Observation platform for performing structured communications

• US 9,542,695 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theatro Labs Inc.
• Original Assignee: Theatro Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Russell, Steven Paul, VanBuskirk, Guy R., Kumar, Ravi Shankar, Nagothu, Kranthimanoj
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US14/320,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/456.6, 340/351
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for sending information in an observation platform. A determination is made, at an observation platform, that a first communication device associated with a first user is located in an environment. A determination is made, at the observation platform, that the first communication device is located in proximity to a second communication device associated with a second user. Speech information is sent to the first communication device for the first user to use in communicating with the second user.

Claims

1. A method for sending information in an observation platform, comprising:

determining, at an observation platform, that a first communication device associated with a first user is located in an environment;

determining, at said observation platform, that said first communication device is located in proximity to a second communication device associated with a second user; and

sending speech information to said first communication device for said first user to use in communicating with said second user wherein said speech information is audible to said first user and is pushed to said first communication device by a computer system associated with said observation platform.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said speech information pertains to the identity of said second user such that said first user may recognize said second user.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first user is an associate in a retail environment, said second user is a potential customer of said retail environment, and said speech information is for said first user to make an offer to said second user.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said speech information is used for cueing touch and/or in-person communications with said second users.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said observation platform comprises said computer system and a radio for communicating with said first communication device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said observation platform comprises said second communication device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from said second communication device, at said observation platform, wherein a first characteristic of said signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of said second communication device;

determining, at said observation platform, a destination for said signal; and

relaying said signal from said observation platform to said destination.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein locations of said first communication device and said second communication device are determined, at said observation platform, via signal strength of radio frequency signals between said first communication device and said second communication device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a location of said second communication device is determined based on a signal strength of said second communication device as measured via said first communication device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first communication device and said second communication device each generate geographic position information and send said geographic position information to said observation platform.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein locations of said first communication device and said second communication device are determined, at said observation platform, via optical capturing devices associated with said environment.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein locations of said first communication device and said second communication device are determined, at said observation platform, via radio frequency identification (RFID) devices associated with said environment.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, at said observation platform, a user history of activities between said second communication device and said environment; and

tailoring said speech information based on said second communication device history.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein Bluetooth is used to determine that said that said first communication device is located in proximity to said second communication device.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second communication device is owned by said second user.

16. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second communication device is owned by an entity associated with said environment and issued to said second user within said environment.

17. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second communication device is required to install a software app for use in said environment.

18. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second communication device is not required to install a software app for use in said environment.

19. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for sending information in an observation platform, said method comprising:

determining, at an observation platform, that a first communication device associated with a first user is located in an environment;

determining, at said observation platform, that said first communication device is located in proximity to a second communication device associated with a second user; and

sending speech information to said first communication device for said first user to use in communicating with said second user wherein said speech information is audible to said first user and is pushed to said first communication device by a computer system associated with said observation platform.

20. A system for sending information in an observation platform, comprising:

an observation platform associated with an environment, comprising;

a radio for communicating with a first communication device associated with a first user and a second communication device associated with a second user a non-user; and

a computer system coupled with said radio for;

determining, at an observation platform, that a first communication device associated with a first user is located in an environment;

determining, at said observation platform, that said first communication device is located in proximity to a second communication device associated with a second user; and

sending speech information to said first communication device for said first user to use in communicating with said second user wherein said speech information is audible to said first user and is pushed to said first communication device by a computer system associated with said observation platform.