System and method for facilitating interaction between an individual present at a physical location and a telecommuter

• US 20040189701A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Badt, Sig Harold Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/395,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189701A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating interaction between an individual present at a physical location and a telecommuter. In one embodiment, a complex map is created that includes a real component that represents the individual'"'"'s presence at the physical location and a virtual component that represents the telecommuter'"'"'s presence at the physical location. The complex map is maintained during communications between the individual and the telecommuter.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating interaction between an individual present at a physical location and a telecommuter, comprising:

means for creating a complex map that includes a real component representing at least said individual'"'"'s presence at said physical location and a virtual component representing at least said telecommuter'"'"'s virtual presence at said physical location;

means for maintaining said complex map; and

means for effectuating communication between said individual and said telecommuter.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said virtual component comprises an avatar representing said telecommuter'"'"'s presence at said physical location.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said real component comprises an avatar representing said individual'"'"'s presence at said physical location.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an avatar positioned at said physical location, said avatar representing said telecommuter'"'"'s virtual presence at said physical location.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said avatar is selected from the group consisting of real time image avatars, acoustic avatars, remote control avatars, pedestal and motion capture avatars.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for effectuating communication between said individual and said telecommuter comprises means for providing ocular cues indicative of said avatar'"'"'s presence.

7. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for effectuating communication between said individual and said telecommuter comprises means for providing aural cues indicative of said avatar'"'"'s presence.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said telecommuter'"'"'s actual location is distal to said physical location.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said telecommuter'"'"'s actual location is proximate to said physical location.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for effectuating communication between said individual and said telecommuter comprises means for effectuating a planned interaction between said individual and said telecommuter.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for effectuating communication between said individual and said telecommuter comprises means for effectuating an impromptu interaction between said individual and said telecommuter.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for effectuating communication between said individual and said telecommuter comprises means for effectuating a spontaneous interaction between said individual and said telecommuter.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for effectuating communication comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of speakers, wireless microphones, and transponders.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said physical location is selected from the office group consisting of conference rooms, offices, cubicles, hallways, and break rooms.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said physical location is selected from the group consisting of libraries, public places, schools, stores, factories, and homes.

16. A method for facilitating interaction between an individual present at a physical location and a telecommuter, comprising:

creating a complex map that includes a real component representing said individual'"'"'s presence at said physical location and a virtual component representing said telecommuter'"'"'s presence at said physical location;

communicating between said individual and said telecommuter; and

maintaining said complex map.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising creating an avatar representative of said telecommuter'"'"'s presence at said physical location.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising providing ocular cues indicative of said avatar'"'"'s presence.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising providing aural cues indicative of said avatar'"'"'s presence.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the operation of communicating between said individual and said telecommuter further comprises communicating between said individual and said telecommuter engaged in a planned interaction.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the operation of commuting between said individual and said telecommuter further comprises communicating between said individual and said telecommuter engaged in an impromptu interaction.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the operation of commuting between said individual and said telecommuter further comprises communicating between said individual and said telecommuter engaged in a spontaneous interaction.

23. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said physical location is selected from the office group consisting of conference rooms, offices, cubicles, hallways, and break rooms.

24. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said physical location is selected from the group consisting of libraries, public places, schools, stores, factories, and homes.

25. A system for facilitating an individual'"'"'s telecommute to a physical location, comprising:

means for projecting an avatar onto a complex representation of said physical location, said avatar representing said individual'"'"'s virtual presence at said physical location; and

means for effectuating communication between said physical location and said telecommuting individual.

26. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for projecting further comprises a speaker system that provides an aural cue indicative of said avatar.

27. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for projecting further comprises real time video projection equipment that provides an ocular cue indicative of said avatar.

28. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for effectuating communication comprises a transponder that communicates the presence of an inhabitant positioned at said physical location to said telecommuting individual.

29. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for effectuating communication comprises a wireless microphone that communicates the words of an inhabitant positioned at said physical location to said telecommuting individual.

30. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for effectuating communication comprises a white board positioned at said physical location that communicates images between said physical location and said telecommuting individual.

31. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for effectuating communication comprises a wireless notebook computer positioned at said physical location that enables communication between said physical location and said telecommuting individual.

32. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein said means for effectuating communication comprises means for file sharing between said physical location and said telecommuting individual.