Observation platform for performing structured communications

• US 10,304,094 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theatro Labs Inc.
• Original Assignee: Theatro Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Russell, Steven Paul, VanBuskirk, Guy R., Kumar, Ravi Shankar, Nagothu, Kranthimanoj
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Phuoc H
• Application Number:
  US15/908,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20180189844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 4554121, 455457, 379 8821, 709228, 705 1441
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In a method of structured communications in an observation platform, a signal is received from a first communication device. The signal is received at a second communication device that is associated with a computer system. The signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein the third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein the user is required to acknowledge receipt of the mandatory message. The signal is forwarded by the second communication device to the third communication device. Responsive to receipt of the signal by the third communication device, the features of the third communication device are locked such that the user has no access to the features for at least until the mandatory message has been acknowledged by the user. The second communication device receives an acknowledgement of the mandatory message from the third communication device.

Claims

1. A method of structured communications in an observation platform, comprising:

receiving a signal from a first communication device, said signal received at a second communication device that is associated with a computer system, wherein said signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein said third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein said user is required to acknowledge receipt of said mandatory message;

forwarding, by said second communication device, said signal to said third communication device;

responsive to receipt of said signal by said third communication device, locking features of said third communication device such that said user has no access to said features for at least until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by said user; and

receiving, by said second communication device, an acknowledgement of said mandatory message from said third communication device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

forwarding, by second communication device, said acknowledgement of said mandatory message to said first communication device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

responsive to said first communication device receiving said acknowledgement, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message via said third communication device, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by said second communication device, said acknowledgement to said computer system; and

responsive to said receipt of said acknowledgement by said computer system, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

storing an aspect of said acknowledgement in said computer system for later analysis, said aspect selected from the group of aspects consisting of;

a time when said acknowledgment was made;

a location where said acknowledgement was made; and

a spoken response of said user in said acknowledgement.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

forwarding said signal with said mandatory message to a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of users, said signal configured such that receipt of said mandatory message at each of said plurality of communication devices, features of each of said plurality of communication devices lock until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by each of said plurality of users.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method of structured communications in an observation platform, said method comprising:

receiving a signal from a first communication device, said signal received at a second communication device that is associated with a computer system, wherein said signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein said third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein said user is required to acknowledge receipt of said mandatory message;

forwarding, by said second communication device, said signal to said third communication device, said signal configured such that responsive to receipt of said mandatory message at said third communication device, features of said third communication device lock for at least until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by said user; and

receiving, by said second communication device, an acknowledgement of said mandatory message from said third communication device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

forwarding, by second communication device, said acknowledgement of said mandatory message to said first communication device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said method further comprises:

responsive to said first communication device receiving said acknowledgement, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message via said third communication device, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

providing, by said second communication device, said acknowledgement to said computer system; and

responsive to said receipt of said acknowledgement by said computer system, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

storing an aspect of said acknowledgement in said computer system for later analysis, said aspect selected from the group of aspects consisting of;

a time when said acknowledgment was made;

a location where said acknowledgement was made; and

a spoken response of said user in said acknowledgement.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

forwarding said signal with said mandatory message to a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of users, said signal configured such that responsive to receipt of said mandatory message at each of said plurality of communication devices, features of each of said plurality of communication devices lock until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by each of said plurality of users.

15. An observation platform for structured communications, said observation platform comprising:

a second communication device, wherein said second communication device configured to receive a signal from a first communication device, wherein said signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein said third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein said user is required to acknowledge receipt of said mandatory message; and

a computer system associated with said second communication device and configured to;

forward, via said second communication device, said signal to said third communication device, said signal configured such that responsive to receipt of said mandatory message at said third communication device, features of said third communication device lock for at least until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by said user; and

receive, via said second communication device, an acknowledgement of said mandatory message from said third communication device.

16. The observation platform of claim 15, further comprising:

said first communication device.

17. The observation platform of claim 15, further comprising:

said third communication device.

18. The observation platform of claim 17, wherein said third communication device is configured to:

unlock said features of said third communication device responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message via said third communication device.

19. The observation platform of claim 17, wherein said third communication device is configured to:

automatically send said acknowledgement responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message on said third communication device.

20. The observation platform of claim 15, wherein said computer system is further configured to:

forward, via second communication device, said acknowledgement of said mandatory message to said first communication device.

21. The observation platform of claim 20, wherein said computer system is further configured to:

unlock said features of said third communication device responsive to receipt of said acknowledgement at first communication device.

22. The observation platform of claim 15, wherein said computer system is further configured to:

unlock said features of said third communication device responsive to receipt of said acknowledgement at said computer system.

23. The observation platform of claim 15, wherein said computer system is further configured to:

store a time of said acknowledgement, a location of said acknowledgement, said user of said third communication device, and a spoken response of said user in said acknowledgement.

24. The observation platform of claim 15, wherein said computer system is further configured to:

forward said signal with said mandatory message to a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of users.

25. The observation platform of claim 15, wherein said acknowledgement comprises data that said mandatory message was accessed by said user.

26. The observation platform of claim 15, wherein said acknowledgement comprises an acknowledgement message from said third communication device, created by said user, and selected from the group of acknowledgement messages consisting of:

an audible message, a text message, and a text message with an audible alert.

27. The observation platform of claim 15, wherein said mandatory message is selected from the group of mandatory messages consisting of:

an audible message;

a text message; and

a text message with an audible alert.