Apparatus and method for enhancing face-to face communication

• US 20040189474A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: nTAG Interactive Corp. (Cvent Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: nTAG Interactive Corp. (Cvent Incorporated)
• Inventors: Borovoy, Richard D., Eberstadt, George A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,538,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices

Abstract

A wearable electronic tag for displaying graphics and text images and for communicating with other similar tags. Each tag includes a visible, graphical display adapted to be worn by a user. The tag also includes a short range, substantially unidirectional electronic communication channel, such as an infrared transmitter-receiver, located on the display unit so that, when the display unit is worn, the interface faces in a direction of the desired communication with another person who also is wearing a similar tag. This arrangement makes possible automatic data exchange and comparison of the interchanged data and display of the results of the comparison on the tags worn by the two wearers. The tags also have a longer range wireless communication system to receive and transmit data.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic display unit for displaying an image in two modes, one mode where the primary viewer is a person who is wearing the display unit, and a second mode where the primary viewer is another person locating within reading distance of the person wearing the display unit, comprising:

a visible display unit adapted to be worn by a user, the display unit having a display capable of displaying an image;

a sensor that detects whether the display is oriented substantially in one vertical orientation or substantially in the opposite vertical orientation, and providing an electronic signal to indicate the vertical orientation;

whereby, in response to the signal from the sensor indicating that the display is oriented substantially in the one vertical orientation, the display orients the displayed image in a first vertical orientation, and in response to a signal from the sensor that the display is oriented in the opposite vertical orientation, the display orients the displayed image in a second, opposite vertical orientation.

2. A wearable electronic display unit for displaying an image in two modes, one mode where the primary viewer is a person who is wearing the display unit, and a second mode where the primary viewer is another person locating within reading distance of the person wearing the display unit, comprising:

a display unit having a visible display adapted to be worn by a user, the display being capable of displaying an image; and

a sensor that detects whether the display is oriented substantially in one vertical orientation or substantially in the opposite vertical orientation and providing an electronic signal to indicate the vertical orientation;

whereby, in response to a signal from the sensor indicating that the display is oriented substantially in the one vertical orientation, the displayed image is displayed in a manner adapted for viewing by the wearer, and in response to a signal from the sensor that the display is oriented in the opposite vertical orientation, the displayed image is displayed in a mode adapted for viewing by the other person.

3. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 2 wherein the displayed image is larger when the displayed image is displayed in the manner adapted for viewing by the other person than when the displayed image is displayed in the manner adapted for viewing by the wearer.

4. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 2 wherein the displayed image is displayed in one vertical orientation when it is displayed in the manner adapted for viewing by the other person, and in the opposite vertical orientation when it is displayed in the manner adapted for viewing by the wearer.

5. A wearable electronic display unit for displaying graphics and text images and for communicating with other similar wearable displays, comprising:

a display unit having a visible, graphical display adapted to be worn by a user, the visible display being capable of displaying text and graphical images; and

a short range, substantially unidirectional electronic communication channel having a data transmitting and receiving interface incorporated in the display unit and located in a location on the display unit so that, when the display unit is worn by a wearer, the interface faces in a direction of the substantially unidirectional communication so as to make electronic communication possible with another person who also is wearing a similar display unit, whereby data can be exchanged between respective display units worn by two wearers through the interfaces on the respective display units.

6. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 5 wherein the electronic communication channel transmits and receives an infrared beam.

15. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 5 further comprising a manual user interface incorporated in the display unit, allowing the wearer to enter data manually into the unit.

16. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 15 wherein the manual user interface includes buttons for scroll up, scroll down and select.

17. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 5 further including a signal generator adapted to communicate to the wearer that his or her attention is needed.

18. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 17 wherein the signal generator is a light generator.

19. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 18 wherein the light generator is an LED.

20. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 17 wherein the signal generator is a sound generator.

21. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 5 wherein the display unit is adapted to be worn on a lanyard around the wearer'"'"'s neck.

22. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 5 wherein the display unit is adapted to be worn clipped to the wearer.

23. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 5 wherein the display is a back lighted LCD display.

24. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 23 wherein the backlight is timed to go off automatically after a predetermined time interval.

25. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 24 wherein the backlight is automatically turned on when a display unit worn by one person comes with a predetermined range of another display unit worn by another person.

26. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 15 wherein the manual interface includes a button that, when pressed, sends predetermined data to another display unit worn by another person.

32. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 5 further comprising a receiver for receiving GPS signals.

61. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 17 wherein the signal generator causes a vibration perceptible by the wearer.

7. A wearable electronic display unit for displaying an image and for communicating with other similar wearable displays, comprising:

a display unit having a visible display adapted to be worn by a user, the visible display being capable of displaying an image;

a first short range electronic communication channel having a data transmitting and receiving interface incorporated in the display unit so as to make electronic communication possible with another person who also is wearing a similar display unit, whereby data can be exchanged between respective display units worn by two wearers through the interface on the respective display units; and

a second longer range electronic communication channel incorporated in the display unit and using a different type data transmission system from the first electronic communication channel.

8. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 7 wherein the first communication channel transmits and receives using an infrared beam.

9. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 7 wherein the second communication channel transmits and receives using RFID.

10. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 7 wherein the first communication channel transmits and receives using an infrared beam and the second communication channel transmits and receives using RFID.

11. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 7 wherein the second communication channel is capable of receiving data broadcast to a plurality of display units.

13. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 7 wherein the second communication channel is adapted to selectively receive a data broadcast to a plurality of display units.

14. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 13 further comprising a data detecting device that can determine if the data broadcast includes data intended for the wearer of the display unit.

30. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 7 wherein the second communication channel can be used to program the display unit.

31. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 7 wherein the second communication channel can be used to provide information from a plurality of display units.

60. The method of claim 7 wherein the second communication system is a radio communication system.

12. A wearable electronic display unit for displaying an image and for communicating with other similar wearable displays, comprising:

a display unit having a visible display adapted to be worn by a user, the visible display being capable of displaying an image;

an electronic communication channel having a data transmitting and receiving interface incorporated in the display unit and located on the display unit so that, when the display unit is worn by a wearer, the interface faces in a direction so as to make electronic communication possible with another person who also is wearing a similar display unit, whereby data can be exchanged between respective display units worn by two wearers through the interface on the respective display units; and

a timer contained in the display unit that provides time information to the electronic communication channel.

27. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 12 wherein the display unit can communicate data that is time-related.

28. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 12 wherein the display unit can change functionality based upon a predetermined time elapse.

29. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 12 wherein the display unit can change receive or transmit predetermined information based upon an elapse of a predetermined amount of time.

33. A method of communicating face-to-face, each display unit having a graphical display and two-way electronic communication capability, the display unit of a second wearer being worn on his or her person in a manner visible to a first wearer, comprising:

passing a first packet of information electronically from the display unit of the first wearer to the display unit of the second wearer, the information including personal information about the first wearer; and

displaying text information on the display unit of the second wearer that is based upon a comparison between the first packet of information and a second packet of information contained within the display unit of the second wearer, the second packet of information including personal information about the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer.

34. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the displaying information step being carried out in response to the receipt by the display unit of the second wearer of the first packet of information.

35. The method of claim 33 further characterized by each display unit being worn on the person of the wearer in a manner to be visible to the wearer of the other display unit.

36. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the step by the first wearer taking an action based upon the displayed information on the display unit of the second wearer.

37. The method of claim 36 further characterized by the action being assisted by the second packet of information.

38. The method of claim 36 further characterized by the action being an attempt to find a person.

39. The method of claim 37 further characterized by the action being an attempt to find a person.

40. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the second packet of information being information related to the second wearer.

41. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the second packet of information being information related to a third person who is not the first or second wearer.

42. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the first packet of information being information related to the first wearer.

43. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the first packet of information being information related to a third person who is not the first or second wearer.

44. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the second packet of information being information being time-related.

45. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the second packet of information being information related to a third person who is not the first or second wearer and being time-related.

46. The method of claim 45 further characterized by the second packet of information being information related to a time that has elapsed since the wearer of the second display unit has communicated with a third person who is not the first or second wearer.

47. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the second packet of information being information related to the location of a third person who is not the first or second wearer.

48. The method of claim 33 further characterized by the first and second packets of information both being information related to the same third person who is not the first or second wearer.

49. The method of claim 33 further characterized by one of the first and second packets of information being information related to others with whom the wearer of the first or second display units, respectively, has electronically communicated with.

50. The method of claim 33 further characterized by both the first and second packets of information being information related to others with whom the wearer of the first or second display units, respectively, has electronically communicated with.

51. The method of claim 33 further characterized by one of the first and second packets of information being information related to the number of others with whom the wearer of the second or first display units, respectively, has electronically communicated with.

52. The method of claim 33 further characterized by both the first and second packets of information being information related to the number of others with whom the wearer of the first or second display units, respectively, has electronically communicated with.

53. A method of communicating face-to-face between wearers of respective electronic display units, each display unit having a text display, two-way electronic communication capability, and the capability of entering information into the display unit manually, the display unit of a second wearer being worn on his or her person in a manner visible to a first wearer, comprising:

passing electronically a first packet of information, that includes information entered manually into the display unit of the first wearer, from the display unit of the first wearer to the display unit of the second wearer; and

displaying text information on the display unit of the second wearer that includes information based upon the first packet of information in addition to a second packet of information contained within the display unit of the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer.

54. The method of claim 53 further characterized by the second packet of information also including information entered manually into the display unit of the second wearer.

55. The method of claim 54 further characterized by the text information displayed on the display unit of the second wearer being based upon the information entered manually into the display units of the first and second wearers.

56. The method of claim 55 further characterized by the text information displayed on the display unit of the second wearer being based upon a comparison of the information entered manually into the display unit of the first wearer with the information entered manually into the display unit of the second wearer.

57. A method of communicating between a text display located in a fixed position and a wearer of an electronic display unit, the display unit having a text display and two-way electronic communication capability, the display unit being worn by the wearer in a manner to be able to communicate electronically with the text display located in a fixed position, comprising:

passing a first packet of information electronically from the display unit of the wearer to the text display located in a fixed position; and

displaying text information on the text display located in a fixed position that includes information based upon the first packet of information in addition to a second packet of information contained within the text display located in a fixed position, whereby the displayed text information on the text display located in a fixed position is visible to the first wearer.

58. A method of communicating face-to-face, at gatherings between wearers of respective electronic display units, each display unit having a text display and two-way electronic communication capability, the display unit of a second wearer being worn on his or her person in a manner visible to a first wearer, comprising:

passing a first packet of information electronically from the display unit of the first wearer to the display unit of the second wearer, the information including personal information about the wearer that includes information relating to personal activities of the first wearer at the gathering; and

displaying text information on the display unit of the second wearer that is based upon the personal activities of the first wearer contained in the first packet of information, and a second packet of information contained within the display unit of the second wearer, the second packet of information including personal information about the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer.

59. The method of claim 58 further characterized by the second packet of information including information relating to personal activities of the second wearer at the gathering.