Intelligent information delivery system

• US 6,912,517 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Agnihotri, Lalitha, Zimmerman, John, Dimitrova, Nevenka
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US09/998,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 455/456, 725/35
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

A system and method for delivering relevant information to recipients in a timely manner. Information from a plurality of sources is received through interface devices that permit a central processor to evaluate each information stream in light of the dynamic profiles that are stored in a subscriber database. A plurality of location sensors track and report the location of the various recipients. The processor determines the content that will be provided to the recipient and the delivery mode to be used for delivering the selected information to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A system for selectively delivering information to a subscriber, said system comprising:

a database for storing a dynamic profile including the subscriber'"'"'s information preferences and last-known location, and for storing a list of communication devices available to the subscriber for receiving information, the list of communication devices including access information related to each device;

a locator system in communication with the database for determining the location of the subscriber;

a collector for receiving information from a plurality of information sources, the collector comprising a processor in communication with the database for selecting which information to prepare for delivery to the subscriber according to the subscriber'"'"'s information preferences and last-known location;

an information packager in communication with the database and with the collector, for packaging the information selected for delivery; and

a delivery system in communication with the database and with the information packager for formatting the packaged information and transmitting it to the subscriber through at least one of the listed communications devices corresponding to the subscriber'"'"'s location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the subscriber in substantially the same format as the format in which it was received.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the information is transmitted to the subscriber at substantially the same time as the time at which it is received.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the information is stored in a storage device until it can be transmitted to the subscriber.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control program for directing operation of the system.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a format conversion program for directing format conversion by the delivery system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery system is capable of converting an audio signal into at least one text message for delivery to the subscriber.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery system is capable of converting text information into an audio format for delivery to the subscriber.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the packaged information comprises a notation indicating at least one communication device to which the information should be transmitted.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of determining whether transmitted information is received by the at least one communication device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the packaged information is stored until it can be transmitted to the subscriber.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the collector actively searches to locate information available through an information network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the information network is the Internet.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the collector requests content from a located Web site.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the packager prioritizes information packages when more than one information package is available for transmitting to the subscriber.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the collector, in determining which information to feed to the packager, analyzes the content of the received information according to a predetermined algorithm.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the information packager packages information from a variety of sources to prepare augmented information content for delivery to the subscriber.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the system automatically searches for information to use in preparing the augmented information content.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator system includes at least one camera for locating the subscriber using an acquired visual image.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator system includes at least one uses a global positioning system (GPS) device for locating the subscriber using a GPS signal.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator system provides an alert that the subscriber is moving from one location to another.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the delivery system transmits the packaged information to at least a second communication device after receiving the alert.

23. A method for selectively delivering information to a subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database containing at least one subscriber dynamic profile and a list of communication devices through which information may be delivered to the subscriber;

receiving information from a plurality of sources;

determining the last-known location of the subscriber;

comparing the received information to the dynamic profile to determine which portions of the received information should be delivered to the subscriber;

preparing an information package containing information determined to be appropriate for delivery; and

transmitting the information package to the subscriber through one or more of the listed communications devices corresponding to the subscriber'"'"'s last-known location.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the information package comprises a notation indicating at least one communication device to which the information should be transmitted.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of confirming receipt of the transmitted information by at least one communication device.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of storing the information until it can be transmitting to the subscriber.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of prioritizing multiple information packages for transmission.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of augmenting an information package from a first source with additional content obtained from a second source.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of searching for additional content prior to augmenting the information package from the first source.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the search for additional content is initiated automatically.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of translating the information from the format in which it was received into a different format before transmitting it to the subscriber.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of translating the information includes translating information received as an audio transmission into a text format.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of translating the information includes translating information received in text format into audio-signal format.

34. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of searching for information through an information network.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of searching includes requesting content from a Web site.

36. A signal comprising an information package suitable for transmission to a subscriber, said signal generated by the steps of:

receiving information from a plurality of sources;

determining the last-known location of the subscriber;

comparing the received information to a subscriber dynamic profile stored in a database to determine which portions of the received information should be delivered to the subscriber;

determining from the subscriber dynamic profile a list of communication devices through which information may be delivered to the subscriber;

preparing the information package containing information determined to be appropriate for delivery; and

transmitting the information package to the subscriber through one or more of the listed communications devices corresponding to the subscriber'"'"'s last-known location.

37. The signal of claim 36, wherein the information package comprises a notation indicating at least one communication device to which the information should be transmitted.

38. The signal of claim 36, further comprising the step of storing the information until it can be transmitting to the subscriber.

39. The signal of claim 36, further comprising the step of prioritizing multiple information packages for transmission.

40. The signal of claim 36, further comprising the step of augmenting an information package from a first source with additional content obtained from a second source.

41. The signal of claim 40, further comprising the step of searching for additional content prior to augmenting the information package from the first source.