Automatic information delivery using a plurality of networked devices

• US 7,965,984 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Smyers, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun; Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/036,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/461, 455/557, 455/420, 455/569.1, 455/563, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.6, 381/74, 381/370, 381/376
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Particular embodiments generally relate to providing information to a user. In one embodiment, a first information delivery device detects a headset associated with a user. The headset is detected when it is within a range of the first information delivery device. The first information delivery device contacts the headset using pairing information for the headset. After the pairing operation, information to deliver to the user is then determined. The information may be determined based on a user identifier associated with the user. For example, personalized information may be delivered to the headset. This personalized information may be information about the store or shopping center. In one example, the headset may be automatically contacted by information delivery device, which may cause the headset to ring. The user may decide to answer and can then hear the personalized information.

Claims

1. A method for sending information to a user, the method comprising:

detecting, using a first information delivery device in a plurality of information delivery devices, a headset associated with the user that is within a range of the first information delivery device;

contacting the headset using pairing information for the headset, wherein the pairing information is shared among the plurality of information delivery devices, and only one of the plurality of information delivery devices performs a pairing operation with the headset to determine the pairing information;

determining information to deliver to the headset, the information being specific to the first information delivery device and separate from the pairing information, wherein different of the plurality of information delivery devices are configured to deliver different information to the headset; and

sending the determined information from the first information delivery device to the headset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing the pairing operation between the first information delivery device and the headset to determine the pairing information; and

storing the pairing information in the first information delivery device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending the pairing information from the first information delivery device to a second information delivery device to allow the second information delivery device to contact the headset without performing another pairing operation with the headset.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the pairing information from a second information delivery device or central database; and

storing the pairing information, wherein the pairing information is used to contact the headset without performing a pairing operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining information comprises:

determining information specific to the first information delivery device, wherein the information is pertinent to an item located within the range of the information delivery device.

6. The method of claim 1, where the determined information is personalized for the user using a user identifier associated with the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the determined information comprises sending the determined information wirelessly to the headset.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving voice information from the headset, wherein determining the information comprises using the voice information to determine the information to deliver based on the information specific to the first information delivery device.

9. A system configured to send information to a user, the system comprising:

a plurality of information delivery devices, wherein different of the plurality of information delivery devices are configured to deliver different information to the user each information delivery device comprising;

a detection communicator configured to detect, using a first of the plurality of information delivery devices, a headset associated with the user that is within a range of the first information delivery device;

a communicator configured to contact the headset using pairing information for the headset, wherein the pairing information is shared among the plurality of information delivery devices, and only one of the plurality of information delivery devices performs a pairing operation with the headset to determine the pairing information;

an information determiner configured to determine information that is separate from the pairing information to deliver to the headset; and

an information sender configured to send the determined information to the headset,

wherein the first information delivery device is configured to perform a pairing operation to pair with the headset to determine the pairing information, the first information delivery device configured to share the pairing information by sending to a second of the plurality of delivery devices.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information delivery devices are configured to send the determined information wirelessly.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first information delivery device is the only information delivery device in the plurality of information delivery devices to perform the pairing operation with the headset to determine the pairing information to allow all of the plurality of information delivery devices to contact the headset.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first information delivery device is configured to broadcast the pairing information to the plurality of information delivery devices to allow them to contact the headset without performing another pairing operation with the headset.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a central database configured to store the pairing information for the headset, wherein an information delivery device is configured to access the pairing information to facilitate pairing with the headset without performing another pairing operation.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the information determiner is configured to determine information specific to the first information delivery device and separate from the pairing information, wherein the information is pertinent to an item located within the range of the first information delivery device.

15. The system of claim 9, where the determined information is personalized for the user using a user identifier associated with the user.

16. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors, and when executed being operable to;

detect, using a first information delivery device in a plurality of information delivery devices, a headset associated with a user that is within a range of the first information delivery device;

contact the headset using pairing information for the headset, wherein the pairing information is shared among the plurality of information delivery devices, and only one of the plurality of information delivery devices performs a pairing operation with the headset to determine the pairing information;

determine information to deliver to the headset, the information being specific to the first information delivery device and separate from the pairing information, wherein different of the plurality of information delivery devices are configured to deliver different information to the headset; and

send the determined information from the first information delivery device to the headset.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

perform the pairing operation between the first information delivery device and the headset to determine the pairing information; and

store the pairing information in the first information delivery device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to send the pairing information from the first information delivery device to a second information delivery device to allow the second information to contact the headset without performing another pairing operation with the headset.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

receive the pairing information from a second information delivery device or central database; and

store the pairing information, wherein the pairing information is used to contact the headset without performing a pairing operation.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the logic operable to determine information comprises logic when executed that is further operable to determine information specific to the first information delivery device, wherein the information is pertinent to an item located within the range of the information delivery device.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, where the determined information is personalized for the user using a user identifier associated with the user.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein logic operable to send the determined information comprises logic when executed that is further operable to send the determined information wirelessly to the headset.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the logic is further operable to receive voice information from the headset, wherein logic operable to determine the information comprises using the voice information to determine the information to deliver based on the information specific to the information delivery device.