Method and arrangement for supporting a user and a user group

• US 20090055753A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH and Co KG (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH and Co KG (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Balevic, Ana, Gerstel, Markus, Pastore, Adriano, Schauer, Manuela, Bozionek, Bruno
• Application Number:
  US11/894,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20090055753A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In one aspect a method for supporting a user in a user group, where the user has a mobile information appliance available, and where a user profile with user-specific preferences is input into a database by the user or for the user is provided. In this case, the user is assigned to at least one subgroup of the user group on the basis of the user profile, and the members of the subgroup are displayed to the user by means of the information appliance. A further important aspect is the option of writing and publishing experience reports, with other users being able to rate these reports and the prospect of advantages being held out to the author on the basis of the ratings.

Claims

1. A method for supporting a user in a user group,

inputting a user profile with user-specific preferences into a database;

assigning the user to at least one subgroup of the user group on the basis of the user profile; and

displaying members of the subgroup on a mobile information appliance of the user by means of the information appliance.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the user uses the information appliance to input experience reports about the facilities or about available services into a database, and

wherein the experience reports are available for retrieval by other members of the user group via an information appliance of the respective other member.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2,

wherein each user in the user group can rate the experience reports from the other users, and

wherein the rating being stored in the database and the rating being able to be retrieved by all users.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3,

wherein rating an experience report involves at least distinguishing between a positive rating and a negative rating, an author of the rated experience report being granted an advantage for the future use of facilities, services or another advantage on the basis of the ratings for the experience report written by the author.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tour group is equipped with a plurality of mobile information appliances as a user group.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an information appliance with a navigation function is used.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the user is provided with position-related information by means of the information appliance.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user receives commercial and non-commercial offer proposals on the basis of the user profile.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information appliance can be used to send an emergency call.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, where a position statement for the information appliance can be sent automatically together with the emergency call.

11. A mobile information arrangement, comprising:

a database having a plurality of user profiles for a plurality of users such that each user profile associated with a user; and

a plurality of information appliances, each appliance;

associated with at least one of the users,

includes wireless transmission,

designed to aid locatability for respective information appliance, and

includes a communication function

wherein each user is assigned to at least one subgroup based on the respective user profile, and

wherein for a user assigned to subgroup, the associated information appliance is designed to display other members of a subgroup to the respective user.

12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the user uses the information appliance to input experience reports about the facilities or about available services into a database, and

wherein the experience reports are available for retrieval by other members of the user group via an information appliance of the respective other member.

13. The arrangement as claimed in claim 12,

wherein each user in the user group can rate the experience reports from the other users, and

wherein the rating being stored in the database and the rating being able to be retrieved by all users.

14. The arrangement as claimed in claim 13,

wherein rating an experience report involves at least distinguishing between a positive rating and a negative rating, an author of the rated experience report being granted an advantage for the future use of facilities, services or another advantage on the basis of the ratings for the experience report written by the author.

15. The arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein a tour group is equipped with the plurality of mobile information appliances as a user group.