System and method for communicating information

• US 8,487,772 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comsys Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian William Higgins
• Inventors: Higgins, Brian William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/636,736
• Time in Patent Office: 1,312 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.26, 340/539.29, 340/146.2, 340/500, 340/501, 340/457.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.6, 340/547.1, 600/2, 600/10, 600/300, 600/306, 600/307, 600/346, 600/549
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/171 Local features and components; Facial parts eye characteristics G06V40/18; Occluding parts, e.g. glasses; Geometrical relationships
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A system and method for effectively communicating information using at least one mode of communication is described, in which information recipients proximate to a communications device within a pre-determined space and during a pre-determined time period are identified, from whom physiological state information is obtained that, when coupled with other characteristics information, is used to select from a plurality of information elements at least one information element to better target the information elements. The information element is then provided to the communications device so that it may be provided to the information recipients in the pre-determined space in a manner that is sensed by the information recipients.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for communicating information comprising:

automatically determining a physical presence of a plurality of information recipients in a pre-determined space at a pre-determined time;

receiving characteristics information about each of the plurality of information recipients comprising a combination of at least one directly measured physiological state characteristic and at least one non-physiological state characteristic, wherein the directly measured physiological state characteristic information is measurable by at least one sensor and is received when the information recipients are in the pre-determined space;

selecting from a plurality of information elements at least one information element based on the received directly measured physiological state and non-physiological state characteristics information;

providing the at least one information element to a communications device, wherein the communications device comprises an output device adapted to outputting audible or visible information that is sensible to the information recipients in the pre-determined space; and

outputting by the output device the at least one information element in the pre-determined space.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-determined time is an end of a pre-determined time period.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising directly measuring, using the least one sensor, the directly measured physiological state characteristic.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-physiological state characteristic is selected from a database containing information recipient profiles, each profile being associated with one or more of the information recipients.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving characteristics information comprises retrieving characteristics information stored in a database containing information recipient profiles.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding the at least one information element to one or more information segments of a script of information.

7. A computer system for communicating information comprising:

a communications device adapted to outputting information sensible by a plurality of information recipients;

an information agent for receiving characteristic information about each of the plurality of information recipients physically present in a pre-determined space at a pre-determined time, the characteristic information comprising a combination of at least one directly measured physiological state characteristic and at least one non-physiological state characteristic;

at least one sensor in the pre-determined space for directly measuring the at least one directly measured physiological state characteristic and for providing the directly measured physiological state characteristic information to the information agent when the plurality of information recipients are in the pre-determined space; and

an information content generator for providing to the communications device a plurality of information elements selectable by the information agent based on the received at least one directly measured physiological state characteristic and the at least one non-physiological state characteristic.

8. The communications system according to claim 7, further comprising at least one sensor for sensing at least one environmental condition about the pre-determined space.

9. The communications system according to claim 7, wherein the information outputted by the communications device comprises audio and visual information.

10. The communications system according to claim 7, further comprising a memory device for storing the directly measured physiological state characteristic and the at least one non-physiological state characteristic.

11. The communications system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is a biometric sensor.

12. The communications system according to claim 11, wherein the biometric sensor senses one of a fingerprint, temperature, pulse, weight, and movement physiological state characteristic.

13. The communications system according to claim 11, wherein the biometric sensor is associated with a seat or surface.

14. The communications system according to claim 7, wherein the pre-determined space is an entertainment facility.

15. The communications system according to claim 7, wherein the information elements are one or more of a portion of or a whole static advertisement impression, motion picture, written script, broadcast television show, broadcast radio or television commercial, and a billboard advertisement.

16. The communications system according to claim 7, further comprising means for identifying the plurality of information recipients entering, leaving, and remaining in the pre-determined space.

17. The communications system according to claim 7, further comprising an information recipient profile database comprising records comprising information about the information recipients.

18. The communications system according to claim 7, further comprising receiving feedback from the plurality of information recipients other than the directly measured characteristics.

19. The communications system according to claim 7, wherein the information content generator is a provider of information content provided over one or more of a broadcast, satellite, or cable system.

20. A computer system for tailoring information to be communicated comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of information recipients physically present at a pre-determined location;

a plurality of fixed biometric sensors at or near the pre-determined location for directly measuring at least one physiological state characteristic about some of the plurality of information recipients when they are physically present at the pre-determined location;

an information recipient profile database comprising records comprising information about the directly measured physiological state characteristic and information about at least one non-physiological state characteristic about some of the plurality of information recipients; and

an information content generator for providing to a communications device a plurality of information elements selectable by an information agent based on the information in the records of the information recipient profile database.