Wireless communications with visually-identified targets

• US 8,521,185 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2005
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Martin Hymes
• Original Assignee: Charles Martin Hymes
• Inventors: Hymes, Charles Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASCA, FRED A
• Application Number:
  US11/061,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20050191963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,111 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 709/219, 455/461, 455/466, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/459, 455/414.3, 455/566, 455/567, 455/41.2, 455/414.1, 342/450, 340/149, 340/825.34, 340/825, 379/32, 379/204, 379/93, 379/92, 379/201.06, 379/207, 379/88, 379/207.1, 707/104.1, 235/375
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A mechanism for initiating contact with someone, via a telecommunications system, who is in the admirer'"'"'s proximity, but whose identity or telecommunications address (e.g., telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) is unknown. The illustrative embodiments enable the user to use what information he does know about the admired person—the admiring person'"'"'s distinguishing characteristics—to get a telecommunications address through which the initial contact can be made.

Claims

1. A method of interpersonal communications performed by at least one of:

(i) at least one device, or (ii) a data processing system, the method comprising;

determining that a first message is received, said first message being from a particular person and addressed to a particular user of a telecommunications terminal, wherein said telecommunications terminal is a wireless mobile device;

directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user a first portion of said first message from said person, wherein said directing to convey said first portion;

(a) is performed while said person is within a physical proximity to said user that is close enough to allow being observable to said user, and (b) at least indicates to said user the existence of said first message without providing information that would enable said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user in particular;

determining, based on said user indicating descriptive information of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said person while said person is within said physical proximity to said user, at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person; and

directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user at least a second portion of said first message, wherein said directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user at least said second portion (a) is performed after said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity of said person, (b) is performed while said person is within said proximity of said user, (c) at least conveys to said user information that is not conveyed by said directing to convey at least said first portion and (d) at least one of;

(i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said user and said person or (ii) provides information that allows said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity based on said user indicating said descriptive information comprises (a) receiving said descriptive information of said person, wherein said receiving said descriptive information of said person is indicative of a selection by said user and (b) determining from said descriptive information of said person said at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving said descriptive information of said person is performed in said telecommunications terminal, said descriptive information of said person being received as input from said user operating said telecommunications terminal.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving said descriptive information of said person is performed in a data processing system, said descriptive information of said person being received in a transmission from said telecommunications terminal.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

recording an image of said person with a camera in said telecommunications terminal operated by said user, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity is based at least on said image of said person.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity comprises (a) directing to said user information descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of each of one or more persons, including said person, said one or more persons being within said physical proximity of said user, (b) receiving information indicative of said user selecting said person, and (c) determining from said information indicative of said user selecting said person said at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said directing to said user said information descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of each of said one or more persons within said physical proximity of said user is performed in response to a request from said user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more images in said telecommunications terminal in response to a request from said telecommunications terminal for images of one or more people who are in the proximity of said telecommunications terminal, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity is based at least on one of said one or more images that is specified by said user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each claim step is performed by said telecommunications terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each claim step is performed by a data processing system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining that said first message is received comprises receiving said first message in said telecommunications terminal, said first message being received prior to said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity, and wherein said first message from said person and addressed to said user is at least partially hidden from said user until after said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein an indication of spatial position of said person is determined in cooperation with said telecommunications terminal, said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity being based at least on said indication of spatial position of said person.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, based on said person specifying descriptive information of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said user while said user is within a physical proximity to said person that is close enough to allow being observable to said person, at least one of a second address associated with said user in the address space of a telecommunications network or a second indication of identity of said user, wherein said determining said at least one of a second address or second indication of identity of said user is performed prior to said directing said telecommunications terminal to convey to said user said first portion of said first message from said person; and

directing a second telecommunications terminal operated by said person to convey to said person a second message, wherein said directing to convey to said person said second message;

(a) is performed after said determining said at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person and (b) at least one of;

(i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said person and said user, or (ii) provides information that allows said person to visually identify said user in said person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in communicating with said person.

14. A method of interpersonal communications performed by at least one of:

(i) at least one device or (ii) a data processing system, the method comprising;

determining that a first message is received, said first message being from a particular person and addressed to a particular user of a telecommunications terminal, wherein said telecommunications terminal is a wireless mobile device;

directing a data processing system to convey to said user a first portion of said first message from said person, wherein said directing to convey said first portion;

(a) is performed while said person is within a physical proximity to said user that is close enough to allow being observable to said user, and (b) at least indicates to said user the existence of said first message without providing information that would enable said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user in particular;

determining, based on said user indicating descriptive information of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said person while said person is within said physical proximity to said user, at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person; and

directing said data processing system to convey to said user at least a second portion of said first message, wherein said directing said data processing system to convey to said user at least said second portion (a) is performed after said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity of said person, (b) is performed while said person is within said proximity of said user, (c) at least conveys to said user information that is not conveyed by said directing to convey at least said first portion and (d) at least one of;

(i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said user and said person, or (ii) provides information that allows said user to visually identify said person in said user'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity based on said user indicating said descriptive information comprises (a) receiving said descriptive information of said person, wherein said receiving said descriptive information of said person is indicative of a selection by said user and (b) determining from said descriptive information of said person said at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving said descriptive information of said person is performed in said telecommunications terminal, said descriptive information of said person being received as input from said user operating said telecommunications terminal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving said descriptive information of said person is performed in said data processing system, said descriptive information of said person being received in a transmission from said telecommunications terminal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said descriptive information of said person is an image of said person that is recorded with a camera in said telecommunications terminal operated by said user.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving in said data processing system an image of said person that is recorded with a camera in said telecommunications terminal operated by said user, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity is based at least on said image of said person.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity comprises (a) directing to said user information descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of each of one or more persons, including said person, said one or more persons being within said physical proximity of said user, (b) receiving information indicative of said user selecting said person, and (c) determining from said information indicative of said user selecting said person said at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said directing to said user said information descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of each of said one or more persons within said physical proximity of said user is performed in response to a request from said user.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a request from said telecommunications terminal for images of one or more people who are in the proximity of said telecommunications terminal at the time of said request; and

transmitting at least an image of said person to said telecommunications terminal in response to said request, wherein said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity is based at least on said image of said person.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein said determining that said first message is received comprises receiving said first message in said data processing system, said first message being received prior to said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity, and wherein said first message from said person and addressed to said user is at least partially hidden from said user until after said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein an indication of spatial position of said person is determined in cooperation with said telecommunications terminal, said determining said at least one of an address or indication of identity being based at least on said indication of spatial position of said person.

25. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining at least one of a second address associated with said user in the address space of a telecommunications network or a second indication of identity of said user, based on said person specifying descriptive information of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said user while said user is within a physical proximity to said person that is close enough to allow being observable to said person, wherein said determining said at least one of a second address or second indication of identity is performed prior to said directing said data processing system to convey to said user said first portion of said first message from said person; and

directing said data processing system to convey to said person a second message, wherein said directing to convey to said person said second message;

(a) is performed after said determining said at least one of an address associated with said person in the address space of a telecommunications network or an indication of identity of said person and (b) at least one of;

(i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said person and said user, or (ii) provides information that allows said person to visually identify said user in said person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in communicating with said person.

26. A method comprising the following steps in the order named:

a) receiving first information in at least one of a device or computer system, said first information being at least indicative of a first person selecting a particular second person;

b) directing a first message to be conveyed to said second person, said directing said first message to be conveyed to said second person (a) being performed in at least one of a device or computer system while said first person is within a physical proximity to said second person that is close enough to allow being observable to said second person, (b) at least indicating to said second person that interest has been expressed in said second person, and (c) withholding information that would enable said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person in particular;

c) receiving second information in at least one of a device or computer system, said second information comprising information that is descriptive of at least one of;

(i) appearance, or (ii) spatial position, of said first person, and said receiving said second information being indicative of said second person selecting said first person; and

d) directing a second message to be conveyed to said second person while said first person is within said physical proximity to said second person, wherein said directing said second message to be conveyed to said second person (a) is performed in at least one of a device or computer system, (b) conveys information not conveyed by said first message, and (c) at least one of (i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said second person and said first person, or (ii) provides information that allows said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein each of said method steps is performed by a computer system.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein each of said method steps is performed by a second device operated by said second person.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining, from said information that is descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said first person received in said second information, at least one of a symbolic representation of identity of said first person or a communication address of said first person.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein said first information comprises information that is descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said second person.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining, at least in part from said information that is descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said second person, at least one of a symbolic representation of identity or a communication address of said second person; and

determining, at least in part from said information that is descriptive of at least one of appearance or spatial position of said first person, at least one of a symbolic representation of identity or a communication address of said first person.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

directing a third message to be conveyed to said first person, wherein said directing said third message to be conveyed to said first person (a) is performed in at least one of a device or computer system, (b) is performed after said receiving said second information, (c) is performed while said second person is within a physical proximity to said first person that is close enough to allow being observable to said first person, and (d) at least one of (i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said first person and said second person, or (ii) provides information that allows said first person to visually identify said second person in said first person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said first person.

33. A method comprising the following steps in the order named:

a) receiving first information in at least one of a device or computer system, said first information being at least indicative of a first person selecting a particular second person;

b) directing a first message to be conveyed to said second person, said directing said first message to be conveyed to said second person (i) being performed in at least one of a device or computer system while said first person is within a physical proximity to said second person that is close enough to allow being observable to said second person, (ii) at least indicating to said second person that interest has been expressed in said second person, and (iii) withholding information that would enable said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person in particular;

c) directing to be conveyed to said second person information descriptive of observable characteristics of each of one or more persons including said first person, in such a way that allows said second person to indicate, to a second wireless device operated by said second person, a particular person who is observed by said second person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment, said observable characteristics being characteristics of at least one of appearance or spatial location;

d) receiving second information in at least one of a device or computer system, wherein said receiving said second information is indicative of said second person selecting said first person; and

e) directing a second message to be conveyed to said second person while said first person is within said physical proximity to said second person, wherein said directing said second message to be conveyed to said second person (a) is performed in at least one of a device or computer system, (b) conveys information not conveyed by said first message, and (c) at least one of (i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said second person and said first person, or (ii) provides information that allows said second person to visually identify said first person in said second person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said second person.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said directing to be conveyed to said second person information descriptive of observable characteristics of each of one or more persons is performed in response to a request from said second person.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

directing to be conveyed to said first person, prior to said receiving said first information, information descriptive of observable characteristics of each of one or more persons including said second person, in such a way that allows said first person to indicate, to a first wireless device operated by said first person, a particular person who is observed by said first person in said first person'"'"'s physical environment, said observable characteristics being characteristics of at least one of appearance or spatial location.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

directing a third message to be conveyed to said first person, wherein said directing said third message to be conveyed to said first person (a) is performed in at least one of a device or computer system, (b) is performed after said receiving said second information, (c) is performed while said second person is within a physical proximity to said first person that is close enough to allow being observable to said first person, and (d) at least one of (i) facilitates subsequent electronic communication between said first person and said second person, or (ii) provides information that allows said first person to visually identify said second person in said first person'"'"'s physical environment as a person who has expressed interest in said first person.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein each of the steps is performed by a computer system.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein each of the steps is performed by said second device.