Method and apparatus for electronic messaging for managing and communicating availability of a user

• US 8,959,161 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enviroquest Limited
• Original Assignee: Enviroquest Limited
• Inventors: Kevan, Sherrene D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hitesh
• Application Number:
  US13/008,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709225-226, 434/350, 379/201.02, 379/219
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1845 broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A method, apparatus and systems for managing and communicating the availability of a first user to a community using an electronic message board connected to a wall or door. The electronic message board may display messages to the community. The first user and the community may leave recorded audio and/or video messages for each other on the electronic message board through a user interface and the location of the first user may be determined by the electronic message board and displayed to the community.

Claims

1. An electronic message board associated with a first user for managing the communication between the first user and a plurality of secondary users, the electronic message board comprising:

a hardware component comprising a processing module, a storage module, and a communications module;

a plurality of ports coupled to the hardware component and chosen from the group comprising a USB port and a memory card port, the plurality of ports are configured to upload and download a data or information to and from a removable storage device;

a recording component configured to record an electronic message, wherein the electronic message is an audio message or a video message;

a speaker coupled to the hardware component and used to play an audio of the electronic message;

a mobile device configured to receive a location data and transmit a positioning data signal of a current location of the first user using the location data, the mobile device is carried by the first user;

a transceiver for receiving from the mobile device the positioning data signal relating to the current location of the first user;

a display panel connected to the hardware component and configured to display the data or information, display a video of the electronic message, and display the current location of the first user on a map image;

a graphical interface configured to enable the first user and the plurality of secondary users to receive information from and provide information to the hardware component and enable the first user to play the electronic message recorded by the one of the plurality of secondary users or enable one of the plurality of secondary users at the office associated with the first user to play the electronic message recorded by the first user;

a motion sensor configured to activate power to the electronic message board when a movement is detected in front of the display panel at the first location;

at least one solar cell to collect light energy for powering the electronic message board; and

wherein the electronic message board is connected to a first surface at a first location associated with the first user.

2. The electronic message board of claim 1, wherein the graphical interface further comprises a touch screen.

3. The electronic message board of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning software for determining and providing the current location of the first user based upon the positioning data received from the mobile device.

4. The electronic message board of claim 1, wherein the data or information is selected from the group comprising a homework assignment, an emergency contact information, a schedule, a name of a particular first user, a first user'"'"'s schedule, a first user'"'"'s office hours, one of a plurality of secondary user'"'"'s questions, and a message for the first user from one of the plurality of secondary users.

5. The electronic message board of claim 1, wherein the first location is an office or a laboratory.

6. The electronic message board of claim 5, wherein the first user is selected from the group comprising a professor, a teacher, a teaching assistant, and a counselor.

7. The electronic message board of claim 6, wherein the plurality of secondary users is a plurality of students.

8. The electronic message board of claim 5, wherein the first user is a doctor.

9. The electronic message board of claim 8, wherein the plurality of secondary users is selected from the group comprising interns, residents, nurses, administrators, and patients.

10. The electronic message board of claim 1, wherein the electronic message board further comprises security software to limit an first user access to the electronic message.

11. Electronic message board of claim 10, wherein the electronic message board further comprises programming to permit the electronic message recorded by the plurality of secondary users to only be accessible by the first user.

12. A method of managing the communication between the first user and a plurality of secondary users utilizing an electronic message board located at an office of the first user, the method comprising:

enabling either a first user or at least one of a plurality of secondary users to record an electronic message on an electronic message board at an office, wherein the electronic message board is connected to a door or wall at the office and the electronic message board comprises;

a hardware component comprising a processing module, a storage module, and a communications module,

a plurality of ports coupled to the hardware component and chosen from the group comprising a USB port and a memory card port, the plurality of ports are configured to upload and download a data or information to and from a removable storage device,

a recording component configured to record an electronic message, wherein the electronic message is an audio message or a video message,

a speaker coupled to the hardware component and used to play an audio of the electronic message,

a display panel connected to the hardware component for displaying the data or information and displaying a video of the electronic message,

a graphical interface configured to enable the first user and the plurality of secondary users to receive information from and provide information to the hardware component,

a transceiver for receiving from a mobile device a positioning data signal relating to a current location of the first user,

a motion sensor configured to activate power to the electronic message board when a movement is detected in front of the display panel, and

at least one solar cell to collect light energy for powering the electronic message board;

enabling either the first user or the plurality of secondary users to upload the data or information to the electronic message board at the office using the plurality of ports;

enabling either the first user or the plurality of secondary users to download the data or information from the electronic message board at the office using the plurality of ports;

enabling the first user at the office to play the electronic message recorded by the one of the plurality of secondary users;

enabling one of the plurality of secondary users at the office to play the electronic message recorded by the first user;

instructing the first user to carry the mobile device;

instructing that the mobile device receive a location data;

transmitting to the electronic message board from the mobile device the positioning data signal of the current location of the first user using the location data; and

enabling the plurality of secondary users to view the current location of the first user on a map image on the electronic message board.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the location data is received from a GPS device, a radio frequency identification device, or an infrared device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic message board further comprises a global positioning software for determining and providing the current location of the first user based upon the positioning data received from the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the data or information is selected from the group comprising a homework assignment, emergency contact information, schedules, a name of particular first user, a first user'"'"'s schedule, a first user'"'"'s office hours, one of a plurality of secondary user'"'"'s questions, and a message for the first user from one of the plurality of secondary users.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic message board further comprises a motion sensor configured to activate power to the electronic message board when a movement is detected in front of the display panel at the first location of the first user.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic message board further comprises security software to limit an access to the electronic message.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic message board further comprises programming to permit the electronic message recorded by the plurality of secondary users to only be accessible by the first user.

19. A method for utilizing an electronic message board located at an office of a professor, the method comprising:

enabling either a professor or at least one of a plurality of students to record an the electronic message on an electronic message board at an office associated with the professor wherein the electronic message board is connected to a wall or door at the office associated with the professor, and the electronic message board comprises;

a hardware component comprising a processing module, a storage module, and a communications module,

a plurality of ports coupled to the hardware component and chosen from the group comprising a USB port and a memory card port, the plurality of ports are configured to upload and download a data or information to and from a removable storage device,

a recording component configured to record an electronic message, wherein the electronic message is an audio message or a video message,

a speaker coupled to the hardware component and used to play an audio of the electronic message,

a transceiver for receiving from a mobile device, positioning data signal relating to a current location of the professor,

a display panel connected to the hardware component for displaying the data or information, displaying a video of the electronic message, and displaying the current location of the professor on a map image,

a graphical interface configured to enable the first user and the plurality of secondary users to receive information from and provide information to the hardware component,

a motion sensor configured to activate power to the electronic message board when a movement is detected in front of the display panel, and

at least one solar cell to collect light energy for powering the electronic message board;

instructing the professor to carry a mobile device;

instructing that the mobile device receive a location data;

transmitting to the electronic message board from the mobile device a positioning data signal of the current location of the professor using the location data;

enabling a plurality of students to view the current location of the professor on a map image on the electronic message board;

enabling either the professor or the plurality of students to upload the data or information to the electronic message board at the office of the professor using the plurality of ports;

enabling either the professor or the plurality of students to download the data or information from the electronic message board at the office of the professor using the plurality of ports;

enabling the professor at the office associated with the professor to play the electronic message recorded by the one of the plurality of students; and

enabling one of the plurality of students at the office associated with the professor to play the electronic message recorded by the professor.