Wireless communications with visually-identified targets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of interpersonal communications performed by at least one of:
- (i) at least one device, or (ii) a data processing system, the method comprising;
determining that a first message is received, said first message being from a particular person and addressed to a particular user of a telecommunications terminal, wherein said telecommunications terminal is a wireless mobile device;
directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user a first portion of said first message from said person, wherein said directing to convey said first portion;
(a) is performed while said person is within a physical proximity to said user that is close enough to allow being observable to said user, and (b) at least indicates to said user the existence of said first message without providing information that would enable said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user in particular;
determining, based on said user indicating descriptive information of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said person while said person is within said physical proximity to said user, at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person; and
directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user at least a second portion of said first message, wherein said directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user at least said second portion (a) is performed after said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity of said person, (b) is performed while said person is within said proximity of said user, (c) at least conveys to said user information that is not conveyed by said directing to convey at least said first portion and (d) at least one of;
(i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said user and said person or (ii) provides information that allows said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism for initiating contact with someone, via a telecommunications system, who is in the admirer'"'"'s proximity, but whose identity or telecommunications address (e.g., telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) is unknown. The illustrative embodiments enable the user to use what information he does know about the admired person—the admiring person'"'"'s distinguishing characteristics—to get a telecommunications address through which the initial contact can be made.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A method of interpersonal communications performed by at least one of:
- (i) at least one device, or (ii) a data processing system, the method comprising;
determining that a first message is received, said first message being from a particular person and addressed to a particular user of a telecommunications terminal, wherein said telecommunications terminal is a wireless mobile device; directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user a first portion of said first message from said person, wherein said directing to convey said first portion;
(a) is performed while said person is within a physical proximity to said user that is close enough to allow being observable to said user, and (b) at least indicates to said user the existence of said first message without providing information that would enable said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user in particular;determining, based on said user indicating descriptive information of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said person while said person is within said physical proximity to said user, at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person; and directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user at least a second portion of said first message, wherein said directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user at least said second portion (a) is performed after said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity of said person, (b) is performed while said person is within said proximity of said user, (c) at least conveys to said user information that is not conveyed by said directing to convey at least said first portion and (d) at least one of;
(i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said user and said person or (ii) provides information that allows said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- (i) at least one device, or (ii) a data processing system, the method comprising;
-
14. A method of interpersonal communications performed by at least one of:
- (i) at least one device or (ii) a data processing system, the method comprising;
determining that a first message is received, said first message being from a particular person and addressed to a particular user of a telecommunications terminal, wherein said telecommunications terminal is a wireless mobile device; directing a data processing system to convey to said user a first portion of said first message from said person, wherein said directing to convey said first portion;
(a) is performed while said person is within a physical proximity to said user that is close enough to allow being observable to said user, and (b) at least indicates to said user the existence of said first message without providing information that would enable said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user in particular;determining, based on said user indicating descriptive information of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said person while said person is within said physical proximity to said user, at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person; and directing said data processing system to convey to said user at least a second portion of said first message, wherein said directing said data processing system to convey to said user at least said second portion (a) is performed after said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity of said person, (b) is performed while said person is within said proximity of said user, (c) at least conveys to said user information that is not conveyed by said directing to convey at least said first portion and (d) at least one of;
(i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said user and said person, or (ii) provides information that allows said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- (i) at least one device or (ii) a data processing system, the method comprising;
-
26. A method comprising the following steps in the order named:
-
a) receiving first information in at least one of a device or computer system, said first information being at least indicative of a first person selecting a particular second person; b) directing a first message to be conveyed to said second person, said directing said first message to be conveyed to said second person (a) being performed in at least one of a device or computer system while said first person is within a physical proximity to said second person that is close enough to allow being observable to said second person, (b) at least indicating to said second person that interest has been expressed in said second person, and (c) withholding information that would enable said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person in particular; c) receiving second information in at least one of a device or computer system, said second information comprising information that is descriptive of at least one of;
(i) appearance, or (ii) spatial position, of said first person, and said receiving said second information being indicative of said second person selecting said first person; andd) directing a second message to be conveyed to said second person while said first person is within said physical proximity to said second person, wherein said directing said second message to be conveyed to said second person (a) is performed in at least one of a device or computer system, (b) conveys information not conveyed by said first message, and (c) at least one of (i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said second person and said first person, or (ii) provides information that allows said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method comprising the following steps in the order named:
-
a) receiving first information in at least one of a device or computer system, said first information being at least indicative of a first person selecting a particular second person; b) directing a first message to be conveyed to said second person, said directing said first message to be conveyed to said second person (i) being performed in at least one of a device or computer system while said first person is within a physical proximity to said second person that is close enough to allow being observable to said second person, (ii) at least indicating to said second person that interest has been expressed in said second person, and (iii) withholding information that would enable said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person in particular; c) directing to be conveyed to said second person information descriptive of observable characteristics of each of one or more persons including said first person, in such a way that allows said second person to indicate, to a second wireless device operated by said second person, a particular person who is observed by said second person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment, said observable characteristics being characteristics of at least one of appearance or spatial location; d) receiving second information in at least one of a device or computer system, wherein said receiving said second information is indicative of said second person selecting said first person; and e) directing a second message to be conveyed to said second person while said first person is within said physical proximity to said second person, wherein said directing said second message to be conveyed to said second person (a) is performed in at least one of a device or computer system, (b) conveys information not conveyed by said first message, and (c) at least one of (i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said second person and said first person, or (ii) provides information that allows said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification