Observation platform for using structured communications

• US 9,691,047 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• 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., Kittler, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US15/208,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20160321611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 4554121, 4554563, 455457, 4554566, 701208, 3482071
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

In a method of using structured communication in a plurality of observation platforms, within a first observation platform associated with a first radio range, a second communication device associated with a computer system receives a signal from a first communication device. A first characteristic of the signal corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic of the signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first communication device. The computer system: recognizes a first user associated with the first communication device; derives context information for the signal; and relays the signal, via a computer network, to a second computer system associated with a second observation platform. The second observation platform is associated with a second radio range outside of the first radio range. In the second observation platform, the signal is relayed via the second computer system to a derived destination in the second observation platform.

Claims

1. A method of using structured communications in a plurality of observation platforms, comprising:

in a first observation platform associated with a first radio range;

receiving, by a second communication device associated with a computer system, a signal from a first communication device, wherein a first characteristic of said signal corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic of said signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of said first communication device;

recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system;

deriving, by said computer system, context information for said signal; and

relaying, by said computer system via a computer network, said signal from said computer system to a second computer system associated with a second observation platform, wherein said second observation platform is associated with a second radio range that is outside of said first radio range; and

in said second observation platform;

relaying, via said second computer system, said signal to a destination in said second observation platform, said destination derived from said context information.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said first user based on a unique signature associated with transmissions of said first communication device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said user based on an association of said user with said first communication device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said user based upon a classification of said user.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said user based on said geographic position of said first communication device being associated with said user.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first observation platform is physically remote from said second observation platform.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first observation platform is located at a first physical address and said second observation platform is located at a second physical address.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first user is a user selected from the group of users consisting of:

an employee, a manager, and a customer.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first user is a user selected from the group of users consisting of:

a manager and at least one non-manager.

10. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method of using structured communications in a plurality of observation platforms, said method comprising:

in a first observation platform that is associated with a first radio range;

receiving, by a second communication device associated with a computer system, a signal from a first communication device, wherein a first characteristic of said signal corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic of said signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of said first communication device;

recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system;

deriving, by said computer system, context information for said signal; and

relaying, by said computer system via a computer network, said signal from said computer system to a second computer system associated with a second observation platform, wherein said second observation platform is associated with a second radio range that is outside of said first radio range; and

in said second observation platform;

relaying, via said second computer system, said signal to a destination in said second observation platform, said destination derived from said context information.

11. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said first user based on a unique signature associated with transmissions of said first communication device.

12. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said user based on an association of said user with said first communication device.

13. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said user based upon a classification of said user.

14. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said recognizing, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system comprises:

recognizing said user based on said geographic position of said first communication device being associated with said user.

15. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said first observation platform is physically remote from said second observation platform.

16. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said first observation platform is located at a first physical address and said second observation platform is located at a second physical address.

17. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said first user is a user selected from the group of users consisting of:

an employee, a manager, and a customer.

18. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said first user is a user selected from the group of users consisting of:

a manager and at least one non-manager.

19. A structured communication system comprising:

a first observation platform associated with a first radio range, said first observation platform comprising;

a first communication device;

a second communication; and

a computer system, wherein said second communication device is associated with said computer system; and

a second observation platform associated with a second radio range that is outside of said first radio range, said second observation platform comprising;

a second computer system;

wherein said observation platform is configured to;

receive, by said second communication device associated with said computer system, a signal from said first communication device, wherein a first characteristic of said signal corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic of said signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of said first communication device;

recognize, by said computer system, a first user associated with said first communication device at said computer system;

derive, by said computer system, context information for said signal; and

relay, by said computer system via a computer network, said signal from said computer system to a second computer system associated with a second observation platform; and

wherein said second observation platform is configured to;

relay, via said second computer system, said signal to a destination in said second observation platform, said destination derived from said context information.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said first observation platform is physically remote from said second observation platform.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said first observation platform is located at a first physical address and said second observation platform is located at a second physical address.