INAUDIBLE FREQUENCY

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The embodiments herein claim the priority of the Indian Provisional Patent

Application with the serial number. 201741016129 and entitled, "AUDIO TAGS AND A

METHOD THEREOF" filed on May 08, 2017 and subsequently Post-dated by 2 month to July

08, 2017 and the contents of which are included entirely as reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

[0002] The embodiments herein are generally related to data communication and data dissemination methods. The embodiments herein are particularly related to a system and method for tracking and identifying objects/products by generating a frequency. The embodiments herein are more particularly related to a system and method for tracking and identifying objects/products by generating audible or inaudible frequency and using audio tags.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] Commercial applications, such as retail marketing and sales, use smart tags. The majority of smart tags includes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The RFID technology provides a higher degree of automation than bar code reading. The Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track the objects having RFID tags attached thereto. The RFID tags contain an electronically stored information. The RFID tags are used in many industries, including but not limited to automobile industry, pharmaceutical industry, food industry, aviation industry, education, livestock maintenance and the like. The RFID tags include the product codes that communicate with a networked system to enable a tracking of the objects attached with the RFID tags.

[0004] The RFID technology eliminates an error caused by human involvement while scanning the products. However, the existing shops/supermarkets do not provide a complete information about a selected product on the customer's handheld electronic device. At present, the customers have to stand in a queue to purchase the selected products from a supermarket/shop. Further, the existing systems do not facilitate an easy scanning and payment of the selected products using the customers' handheld electronic device.

[0005] Further, a traditional method of inventory management of the shops/supermarkets is achieved by physically scanning each product embedded with a RFID tag. However, the aforementioned method is time-consuming, tedious, and prone to error.

[0006] In the view of above discussion, there exists a need for a system and a method for providing an improved shopping experience to the customer. Further, there exists a need for a system and method for enabling an easy scanning and payment of the selected products using the customer's handheld device. Furthermore, there exists a need for a system and a method for enabling an inventory management.

[0007] The above mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

OBJECT OF THE EMBODIMENTS HEREIN

[0008] The primary object of the embodiments herein is to provide a system and method for easy tracking and identifying the objects while shopping.

[0009] Another object herein is to provide a system and method to enable an identification of the objects through an audio tag. [0010] Yet another object herein is to provide an audio tag for scanning, identifying and purchasing products in a supermarket.

[0011] Yet another object herein is to provide an audio tag for easy pick and go during shopping.

[0012] Yet another object herein is to provide an audio tag to enable an effective and efficient inventory management.

[0013] Yet another object herein is to provide an audio tag generating a frequency, which is not audible to human ear, but is readable by a radio frequency (RF) reader.

[0014] Yet another object herein is to provide an audio tag that enables the customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving a brand recognition.

[0015] Yet another object herein is to provide an audio tag that enables the customers to directly interact with the products to obtain a product information, manufacturing detail, commercial information like price, expiry date, etc., thereby improving a brand recognition.

[0016] These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following summary and the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

[0017] The following details present a simplified summary of the embodiments herein to provide a basic understanding of the several aspects of the embodiments herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the embodiments herein. It is not intended to identify key /critical elements of the embodiments herein or to delineate the scope of the embodiments herein. Its sole purpose is to present the concepts of the embodiments herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. [0018] The other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0019] The embodiments herein disclose a system and method for an easy identification of the objects through an audio tag. The audio tag enables scanning, identification and purchase of the products in a supermarket. Further, the audio tag provides an easy pick and go functionality during shopping. The audio tag enables an effective and efficient inventory management easily. Further, the audio tag enables the customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving brand recognition. The embodiments herein enables an audio frequency generation, which is readable by a radio-frequency (RF) reader. The audio tag provides an easy identification, tracking and management of the products in a supermarket or an inventory.

[0020] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tag includes an audio generator, a micro-chip and an RF circuit. The RF circuit includes a coil. The audio generator produces audible and inaudible sounds read by the RFID tags/RF circuit. The micro-chip includes a unique product identification code stored in a memory of the micro-chip. Further, the audio tag is embedded onto the products or devices.

[0021] According to one embodiment herein, the audio signals emitted by the audio tags are read by an application preferably installed on a mobile device. When the audio tag is pressed by the user, the audio tag is configured to transmit an audio signal. The mobile device receives and decodes the transmitted audio signal using an application/algorithm/mobile application, thereby identifying a product identification code. The product identification code is entered on a user identification device in a mobile device of the user to retrieve and display a product information corresponding to the entered product information code on the user interface of the mobile device. [0022] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags provide an easy pick and go functionality during shopping. According to the pick and go functionality, the audio tags or RFID tags includes a low power ISM band RF technology along with a sound emitter. According to an exemplary embodiment herein, a user enters the shop, selects a product, and presses the audio tag on the product. On pressing the audio tag, the user receives a product related information on his/her mobile device embedded with the application. The product related information includes cost, date of manufacture, ingredients and the like. Thus, each product selected by the user is scanned by the mobile device by identifying an audio frequency emitted by the selected product. In this manner, a list of products selected by the user is displayed on the mobile device along with the product related information. Subsequently, the user is enabled to pay for the selected products via the application in the mobile device. Then the user exit the shop with the product without waiting in queue for payment.

[0023] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags are utilized in inventory management. In a case scenario, the inventory/supermarket house products are embedded with the audio tag. The manager checks a stock of the products by using an application installed on the mobile device. The manager produces a trigger signal corresponding to a specific product from the application. The corresponding products present in the vicinity of the trigger signal responds with a feedback signal. The feedback signal is received by the mobile device to display information about the specific products presence and stocks.

[0024] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags enable the customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving brand recognition. According to an embodiment herein, a consumer selects a product related to a brand 'Α', the product information and the other products related to the brand 'A' are displayed on the mobile device. [0025] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] FIG.l illustrates an audio tag embeddable on products, according to one embodiment herein.

[0028] FIG.2 illustrates a block diagram of a system provided in an audio tag for communicating with the mobile device, according to one embodiment herein.

[0029] FIG.3 illustrates a flowchart explaining a method of scanning and purchasing the products using audio tags, according to one embodiment herein.

[0030] Although the specific features of the embodiments herein are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the embodiment herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS HEREIN

[0031] In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0032] The embodiments herein disclose a system and method for an easy identification of the objects through an audio tag. The audio tag enables scanning, identification and purchase of the products in a supermarket. Further, the audio tag provides an easy pick and go functionality during shopping. The audio tag enables an effective and efficient inventory management easily. Further, the audio tag enables the customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving brand recognition. The embodiments herein enables an audio frequency generation, which is readable by a radio-frequency (RF) reader. The audio tag provides an easy identification, tracking and management of the products in a supermarket or an inventory.

[0033] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tag includes an audio generator, a micro-chip and an RF circuit. The RF circuit includes a coil. The audio generator produces audible and inaudible sounds read by the RFID tags/RF circuit. The micro-chip includes a unique product identification code stored in a memory of the micro-chip. Further, the audio tag is embedded onto the products or devices.

[0034] According to one embodiment herein, the audio signals emitted by the audio tags are read by an application preferably installed on a mobile device. When the audio tag is pressed by the user, the audio tag is configured to transmit an audio signal. The mobile device receives and decodes the transmitted audio signal using an application/algorithm/mobile application, thereby identifying a product identification code. The product identification code is entered on a user identification device in a mobile device of the user to retrieve and display a product information corresponding to the entered product information code on the user interface of the mobile device.

[0035] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags provide an easy pick and go functionality during shopping. According to the pick and go functionality, the audio tags or RFID tags includes a low power ISM band RF technology along with a sound emitter. According to an exemplary embodiment herein, a user enters the shop, selects a product, and presses the audio tag on the product. On pressing the audio tag, the user receives a product related information on his/her mobile device embedded with the application. The product related information includes cost, date of manufacture, ingredients and the like. Thus, each product selected by the user is scanned by the mobile device by identifying an audio frequency emitted by the selected product. In this manner, a list of products selected by the user is displayed on the mobile device along with the product related information. Subsequently, the user is enabled to pay for the selected products via the application in the mobile device. Then the user exit the shop with the product without waiting in queue for payment.

[0036] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags are utilized in inventory management. In a case scenario, the inventory/supermarket house products are embedded with the audio tag. The manager checks a stock of the products by using an application installed on the mobile device. The manager produces a trigger signal corresponding to a specific product from the application. The corresponding products present in the vicinity of the trigger signal responds with a feedback signal. The feedback signal is received by the mobile device to display information about the specific products presence and stocks.

[0037] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags enable the customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving brand recognition. According to an embodiment herein, a consumer selects a product related to a brand 'Α', the product information and the other products related to the brand 'A' are displayed on the mobile device.

[0038] The embodiments herein disclose a system and method for identification of objects through an audio tag. The audio tag enables scanning, identifying and purchasing products in a supermarket. Further, the audio tag provides easy pick and go functionality during shopping. The audio tag enables inventory management. Further, the audio tag enables customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving brand recognition. The present invention enables an audio frequency generation, which is readable by a radio-frequency (RF) reader. The audio tag provides easy identification, tracking, and management of products in a supermarket or inventory.

[0039] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tag includes an audio generator, a micro-chip, and an RF circuit. The RF circuit includes a coil. The audio generator produces audible and inaudible sound along with RFID tags/RF circuit. The micro-chip includes a unique product identification code stored in a memory of the micro-chip. Further, the audio tag is embeddable onto products or devices.

[0040] According to one embodiment herein, the audio signal emitted by the audio tags is read by an application preferably installed on a mobile device. When a user presses on the audio tag, the audio tag transmits audio signal. The mobile device receives and decodes the transmitted audio signal using the application, thereby identifying the product identification code. The product identification code provides product information displayed on a user interface of the mobile device.

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates an audio tag 100 embeddable on products, according to one embodiment herein. The audio tag enables an audio frequency generation, which is readable by a radio-frequency (RF) reader. The audio tag provides easy identification, tracking, and management of products in a supermarket or inventory.

[0042] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tag 100 includes an audio generator 102, a micro-chip 104, and an RF circuit 106. The RF circuit 106 includes a coil 108. The audio generator 102 produces audible and inaudible sound along with RFID tags/RF circuit 106. The micro-chip 104 includes a unique product identification code stored in a memory of the micro-chip. Further, the audio tag is embeddable onto products or devices.

[0043] According to one embodiment herein, the audio signals emitted by the audio tags are read by an application preferably installed on a mobile device. When a user presses on the audio tag, the audio tag transmits an audio signal. The mobile device receives and decodes the transmitted audio signal using the application, thereby identifying the product identification code. The product identification code provides product information displayed on a user interface of the mobile device.

[0044] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags provide easy pick and go functionality during shopping. In pick and go functionality, the audio tags or tags include a low power ISM band RF technology along with a sound emitter. In an exemplary embodiment, a user enters the shop, selects a product, and presses the audio tag on the product. On pressing the audio tag, an oscillator in the audio tag is activated and transmits audio signal thereupon. The mobile device receives the audio signal and is further decoded to extract product related information using the application embedded within the mobile device. Thereafter, the product related information is displayed on his/her mobile device. Further, the list of products selected by the user is displayed on the mobile device after reading the audio tags of the selected products. Subsequently, the user is enabled to pay for the selected products via the application in the mobile device. Thus, the user can exit the shop with the product without waiting in queue for payment.

[0045] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags are utilized in inventory management. In a case scenario, inventory/supermarket house products embedded with the audio tag. The manager checks the stock of the products using the application installed on the mobile device. The manager is enabled to produce a trigger signal corresponding to a specific product from the application. The corresponding products present in the vicinity of the trigger signal responds with a feedback signal. The feedback signal is received by the mobile device to display information about the specific products presence and stocks.

[0046] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags enable customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving brand recognition. In an example, when a consumer selects a product related to a brand 'Α', the product information and secondary products associated with the brand 'A' is displayed on the mobile device.

[0047] FIG.2 is a block diagram of a system comprising an audio tag communicating with the mobile device, according to one embodiment herein. The audio tag 100 is affixed on the product. The audio tag 100 includes a transmitter 116 and audio frequency generator 120. The audio tag 100 communicates with the mobile device 200 through the transmitter 116 and the antenna 202. The audio frequency generator 120 produces an audio signal which is emitted by the transmitter using the RF circuit. The antenna 202 receives the audio signal. The antenna 202 sends the audio signal to the reader 204. The reader 204 decodes the audio signal to a readable format and feeds to the processor 206 for decoding. The audio driver library 208 is a database including a list of products, a plurality of product identification codes along with corresponding audio frequencies, and product information. The processor 206 communicates with the audio driver library 208 to match the received audio signal corresponding to a specific product, thereby retrieving the information and product identification code related to the specific product. Further, the retrieved information is displayed on a user interface of the mobile device.

[0048] According to one embodiment herein, the retrieved information can be used by a user for purchasing and identifying products in a supermarket. The mobile device is installed with an application, which communicates with the antenna 202, reader 204, processor 206, and the audio driver 208. Thus, the application enables a mobiles device to scan, identify a product and display product information. The audio tags are read by an application preferably installed on a mobile device. When a user presses on the audio tag, the audio tag transmits audio signal. The mobile device receives and decodes the transmitted audio signal using the application, thereby identifying the product identification code. The product identification code provides product information displayed on a user interface of the mobile device. Further, the application enables the mobile device to make payments for the selected product automatically.

[0049] According to one embodiment herein, the application is developed by using any framework like Net, Java, C, C++, Python etc., which are capable of interacting with the Audio driver library (Tonetag library). The audio driver library includes algorithms which when executed by a processor, directly interact with the electronic device's audio drivers, with or without modification. The audio driver library is configured to map various tones stored thereupon based on digital data passed by the application software. [0050] According to one embodiment herein, the conventional passive RFID tags in the audio tag 100 gets the capability to interact with the mobile device, thereby enabling a user to utilize the information to purchase the product, know information about the product and refilling the product. The audio frequency generator 120 and the RF circuit share the same product identification code, hence the existing system and database can be utilized to implement the Audio tag functionality.

[0051] According to one embodiment herein, the audio tags are created in combination with other protocols also such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, QR code, barcode, magnetic waves or similar such communication protocol.

[0052] FIG.3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of scanning and purchasing products using audio tags, according to an embodiment herein. In accordance with the present invention, a user enters the shop, and selects a product affixed with an audio tag (301). Further, the user initiates an application for reading audio tag in his/her mobile device (302). Thereafter, the user presses the audio tag on the product (303). On pressing the audio tag, an oscillator in the audio tag is activated and transmits audio signal thereupon (304). The mobile device receives the audio signal and is further decoded to extract product related information using the application embedded within the mobile device (305). Thereafter, the product related information is displayed on his/her mobile device (306). Further, the list of products selected by the user is displayed on the mobile device after reading the audio tags of the selected products. Subsequently, the user is enabled to pay for the selected products via the application in the mobile device. Thus, the user can exit the shop with the product without waiting in queue for payment. [0053] The various embodiments herein disclose an audio tag that are used for scanning, identifying and purchasing products in a supermarket. The audio tags provide easy pick and go functionality during shopping. On pressing the audio tag, the user receives product related information on his/her mobile device embedded with the application. Further, the list of products selected by the user is displayed on the mobile device after reading the audio tags of the selected products. Subsequently, the user is enabled to pay for the selected products via the application in the mobile device. Thus, the user can exit the shop with the product without waiting in queue for payment. The audio tags are utilized in inventory management. The audio tags enable customers to directly interact with brands, thereby improving brand recognition.

[0054] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0055] Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims. [0056] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.