CONTENT CREATION, DISTRIBUTION, INTERACTION, AND MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090006418A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matt O'Malley
• Original Assignee: Matt O'Malley
• Inventors: O'Malley, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 8,799,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

A system for managing an end-user'"'"'s request for information and entertainment. This information can be retrieved using a kiosk with a computer, using software over the Internet with a hardwired computer-like device, or using software with a wireless handheld device. Applications include any areas including commercial, industrial, and government where groups of people congregate such as trade shows, retail stores, restaurants, offices, manufacturing plants, and governmental buildings. The system provides both audio and text information and entertainment from a plurality of sources. These sources include information and entertainment from the local environment or ‘on-site’ information, and from a remote environment. These locations can also retrieve information from the end-user. This information can be product feedback, customer service opinions, product information requests, or the like.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a user comprising:

generating a first predetermined content for storage in a first database;

generating a second predetermined content for storage in a second database;

interconnecting said first and second databases to a server means;

providing access to a plurality of transceivers to said server means; and

providing access to said first and second content, selectively, including a selector means on each said transceiver.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second predetermined content is determined by a local environment.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting said first database to said server means includes the World Wide Web.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said transceivers are hand held devices.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second content is at least one of audio, visual, or textual information.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said providing access by each of said transceivers includes a wireless link.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said server means and said second database are disposed in a local commercial environment.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 including determining the location of each of said transceivers in said local commercial environment.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein said second database includes information specific to said local commercial environment.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said transceivers are hand held devices and said selector means are activation devices carried by said hand held devices.

11. The method as defined in claim 2 including, providing access to said second database by a local content provider to input second content information.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said transceivers are handheld devices.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 including tracking said transceivers within said local environment.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein said tracked transceiver generates tracking information, said tracking information is provided to said local content provider.

15. The method as defined in claim 12 including navigating though selected content on said handheld devices.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein said content is at least one of audio, visual, or textual information.

17. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said server means includes a first server coupled to said first database and a second server coupled to said second database.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein said first server is coupled to said second server.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 which further includes a third party database coupled to said first and second servers.