US20050184875A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for connecting an intimate group by exchanging awareness cues and text, voice instant messages, and two-way voice communications
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 2004-08-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2024-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A personal communicator with context awareness in a wristwatch form for connecting intimate friends and family via awareness cues and text, voice instant message, or synchronous voice connectivity. Sensors worn with the watch produce raw data tracking location (via GPS), acceleration, and speech activity. The raw data is classified and conveyed to the other party, where it appears in iconic form on the watch face. When a remote person with whom this information is shared examines it, their face appears on the watch of the person being checked on.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Schmandt
- 👤 Natalia Marmasse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:35
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/0202; G08B21/0227; G08B21/0277; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/52; G08B1/00; G08B1/08; G08B2001/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
1 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual comprising, in combination, the steps of: employing one or more sensors to continuously and automatically collect status data indicative of the status of said first individual, automatically transmitting said status data as it is collected from said first individual to said second individual, and continuously presenting at least some of the status values received from said first individual to said second individual.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
1 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual comprising, in combination, the steps of: employing one or more sensors to continuously and automatically collect status data indicative of the status of said first individual, automatically transmitting said status data as it is collected from said first individual to said second individual, and continuously presenting at least some of the status values received from said first individual to said second individual.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
2 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of accepting a request from said second individual and, in response to said request, presenting additional status information received from said first individual to said second individual.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
3 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step performed in response to said request for transmitting a notification message from said second individual to said first individual to indicate to said first individual that said second individual has requested additional information describing the status of said first individual.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
4 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the step of delivering one or more audible, visual or tactile alert signals to said first individual upon receipt of said notification message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
5 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a visual identification of said second individual.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
6 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a tactile stimulation applied to the body of said first individual.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
7 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said alert signals is a distinctive sound audible to said first individual.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
8 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors are selected from a group comprising: a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members; a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members; a communications device for generating a data indicating whether or not said first individual is communicating with a third individual, and a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
9 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of employing one or more sensors to continuously and automatically collecting status data indicative of the status of said first individual, includes the substeps of: obtaining and storing raw data from at least one of said sensors, classifying said raw data to form said status data comprising representative discrete indicator values representative of said raw data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
10 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said first individual and wherein representative discrete indicator values include location indicator values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
11 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values characterizing the movement of said first individual along a route between predetermined locations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
12 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values characterizing a past location of said first individual and the time duration that has elapsed since said first individual left said past location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
13 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values characterizing a destination location of said first individual and the amount of time predicted to elapse before said first individual is expected to arrive at said destination location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
14 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of first individual and wherein said representative discrete indicator values include values indicating locations frequented by said first individual.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
15 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 14 wherein representative discrete indicator values include values indicating locations frequented by said first individual are supplied by said first individual.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
16 . A method for gathering information describing a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one or more sensors includes a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said representative discrete values include values indicating whether or not said first individual is currently engaged in a conversation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
17 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 wherein said request is produced by said second individual selecting said first individual from a group of individuals from whom status data has been received.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
18 . A method for gathering information describing the status of a first individual and delivering that information to a second individual as set forth in claim 2 wherein said request is produced by said second individual requesting the presentation of additional information previously received from said first person.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
118 words
19 . A method for notifying a first person when a second person has requested information produced by or concerning said first person comprising, in combination, the steps of: storing said information in a form and at a location accessible to said second person, accepting a request from said second person for the presentation of at least some of said information, and in response to said request, transmitting a notification signal to said first person identifying said second person, and immediately upon receipt of said notification signal, presenting the identification of said second person to said first person whereby said first person is made aware of that said second person has shown an interest in said first person.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
19 . A method for notifying a first person when a second person has requested information produced by or concerning said first person comprising, in combination, the steps of: storing said information in a form and at a location accessible to said second person, accepting a request from said second person for the presentation of at least some of said information, and in response to said request, transmitting a notification signal to said first person identifying said second person, and immediately upon receipt of said notification signal, presenting the identification of said second person to said first person whereby said first person is made aware of that said second person has shown an interest in said first person.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
20 . A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes one or more audible, visual or tactile alert signals presented to said first person upon receipt of said notification message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
21 . A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a visual identification of said second individual presented to said first person upon receipt of said notification signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
22 . A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a tactile stimulation applied to the body of said first individual upon receipt of said notification signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
23 . A method for notifying as set forth in claim 19 wherein said notification signal includes a distinctive sound audible to said first individual produced upon receipt of said notification signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
147 words
24 . A context aware personal communications device for enhancing communication between a first person and a second person comprising, in combination, one or more sensors for continuously and automatically producing raw data indicative of the status of said first person, a processor for classifying said raw data into a limited set of status indicator values indicative of the status of said first person, a data communications link accessible to said first person and to said second person for transmitting data signals including said status indicator values from said-first person to said second person, a display device for visually and continuously displaying to said second person one or more of said status indicator values received from said first person via said data communications link, and means responsive to a request from said second person for performing a message exchange between said first person and said second person.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
147 words
24 . A context aware personal communications device for enhancing communication between a first person and a second person comprising, in combination, one or more sensors for continuously and automatically producing raw data indicative of the status of said first person, a processor for classifying said raw data into a limited set of status indicator values indicative of the status of said first person, a data communications link accessible to said first person and to said second person for transmitting data signals including said status indicator values from said-first person to said second person, a display device for visually and continuously displaying to said second person one or more of said status indicator values received from said first person via said data communications link, and means responsive to a request from said second person for performing a message exchange between said first person and said second person.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
25 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein at least a portion of said personal communications device is worn on the body of said first person.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
26 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 25 wherein said portion of said personal communications device worn on the body is worn on the wrist and includes said user input device and said display device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
27 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
28 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
66 words
29 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
142 words
30 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said one or more sensors includes: a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said one predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values, a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members, and a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
31 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission and reception of a voice message between said first person and said second person.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
32 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission and reception of a voice message between said first person and said second person.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
33 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said message exchange is performed by establishing a bi-directional voice communication channel between said first person and said second person.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
47 words
34 . A context aware personal communications device as set forth in claim 33 wherein said data communications link and said bi-directional voice communication channel are both provided by a cellular communication network coupling cellular communications devices carried by both said first person and said second person.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
120 words
35 . A method for exchanging information between members of a limited group of consenting individuals comprising, in combination, the steps, performed for each given one of said members, of: employing one or more sensors to continuously obtain raw data indicative of the status of said given one of said members, classifying said raw data into one or more status values selected from a predetermined set of indicator values, transmitting said status values from said given one of said members to each of the other members of said group, visually and continuously displaying to said given one of said members an indication of at least one of the status values received from each of the other members of said group.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
120 words
35 . A method for exchanging information between members of a limited group of consenting individuals comprising, in combination, the steps, performed for each given one of said members, of: employing one or more sensors to continuously obtain raw data indicative of the status of said given one of said members, classifying said raw data into one or more status values selected from a predetermined set of indicator values, transmitting said status values from said given one of said members to each of the other members of said group, visually and continuously displaying to said given one of said members an indication of at least one of the status values received from each of the other members of said group.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
36 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
57 words
37 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 36 wherein said location indicator values are produced by accepting from said given one of said members a new location indicator value when data generated by said geographical position sensor indicates that said position sensor is located at a previously unidentified and previously frequented location.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
65 words
38 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 37 wherein said one or more sensors includes a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said one predetermined set of indicator values includes values characterizing the movement of said given one of said members along a route between predetermined locations.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
62 words
39 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
65 words
40 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
141 words
41 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes: a geographical position sensor for generating data indicating the current position of said given one of said members and wherein said one predetermined set of indicator values includes location indicator values, a sensor for generating data indicating the movement of the body of said given one of said members and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values that indicate the nature of the activity of said given one of said members, and a transducer for converting sound pressure waves in the vicinity of said given one of said members into an audio data signal and wherein said predetermined set of indicator values further includes values indicating whether or not said given person is currently engaged in a conversation.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
46 words
42 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said one or more sensors includes means for determining whether an operative communication link exists between said given one of said members and one or more specified other members of said group..
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
43 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said step of visually and continuously displaying comprises visually displaying predetermined graphical symbols representing status values received from other members of said group.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
61 words
44 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 35 wherein said step of transmitting said status values is performed by transmitting data values via a communication network linking communication devices carried by said members of said limited group of consenting individuals, said communications devices being capable of performing a message exchange between any two of said members.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
45 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said communications network includes a cellular telephone network.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
46 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission or reception of a text message.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
47 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises the transmission or reception and recording of a voice message.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
48 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises establishing a bi-directional voice communications channel between any two of said members.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
59 words
49 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said step of performing a message exchange comprises the transmission of reception of one or more non-verbal signals selected from a group comprising: a picture or a graphical symbol identifying one of said members, a sound, a displayed light or color, and a tactile vibration.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
74 words
50 . A method for exchanging information as set forth in claim 44 wherein said message exchange comprises message exchange mode selected by one of said members from the group comprising: the transmission or reception and recording of a voice message, the transmission or reception of a text message, the transmission or reception of non-verbal signals, and establishing a bidirectional voice communications channel between said given one and said selected one of said member.
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