Transmission of broadcasts based on recipient location

• US 8,929,807 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brillhart, David C., Dawson, Christopher J., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Sand, Anne R., Seaman, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Steven S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gu, Andy
• Application Number:
  US13/220,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20130052940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/00 Arrangements specially adapted for receiving broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/52 of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for transmitting/broadcasting messages/content (e.g., audio) by routing such messages to an intended audience/recipient(s), and optionally applying audio preferences to broadcast characteristics. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention may receive a message/broadcast in a queue, and identify a set of intended recipients of the broadcast (e.g., based on the content therein). Once the intended recipients have been identified, a set of locations of the intended recipients may be determined. Based on the locations, at least one output device is selected (e.g., based on proximity of the output device(s) to the intended recipients). Thereafter, the broadcast may be transmitted to the intended recipients via the selected output device(s), while any associated audio preferences are applied. In one embodiment, if an intended recipient is listening to other content, such content may be muted and/or paused so that the transmitted broadcast may be heard.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for transmitting broadcasts based on a location of intended recipients, comprising:

issuing a boarding pass having an embedded radio frequency identification device (RFID) to each of a plurality of Passengers of an aircraft flight;

receiving a broadcast in a queue for broadcast through an airport from which the aircraft flight is to depart;

identifying a set of intended recipients for the broadcast based on content of the broadcast, the set of intended recipients being at least one of the plurality of passengers of the aircraft flight;

determining a first set of locations of the set of intended recipients in the airport using the embedded RFID;

selecting at least one first output device in the airport for transmitting the broadcast based on the first set of locations;

rotating the at least one first output device to point audio of the broadcast from an original direction to a direction of the set of intended recipients;

transmitting the broadcast to the set of intended recipients via the at least one first output device;

rotating the at least one first output device back to the original direction;

detecting, by the embedded RFID, movement of the set of intended recipients from the first set of locations to a second set of locations in the airport;

selecting at least one second output device in the airport for retransmitting the broadcast based on the second set of locations; and

retransmitting the broadcast to the set of intended recipients via the at least one second output device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the broadcast comprising an audio broadcast, the at least one first output device comprising at least one audio output device, and the at least one second output device comprising at least one second audio output device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the determining comprising detecting a movement of the set of intended recipients.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising applying a set of preferences associated with the set of intended recipients, prior to the transmitting.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the at least one first output device being selected based on a proximity of the at least one first output device to the first set of locations, and the at least one second output device being selected based on a proximity of the at least one second output device to the second set of locations.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, the computer readable storage media further comprising instructions to apply a set of preferences associated with the set of intended recipients, prior to the transmitting.

6. A system for transmitting broadcasts based on a location of intended recipients, comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

issue a boarding pass having an embedded radio frequency identification device (RFID) to each of a plurality of passengers of an aircraft flight;

receive a broadcast in a queue for broadcast through an airport from which the aircraft flight is to depart;

identify a set of intended recipients for the broadcast based on content of the broadcast, the set of intended recipients being at least one of the plurality of passengers of the aircraft flight;

determine a first set of locations, in the airport, of the set of intended recipients using the embedded RFID;

select at least one first output device in the airport for transmitting the broadcast based on the first set of locations;

customize at least one audio characteristic of the broadcast based on an environment of the first set of locations, the at least one audio characteristic comprising a language;

transmit the broadcast, comprising the customized audio characteristics, to the set of intended recipients via the at least one first output device;

detect, by the embedded RFID;

a movement of the set of intended recipients from the first set of locations to a second set of locations in the airport;

select at least one second output device in the airport for retransmitting the broadcast based on the second set of locations; and

retransmit the broadcast, comprising the customized audio characteristics, to the set of intended recipients via the at least one second output device.

7. The system of claim 6, the broadcast comprising an audio broadcast, the at least one first output device comprising at least one audio output device, and the at least one second output device comprising at least one second audio output device.

8. The system of claim 6, the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to detect a movement of the set of intended recipients.

9. The system of claim 6, the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to apply a set of preferences associated with the set of intended recipients, prior to the transmitting.

10. The system of claim 6, the at least one first output device being selected based on a proximity of the at least one first output device to the set of locations, and the at least one second output device being selected based on a proximity of the at least one second output device to the second set of locations.

11. A computer program product for transmitting broadcasts based on a location of intended recipients, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, to:

issue a boarding pass having an embedded radio frequency identification device (RFID) to each of a plurality of passengers of an aircraft flight;

receive a broadcast in a queue for broadcast through an airport from which the aircraft flight is to depart;

;

identify a set of intended recipients for the broadcast based on content of the broadcast, the set of intended recipients being at least one of the plurality of passengers of the aircraft flight;

determine a set of locations, in the airport, of the set of intended recipients using the embedded RFID;

select at least one output device in the airport for transmitting the broadcast based on the set of locations;

receiving a selection of a tone customized for indicating for which of the intended recipients the broadcast is intended; and

transmit the broadcast, preceded by the customized tone, to the set of intended recipients via the at least one output device in the airport.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, the broadcast comprising an audio broadcast, and the at least one output device comprising at least one audio output device.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, the computer readable storage media further comprising instructions to detect a movement of the set of intended recipients.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, the at least one output device being selected based on a proximity of the at least one output device to the set of locations.

16. A method for deploying a system for transmitting broadcasts based on a location of intended recipients, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

issue a boarding pass having an embedded radio frequency identification device (RFID) to each of a plurality of passengers of an aircraft flight;

receive a broadcast in a queue for broadcast through an airport from which the aircraft flight is to depart;

identify a set of intended recipients for the broadcast based on content of the broadcast, the set of intended recipients being at least one of the plurality of passengers of the aircraft flight;

determine a set of locations, in the airport, of the set of intended recipients using the embedded RFID;

select at least one output device in the airport for transmitting the broadcast based on the set of locations, the at least one output device being selected based on a proximity of the at least one output device to the set of locations; and

transmit the broadcast to the set of intended recipients via the at least one output device in the airport at a volume louder than transmission to output devices in the airport other than the selected at least one output device.