Secondary Content Sync Using Inaudible Audio Tones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers face difficulties in identifying and purchasing products they see during content viewing, as current methods disrupt the viewing experience and are often unintuitive, especially when multiple users are involved.
Innovation Solution
Embedding unique audio tones within primary content that are imperceptible to humans, allowing secondary devices to decode and present relevant content based on these tones, enabling seamless and synchronized presentation of secondary information without requiring device handoff or sign-in.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If customers use a search engine query on a smartphone to locate products, then they can attempt to find product information, but the process is difficult and disruptive to the viewing experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the information retrieval process by embedding unique audio tones in specific content segments (e.g., when a product is shown). The secondary device detects these tones and automatically retrieves corresponding product information, dividing the task between content delivery and information lookup without requiring user intervention that would disrupt viewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of embedded audio tones and a secondary device that acts as a mediator between the primary content and product information. The audio tones serve as intermediaries carrying product identifiers, enabling automatic information retrieval without direct user interaction with search interfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If television applications allow direct product purchasing through the television, then the purchasing process is integrated, but the interface navigation is unintuitive and disruptive to viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the purchasing capability from the primary television interface and relocates it to a secondary device. Product information and purchasing options are presented on the secondary device where users are already comfortable interacting, while the television continues to deliver content without interface interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a spatial dimension to the purchasing interface by moving it from the television screen to a handheld secondary device. This dimensional shift allows users to access purchasing capabilities in a different physical space without blocking or disrupting the primary viewing experience on the television.
3Adaptability or versatility
If current television applications allow one person to shop, then purchasing functionality is available, but it disrupts the viewing experience of other viewers
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the shopping experience to individual users through personal secondary devices. Each user can interact with product information on their own device while others continue viewing content on the television, allowing multiple users to simultaneously engage with content without interfering with each other's experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the product information interface on secondary devices for each user. Instead of one user controlling the television interface, each viewer receives a personalized copy of relevant product information on their own device, enabling independent interaction without disrupting others.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous, synchronized, and personalized presentation of secondary content relevant to the current segment of primary content, accessible on individual devices without disrupting the viewing experience, supporting various types of content and devices, including legacy systems.
Implementation Method 1
processing audio produced by the first device to identify a tone embedded within the audio
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for presenting secondary content. Particularly, the secondary content may be presented on a first device (such as a smartphone, for example) and may be based on primary content that is being presented to the user via a second device. For example, if a product is shown during a television show being presented to the user via a television, and the user desires to view additional information about the product, the user may interact with a smartphone application. Based on the interaction, the first device may being processing audio produced by the television. Embedded within the primary content may be a number of “tones” that include frequencies that are inaudible to humans. The first device may detect a tone and the tone may be decoded to obtain a timestamp associated with the primary content. This timestamp may then be used to determine which secondary content associated with that timestamp to present to the user on the first device.