Remote Observation System and Method of Use

• US 20090215018A1
• Filed: 09/01/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Therenow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Therenow Incorporated
• Inventors: Newell, Andrew, Edmondson, Richard Shawn, Shuster, Thomas Anthony, Johnson, Seth Richard, Eliason, Clint Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/202,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/308
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/07 providing for individual presentation of questions to a plurality of student stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The system enables the observer(s) to record video and audio received from the remote location. The systems and methods enable the capture, storage, and management of metadata linked to the observation video and audio. The systems and methods enable communication between users and enables sharing of metadata. The systems and methods enable the immediate sharing of metadata and performance feedback between the observer(s) and the observed. The systems and methods also allow for delayed sharing of metadata and performance feedback. The systems and methods use technology to overcome the barriers of distance, enabling feedback that occurs in context, with high frequency, distributed over time and that is individualized. The system manages the presentation of all data types to the users. The system can also manage the scheduling of people and resources allocated to the systems and methods implementation.

Claims

1. A method of observation of a subject performing behavior, comprising the steps of:

an observation system local to the subject observing the subject and producing local observation data;

said local observation data communicated to a remote receiving station,

displaying said local observation data at said remote receiving station;

generating feedback from an observer observing said displaying said local observation data at said remote receiving station; and

communicating said feedback to the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said feedback is communicated in real time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said feedback is generated in real time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said displaying said local observation data is in real time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

means of recording said observation data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

means for time correlating said feedback with said data; and

said recording means records said observation data and incorporates said feedback with said data and with said time correlation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said local observation data is transmitted to said remote receiving station via an intranet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said local observation data is transmitted to said remote receiving station via the internet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said local observation system is mobile.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said observation data is transmitted and received by a secure system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said observation data is encrypted.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said feedback is communicated via a voice communication system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said feedback is communicated via a built-in two-way phone.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said feedback is communicated via a Voice over Internet phone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said feedback is communicated via a Skype phone.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said feedback is communicated via text.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said feedback is communicated via a graphical representation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said graphical representation includes a dashboard style indicator.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said feedback is gathering data for research purposes.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

said local observation data communicated to a second remote receiving station,

displaying said local observation data at said second remote receiving station in real time,

generating feedback from said second remote receiving station; and

communicating said feedback from said second remote receiving station to the subject.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

means for scheduling observation of the subject.

22. A method of a trainer instructing a trainee performing behavior to be improved, comprising the steps of:

a mobile observation system observing the trainee and transferring via the internet observation data to a remote receiving station;

displaying said transmitted observation data at said remote receiving station on an internet connected computer;

generating instruction at the said remote receiving station; and

communicating said instruction to the trainee.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

said instruction is communicated via electronically enabled audio communication.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

said instruction is communicated via a Voice over Internet phone.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

means of recording said observation data at said remote receiving station.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

means for time correlating said instruction with said data; and

said recording means records said observation data and incorporates said instruction with said data and with said time correlation.

27. A method of instruction, comprising the steps of:

observing a trainer performing instructional material with a mobile observation system local to the trainer observing said trainer;

transferring observation data to a remote receiving station;

displaying said transmitted observation data at said remote receiving station on a computer so a trainee may observe it at said remote receiving station;

generating feedback; and

communicating said feedback to said remote receiving station from said mobile observation station.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said communicating to said remote receiving station from said mobile observation station said feedback is via electronically enabled audio communication.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein:

said communicating to said remote receiving station from said mobile observation station said feedback is via a Voice over Internet phone.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

means of recording said transmitted observation data at said remote receiving station;

means for time correlating said feedback with said observation data; and

said recording means records said observation data and incorporates said feedback with said data and with said time correlation.

31. An apparatus for remote observation, comprising:

a mobile audio and video observation system local to an observable generating audio and video data;

a remote receiving station;

an internet connection connecting said receiving station to said observation system;

data transfer protocols controlling transmission of said audio and video data from said mobile observation system to said remote receiving station;

an electronically enabled audio communication system;

data transfer protocols controlling transmission of audio data generated at said remote receiving station transmitted to said mobile observation system;

a computer at said remote receiving station controlling said data transfer protocols;

said computer controlling transmission of said audio and video data from said mobile observation system to said remote receiving station; and

said computer controlling transmission of audio data generated at said remote receiving station transmitted to said mobile observation system.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

a recording mechanism;

said recording mechanism receiving and recording said audio and video data from said observation system;

said recording mechanism receiving and recoding said audio data generated at said receiving station; and

said recording of said audio and video data from said observation system and said recoding of said audio data generated at said receiving station are time correlated.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein:

said data transfer protocol controlling transmission of audio data generated at said remote receiving station transmitted to said mobile observation system is a Voice over Internet protocol.