LOCATION-ORIENTED TEAM INTERCOMMUNICATION

• US 20160065669A1
• Filed: 09/03/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AGT International GMBH
• Original Assignee: AGT International GMBH
• Inventors: VAN DIJKMAN, Eva-Maria, MANZINI, Massimiliano Alberto, SNITKO, Anton, MARIANI, Maria Paula
• Application Number:
  US14/844,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20160065669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A system and method for intercommunication among the members of a team employing user devices, organized around maps of the locations of the team members presented on the display screens of the user devices. Team members manage intercommunications among themselves by selections made according to the displayed maps and icons thereon. The maps provide a flexible framework around which to structure various modalities of intercommunication including chat, voice, audio-video camera streaming, or a data stream from a sensor, which are graphically indicated on the maps. Organizing and managing according to icons of team members on the maps provides flexible intercommunication without excessive constraint, facilitating intuitive and easy operation. When posting of geographical location of a team member is not desired, a ghost mode permits a team member to freely interact with the group without divulging location.

Claims

1. A system for sharing information among a plurality of members of a team, the system comprising a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the user devices has:

a display screen, and

a connection to the Internet or other network;

wherein each member of the team has a user device; and

wherein each of the user devices is configured to;

present a map on the display screen thereof, the map containing;

the location of the user device, and

the location of at least one user device of at least one other team member;

accept an input from a member of the team, the input containing at least one of the group consisting of;

the team as a whole,

the member of the team,

another member of the team,

a predefined geographical hotspot,

a map pin,

a video camera stream,

a data stream from a sensor, and

a chat pane; and

responsively to the input, to enable a communication between at least two members of the team and involving the selected element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is further configured to send a video camera stream to another user device, and to graphically indicate the sending on the map.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is further configured to receive a video camera stream from another user device and to graphically indicate the receiving on the map;

and

wherein the user device further configured for at least one of;

store the video camera stream, and

display the video camera stream.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is further configured to allow a team member to suppress display of the team member'"'"'s map location on user devices of other team members.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is further configured to allow a team member to request a video camera stream or a data stream from a sensor from another team member.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is further configured to display an icon of a team member on the map according to the team member'"'"'s map location.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the icon of the team member on the map comprises a visual indicator of a field-of-view of a camera of a user device of the team member.

8. A computer implemented method for sharing information among a plurality of members of a team, each member of the team being provided with at least one user device comprising:

a display screen, and

a connection to the Internet or other network;

the method comprising;

presenting a map on the display screen of at least one display device, the map containing;

the location of the user device, and

the location of at least one user device of at least one other team member;

accepting an input from a member of the team, the input containing at least one of the group consisting of;

the team as a whole,

the member of the team,

another member of the team,

a predefined geographical hotspot,

a map pin,

a video camera stream,

a data stream from a sensor, and

a chat pane; and

enabling a communication between at least two members of the team, responsively to the accepted input and with accordance to the input'"'"'s content.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a video camera stream from one user device to another user device; and

graphically indicating the sending act on the map.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a video camera stream from one user device; and

graphically indicating the receiving act on the map.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising at least one of:

storing the video camera stream; and

displaying the video camera stream.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising allowing a team member to suppress display of the team member'"'"'s map location on user devices of other team members.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising allowing a team member to request a video camera stream and/or a data stream from a sensor from another team member.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying an icon of a team member on the map according to the team member'"'"'s map location.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting a visual indicator of a field-of-view of a camera of a user device of a team member.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) that, when loaded into a memory of a computing device and executed by at least one processor of the computing device, causes the computing device to execute the steps of a method for sharing information among a plurality of members of a team, each member of the team being provided with at least one user device;

the method comprising;

presenting a map on the display screen of at least one user device, the map containing;

the location of the user device, and

the location of at least one user device of at least one other team member;

accepting an input from a member of the team, the input containing at least one of the group consisting of;

the team as a whole,

the member of the team,

another member of the team,

a predefined geographical hotspot,

a map pin,

a video camera stream,

a data stream from a sensor, and

a chat pane; and

enabling a communication between at least two members of the team, responsively to the accepted input and with accordance to the input'"'"'s content.