APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CO-LOCATED SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND INTERACTIONS

• US 20140223327A1
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mantripragada, Kiran, Real, Lucas V., Sultanum, Nicole
• Application Number:
  US13/969,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2027/001 Comprising a presence or proximity detector
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2027/002 Advertising message recorded in a memory device
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/005 Signs associated with a sensor

Abstract

Devices and methods for co-located social interaction include one or more screens arranged to provide a substantially continuous, outward-facing display; a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of users near the screen; a recognition sensor configured to gather identifying information about a detected user and to determine an identity of the detected user by matching the identifying information in a user database; an input sensor configured to receive user input; and a control module configured to control information displayed on the one or more screens based on a user'"'"'s identity, the presence of other users nearby, and input provided by the user.

Claims

1. An interface device, comprising:

one or more screens arranged to provide a substantially continuous, outward-facing display;

a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of users near the interface device;

a recognition sensor configured to gather identifying information about a detected user and to determine an identity of the detected user by matching the identifying information in a user database;

an input sensor configured to receive user input; and

a control module configured to control information displayed on the one or more screens based on a user'"'"'s identity, the presence of other users nearby, and input provided by the user.

2. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the one or more screens are arranged to provide a display that extends 360 degrees around an internal point.

3. The interface device of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to communicate with other interface devices and to share proximity information, identity information, and input information with said other interface devices.

4. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the recognition sensor determines a user'"'"'s identity using biometric information.

5. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the recognition sensor receives wireless signals from a user'"'"'s personal devices to determine the user'"'"'s identity.

6. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the input sensor includes a touch sensor incorporated in the one or more screens.

7. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the input sensor includes a camera configured to recognize user gestures.

8. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the one or more screens are arranged to form a display with a circular cross-section.

9. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the one or more screens are arranged to form a display with a polygonal cross section.

10. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to display a location of at least one nearby user in relation to the identified user'"'"'s position.

11. The interface device of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to perform matching between users based on user inputs and to suggest connections between previously unacquainted users based on said matching.

12. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is further configured to track a location of identified users after said users have left the neighborhood of the interface device.

13. An interface device, comprising:

one or more screens arranged to provide a substantially continuous, outward-facing display that forms a circle;

a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of users near the interface device;

a recognition sensor configured to gather identifying information about a detected user and to determine an identity of the detected user by matching the identifying information in a user database, wherein said identifying information comprises wireless signals from a detected user'"'"'s personal devices;

an input sensor configured to receive user input; and

a control module configured to control information displayed on the one or more screens based on a user'"'"'s identity, the presence of other users nearby, and input provided by the user to display a location of at least one nearby user in relation to the identified user'"'"'s position.

14. A computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for facilitating co-located social interaction, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

detecting a first user'"'"'s presence at an interface device that has one or more screens arranged to provide a substantially continuous, outward-facing display;

collecting identifying information about the first user from one or more recognition sensors;

matching the collected identifying information to a first user'"'"'s profile in a user database using a processor; and

displaying an avatar of the first user on the display in relation to other users at the interface device.