US 8,509,137 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for sending presence messages

AssigneeInterval Licensing LLC

InventorsDebby Hindus, Elaine Brechin, Jesse L. Dorogusker, Anna E. Hagstrom, Scott D. Mainwaring, Oliver T. Bayley, Sigrid Moeslinger, Colin Burns, Donald C. Jackson, Steve Guilhamet, Brian J. Fogg, Sean Michael White

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

An intentional presence system in accordance with the present invention includes a transmitting device at a first physical location that is responsive to a command intentionally initiated by a first individual at the first physical location to develop a presence signal intended for a second individual at a second physical location. The intentional presence system further includes a receiving device located at the second physical location which is receptive to the presence signal and which is operative to generate an indication to the second individual of the first individual's presence with respect to the transmitting device.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A system for providing messages to a user, the system comprising:

a transmitting device;
a first indicator interface configured to intentionally trigger a wireless transmission to be transmitted via the transmitting device, wherein—
the wireless transmission is transmitted via the transmitting device, and
the wireless transmission indicates one of first messages or second messages,
wherein the first messages are multiple standard spoken audio messages stored locally on the transmitting device,
wherein the standard spoken audio messages intentionally communicate, acknowledge presence or provide short replies, and
wherein the second messages are multiple programmable spoken audio messages pre-recorded by a person and stored locally on a portable device to be carried by the user,
wherein the second messages are pre-recorded by a person operating the first indicator interface;
a wireless device configured to continuously monitor for the wireless transmission, wherein—
the continuous monitoring is performed by the wireless device;
and
a second indicator interface having at least one input button, at least one visual indicator, and an audio output portion,
wherein the second indicator interface is configured to determine that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device,
wherein the second indicator interface is configured to provide a visual indication, via the visual indicator, to the user that the wireless transmission intended for the wireless device has been received,
wherein the second indicator interface replays, via the audio output portion, the one of the first or second messages to the user in response to determining that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device and in response to receiving actuation of the input button by the user, and,
wherein the wireless device and the second indicator interface are within the portable device.

13 more elements

A method for providing messages to a user, the method comprising:

transmitting a wireless transmission via a transmitting device comprising a first indicator interface,
wherein the wireless transmission indicates one of first messages or second messages,
wherein the first messages are multiple standard spoken audio messages stored locally on the transmitting device,
wherein the standard spoken audio messages intentionally communicate, acknowledge presence or provide short replies, and
wherein the second messages are multiple programmable spoken audio messages pre-recorded by a person and stored locally on a portable device to be carried by the user,
wherein the second messages are pre-recorded by a person operating the first indicator interface;
continuously monitoring for an indication of the wireless transmission by a wireless device comprising a second indicator interface,
wherein the second indicator interface is comprised of at least one input button, at least one visual indicator, and an audio output portion,
wherein the second indicator interface is configured to determine that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device,
wherein the second indicator interface is configured to provide a visual indication, via the visual indicator, to the user that the wireless transmission intended for the wireless device has been received,
wherein the second indicator interface replays, via the audio output portion, the one of the first or second messages to the user in response to determining that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device and in response to receiving actuation of the input button by the user, and
wherein the wireless device and the second indicator interface are within the portable device.

9 more elements

A computer-implemented messaging method, the method performed by a computer system having a processor and a memory, the method comprising:

transmitting a wireless transmission via a transmitting device comprising a first indicator interface,
wherein the wireless transmission indicates one of first messages or second messages,
wherein the first messages are multiple standard spoken audio messages stored locally on the transmitting device,
wherein the standard spoken audio messages intentionally communicate, acknowledge presence or provide short replies, and
wherein the second messages are multiple programmable spoken audio messages pre-recorded by a person and stored locally on a portable device to be carried by the user,
wherein the second messages are pre-recorded by a person operating the first indicator interface;
continuously monitoring for an indication of the wireless transmission by a wireless device comprising a second indicator interface,
wherein the second indicator interface is comprised of at least one input button, at least one visual indicator, and an audio output portion,
wherein the second indicator interface is configured to determine that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device, wherein the second indicator interface is configured to provide a visual indication, via the visual indicator, to the user that the wireless transmission intended for the wireless device has been received,
wherein the second indicator interface replays, via the audio output portion, the one of the first or second messages to the user in response to determining that the wireless transmission is intended for the wireless device and in response to receiving actuation of the input button by the user, and
wherein the wireless device and the second indicator interface are within the portable device.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/209,198Filed 12 Aug 2011 · division
Priority: 9 Oct 1997
Published: US 2012/0038459 A116 Feb 2012
Granted: 13 Aug 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G06Q 10/10
Administration; Management: office automation; Time management
H04L 67/54
Network services: presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial
H04L
Digital communication

Family

Application60/062,144Us provisional application · filed 9 Oct 1997
Application60/103,814Us provisional application · filed 8 Oct 1998
Application09/169,839Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Oct 1998
Application11/178,255Parent of this division · filed 8 Jul 2005
US 2012/0038459 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Feb 2012
US 6,956,497 B1Parent of this continuation
Application11/178,255Parent of this continuation
US 8,509,137 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.