The invention comprises an improvement in, or a modification of, the invention claimed in the specification of patent application number 1225/DEL/2001.
Field of Invention

Augmented reality (or computer augmented environments as it is sometimes called) uses computers to enhance the richness of the real world. It differs from virtual reality in that it doesn't attempt to replace the real world. Augmented reality is an attempt to combine our real world interactions with the richness of computational informaThe instant invention relates to a method and system for transmission and reception of multi channel audio waves. It particularly relates to an invention, which can provide an audio reception device, which can be deployed in a variety of indoor as well as outdoor location.
Background of the Inventiontion without isolating people from each other. The basic idea is to superimpose computer generated data on top of the real world, as the person moves within it.
One place a low-tech version of augmented reality has long been in the marketplace is museums. It is quite common for museums to rent audio-tape tour guides that viewers carry around with them as they tour the exhibits.
While this technology works reasonably well, many people using it become frustrated because it seems to obstruct some of their social purposes in attending the museum. Taped tour guides conflict with these goals because the tapes are linear, pre-planned, and go at their own pace. This makes it hard to stay with friends because if one person turns off their tape temporarily, it is very difficult to get synchronized again.
Further, the existing technologies cater to only indoors exhibits. There is no method for providing audiotape tour for outdoor devices.
WO0198913 relates to display facility for supplementing experiences of visitors to public display by presenting audio, video, test and images in order to permit
selections of products or services. However the visitor cannot select the exhibit for which he wants the display.
US5854844 relates to a Commentary system, which has an Individual commentary system for exhibition, museum, zoo etc. - has recorded commentary broadcast by aerial disposed adjacent exhibit, with pick-up head receiving broadcast by inductive coupling when close to aerial. This inductive coupling requires that transmitter and receivers be really close to each other. In this situation it is difficult for several visitors to listen to commentary transmitted a given object simultaneously. The present invention does not have this limitation. A number of visitors can listen to the commentary simultaneously
W004021309A1 relates to a method of providing information to a user and a system therefore. A user who is walking around a city or museum and who wishes to obtain information regarding a building, statue or artwork, finds the identification-bearing member associated with that building or statue and dials the telephone number thereon using a mobile station. A server receives the telephone call and identifies it as a request for information regarding one of the objects. The server prompts the user for information and plays audio recordings to the user via the mobile telecommunications including information about the object in question. This prior art system disturbs the seamlessness of visitor's experience has visitor does not get the commentary automatically. S/he needs to dial a number to get that commentary. This entails delay and therefore distracts the visitors.
Accordingly, a method and system is needed which can guide a traveler in a museum, tell him about the exhibits without the hassles of carrying an ear phone and can work for indoor and outdoor exhibit as well.
Objects and Summary of the instant invention
It is an objective of the instant invention to obviate the above drawbacks and provide a method and system for transmission and reception of multi channel audio waves.
It is another objective of the instant invention to enable the transmission and reception of multi channel audio waves at indoor and outdoor venues.
An improved wireless multi-channel, multimode system for transmission and reception of multi channel audio waves at a public display venue, comprising a multimode handheld means and a transmission means, wherein said handheld means comprises a switching means for switching said handheld means to an appropriate mode, generating means for generating signals of a particular frequency, receiving means for receiving a code, sent by the transmission means, corresponding to the generated signals, a digital to analog converter for converting an audio corresponding to said code, an amplifier for amplifying said audio signal, and playing means for playing the audio signal and said transmission means comprises means for selecting and sending the predefined code, corresponding to the signal transmitted by said handheld means.
A method for transmission and reception of multi channel audio waves at a public display venue, comprising switching a multimode handheld means to an appropriate mode depending on the venue, generating signals of a particular frequency by said handheld means, detecting, receiving, reviewing and processing said generated signals by a transmission means, transmitting a predefined code, corresponding to said frequency, to said handheld means, and receiving and playing an appropriate message corresponding to the predefined code, by said handheld device.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 describes the implementation of the instant invention.
Detailed description of the invention
The instant invention provides a user with an option of listening to the description of an exhibit rather than reading through. The invention provides audio information to the user at places including museums, monuments, zoos, art galleries and similar places of public interest.
The visitor can listen to description of various objects while moving around. This can give more knowledge to the user than the small boards. The system also facilitates the user to observe the salient features of an exhibit. Also the invention helps people with sight impairment or those who do not have their reading glasses while visiting the museum.
The system has two parts:
1. Tags (2), placed near exhibit, and
2. Handheld receiver (A), carried by the user.
Each exhibit (1) has a tag (2) placed in its proximity. In one embodiment, the tag is a RFID passive tag. Thus it does not require any power supply. The tag transmits code corresponding to a particular preconfigured frequency.
Each user is given a handheld receiver, which can be worn or carried. The user carries this around the venue. In one embodiment, the receiver is the RFID transponder. The user initiates the receiver. The receiver has IR sensors (9) and RF sensors (10). When the receiver is initiated, the sensors detect the location and accordingly the receiver switches to appropriate mode. In case of indoor mode, the receiver switches to IR mode, else RF mode.
The receiver, in the required mode, now sends signals of a particular frequency around through antenna (3). The tag (2) also has antenna (2.1). The antenna enables the tags to receive and respond to the signals sent by the transponder.
In an embodiment, the transponder emits radio signal waves. The tag has electronic circuit on it to convert the radio signal sent by handheld device into a small amount of electrical power. This electrical power then powers up the transmitter part of the tag. Once powered, the tag then sends out its own identification number on a radio frequency carrier, in the form of a code.
The receiver transponder receives this code. This transponder includes a microcontroller. The program embedded in the microcontroller reads and interprets this code. First the microcontroller checks it for the correctness. If it is
found to be correct then microcontroller locates the corresponding audio segment in its memory. The audio corresponding each of these codes is stored in the handheld device's memory (8) in digital form. The microcontroller then picks the blocks of this audio and sends it to a Digital-to-Analog Converter (15), till the end of the segment (i.e. end of commentary corresponding to this tag) is reached. The analog signal thus generated is amplified by the amplifier (6) and played over the headphone or speaker (7) attached to the handheld device, for the benefit of the visitor or tourist.
The message is played, and the user listens to it through speaker or headphone (7). The user may stay and listen to the whole thing or move to the next exhibit, which has another tag attached, and accordingly a new message will be played by the transponder.
In one embodiment, the transponder can play the message in a user desired language. The transponder can also have a message translation means to translate the message, stored in one language, to any language.
It will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown herein. Thus variations may be made within the scope and spirit of the accompanying claims without sacrificing the principal advantages of the invention.

We Claim:
1. An improved wireless multi-channel, multimode system for transmission
and reception of multi channel audio waves at a public display venue,
comprising a multimode handheld means and a transmission means,
wherein said handheld means comprises:
a switching means for switching said handheld means to an
appropriate mode,
generating means for generating signals of a particular
frequency,
receiving means for receiving a code, sent by the transmission
means, corresponding to the generated signals,
a digital to analog converter for converting an audio
corresponding to said code,
an amplifier for amplifying said audio signal, and
playing means for playing the audio signal and
said transmission means comprises:
means for selecting and sending the predefined code, corresponding to the signal transmitted by said handheld means.
2. The system as claimed in claiml, wherein said public display venue has a
plurality of exhibits.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handheld device transmits
radio frequency waves in a particular mode.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handheld device
comprises microcontroller for checking the correctness of said code.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handheld device
comprises storage means for storing audio corresponding to each of said
code.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission means is
placed at the exhibits.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission means do
not require internal power source.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission means
comprises electronic circuit for converting said radio frequency waves into
electric power.
9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transmission means
transmit the code using said electric power.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1 and 8, wherein said code comprises the
identification number of said transmission means.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises
a language translation means for playing said audio information in desired
language.
12. A method for transmission and reception of multi channel audio waves at
a public display venue, comprising:
switching a multimode handheld means to an appropriate mode
depending on the venue,
generating signals of a particular frequency by said handheld
means,
detecting, receiving, reviewing and processing said generated
signals by a transmission means,
transmitting a predefined code, corresponding to said
frequency, to said handheld means, and
receiving and playing an appropriate message corresponding to
the predefined code, by said handheld device.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the frequency of the signals
transmitted depends on the venue.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said signals include radio
frequency signals in a particular mode.
15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said detecting, receiving,
reviewing and processing said signals comprises:
receiving said signals from hand held means,
converting said signals to electrical power, and
transmitting a code to the handheld means using said electrical
power.
16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said receiving and playing
comprises:
reading, interpreting and checking said code for correctness by
a microcontroller,
locating corresponding audio from memory by said
microcontroller,
sending blocks of said audio to a digital-to-analog converter by
said microcontroller,
amplifying the converted audio by an amplifier, and
playing said amplified audio.
17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said message is translated
into a user desired language and played.
18. An improved wireless multi-channel, multimode system for transmission
and reception of multi channel audio waves at a public display venue
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
19. A method for transmission and reception of multi channel audio waves at
a public display venue substantially as herein described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.