US5860023A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for getting sophisticated data and voice information from audience
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-01
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Granted: 1999-01-12
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Expires: 2016-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A polling and communications device permits a speaker to interact with an audience in data or voice modes. Questions can be transmitted to the speaker in data form. Alternatively, the speaker can selectively activate a wireless microphone for a particular member of the audience in response to an indication, sent over a data channel that a user has a question. Alternatively, a user can record a voice message and store it in memory for transmission over a data link. Information about a questioner is provided to the speaker from information stored during registration for the event and may also be provided to the audience.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Tognazzini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04R; H04R27/00; H04R2420/00; H04R2420/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A terminal for audience participation in a presentation environment, comprising: a. a control computer having keys for user activation; b. a transceiver connected to said control computer for communicating with a central computer and for communicating with an input to a public address system; and c. a wireless transceiver connected to said control computer for connecting to a local computing device other than the central computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A terminal for audience participation in a presentation environment, comprising: a. a control computer having keys for user activation; b. a transceiver connected to said control computer for communicating with a central computer and for communicating with an input to a public address system; and c. a wireless transceiver connected to said control computer for connecting to a local computing device other than the central computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The terminal of claim 1 in which said control computer is configured to control said transceiver to transmit digital information from said keys or from said local computing device to said central computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The terminal of claim 2, wherein the digital information includes a text question received from the local computing device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The terminal of claim 1 further comprising a microphone selectively connected to said transceiver for connection to said input to a public address system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The terminal of claim 4 in which connection to said input to a public address system occurs upon authorization from said central computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The terminal of claim 1 further comprising a microphone connected to an analog to digital converter which is connected to said control computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The terminal of claim 6, in which said control computer is configured to store an audio message in digital form from said analog to digital converter and to send said message to said central computer over said transceiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The terminal of claim 1 contained within a user worn badge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The terminal of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver includes an infra-red transceiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A central computing device for audience participation in a presentation environment, comprising: a. a central computer having a keyboard for operator activation; b. a first transceiver connected to said computer for communicating with remote terminals over a data link; c. a second transceiver connected to said computer for communicating with remote terminals over an audio link; and d. a public address system interface for receiving digitally recorded audio and converting it to analog audio for transmission over a public address system and for receiving analog audio for transmission over said public address system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
A central computing device for audience participation in a presentation environment, comprising: a. a central computer having a keyboard for operator activation; b. a first transceiver connected to said computer for communicating with remote terminals over a data link; c. a second transceiver connected to said computer for communicating with remote terminals over an audio link; and d. a public address system interface for receiving digitally recorded audio and converting it to analog audio for transmission over a public address system and for receiving analog audio for transmission over said public address system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The central computing device of claim 10 further comprising: e. a speaker terminal including a display, a keyboard and a pointing device, said speaker terminal connected to said central computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The central computing device of claim 10, further comprising a database storing demographic information about users.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The central computing device of claim 12, in which said database links said demographic information of a user with an identification of a remote terminal assigned to that user.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for information exchange between members of an audience and a speaker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing a step of receiving text questions from the audience for the speaker; b. providing an element for performing a step of displaying said text questions or summaries thereof; and c. providing an element for performing a step of selecting a question from among said text questions for response.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for information exchange between members of an audience and a speaker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing a step of receiving text questions from the audience for the speaker; b. providing an element for performing a step of displaying said text questions or summaries thereof; and c. providing an element for performing a step of selecting a question from among said text questions for response.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of: providing an element for performing a step of displaying demographic information to the speaker about a member of the audience submitting the selected question selected.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising: providing an element for performing a step of activating a wireless microphone carried by a member of the audience in response to selecting the question that said member submitted.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for information exchange between members of an audience and a speaker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing a step of receiving questions from the audience for the speaker in a digitized audio representation and storing the questions; b. providing an element for performing a step of displaying summaries of the questions; c. selecting a question from among the stored questions for response; and d. providing an element for performing a step of playing back the selected question over a public address system.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for information exchange between members of an audience and a speaker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing a step of receiving questions from the audience for the speaker in a digitized audio representation and storing the questions; b. providing an element for performing a step of displaying summaries of the questions; c. selecting a question from among the stored questions for response; and d. providing an element for performing a step of playing back the selected question over a public address system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of displaying demographic information about the member of the audience submitting the question selected.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for information exchange between members of an audience and a speaker comprising: a. a central computer; b. an operator's terminal connected to said central computer; c. a speaker's terminal connected to said central computer and having an input device for communicating with said central computer; and d. a plurality of remote terminals for members of an audience connected over wireless links to said central computer.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for information exchange between members of an audience and a speaker comprising: a. a central computer; b. an operator's terminal connected to said central computer; c. a speaker's terminal connected to said central computer and having an input device for communicating with said central computer; and d. a plurality of remote terminals for members of an audience connected over wireless links to said central computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 19 in which one or more of said remote terminals are connected to a computing device, other than said central computer, over a local wireless link.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 19, wherein said central computer is configured to display, on said speaker's terminal, text questions received from said remote terminals and receive a selection of a question from among the displayed questions from the input device of the speaker's terminal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 19, wherein said central computer is configured to display, on said speaker's terminal, summaries of voice questions received from said remote terminals and receive a selection of a question from among the voice questions from the input device of the speaker's terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-11 | 2002-07-13 | 2003-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-11 | 2006-07-13 | 2007-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-11 | 2010-07-13 | 2011-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |