present the received selected portion to the consumer carrying the portable terminal; and a central terminal, including: means for receiving the identification codes from the plurality of portable terminals through the first wireless channel; means to identify which portable terminal transmits each identification code; storage means for storing a plurality of selected portions, each selected portion being a selected portion of a second copy one of the prerecorded music compositions; means for retrieving the selected portion from the storage means; means for transmitting the selected portion to the identified portable terminal through the second wireless channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A retail store, comprising: a room in a building, the room containing a plurality of objects each object containing a recording medium, each recording medium storing a first copy of at least one prerecorded music composition, and each object being identified by a unique object identification code; a plurality of portable terminals, adapted to being carried in the room by respective consumers from object to object, each portable terminal including: means for automatically identifying by the object's identification code an object specified by the consumer who is operating the portable terminal; means for transmitting the object's identification code on a first wireless channel; means for receiving a selected portion of a second copy of the at least one prerecorded music composition on a second wireless channel; and means to present the received selected portion to the consumer carrying the portable terminal; and a central terminal, including: means for receiving the identification codes from the plurality of portable terminals through the first wireless channel; means to identify which portable terminal transmits each identification code; storage means for storing a plurality of selected portions, each selected portion being a selected portion of a second copy one of the prerecorded music compositions; means for retrieving the selected portion from the storage means; means for transmitting the selected portion to the identified portable terminal through the second wireless channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The retail store of the claim 1 , wherein each portable terminal of the plurality of portable terminals is adapted to have no useful operation outside of and remote from the building.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The retail store of the claim 1 , wherein each portable terminal of the plurality of portable terminals further comprises an electronic antitheft responder being adapted to help prevent a customer from removing the terminal from the building.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The retail store of the claim 3 , wherein the antitheft responder is electrically connected to the means for receiving a selected portion of a second copy of the at least one prerecorded music composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The retail store of the claim 4 , wherein each portable terminal of the plurality of portable terminals further includes a microprocessor operatively coupled to the antitheft responder and to a digital tuner, wherein the digital tuner is a portion of the means for receiving a selected portion of a second copy of the at least one prerecorded music composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The retail store of the claim 5 , wherein each selected portion is selected according to a selection criteria, the selection criteria being dependent upon the personal characteristics of the customer operating a terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The retail store of the claim 6 , wherein the central terminal further includes means for storing a database of user characteristic information including the personal characteristics and means for accessing user characteristic information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
163 words
The retail store of the claim 7 in which: the object's identification code is on the surface of the object; the object's identification code is a bar code; and the automatic reading means is a bar code reader with an LED and photodetector; the first wireless channel is an infrared channel using the same LED as the bar code reader; the second wireless channel is a radio frequency broadcast channel; the second wireless channel for each respective portable terminal is a different respective FDMA or TDMA sub-channel; the information includes audio information and the presentation means of the portable terminals include headphones; the displayed goods include audio recordings, and the information related to the goods includes selections of the audio recordings; the central terminal being capable of transmitting different respective audio information in real time to multiple terminals in the same room; the customer using a portable terminal is identified and the information transmitted to the portable terminal depends on the customer identification.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The retail store of the claim 7 , wherein the selected portion depends upon the user characteristic information, and the user characteristic information includes at least one of information relating to a past use of the building by the customer and demographic information about the customer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The retail store of the claim 9 , wherein the selected portion is limited to a portion of a song, unless personal characteristics of the user warrant a larger selected portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The retail store of the claim 10 , wherein the portion of a song is the first 45 seconds of the song.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The retail store of the claim 11 , further comprising an egress alarm adapted to help prevent removal of the terminals through a portal of the building.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The retail store of the claim 11 , wherein each of the terminals includes a simple receiver and an audio transducer and is disposable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The retail store of the claim 11 , wherein each of the terminals is adapted to be given free of charge to a customer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The retail store of the claim 11 , wherein each of the terminals is adapted to be loaned to a customer for use by a customer free of charge while the customer remains within the building.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-08 | 2005-04-09 | 2005-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-08 | 2009-04-09 | 2009-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-08 | 2013-04-09 | 2013-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |