1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods of providing synchronized information such as narratives, translations or other show related messages to individual patrons of rides, shows and exhibits.
2. General Background and State of the Art
There are several circumstances that may interfere with a person""s ability to hear, and thereby interfere with a presentation of information to the listener. For example, persons with hearing loss may miss narratives, sound effects, music and other sound material related to the presentation, and messages in live performances, films, television and special events. Persons who do not speak the language or languages used in the presentation may miss narratives and other related messages that are presented. The language barrier prevents many people from different cultures and languages from understanding, participating or interacting with the information being presented. Background environmental noise may also affect a person""s ability to hear, and thereby diminish the effect of the presentation. Persons with severely impaired vision also miss visual portions of these presentations.
Captioning systems have been used in venues including museums, theaters and other auditoriums to provide foreign language translation or captioning for the hearing impaired. The most common of these systems includes xe2x80x9copen captioningxe2x80x9d whereby text is displayed on a projection surface or large adjacent display area where the entire audience can see the captioning. Another common method of captioning is xe2x80x9creflective captioningxe2x80x9d which uses a transparent but reflective panel to display the text from a rear projection while allowing the viewer to see the display or performance through the panel. Yet another method utilizes individual hard-wired displays located in the back of a seat in front of the viewer.
Multiple channel assistive listening systems have also been used in venues including theaters, churches and auditoriums to provide amplified narration and foreign language translation. These systems have the content broadcast by infrared, radio frequency or inductive loops to the devices carried by the patrons. In these cases, the content is continuously streamed with the content source being located in the facility; the receiver simply played back the audio as it was received. In those instances where more than one language is provided, the multiple transmission frequencies sometimes cause interference with each other (crosstalk). The available number of suitable frequencies also limits the number of channels. Radio frequency and inductive loop technologies can also cause interference with other electronic equipment within the venue. Personal audio devices have also been used in venues including museums to provide narration in multiple languages. These are typically manually activated systems where the patron is required to activate the system, either by pressing a button or manually entering a numeric code.
Each of these systems has its own limitations. For example, open captioning can be obtrusive and distracting to other patrons. These systems are generally not convenient to the user and are limited to one or a few languages.
Moving ride vehicles in a venue such as an amusement park present an additional set of problems in providing captioning due to such factors as variations in vehicle speed, and lack of communications wiring to moving vehicles.
Additionally, presentations often could be made more effective if they included a method to provide interactivity between the audience and the presenter(s).
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a convenient system and method of presenting audio and/or visual information for the purposes of captioning, language translation, assistive listening, and descriptive audio to individual patrons of rides, meeting areas, pathways, shows and exhibits without using intrusive open captioning or hard wired individual display systems. The present invention preferably makes use of infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) signals to wirelessly trigger portable devices.
Wireless transmitters are installed at various locations including waypoints, signs, display areas, entrances, exits, and theater seating areas. The transmitters are configured to send short messages, or codes, corresponding to waypoint location, type of sign, show time, time of day, etc. The transmitters may be freestanding transmitters that repeatedly transmit stored messages, or the transmitters may send data from other equipment such as computers, show controllers, devices with processors or controllers, other transmitters, etc. The transmitters may cover a large area such as a theater, or be precisely directed to cover a small area.
Guests carry portable devices loaded with content information such as location descriptions, sign contents, show content, alternate language content, event times, etc. Content may be audio, graphical, or a combination of both.
When the device is within range of a transmitter sending codes, the device should be capable of receiving codes. Upon receiving a code, the device searches its memory for appropriate content, tests any logic constraints, and presents content to the user. Logic can be based on user preferences, time of day, time of event, locations of transmitters visited, time of visits, sequence of transmitters visited, intended device type, etc.
All portable devices have the common elements of receiver, processor, memory, and power source. Other elements of the devices vary depending on intended applications. A portable captioning unit may have a display. A display, as used herein, may be defined as a visual display for text or graphics, or for audio information. For example, a portable audio device has an audio amplifier with speaker or earpiece. A portable captioning unit may have a visual display. Other devices may have both audio capability as well as a visual display, and further may have user input capabilities. Portable devices may also have transmitters for communication with other portable devices, with system docking stations, with receivers in shows or attractions, etc. Portable devices may have IR receivers, RF receivers, or both. Portable devices similarly may have IR transmitters, RF transmitters, or both.
Content information may be loaded into the portable device memory at any time prior to its use. A bulk storage device may be attached to the portable device, the portable device memory contents may be received via a docking station data interface, or content may be streamed into portable device memory via its wireless receiver. Examples of bulk storage are flash memory cards, micro-drives, hard drives, CD-ROM disks, etc.
Content may be loaded into a portable device by connecting a cable, or plugging the device into a cradle or docking station having a connector. Examples of docking station data interfaces are Ethernet-based serial, RS-232 based serial, IRDA infrared serial, etc. It is possible to provide docking stations at numerous locations available to the portable device user. It is also possible to provide large, multi-unit docking stations that load many portable devices simultaneously. A docking station may connect to a freestanding storage device, or may be linked to one or many remote content sources via a communications network. The network could include a local area network (LAN), Internet connection, satellite link, etc. The content could also be streamed to a device using a wireless network. For example, streamed content could be loaded at a theater to send blocks of caption text to portable units shortly before sending text synchronizing commands; the content is buffered in portable device memory shortly before its presentation.
One such system could use high-speed RF transceivers to transfer content to portable devices, while using an IR system to precisely aim location synchronizing codes to the portable device. It is also possible for a portable device to automatically request content download; as a user travels to a new area with a portable device and receives location codes for which it has no content, the device may transmit a request for new content. Such a content delivery system may connect to a freestanding storage device, or may be linked to one or many remote content sources via a communications network. The network could include a local area network (LAN), Internet connection, satellite link, etc.
In one embodiment of the present invention, text captions are synchronized with a theater presentation. A portable device with a text display receives time codes from a theater transmitter. Caption text for the entire theater presentation is stored in the device. The device receives the transmitter signals, extracts the current show time, and displays the appropriate text in time with the show.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a personal audio device receives location codes from transmitters mounted along a travel route. Transmitters are located at significant locations along the travel route; transmission coverage at each location is restricted. As the user nears a location, the device receives the transmitter signals, searches its memory for matching audio content, and plays the audio.
In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a device plays speech translated into the user""s language. The theater transmitter sends time codes during the theater presentation. The device memory contains show speech content recorded in the user""s language. The receiver in the device extracts the current show time, and plays the matching speech. The received time codes will synchronize show speech even if the user has entered the theater mid-show.
The system and method of the present invention is designed for use in a wide variety of locations. For example, the present invention is suitable for a theme park that contains a large number of different attractions covering a large area and receives a large number of visitors, including tourists who may not speak the native language or visitors with specials needs due to audio or visual impairment. The invention could also be used in theaters, museums, shopping malls, exhibit halls, convention centers, meeting areas, walkways or roadways, and a wide variety of other locations.