Tracking apparatus and method, as for an exhibition
First Claim
1. A method for conducting an exhibition wherein a visitor having an encoded tag visits a plurality of stations each including an encoded tag reader, the method comprising:
- registering a visitor including storing in a database visitor information entered on a registration screen accessed via the Internet;
issuing a visitor tag containing visitor information, the visitor tag providing at least visitor information in an encoded tag format;
registering exhibitors including storing in a database exhibitor information entered on a registration screen accessed via the Internet;
storing exhibitor information of a registered exhibitor in a memory of one of a number of respective PDA devices, wherein each respective PDA device has an encoded tag reader associated therewith for receiving information in the encoded tag format;
whereby information can be communicated between the visitor tag and the PDA device when the visitor tag is proximate the PDA device,providing the respective PDA devices, wherein each PDA device includes stored exhibitor information of a respective registered exhibitor;
communicating information between the visitor tag and a particular PDA device when the visitor tag is proximate the particular PDA device, wherein visitor information from the visitor tag is stored in a memory associated with the particular PDA device;
collecting visitor information and exhibitor information from ones of the respective PDA devices after one or more visitor tags have communicated with a respective station;
processing the visitor information and exhibitor information collected from ones of the respective PDA devices in relation to visitor information and/or exhibitor information stored in the database; and
providing a report including processed exhibitor information representative of stations that communicated with a visitor tag and/or providing a report including processed visitor information representative of visitor tags that communicated with a respective station.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method are useful for conducting an exhibition at which visitors visit plural booths and/or stations at which a PDA and an encoded tag reader are provided. Exhibitor information is stored in a memory of the PDA. An encoded tag issued each visitor includes a memory from which information may be transmitted and/or into which information may be stored. Stored information may include visitor information, exhibitor information, visit information, product/service information and/or data items. The PDA and encoded tag reader communicate with the encoded tags and communicate directly or indirectly with one or more processors that process the information, e.g., for providing a report.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for conducting an exhibition wherein a visitor having an encoded tag visits a plurality of stations each including an encoded tag reader, the method comprising:
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registering a visitor including storing in a database visitor information entered on a registration screen accessed via the Internet; issuing a visitor tag containing visitor information, the visitor tag providing at least visitor information in an encoded tag format; registering exhibitors including storing in a database exhibitor information entered on a registration screen accessed via the Internet; storing exhibitor information of a registered exhibitor in a memory of one of a number of respective PDA devices, wherein each respective PDA device has an encoded tag reader associated therewith for receiving information in the encoded tag format; whereby information can be communicated between the visitor tag and the PDA device when the visitor tag is proximate the PDA device, providing the respective PDA devices, wherein each PDA device includes stored exhibitor information of a respective registered exhibitor; communicating information between the visitor tag and a particular PDA device when the visitor tag is proximate the particular PDA device, wherein visitor information from the visitor tag is stored in a memory associated with the particular PDA device; collecting visitor information and exhibitor information from ones of the respective PDA devices after one or more visitor tags have communicated with a respective station; processing the visitor information and exhibitor information collected from ones of the respective PDA devices in relation to visitor information and/or exhibitor information stored in the database; and
providing a report including processed exhibitor information representative of stations that communicated with a visitor tag and/or providing a report including processed visitor information representative of visitor tags that communicated with a respective station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for conducting an exhibition wherein a visitor having an encoded tag visits a plurality of stations each including an encoded tag reader, the method comprising:
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registering a visitor including storing in a database visitor information entered on a registration screen accessed via the Internet; issuing a visitor tag containing visitor information, the visitor tag providing at least visitor information in an encoded tag format; registering exhibitors including storing in a database exhibitor information entered on a registration screen accessed via the Internet; storing exhibitor information of a registered exhibitor in a memory of one of a number of respective PDA devices, wherein each respective PDA device has an encoded tag reader associated therewith for receiving information in the encoded tag format; whereby information can be communicated between the visitor smart tag and the PDA device when the visitor tag is proximate the PDA device, providing the respective PDA devices, wherein each PDA device includes stored exhibitor information of a respective registered exhibitor; communicating information between the visitor tag and a particular PDA device when the visitor tag is proximate the particular PDA device, wherein visitor information from the visitor tag is stored in a memory associated with the particular PDA device and/or wherein exhibitor information from the particular PDA device is stored in a memory associated with the visitor tag; collecting visitor information and exhibitor information from ones of the respective PDA devices and/or visitor tags after one or more visitor tags have communicated with a respective station; processing the visitor information and exhibitor information collected from ones of the respective PDA devices and/or visitor tags in relation to visitor information and/or exhibitor information stored in the database; and providing a report including processed exhibitor information representative of stations that communicated with a visitor tag and/or providing a report including processed visitor information representative of visitor tags that communicated with a respective station. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer instructions for tracking wherein a visitor having an encoded visitor tag visits a plurality of stations each including an encoded tag reader, comprising:
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means for causing a computer to register a visitor including storing in a database visitor information entered on a registration screen; means for causing the computer to store visitor information in a visitor tag in an encoded tag format; means for causing the computer to register exhibitors including storing in a database exhibitor information entered on a registration screen; means for causing the computer to store exhibitor information of a registered exhibitor in a PDA device operable with an encoded tag reader; whereby information can be communicated between the visitor tag and the PDA device when the visitor tag is proximate the encoded tag reader of the PDA device; means for causing the computer to store visitor information and exhibitor information from the PDA device after one or more visitor tags have communicated therewith; means for causing the computer to process the stored visitor information and exhibitor information from the PDA device in relation to visitor information and/or exhibitor information stored in the database; and means for causing the computer to provide a report including processed visitor information representative of one or more visitor tags that communicated with the PDA device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification