Presenting Context-Based Guidance using Electronic Signs

• US 20170249714A1
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Hoof, Hubert, Gray, David M., Seiber, Scott E., Brennan, David J., Sanders, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,475,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 Destination assistance within a business structure or complex

Abstract

Computer-implemented functionality is described herein for assisting a user in interacting with an environment. In one implementation, the functionality operates by: determining that a particular user is within a prescribed proximity to an electronic sign, or will be in prescribed proximity to the electronic sign, based on sensor information provided by one or more sensors within the environment; determining an identity of the user; determining at least one destination of the user based at least on calendar information; providing directions to the destination(s), to provide unfiltered direction information; optionally filtering the unfiltered direction information with respect to restriction information (e.g., privacy information, security information, etc.), to produce filtered direction information; composing sign information based on the filtered direction information; and sending the sign information to the electronic sign for presentation by the sign.

Claims

1. A method, implemented by one or more computing devices, for assisting a user in interacting with an environment, comprising:

determining that the user is within a prescribed proximity to an electronic sign, or will be in prescribed proximity to the electronic sign, based on sensor information provided by one or more sensors within the environment;

determining an identity of the user;

determining at least one destination of the user based at least on calendar information provided in at least one data store, the calendar information identifying at least one scheduled event that specifies the user as an attendee;

providing directions to said at least one destination, to provide direction information;

composing sign information based on the direction information; and

sending the sign information to the electronic sign for presentation by the sign,

the sign information being sent via an electronic message over a communication conduit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the user can be considered to be directing attention to the electronic sign at a current time; and

producing direction information only when the user is directing attention to the electronic sign,

wherein said determining of whether the user can be considered to be directing attention comprises;

determining a length of time that the user remains within the prescribed proximity to the electronic sign; and

/or

determining whether a gaze of the user is directed to the electronic sign.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining of said at least one destination comprises:

identifying a scheduled event that the user is scheduled to attend; and

specifying a destination that corresponds to a location at which the scheduled event will take place.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said determining of said at least one destination also comprises:

identifying habit information, specified in said at least one data store, that identifies one or more habits of the user; and

selecting at least one additional destination based on the habit information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said determining of said at least one destination also comprises:

determining an amount of time between a current time and a time at which the scheduled event is to commence; and

selecting said at least one additional destination only when the amount of time is sufficient to accommodate a visit to said at least one additional destination.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the direction information also identifies whether any other attendee of the scheduled event has already arrived at the location at which the scheduled event is to take place.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises notifying at least one other attendee of the scheduled event of a current status of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing directions comprises:

determining a degree of familiarity of the user with the environment; and

determining a level of specificity at which directions are to be provided based the degree of familiarity.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the unfiltered direction information with respect to restriction information provided in said at least one data store, to produce filtered direction information, wherein the restriction information includes user policy information, provided in said at least one data store, which indicates a user-specific policy of the user with respect to presentation of information on the electronic sign.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the unfiltered direction information with respect to restriction information provided in said at least one data store, to produce filtered direction information, wherein the restriction information includes organization policy information, provided in said at least one data store, which indicates an organization-specific policy of an organization with respect to presentation of information on the electronic sign.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the unfiltered direction information with respect to restriction information, to produce filtered direction information, wherein the restriction information includes co-viewer information which indicates whether there is any other user that is within the prescribed proximity to the electronic sign at a current time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said composing comprises selecting the layout of two or more instances of sign information on the electronic sign, corresponding to two or more users.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending supplemental direction information to a portable user device that is carried by the user.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, on another occasion, that no user who is unfamiliar with the environment is within the prescribed proximity to the electronic sign;

determining at least one default destination based on at least one contextual factor;

providing directions to said at least one default destination, to provide default direction information;

composing default sign information based on the default direction information; and

sending the default sign information to the electronic sign for presentation by the electronic sign.

15. One or more computing devices that assist a user in interacting with an environment, comprising:

at least one data store that provides user information regarding a plurality of users, organization information that pertains to one or more organizations with which at least some of the users are affiliated, and environment information pertaining to the environment;

a triggering component configured to trigger presentation of information on an electronic sign, the triggering component including;

logic configured to determine that a user is within a prescribed proximity to the electronic sign, or will be in prescribed proximity to the electronic sign, based on sensor information provided by one or more sensors within the environment; and

logic configured to determine an identity of the user;

an information gathering component configured to collect information for presentation on the electronic sign, the information gathering component including;

logic configured to determine at least one destination of the user based at least on calendar information provided in said at least one data store, the calendar information identifying at least one scheduled event that specifies the user as an attendee; and

logic configured to provide directions to said at least one destination, to provide unfiltered direction information;

a filtering component that is configured to filter the unfiltered direction information with respect to restriction information, to produce filtered direction information;

a composing component that is configured to compose sign information based on the filtered direction information; and

a delivery component that is configured to send the sign information to the electronic sign for presentation by the electronic sign.

16. The one or more computing devices of claim 15, wherein the information gathering component is configured to determine said at least one destination by:

identifying a scheduled event that the user is scheduled to attend;

specifying a destination that corresponds to a location at which the scheduled event will take place;

determining an amount of time between a current time and a time at which the scheduled event is to commence;

identifying habit information that identifies one or more habits of the user; and

selecting at least one additional destination based on the amount of time and the habit information.

17. The one or more computing devices of claim 15, wherein the information gathering component further includes:

logic configured to determine a degree of familiarity of the user with the environment; and

logic configured to determine a level of specificity at which directions are to be provided based the degree of familiarity.

18. The one or more computing devices of claim 15, wherein the restriction information used by the filtering component includes:

user policy information, provided in said at least one data store, which indicates a user-specific policy of the user with respect to presentation of information on the electronic sign; and

/or

organization policy information, provided in said at least one data store, which indicates an organization-specific policy of an organization with respect to the presentation of information on the electronic sign; and

/or

co-viewer information which indicates whether there is any other user that is within the prescribed proximity to the electronic sign at a current time.

19. The one or more computing devices of claim 15, wherein:

the filtered direction information identifies a subset of attendees who have already arrived at a location at which said at least one scheduled event is to take place; and

said one or more computing devices include a notification component that is configured to notify other attendees of said at least one scheduled event of a current status of the user.

20. A computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by one or more processor devices, performing a method that comprises:

determining that a user is within a prescribed proximity to an electronic sign, or will be in prescribed proximity to the electronic sign, based on sensor information provided by one or more sensors within an environment;

determining whether there are any other users also within the prescribed proximity to the electronic sign based on the sensor information;

determining an identity of the user;

determining at least one destination of the user based at least on;

calendar information provided in at least one data store, the calendar information identifying at least one scheduled event that specifies the user as an attendee; and

/or

habit information provided in said at least one data store that identifies one or more habits of the user;

providing directions to said at least one destination, to provide unfiltered direction information;

filtering the unfiltered direction information with respect to restriction information, to produce filtered direction information, the restriction information including;

user policy information which indicates a user-specific policy of the user with respect to presentation of information on the electronic sign; and

/or

organization policy information which indicates an organization-specific policy of an organization with respect to the presentation of information on the electronic sign; and

/or

co-viewer information which indicates whether there is any other user that is within the prescribed proximity to the electronic sign at a current time;

composing sign information based on the filtered direction information; and

sending the sign information to the electronic sign for presentation by the electronic sign.