Virtual notes in a reality overlay

• US 9,288,079 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Douris, Stephan, Crane, Barry, Perry, Marc, Athsani, Athellina, Kalaboukis, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Distefano, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US13/360,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20120131435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 715/757
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 5/14 for overflow or underflow handling, e.g. full or empty flags
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Virtual notes are provided that enable virtual communications between users. A user is enabled to input content into a note using an electronic device. The user is enabled to associate a virtual representation of the note with an entity to generate a virtual note. The user is enabled to position the virtual representation of the virtual note in a virtual space superimposed on the entity. The user is enabled to configure at least one attribute associated with the virtual note. The generated virtual note is transmitted to a notes database. Subsequent users can view and otherwise interact with the virtual note by interacting with the entity associated with the virtual note. For example, the subsequent users can interact with the virtual note by approaching the entity, or by viewing the entity on a map displayed by an electronic device.

Claims

1. A method in a notes server, comprising:

detecting, by a processor, an interaction of a first user with an entity, when the first user is in a geographic proximity of the entity;

detecting, by the processor, that a second user viewed the entity on a map displayed by an electronic device of the second user;

determining, by a processor, one or more notes associated with the entity;

transmitting, by a processor, an alert signal to an electronic device of the first user indicating association of the one or more notes with the entity;

transmitting, by a processor, another alert signal to the second user'"'"'s electronic device indicating association of the one or more notes with the entity;

receiving, by a processor, a request from the first user'"'"'s electronic device for a note of the one or more notes in response to the alert;

transmitting, by a processor, the note requested by the first user to the first user'"'"'s electronic device, the first user'"'"'s note including position information configured to enable the first user'"'"'s electronic device to display a virtual representation of the note superimposed on the entity;

receiving, by a processor, a request from the second user'"'"'s electronic device for a note of the one or more notes in response to the other alert signal; and

transmitting, by a processor, the note requested by the second user to the second user'"'"'s electronic device, the second user'"'"'s note including position information configured to enable the second user'"'"'s electronic device to display a virtual representation of the note requested by the second user superimposed on the entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a living being, an object, or a geographical location, wherein said detecting an interaction of a user with an entity comprises:

detecting, by a processor, an interaction of the first user with a living being, an object, or a geographical location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting an interaction by the user with the entity by determining that the user entered a region proximate to the entity comprises:

detecting, by a processor, an interaction by the first user with the entity by determining that the first user entered the region proximate to the entity and that the first user'"'"'s electronic device is oriented toward the entity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering, by a processor, the determined one or more notes based on at least one attribute associated with the determined one or more notes.

5. A notes engine, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory processor readable storage medium that further comprises components executable by the processor, the components comprising;

a location comparator configured to receive an indication of geographic proximity of a first user with an entity, and to determine one or more notes associated with the entity stored in a notes database; and

a notes manager configured to transmit an alert signal to an electronic device of the first user to indicate the one or more notes associated with the entity, the notes manager further configured to transmit another alert signal to an electronic device of a second user on receiving an indication that the second user viewed the entity on a map displayed by the second user'"'"'s electronic device;

wherein the notes manager is configured to receive a request from each of the electronic devices of the first and second users for a respective note of the one or more notes in response to the alerts, and to transmit the respective requested notes to the respective electronic devices of the first and second users, the respective notes including respective position information configured to enable the respective electronic devices of the first and second users to display a respective virtual representation of the respective notes superimposed on the entity.

6. The notes engine of claim 5, wherein the entity is a living being, an object, or a geographical location.

7. The notes engine of claim 5,

wherein the notes manager includes a notes filter configured to filter the determined one or more notes based on at least one attribute associated with the determined one or more notes;

wherein the notes manager is configured to transmit the alert signals to indicate the filtered one or more notes; and

wherein the notes manager is configured to receive the request from the first user'"'"'s electronic device for the note of the filtered one or more notes in response to the alert, and to transmit the requested note to the first user'"'"'s electronic device.

8. The notes engine of claim 7, wherein the at least one attribute includes at least one of a viewing permission, an expiration date, or a metadata.

9. The notes engine of claim 5, wherein the notes manager is configured to receive a second note from a third user, and to store the second note in the notes database.

10. The notes engine of claim 5, wherein the notes manager is configured to receive a version of the note transmitted to the first user'"'"'s electronic device annotated with a comment from the first user, and to store the annotated version of the note in the notes database.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

detect an interaction of a first user with an entity, when the first user is in a geographic proximity with the entity;

detect that a second user viewed the entity on a map displayed by an electronic device of the second user;

determine, one or more notes associated with the entity;

transmit an alert signal to an electronic device of the first user indicating association of the one or more notes with the entity;

transmit another alert signal to an electronic device of the second user indicating association of the one or more notes with the entity;

receive a request from the first user'"'"'s electronic device for a note of the one or more notes in response to the alert;

transmit the note requested by the first user to the first user'"'"'s electronic device, the first user'"'"'s note including position information configured to enable the first user'"'"'s electronic device to display a virtual representation of the note superimposed on the entity;

receive a request from the second user'"'"'s electronic device for a note of the one or more notes in response to the other alert; and

transmit the note requested by the second user to the second user'"'"'s electronic device, the second user'"'"'s note including position information configured to enable the second user'"'"'s electronic device to display a virtual representation of the note superimposed on the entity.