Wireless communications with visually-identified targets

• US 20050191963A1
• Filed: 02/19/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Martin Hymes
• Original Assignee: Charles Martin Hymes
• Inventors: Hymes, Charles Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A mechanism for initiating contact with someone, via a telecommunications system, who is in the admirer'"'"'s proximity, but whose identity or telecommunications address (e.g., telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) is unknown. The illustrative embodiments enable the user to use what information he does know about the admired person—the admiring person'"'"'s distinguishing characteristics—to get a telecommunications address through which the initial contact can be made.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an address in the address space of a telecommunications network based on an image of a person; and

directing a telecommunications terminal to reveal to a user of said telecommunications terminal at least a portion of a first message that is received from said address in particular, wherein the prior treatment for a message from said address and addressed to said user is to hide at least said portion of said message from said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications terminal is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by transmitting a second message to said address.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications terminal is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by adding said address to a list.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving said first message, wherein said first message comprises contact information; and

withholding said contact information from said user until said telecommunications terminal has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving said first message; and

withholding the existence of said first message from said user until said telecommunications terminal has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording said image with a camera in said telecommunications terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving said image at said telecommunications terminal in response to a request from said telecommunications terminal for the images of one or more people who are in the proximity of said telecommunications terminal at the time of said request.

8. A method comprising:

determining an address in the address space of a telecommunications network based on an image of a person; and

directing a data processing system to reveal to a user of said telecommunications terminal a portion of a first message that is received from said address in particular and addressed to said user, wherein the prior treatment for a message from said address and addressed to said user is to hide at least said portion of said message from said user.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said data processing system is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by transmitting a second message to said address.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said data processing system is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by adding said address to a list.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving said first message, wherein said first message comprises contact information; and

withholding said contact information from said user until said data processing system has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving said first message; and

withholding the existence of said first message from said user until said data processing system has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

13. The method of claim 8 further wherein said image is recorded with a camera in said telecommunications terminal.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a request from said telecommunications terminal for the images of one or more people who are in the proximity of said telecommunications terminal at the time of said request; and

transmitting said image to said telecommunications terminal in response to said request.

15. A method comprising:

determining an address in the address space of a telecommunications network based on the spatial position of a person; and

directing a telecommunications terminal to reveal to a user of said telecommunications terminal a portion of a first message that is received from said address in particular, wherein the prior treatment for a message from said address and addressed to said user is to hide at least said portion of said message from said user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said telecommunications terminal is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by transmitting a second message to said address.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said telecommunications terminal is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by adding said address to a list.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving said first message, wherein said first message comprises contact information; and

withholding said contact information from said user until said telecommunications terminal has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving said first message; and

withholding the existence of said first message from said user until said telecommunications terminal has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining said spatial position in cooperation with said telecommunications terminal.

21. A method comprising:

determining an address in the address space of a telecommunications network based on the spatial position of a person; and

directing a data processing system to reveal to a user of said telecommunications terminal a portion of a first message that is received from said address in particular and addressed to said user, wherein the prior treatment for a message from said address and addressed to said user is to hide at least said portion of said message from said user.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said data processing system is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by transmitting a second message to said address.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said data processing system is directed to reveal messages received from said address in particular by adding said address to a list.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

receiving said first message, wherein said first message comprises contact information; and

withholding said contact information from said user until said data processing system has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

receiving said first message; and

withholding the existence of said first message from said user until said data processing system has been directed to reveal to said user messages received from said address in particular.

26. The method of claim 21 further wherein said spatial position is determined in cooperation with said telecommunications terminal.