Methods and apparatus for connecting an intimate group by exchanging awareness cues and text, voice instant messages, and two-way voice communications

• US 7,443,283 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Marmasse, Natalia, Schmandt, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/916,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913-53915, 340/502, 340/505, 340/516, 340/524, 340/525, 340/534, 340/539.11, 340/539.1, 455/404.2, 4554121-413, 455/229, 37920101-20112, 379/210.01, 379/214.01, 379/218.02
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A personal communicator with context awareness in a wristwatch form for connecting intimate friends and family via awareness cues and text, voice instant message, or synchronous voice connectivity. Sensors worn with the watch produce raw data tracking location (via GPS), acceleration, and speech activity. The raw data is classified and conveyed to the other party, where it appears in iconic form on the watch face. When a remote person with whom this information is shared examines it, their face appears on the watch of the person being checked on.

Claims

1. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual comprising, in combination, the steps of:

employing a microphone positioned near said first individual to continuously and automatically collect acoustic data,

analyzing said acoustic data to determine whether or not said acoustic data is produced by human speech to thereby determine whether or not said first individual is currently engaged in a conversation,

generating status data derived at least in part from said acoustic data indicating whether or not said first individual is available to engage in communications with others,

automatically transmitting said status data as it is collected from said first individual to said second individual,

continuously presenting at least some of the status data received from said first individual to said second individual, and thereafter

accepting a verbal text or voice message from said second individual and transmitting said verbal text or voice message to said first individual.

2. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of generating additional status data indicating the current location of said first individual or the nature of the physical activity currently engaged in by said first individual, transmitting said additional status information to said second individual, accepting a request from said second individual and, in response to said request, presenting said additional status data previously transmitted by and received from said first individual but not previously presented to said second individual.

3. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step, performed in response to said request from said second individual, of transmitting a notification message from said second individual to said first individual to indicate to said first individual that said second individual has requested said additional data describing the status of said first individual.

4. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the step of delivering one or more audible, visual or tactile alert signals to said first individual upon receipt of said notification message.

5. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a visual identification of said second individual.

6. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a tactile stimulation applied to the body of said first individual.

7. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a distinctive sound audible to said first individual.

8. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the movement of the body of said first individual to produce activity status data indicating the nature of the physical activity in which said first individual in currently engaged,

automatically transmitting said further status data from said first individual to said second individual, and

presenting an activity indication based on said activity status data to said second individual.

9. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

employing a geographical position sensor for generating position data indicating the current position of said first individual, and

deriving an indication of the current or predicted location of said first individual from said position data and presenting said indication to said second individual.

10. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said indication of the current or predicted location of said first individual specifies a location name previously supplied by said first individual.

11. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of deriving an indication of the current or predicted location of said first individual from said position data includes the step of comparing said position data with data specifying one or more established routes between known locations.

12. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said indication of the current or predicted location of said first individual indicates a past location of said first individual and the time duration that has elapsed since said first individual left said past location.

13. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said indication of the current or predicted location of said first individual indicates a destination location of said first individual and the amount of time predicted to elapse before said first individual is expected to arrive at said destination location.

14. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said indication of the current or predicted location of said first individual indicates locations frequented by said first individual.

15. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 14 wherein said locations frequented by said first individual are specified by names supplied by said first individual.

16. A method for gathering information describing a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 wherein said microphone converts sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into said acoustic data.

17. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 wherein said request is produced by said second individual selecting said first individual from a group of individuals from whom status data has been received.

18. A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 wherein said request is produced by said second individual requesting the presentation of additional information previously received from said first person.

19. A method for notifying a first person when a second person has requested information produced by or concerning said first person comprising, in combination, the steps of:

storing said information in a form and at a location accessible to said second person,

accepting a request from said second person for the presentation of at least some of said information,

measuring the time duration that elapses while said information is being presented to said second person in response to said request,

transmitting a notification signal to said first person identifying said second person when said time duration exceeds a threshold duration, and

immediately upon receipt of said notification signal, presenting the identification of said second person to said first person whereby said first person is made aware of that said second person has shown an interest in said first person.

20. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes one or more audible, visual or tactile alert signals presented to said first person upon receipt of said notification message.

21. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a visual identification of said second individual presented to said first person upon receipt of said notification signal.

22. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a tactile stimulation applied to the body of said first individual upon receipt of said notification signal.

23. A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a distinctive sound audible to said first individual produced upon receipt of said notification signal.

24. A context aware personal communications device for enhancing communication between a first person and a second person comprising, in combination,

one or more sensors for continuously and automatically producing raw data indicative of the location and movement of said first person,

a processor for classifying said raw data into one or more derived status indicator values selected from a limited set of predefined status indicator values, at least one of said status indicator values being indicative of the kind of physical activity in which said first person is currently engaged,

a data communications link accessible to said first person and to said second person for continuously and automatically transmitting data signals including said derived status indicator values from said first person to said second person,

a display device for visually and continuously displaying to said second person one or more of said derived status indicator values received from said first person via said data communications link, and

means responsive to a request from said second person for thereafter performing a bidirectional verbal text or voice message exchange between said first person and said second person.

25. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein at least a portion of said personal communications device is worn on the body of said first person.

26. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 25 wherein said portion of said personal communications device worn on the body is worn on the wrist and includes said user input device and said display device.

27. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said derived status indicator values includes at least one location indicator value.

28. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said limited set of predefined indicator values includes values that indicate a corresponding set of predefined activities in which said given one of said members may be currently engaged, said set of predefined activities including walking, running and moving in a vehicle.

29. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 further comprising a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said limited set of predefined indicator values includes values derived from said audio data signal indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

30. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes:

a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said limited set of predefined indicator values includes location indicator values,

a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said limited set of indicator values further includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members, and

a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said limited set of indicator values further includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

31. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said bidirectional verbal text or voice message exchange comprises the transmission, reception and playback of recorded voice messages exchanged between said first person and said second person.

32. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said bidirectional verbal text or voice message exchange comprises the transmission and reception of a verbal text messages composed by and exchanged between said first person and said second person.

33. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said message exchange is performed by establishing a bi-directional voice communication channel between said first person and said second person.

34. A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 33 wherein said data communications link and said bi-directional voice communication channel are both provided by a cellular communication network coupling cellular communications devices carried by both said first person and said second person.

35. A method for exchanging information between members of a limited group of consenting individuals comprising, in combination, the steps, performed for each given one of said members, of:

employing one or more sensors to continuously obtain raw data indicative of the nature of the physical activity currently engaged in by a given one of said members,

classifying said raw data into one or more current status values selected from a limited set of predefined status values,

continuously transmitting said current status values from said given one of said members to each of the other members of said group,

visually and continuously displaying to said given one of said members an indication of the current availability of each of the other members of said group to actively participate in communications, said indication being derived from at least one of the current status values received from each of said other members of said group, and thereafter,

in response to a request accepted from said given one of said members identifying a particular one of said other members of said group, transmitting a verbal text or voice message to said particular one of said other members.

36. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said limited set of predefined status values includes location indicator values.

37. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 36 wherein at least some of said location indicator values are produced by accepting from said given one of said members a new location indicator value when data generated by said geographical position sensor indicates that said position sensor is located at a previously unidentified and previously frequented location.

38. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 37 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said limited set of predefined status values includes values characterizing the movement of said given one of said members along a route between predetermined locations derived by comparing said data indicating the current position of said given one of said members with data specifying one or more established routes between said predetermined locations.

39. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said limited set of predefined status values includes values that indicate a particular one of a set of predefined activities in which said given one of said members may engage, said set of predetermined activities including walking, running and moving in a vehicle.

40. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

41. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes

a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.

42. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said indication of the current availability of each of the other members of said group to actively participate in communications further indicates whether or not each of said other members of said group has access to an operative communication link that can be used for said communications.

43. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said step of visually and continuously displaying comprises visually displaying predetermined graphical symbols representing status values received from other members of said group.

44. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said step of transmitting said status values is performed by transmitting data values via a communication network linking communication devices carried by said members of said limited group of consenting individuals, said communications devices being capable of exchanging both verbal text and voice messages in both directions between any two of said members.

45. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said communications network includes a cellular telephone network.

46. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission or reception of a message.

47. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission or reception and recording of a voice message.

48. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises establishing a bi-directional voice communications channel between any two of said members.

49. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said step of performing a message exchange comprises the transmission of reception of one or more non-verbal signals selected from a group comprising:

a picture or a graphical symbol identifying one of said members, a sound, a displayed light or color, and a tactile vibration.

50. A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises message exchange mode selected by one of said members from the group comprising:

the transmission or reception and recording of a voice message,

the transmission or reception of a text message,

the transmission or reception of non-verbal signals, and

establishing a bi-directional voice communications channel between said given one and said selected one of said member.