System, Method, And Apparatus For Data-Driven Interactive Wayfinding And Associated Services

• US 20090144143A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Prism Technologies LLC (Prism Technologies Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prism Technologies LLC (Prism Technologies Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: IYER, G. V.
• Application Number:
  US11/952,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.520
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for providing interactive digital wayfinding to users includes a visual representation of a floor layout on an interactive display, providing services to attendees in rich multimedia output format, including locating exhibitor information based on search criteria, and plotting a path from the user to an exhibitor'"'"'s booth; viewing exhibitor-specific information, such as a description or video spot based on context of search; viewing new products or services for different categories of exhibitors; requesting information on an exhibitor and/or their product/service to be sent by email or to a PDA via input of attendee badge, smart card, or other information; viewing information on sessions, conference schedules, meetings and workshops; scheduling a meeting with an exhibitor during the tradeshow; answering survey questionnaires; obtaining information on exhibitor promotions; enrolling for exhibitor giveaways; finding local things to do; finding local places of interest; and other related information.

Claims

1. An interactive digital wayfinding system, comprising:

a. interactive display means for interfacing with a user of said system;

b. a computer readable program means for receiving data request input from the user, for processing said user input, for querying a data source relevant to said user input, for processing data retrieved from said data source, and for providing a response to the user according to the user'"'"'s request;

c. means for outputting said response to the user;

d. said data request input from the user selected from the group consisting of at least the following;

i. a search request;

ii. a digital route trace request;

iii. a destination location indicator;

iv. an origin location indicator;

v. a request for display of enhanced directory information;

vi. a request for enhanced information by category or sub-category item listing exhibitor information regarding products, services, or news item;

vii. a request for information;

viii. a request for meeting;

ix. a request to participate in a survey;

x. a request for optimized digital route trace to multiple locations;

xi. a request for an enhanced list of exhibitors and exhibitor information;

xii. a request for schedule, workshop, meeting, session, or event information;

xiii. a request for schedule, coupon, vendor special, premium, or loyalty information;

xiv. a request for a dining location;

xv. a request for a local attraction; and

,

xvi. a request for other pastime materials.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user identification means.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the user identification means is selected from the group consisting of a badge, a barcode reader, a smartcard reader, an RF identification reader, a proximity card identification reader, a biometric identification device, and a manual input device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for providing a report or logging means to a stakeholder of the system.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said user identification means establishes a link between the user and the stakeholder for purposes of outputting a stakeholder response to the user according to the user'"'"'s information or data request.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said means for outputting said response to the user is selected from the group consisting of a printer, a facsimile transmission, an electronic transmission, an electronic transmission to a user device, and a display output.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for delivering marketing, advertising, directory, and attract loop spots to a user thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a visual map for a location perceivable by a user in two or more dimensions.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said visual map includes a plurality of floor levels.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a virtual assistant inviting interaction from a user thereof.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said virtual assistant offers to provide a visual guide to the user for subsequent operation of said system.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a search engine for processing a user search request, said search engine processing said user request by criteria selected from the group consisting of a company name, a location identifier, a booth identifier, a category, a subcategory, a product, a product feature, a product location, a service, and a service provider location.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising means to display and output one or more visually-based marketing elements, said marketing elements selected from the group consisting of a multimedia presentation, company information, a context-driven promotion, a context-driven sales offering, a context-driven coupon, promotional or informational item, a detailed product listing, a detailed service listing, a request for information, a “

what'"'"'s new”

listing, a conference-at-a-glance listing, a workshop, a workshop schedule, and a workshop session.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising means to display and output one or more context-driven informational elements.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said system responds to user input by associating a context-based rule to ascertain and query a data source, and thereafter to output context-specific content to the user.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said system responds to user input by associating a marketing-based rule to ascertain and query a data source, and thereafter to output context-specific content to the user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said interactive display means is selected from the group consisting of a touch screen, an overlay, and an interactive projection system.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for displaying said response to the user delivers its output in visual, rich multimedia format.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to an exhibition venue and exhibition content.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to a shopping mall venue and shopping mall content.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to a sport venue and sport content.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to a museum venue and museum content.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to convention or conference center venue and convention or conference center content.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to a retail or grocery venue and retail or grocery content.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising (i) a user engagement process, (ii) virtual assistant interaction, (iii) a product category, subcategory, family or item search engine, and (iv) corresponding wayfinding locator.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to a parking venue and parking venue content.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to an industry selected from the group consisting of an entertainment complex, hotel or banquet facility, and resort, and associated content.

28. An interactive digital wayfinding system, comprising (a) a virtual assistant for interacting with a user of said system, (b) a multiple level and multiple dimension capable map display, (c) one or more of (i) a digital indication of an origin location and destination location and (ii) a digital route trace, (d) a search engine for searching by at least one of a company name, location identifier, product name, product identifier, and category, (e) means for delivering content to the user, said content selected from the group consisting of:

a multimedia presentation, rich multimedia formatted content, an advertisement, content complying with the user'"'"'s request for information, content complying with the user'"'"'s request for a personal conference, content complying with the user'"'"'s request for a further communication, a conference schedule, a workshop schedule, a product location, a product detail, a service location, a service detail, a request for a schedule, coupon, vendor special, promotion, premium, or loyalty-based deliverable, a visual representation of a product location upon said map, confirmation of a system-scheduled event, confirmation of a system-scheduled activity, context-driven informational elements, and context driven marketing elements.