Networked personal customized information and facility services

• US 6,055,512 A
• Filed: 07/08/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: McCaughan, Daniel Vincent, Unitt, Brian Michael, Dean, Robert John, Kanabar, Yashvant
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSEN, NICHOLAS D
• Application Number:
  US08/889,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/17, 705/26, 705/27, 395/200.31, 395/200.32, 395/200.47, 395/200.48
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A service terminal facility is provided at a public access location, for example in a hotel, hospital or airport, the service terminal facility available for providing electronic information services to users, in response to input of a portable data storage medium, for example a smart card or the like. A smart card contains stored data describing user specified information such as contacts names, personal details and medical information and personal interest information. The service terminal comprises a search engine for searching the user data and comparing data types within the user data with general data stored locally at the service terminal. The service terminal selects data corresponding to data types specified in the user data and displays these on the graphical user interface at the service terminal, or at a user interface connected with the service terminal. The user data may specify one or more data sources or service providers from which electronic data services of interest to the user can be obtained. The service terminal may obtain listings of data from remote data sources and/or service providers and display these on the graphical user interface and/or user interface. The user may instruct downloading of electronic data or electronic information services from remote data sources or service providers from the service terminal for delivery to the graphical user interface or the user interface.

Claims

1. A service apparatus capable of providing personalized electronic data services specific to a user, said service apparatus comprising:

at least one portable data storage means capable of specifying user specific data describing a set of data types personalized to a user;

data input means for receiving said user specific data;

data storage means for storing data describing a plurality of said electronic data services;

means for selecting at least one said electronic data service, said selection being made in accordance with said user specific data by comparing said user specific data with said data describing electronic data services; and

means for controlling delivery of said selected electronic data services,

wherein said portable data storage means downloads said user specific data to said data input means, and said user specific data is used to configure said means for selecting at least one electronic data service and said means for controlling delivery of said selected electronic data services to provide services selected in accordance with said user specific data.

2. The service apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for controlling delivery of electronic data services is capable of controlling at least one user interface.

3. The service apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for controlling delivery of electronic data comprises means for controlling a private branch exchange apparatus.

4. The service apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said private branch exchange apparatus is configurable in response to control signals generated by said control means, in response to said user specific data, to store a plurality of abbreviated dial numbers.

5. The service apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data input means comprises a smart card reader port.

6. The service apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for selecting electronic data services comprises a processor operating in accordance with a search algorithm, said algorithm operating to compare said user data with said stored data describing said plurality of electronic data services.

7. The service facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for controlling delivery of selected electronic data services comprises interface means capable of communicating with a plurality of remote data sources.