Device for getting sophisticated data and voice information from audience
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorBruce Tognazzini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims22
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.