METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENDING PRESENCE MESSAGES

• US 20120038459A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Inventors: Hindus, Debby, Brechin, Elaine, Dorogusker, Jesse L., Hagstrom, Anna E., Bayley, Oliver T., Moeslinger, Sigrid, Burns, Colin, Jackson, Donald C., Guilhamet, Steve, Fogg, Brian J., White, Sean Michael, Mainwaring, Scott S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

An intentional presence system in accordance with the present invention includes a transmitting device at a first physical location that is responsive to a command intentionally initiated by a first individual at the first physical location to develop a presence signal intended for a second individual at a second physical location. The intentional presence system further includes a receiving device located at the second physical location which is receptive to the presence signal and which is operative to generate an indication to the second individual of the first individual'"'"'s presence with respect to the transmitting device.

Claims

1. A system for intentionally indicating the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of an event to a user, the system comprising:

a transmitting device;

a first indicator interface configured to intentionally trigger a wireless transmission to be transmitted via the transmitting device, wherein

the wireless transmission is transmitted via the transmitting device, and

the wireless transmission indicates the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the event;

a wireless device configured to continuously monitor for the wireless transmission indicating the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the event, wherein

the continuous monitoring is performed by the wireless device; and

a second indicator interface configured to determine that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device, and provide an indication of the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the event to the user based at least in part on the determination that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device,

wherein the indication provided by the second indicator interface is selected from the group of motion and heated indications to the user, and,

wherein the wireless device and the second indicator interface are embedded within an object having a meaning to at least the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a representational figure, wherein the representational figure is a stuffed animal, and wherein the indication provided by the second indicator interface is motion of a part of the stuffed animal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first indicator interface is further configured to intentionally trigger a second wireless transmission signal to be transmitted to the wireless device and the second indicator interface is further configured to deactivate the indication of the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the event based at least in part on the second wireless transmission.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the occurrence or imminent occurrence of the event is received at a plurality of wireless devices.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the object is a memento provided to the user to keep after the occurrence of the event.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the object is a golf ball, collar or bus, and wherein the indications provided to the user include an indication to the user that the object is approaching the user.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the second indicator interface is a cuff that provides heated or haptic indications to the user.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is disposable.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission indicating the occurrence or the immediate occurrence of the event is a transmission indicating a need for fresh water.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission indicating the occurrence or the immediate occurrence of the event is a transmission indicating an elderly person in need of assistance.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission indicating the occurrence or the immediate occurrence of the event is a transmission indicating the occurrence or the immediate occurrence of a television show.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission indicating the occurrence or the immediate occurrence of the event is a transmission indicating the birth of a child.

13. A system for providing messages to a user, the system comprising:

a transmitting device;

a first indicator interface configured to intentionally trigger a wireless transmission to be transmitted via the transmitting device, wherein

the wireless transmission is transmitted via the transmitting device, and

the wireless transmission indicates one of first messages or second messages,

wherein the first messages are multiple standard spoken audio messages,

wherein the standard spoken audio messages intentionally communicate, acknowledge presence or provide short replies, and

wherein the second messages are multiple programmable spoken audio messages,

wherein the second messages are pre-recorded by a person operating the first indicator interface;

a wireless device configured to continuously monitor for the wireless transmission, wherein

the continuous monitoring is performed by the wireless device; and

a second indicator interface having at least one input button, at least one visual indicator, and an audio output portion,

wherein the second indicator interface is configured to determine that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device,

wherein the second indicator interface is configured to provide a visual indication, via the visual indicator, to the user that the wireless transmission intended for the wireless device has been received,

wherein the second indicator interface replays, via the audio output portion, the one of the first or second messages to the user in response to determining that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device and in response to receiving actuation of the input button by the user, and,

wherein the wireless device and the second indicator interface are within a portable device to be carried by the user.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the wireless transmission corresponds to a pointer that causes the playing of one of multiple selected audio messages.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the transmitting device and the receiving device are matched pairs that only communicate with each other.

16. A system for intentionally indicating to a user the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the birth of a child, the system comprising:

a wireless device configured to continuously monitor for a wireless transmission indicating the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the birth of a child, wherein

the continuous monitoring is performed by the wireless device; and

an indicator interface configured to determine that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device, and provide an indication of the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the birth of the child to the user based at least in part on the determination that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device,

wherein the indication provided by the indicator interface is selected from the group of visual, audible and tactile indications to the user,

wherein the indication provided by the indicator interface further includes information selected from the group of exact time of birth, sex of the child and weight of the child, and,

wherein the wireless device and the indicator interface are embedded within an object having a meaning to at least the user.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the wireless device and the indicator interface are embedded within an object that the user may keep as a memento.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the indication of the occurrence or the imminent occurrence of the birth of the child includes an image representative of a person.