Methods and apparatus for connecting an intimate group by exchanging awareness cues and text, voice instant messages, and two-way voice communications

• US 20050184875A1
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Marmasse, Natalia, Schmandt, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A personal communicator with context awareness in a wristwatch form for connecting intimate friends and family via awareness cues and text, voice instant message, or synchronous voice connectivity. Sensors worn with the watch produce raw data tracking location (via GPS), acceleration, and speech activity. The raw data is classified and conveyed to the other party, where it appears in iconic form on the watch face. When a remote person with whom this information is shared examines it, their face appears on the watch of the person being checked on.

Claims

1. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual comprising, in combination, the steps of:

employing one or more sensors to continuously and automatically collect status data indicative of the status of said first individual,

automatically transmitting said status data as it is collected from said first individual to said second individual, and

continuously presenting at least some of the status values received from said first individual to said second individual.

2. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of accepting a request from said second individual and, in response to said request, presenting additional status information received from said first individual to said second individual.

3. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step performed in response to said request for transmitting a notification message from said second individual to said first individual to indicate to said first individual that said second individual has requested additional information describing the status of said first individual.

4. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the step of delivering one or more audible, visual or tactile alert signals to said first individual upon receipt of said notification message.

5. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a visual identification of said second individual.

6. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a tactile stimulation applied to the body of said first individual.

7. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a distinctive sound audible to said first individual.

8. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors are selected from a group comprising:

a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members;

a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members;

a communications device for generating a data indicating whether or not said first individual is communicating with a third individual, and

a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal;

9. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of employing one or more sensors to continuously and automatically collecting status data indicative of the status of said first individual, includes the substeps of:

obtaining and storing raw data from at least one of said sensors,

classifying said raw data to form said status data comprising representative discrete indicator values representative of said raw data.

10. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said first individual and wherein representative discrete indicator values include location indicator values.

11. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values characterizing the movement of said first individual along a route between predetermined locations.

12. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values characterizing a past location of said first individual and the time duration that has elapsed since said first individual left said past location.

13. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values characterizing a destination location of said first individual and the amount of time predicted to elapse before said first individual is expected to arrive at said destination location.

14. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values indicating locations frequented by said first individual.

15. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 14 wherein representative discrete indicator values include values indicating locations frequented by said first individual are supplied by said first individual.

16. A method for gathering information describing a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said representative discrete values include values indicating whether or not said first individual is currently engaged in a conversation.

17. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 wherein said request is produced by said second individual selecting said first individual from a group of individuals from whom status data has been received.

18. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 wherein said request is produced by said second individual requesting the presentation of additional information previously received from said first person.

19. A method for notifying a first person when a second person has requested information produced by or concerning said first person comprising, in combination, the steps of:

storing said information in a form and at a location accessible to said second person,

accepting a request from said second person for the presentation of at least some of said information, and

in response to said request, transmitting a notification signal to said first person identifying said second person, and

immediately upon receipt of said notification signal, presenting the identification of said second person to said first person whereby said first person is made aware of that said second person has shown an interest in said first person.

20. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes one or more audible, visual or tactile alert signals presented to said first person upon receipt of said notification message.

21. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a visual identification of said second individual presented to said first person upon receipt of said notification signal.

22. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a tactile stimulation applied to the body of said first individual upon receipt of said notification signal.

23. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a distinctive sound audible to said first individual produced upon receipt of said notification signal.

24. A context aware personal communications device for enhancing communication between a first person and a second person comprising, in combination,

one or more sensors for continuously and automatically producing raw data indicative of the status of said first person,

a processor for classifying said raw data into a limited set of status indicator values indicative of the status of said first person,

a data communications link accessible to said first person and to said second person for transmitting data signals including said status indicator values from said-first person to said second person,

a display device for visually and continuously displaying to said second person one or more of said status indicator values received from said first person via said data communications link, and

means responsive to a request from said second person for performing a message exchange between said first person and said second person.

25. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein at least a portion of said personal communications device is worn on the body of said first person.

26. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 25 wherein said portion of said personal communications device worn on the body is worn on the wrist and includes said user input device and said display device.

27. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values.

28. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members.

29. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

30. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes:

a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said one predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values,

a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members, and

a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

31. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission and reception of a voice message between said first person and said second person.

32. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission and reception of a voice message between said first person and said second person.

33. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said message exchange is performed by establishing a bi-directional voice communication channel between said first person and said second person.

34. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 33 wherein said data communications link and said bi-directional voice communication channel are both provided by a cellular communication network coupling cellular communications devices carried by both said first person and said second person.

35. A method for exchanging information between members of a limited group of consenting individuals comprising, in combination, the steps, performed for each given one of said members, of:

employing one or more sensors to continuously obtain raw data indicative of the status of said given one of said members,

classifying said raw data into one or more status values selected from a predetermined set of indicator values,

transmitting said status values from said given one of said members to each of the other members of said group,

visually and continuously displaying to said given one of said members an indication of at least one of the status values received from each of the other members of said group.

36. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values.

37. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 36 wherein said location indicator values are produced by accepting from said given one of said members a new location indicator value when data generated by said geographical position sensor indicates that said position sensor is located at a previously unidentified and previously frequented location.

38. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 37 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said one predetermined set of indicator values includes values characterizing the movement of said given one of said members along a route between predetermined locations.

39. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members.

40. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

41. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes:

a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said one predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values,

a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members, and

a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

42. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes means for determining whether an operative communication link exists between said given one of said members and one or more specified other members of said group..

43. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said step of visually and continuously displaying comprises visually displaying predetermined graphical symbols representing status values received from other members of said group.

44. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said step of transmitting said status values is performed by transmitting data values via a communication network linking communication devices carried by said members of said limited group of consenting individuals, said communications devices being capable of performing a message exchange between any two of said members.

45. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said communications network includes a cellular telephone network.

46. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission or reception of a text message.

47. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission or reception and recording of a voice message.

48. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises establishing a bi-directional voice communications channel between any two of said members.

49. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said step of performing a message exchange comprises the transmission of reception of one or more non-verbal signals selected from a group comprising:

a picture or a graphical symbol identifying one of said members, a sound, a displayed light or color, and a tactile vibration.

50. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises message exchange mode selected by one of said members from the group comprising:

the transmission or reception and recording of a voice message,

the transmission or reception of a text message,

the transmission or reception of non-verbal signals, and

establishing a bidirectional voice communications channel between said given one and said selected one of said member.