WO1995016313A1

WO1995016313A1 - A communications system and associated apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1995016313A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/002671
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Jeremy Kew; James Simon Love
Original assignee: Michael Jeremy Kew; James Simon Love
Priority date: 1993-12-08
Filing date: 1994-12-06
Publication date: 1995-06-15
Also published as: AU1195395A

Abstract

A communications system comprises a stimulus providing stimulus data (2) which can be electronically recorded by a plurality of communications apparatuses (1) and a data retrieval device (13) adapted to download data from the communications apparatuses (1) for transmittal to a data collection unit (8). The communications apparatuses (1) each comprise a recording means (3, 4, 5) for electronically recording stimulus data (2) when activated by a user, reusable memory means (6) for storing the stimulus data (2), and means (7) for storing user identification data. The stimulus data (2) is preferably provided by a transmitter adapted to emit a radiofrequency paging signal, and/or an infrared radiation transmitter, and/or a barcode, and likewise the recording means of the communications apparatuses (1) comprise at least one of a radiofrequency receiver (3), an infrared radiation receiver (4), and a barcode reader (5). Each of the communications apparatuses (1) also preferably comprises a response means (9) by which a user may record a response to the stimulus data (2), and the memory means (6) can store both the stimulus data (2) and the user's response.

Description

A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a communications system and an associated communications apparatus by which a person may register a response to an external stimulus.

Conventionally, if a person wishes to register such a response he must transmit this information to the party in question, typically by making a telephone call, filling in a reply card or voting paper, or writing a letter. For example, if a person sees an advertisement for a product about which he would like to receive further information, he may fill in a reply card for posting to the advertiser requesting further information or telephone the advertiser directly to request the information. In order to participate in a poll, usually a person must telephone the pollster or complete a questionnaire. Similarly, when recording a vote, this is carried out either by requiring the voter to go to a location where voting papers can be completed and then stored for transmission to central location for counting, or by requiring the voter to fill in a postal ballot form for mailing directly to a collection point. Another example would be participation in a lottery system where a person is required to buy a lottery ticket from an authorised provider and then, when appropriate, register a win in order to receive a prize.

It will be appreciated that <in all the above examples and in many others, both the individual and the party providing the stimulus such as the advertiser, pollster or lottery provider must carry out tasks which are time consuming and may require a considerable degree of processing.

The present invention addresses this problem and has for its object the aim of electronically recording a person's response to a stimulus which can then be transmitted directly to the originator of the stimulus for processing.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a communications system comprising a stimulus providing stimulus data which can be electronically recorded; a plurality of communications apparatuses each comprising a recording means for electronically recording stimulus data when activated by a user, reusable memory means for storing the stimulus data, and means for storing user identification data, and a data retrieval device adapted to download data from said communications apparatuses for transmittal to a data collection unit.

Preferably, the stimulus data is provided by one of a transmitter adapted to emit a radiofrequency paging signal, an infrared radiation transmitter, and a barcode, and the recording means of each of the communications apparatuses comprises at least one of a radiofrequency receiver, an infrared radiation receiver, and a barcode reader.

The system according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it permits members of the public who may each carry a communications apparatus storing user identification data personal to them to record immediately stimulus data specific to a particular activity or product as desired by simply activating the apparatus in a predefined manner. The stored data along with appropriate information personal to the user can then be downloaded to a data retrieval device at a subsequent time for forwarding to a central processing unit which will sort and direct the information to an appropriate recipient who initiated the original stimulus. It is envisaged, therefore that the system will be used by inter alia, for example, advertisers because it facilitates and thereby would be expected to increase audience response. It also has the advantage of enabling an advertiser to distribute further information on products only to those persons who have expressed a positive interest in a given product rather than sending mail shots to the public in general. However, it is envisaged that the system will have a wide usage generally whereby the public will be able to interact directly with clients of the system's providers by buying goods and services, registering points of view, requesting information, and the like.

The system can also be made attractive and convenient to users by locating the data retrieval devices at locations often visited by users such as shops and similar establishments which may encourage users to use their facilities in preference to another by conventional marketing techniques such as special offers or user credits. Alternatively, the data retrieval device could be located in a user's home and linked to their personal telephone system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a communications apparatus comprising a recording means for electronically recording stimulus data when activated by a user, reusable^* emory means for storing the stimulus data, means for storing user identification data, and interface means whereby data stored in the memory and the user identification data can be downloaded to another apparatus.

Preferably, the recording means of the communications apparatus comprises at least one of a radiofrequency receiver, an infrared radiation receiver, and a barcode reader.

Preferably also, the communications apparatus comprises response means by which a user may record a response to the stimulus data, and the memory means can store both the stimulus data and the user's response.

Preferably also, the response means comprises a keypad linked to a visual display means.

The communications apparatus may comprise a radio frequency receiver and operate using a conventional cellular paging system. For example, advertisers could broadcast product related codes over a cellular paging network at specific times of the day, typically at the same time as the screening of a television advertisement also related to the product but also during other predetermined time periods. The television advertisement could then instruct interested members of the public to activate their personal communications apparatus and enter a particular code, typically a two digit code, at any time during the duration of the advertisement or at the other predetermined time to register an interest in the product. The activation of the communications apparatus in this way would cause it to identify and store the particular product related code being broadcast over the paging network.

Similarly, the recording means of the communications apparatus may also comprise an infrared radiation receiver which could pick up codes broadcast at short range from transmitters linked to billboard advertisements and the like. Such advertisements would include instructions to the reader on how to activate their personal communications apparatus in order to receive the transmitted infrared radiation. The infrared transmission could also include a sound message* detectable by a user wearing suitable infrared sensitive headphones. Such a system would be of benefit to partially sighted and blind users.

Alternatively or in addition, the recording means of the communications apparatus may comprise a barcode reader. In this way, specific product related codes could simply be read into a communications apparatus from advertisements in magazines, newspapers or the like, or from specific in-shop displays by interested members of the public.

The various aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic illustration of a communications system according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a communications apparatus 1 is adapted to receive at least one of radio frequency radiation, infrared radiation and barcode information 2. Preferably information receivers 3, 4 and 5 dedicated to each of the three types of information transmission respectively are incorporated in the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 also comprises a reusable electronic memory bank 6 linked via logic circuitry to the information receivers 3, 4, 5, and a dedicated electronic memory bank or ROM 7. in which is stored user identification data. The user identification data may comprise the name and address of the user or may more simply comprise an identification code which is linked to ther user's name and address in a database kept by the communications system's provider at a data collection and collation unit 8.

The apparatus 1 preferably also comprises a keypad 9 linked to a visual display 10 such as a liquid crystal display to enable the user to verify data entered via the keypad 9. Data input to the apparatus 1 via the keypad 9 can also be stored in the memory 6 linked to any information being simultaneously or sequentially received by any one of the information receivers 3, 4, 5. It is also possible for the keypad 9 to be used to enter data directly into the apparatus 1 in place of or in addition to information received via the receivers 3, 4, 5, and in particular in place of the direct reading of a barcode.

The keypad 9 can be a simple number keypad or be more sophisticated as desired. For example, in addition to the entry of numerical codes, the system could be used by pollsters and canvassers to enable users to register votes and points of view. To this end, the keypad could include YES and NO keys or suitably coded keys to enable the user to select one out of a range of possible answers.

As the apparatus 1 is designed to receiving paging signals and is also personalized for a specific user, it can also operate as a conventional pager and display received information on the display 10.

The apparatus 1 is preferably battery operated so that it is portable. To extend the life of the batteries, the apparatus could include on/off switch means for operation by the user. The off switch could also be automatic if the apparatus remains unused for a predetermined length of time. Preferably, the batteries are rechargeable.

In addition, the apparatus 1 could include an electronic clock 11 which can be corrected automatically by appropriate signals received periodically over the paging network or other cellular network 12. In this way, the exact date and time a user enters data into the memory bank 6 can also be stored. For the convenience of the user, the Clock 11 could also be provided with its own display or use the main display 10 when it is not otherwise in use. The apparatus 1 is used in conjunction with a data retrieval station 13 which can download data from the memory banks 6 and 7 via an interface means 14. The retrieval station 13 communicates with and transmits the downloaded information to the collection and collation unit 8. It is expected that the retrieval station 13 will communicate with the unit 8 via a telephone link. After successful downloading of the data from the memory banks 6 and 7, the memory bank 6 can be reused and the interface unit 14 can be arranged automatically to reset the appropriate memory pointers. With appropriate safeguards, the apparatus 1 could also include the means for a user to delete items from the memory bank 6 as desired and/or amend or update data in the memory bank 7 if possible dependent on the nature of the memory bank 7 itself.

The collection and collation unit 8 itself may be a single unit or a distributed network of units 8 which will process all the received information for forwarding to appropriate clients 15 of the system. These clients 15 are the bodies who, in the main, will be responsible for initiating the requests for information from the users by producing user stimuli such as publicity media like advertisements which are linked directly cr indirectly to the data 2 which is output in ways which can be recorded by the communications apparatus 1 as previously described. It will be appreciated that the provider of the system in addition to operating the collecti-on unit 8 is likely to be also responsible for controlling the output of the data 2 and the distribution of the apparatus 1 to users.

In use, the apparatus 1 is carried by a user. In response to a suitable stimulus, such as a television advertisement or detail within a television program, a bill board, or a printed advertisement or article, the user activates the apparatus 1 as instructed either in order to receive data 2 in the form of an appropriate paging signal, an infrared signal or barcode information which the apparatus 1 then stores in the memory bank 6. It will be appreciated that in the case of paging signals and some infrared signals, the user 1 will input an appropriate code to enable logic circuitry in the apparatus 1 to determine which one of the plurality of paging signals or infrared signals being broadcast at any given time is the one which it is desired to store. Single infrared signals and barcode information specific to the particular stimulus in question can, however, be simply picked up and stored.

In addition to storing the stimulus data 2, it is possible for logic circuitry to be included such as to enable the user to input via the keypad 9 a response to the stimulus, for example a vote or an answer to a question.

It is also envisaged that the apparatus 1 could be used to take part in a lottery. In one such lottery system, the paging signal would include a randomly-generated code which is compared by the apparatus 1 with a code personal to the user stored in the apparatus. For example, the personal code could be the user's own personal identification code or it could be a user selected code which has been previously entered into the apparatus 1 by the user in a predefined manner. If the paging code matches the stored code then the apparatus 1 could record a win and display a message to this effect on the display 10.

The data retrieval station 13 will be one of many situated in convenient locations close to users, such as in shops or similar establishments. Alternatively, a user could have such a personal station 13 installed at his home. In order to download information stored in the apparatus 1, a predetermined routine is followed by the user which will download the information from the memory bank 6 of the apparatus 1 in addition to user identification information from the memory bank 7 via the interface means 14. The downloaded information will then be forwarded by the station 13 to the collection unit 8 either immediately or at a prearranged time for further processing.

On a regular basis, the data collection unit 8 will process all information received over a particular period and transmit to appropriate clients 15 either details of the users who have responded to the stimuli and require action or details of the opinions expressed by the users. Such processing can be carried out interactively on a continuous basis or on a batch bases, typically at least daily. The clients 15 can then take the appropriate action required by the users.

For some applications, it may be necessary for a user's response to be preceded by or to include some form of secret identification code. Such a code may be in the form of a conventional personal identification number or PIN. This facility is intended to prevent unauthorized use of the apparatus 1 for purposes such as, for example, the purchasing of products. Alternatively, it may be necessary to enter . a PIN in order to actuate one or more of the information receivers 3, 4, 5 following which the receiver in question may remain active for a limited period of, say a few minutes. - As is familiar from other contexts, erroneous input of the PIN a certain number of times, typically three times, may permanently or temporarily disable the receiver 3, 4, 5. In such a case, the receiver 3, 4, 5 could be re-enabled by returning the apparatus 1 to the system operator or a supplier.

Further security may be provided by an encryption function. This could involve logic circuitry incorporated in each apparatus 1 including a characteristic encryption algorithm by which a user identification number and received data such as, for example, a product ordering code, are transformed to a verification code. The verification code is then included in the data downloaded at the data retrieval station 13 together with the user identification number and the product ordering code. When all the data is processed at the data collection and collation unit 8, where a database is held of the encryption algorithm stored in the apparatus 1 of each user, the appropriate algorithm for the user in question is identified. The same transformation is then performed and the product order accepted only if the result matches the verification code.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising a stimulus providing stimulus data (2) which can be electronically recorded; a plurality of communications apparatuses (1) each comprising a recording means (3,4,5) for electronically recording stimulus data (2) when activated by a user, reusable memory means (6) for storing the stimulus data, and means (7) for storing user identification data, and a data retrieval device (13) adapted to download data from said communications apparatuses for transmittal to a data collection unit (8) .

2. A communications system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the stimulus data (2) is provided by one of a transmitter adapted to emit a radiofrequency paging signal, an infrared radiation transmitter, and a barcode, and the recording means of each of the communications apparatuses (1) comprises at least one of a radiofrequency receiver (3), an infrared radiation receiver (4) , and a barcode reader (5) .

3. A communications apparatus (1) comprising a recording means (3,4,5) for electronically recording stimulus data (2) when activated by a user, reusable memory means (6) for storing the stimulus data (2) , means (7) for storing user identification data, and interface means (14) whereby data stored in the memory (6) and the* user identification data can be downloaded to another apparatus (13).

4. A communications apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the recording means comprises at least one of a radiofrequency receiver (3), an infrared radiation receiver (4), and a barcode reader (5).

5. A communications apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the recording means comprises at least one of a radiofrequency receiver (3) and an infrared radiation receiver (4) , and means are provided whereby the user is able to activate the apparatus to select one of a plurality of simultaneously broadcast stimulus data for storage in the memory means (6) .

6. A communications apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, comprising response means (9) by which a user may record a response to the stimulus data (2) , and the memory means (6) can store both the stimulus data (2) and the user's response.

7. A communications apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the means whereby the user is able to activate the apparatus to select one of a plurality of simultaneously broadcast stimulus data for storage and/or the response means comprises a keypad (9) linked to logic circuitry.

8. A communications apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the keypad (9) is linked to a visual display means (10).

9. A communications apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8, wherein the interface means (14) is adapted to reset the memory means (6) after downloading of information from the memory means -(6).

10. A communications apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 9, comprising an electronic clock (11) which can be corrected automatically by electromagnetic signals received from a radiofrequency transmitter (12) whereby the date and time the stimulus data (2) is stored in the memory means (6) can also be stored therein in addition thereto.

11. A communications apparatus as claimed any one of Claims 3 to 10, wherein at least one of the recording means (3,4,5) can only be activated to receive stimulus data (2) by prior entry of a personal identification number (PIN) into the apparatus (1) by the user.

12. A communications apparatus as claimed any one of Claims 3 to 11, comprising logic circuitry incorporating an encryption function whereby data can be encrypted prior to storage in the memory means (6) for verification purposes.