Apparatus and method for enhancing face-to-face communication

• US 20040189476A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• 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 7,688,211 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 method of communicating face-to-face using two display units, 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 data pertaining to the social network of 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 containing social network information pertaining to the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer, the text information expressing commonalities between the social networks of the two wearers.

2. The method of claim 1 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.

3. The method of claim 1 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.

4. The method of claim 1 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.

5. The method of claim 4 further characterized by the action being assisted by the second packet of information.

6. The method of claim 5 further characterized by the action being an attempt to find a person.

7. The method of claim 1 further characterized by the second packet of information being information related to the second wearer.

8. The method of claim 1 further characterized by the second packet of information being information related to a third person who is not the first or second wearer.

9. The method of claim 1 further characterized by the first packet of information being information related to the first wearer.

10. The method of claim 1 further characterized by the first packet of information being information related to a third person who is not the first or second wearer.

11. The method of claim 1 further characterized by the second packet of information being information being time-related.

12. The method of claim 1 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.

13. The method of claim 12 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.

14. The method of claim 1 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.

15. The method of claim 1 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.

16. The method of claim 1 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.

17. The method of claim 1 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.

18. The method of claim 1 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.

19. The method of claim 1 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.

20. 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 containing relationship information pertaining to the wearer of the display unit to the display unit of the second wearer, the first packet of information including personal information about the wearer that includes information relating to people known to the first wearer; and

displaying text information on the display unit of the second wearer that is based upon the relationship information 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 that contains information relating to people known to the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer and displays information relating to people know in common by the two wearers.

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

a first display unit having a visible display adapted to be worn by a first person, the visible display being capable of displaying text and graphical images, the first display unit containing information relating to the first person'"'"'s social network database and the first unit having the capability to compare data from social network databases; and

a short range, substantially unidirectional electronic communication channel having a data transmitting and receiving interface incorporated in the first display unit and located in a location on the first display unit so that, when the first 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 a second person who also is wearing a second display unit, the second display unit containing information relating to the second person'"'"'s social network database and also having the capability to compare data from social network databases, whereby data relating to each person'"'"'s social network database can be exchanged between respective display units worn by the two persons through the interfaces on the respective display units, and the social network databases of the two persons may be compared in one of the display units and the results displayed on one of the display units.

22. The wearable electronic display unit of claim 21 wherein the electronic communication channel transmits and receives an infrared beam.

23. The electronic display unit of claim 21 further including 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.