METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USER ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNICATION IN A WIDE AREA NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100315480A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Kahn
• Original Assignee: Mark Kahn
• Inventors: Kahn, Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/485,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315480A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

An invention is provided for allowing user association in a computer environment. The invention includes a central server having a subscriber database, the subscriber database storing a plurality of subscriber data entries, each subscriber data entry including characteristics of a related subscriber. The system also includes a plurality of user association and communication devices. Each user association and communication device is associated with a user database that stores calling criteria data indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers. In use, the central server facilitates a calling connection between at least two user association and communication devices based on the calling criteria data stored in a user database and characteristics stored in the subscriber database.

Claims

1. A system for providing user association in a computer environment, comprising the operations of:

a central server having a subscriber database, the subscriber database storing a plurality of subscriber data entries, each subscriber data entry including characteristics of a related subscriber; and

a plurality of user association and communication devices, each user association and communication device being associated with a user database, each user database storing calling criteria data indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers,

wherein the central server facilitates a calling connection between at least two user association and communication devices based on the calling criteria data stored in a user database and characteristics stored in the subscriber database.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each user association and communication device includes a user database.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central server includes a plurality of user databases, each user database being associated with a particular user association and communication device.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central server facilitates the calling connection by selecting a subscriber having characteristics at least partially matching the calling criteria data stored in the user database associated with a requesting user communication and association device.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the calling connection facilitates video and audio data transfer between user association and communication devices.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each user association and communication device is connected to a monitor having the ability to display video image data.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a remote control device associated with each user association and communication device, each remote control device including a microphone capable of providing audio data to the associated user association and communication device.

8. A user association and communication device, comprising:

a processor;

a video camera in communication with the processor;

a video output module in communication with the processor, the video output module capable of providing video image data generated via the video camera to a monitor;

an audio output module in communication with the processor, the audio output module capable of providing audio data to an audio device; and

a network adaptor in communication with the processor, the network adaptor capable of facilitating a network connection,

wherein the user association and communication device is associated with a user database storing calling criteria data indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers.

9. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the user database is stored within the user association and communication device.

10. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the user database is stored on a central server.

11. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the user association and communication device is in communication with a central server having a subscriber database storing a plurality of subscriber data entries, each subscriber data entry including characteristics of a related subscriber.

12. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 11, wherein the central server facilitates a calling connection between at least two user association and communication devices based on the calling criteria data stored in a user database and characteristics stored in the subscriber database.

13. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the user database further includes data comprising contact data for individuals subscribers, and contact data for emergency services.

14. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the user association and communication device is capable of sending and receiving video and audio data to another user association and communication device.

15. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein the video output module is connected to a monitor having the ability to display video image data during operation.

16. A user association and communication device as recited in claim 8, wherein a remote control device is associated with the user association and communication device, the remote control device including a microphone capable of providing audio data to the user association and communication device.

17. A method for associating individuals via a network medium, comprising:

storing a plurality of subscriber data indicating characteristics of individual subscribers;

storing a plurality of calling criteria data sets indicating preferred characteristics of subscribers, each calling criteria data set being associated with a requesting user;

selecting an individual subscriber having characteristics at least partially matching a calling criteria data set associated with the requesting user;

facilitating a calling connection between the selected individual subscriber and the requesting user.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the calling criteria associated with the requesting user is stored within a user database stored on a central server, the central server storing a plurality of user databases and the subscriber data.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the calling criteria associated with the requesting user is stored within a user database stored on a user association and communication device, wherein the user association and communication device is in communication with a central server storing the subscriber data.