Abstract:
An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for automatically determining the limitations of an individual for receiving and interpreting information and then providing information content to the individual in a format that is understandable to the individual. The apparatus, method and computer program product make use of a mechanism for identifying the limitations of the individual. The mechanism may itself inform an information source of the limitations of the individual or the mechanism may be used in conjunction with a user profile to identify the limitations of the individual and the preferred information content format to use with the individual. Based on this determination, a format for the information content from the information source may be selected and used to output the information content to the individual. The selection of the format may include enhancing one or more aspects of a standard format and decreasing one or more other aspects of the standard format.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus, method and computer program product for selecting a format for presenting information content based on limitations of a user.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    The ability to communicate with people is essential in today&#39;s information age. Communication often requires that the persons involved in the communication be aware of the limitations of the other persons involved in the communication to receive and interpret the various types of communication formats.  
           [0005]    For example, if a person is hearing impaired, speaking to the person using verbal communication will not be the best format for conveying information to that person. Similarly, if a person is blind, standard written communication will not be the best format for conveying information to that person. In the same way that a hearing impaired person cannot receive and interpret information verbally, a person who speaks a different language from that of another person may find it difficult or impossible to communicate verbally.  
           [0006]    In order to accommodate persons having various limitations on their ability to receive and interpret information, information is typically offered in a variety of formats and the choice of which format to use is left to the individual having the limitation. For example, a person who is hearing impaired will use closed captioning feeds of television programs to gain an understanding of what is being said. A person who is blind may make use of Braille books. A person who speaks Spanish rather than English may read only Spanish language newspapers, books, watch Spanish language television channels, and speak only with other Spanish speaking individuals.  
           [0007]    There are many problems associated with the prior art manner of handling information limitations of various individuals. Even though information content may be provided in a number of different formats, e.g. Braille, closed captioning, various languages, and the like, not all information content is available in every possible format. Thus, some individuals that have particular limitations in their ability to receive and interpret information may not be able to find a source for the information content in a format they can use. For example, there may not be a version of a particular television program that is closed captioned.  
           [0008]    While information content is provided in a number of different formats, the selection of the format is left to the individual each time the individual wishes to obtain information. Thus, the individual must search out and find information that is available in the format that he/she can receive and interpret. There is no automatic way of determining the limitations of the individual to thereby provide the information content in the format that is comprehensible by the individual.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention provides an apparatus, method and computer program product for automatically determining the limitations of an individual for receiving and interpreting information and then providing information content to the individual in a format that is understandable to the individual. The apparatus, method and computer program product make use of a mechanism for identifying the limitations of the individual. The mechanism may be a wireless transmitter, a smartcard, a magnetic stripe card, a Bluetooth™ enabled device, a biological feature identification device, or the like.  
           [0010]    The mechanism may itself inform an information source of the limitations of the individual or the mechanism may be used in conjunction with a user profile to identify the limitations of the individual and the preferred information content format to use with the individual.  
           [0011]    Based on this determination, a format for the information content from the information source may be selected and used to output the information content to the individual. The selection of the format may include enhancing one or more aspects of a standard format and decreasing one or more other aspects of the standard format. For example, if an information content includes video and audio information and the individual is visually impaired, the information content format may be adjusted to turn off the video information and enhance the audio information of the information content. Similarly, if the individual is hearing impaired, the video information may be enhanced while the audio information is reduced or turned off. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in, or will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of, the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a distributed data processing system according to the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating an information source according to the present invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating an information retrieval device according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the primary operational components of the information retrieval device according to the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the primary operational components of the information source according to the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation of an information retrieval device according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a distributed data processing system in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the distributed data processing system  100  includes an identification device  110 , a information content retrieval device  120 , one or more networks  130 , and one or more information sources  140 - 160 . The one or more networks  130  provide a communication medium by which the information content retrieval device  120  and the one or more information sources  140 - 160  may send and receive control messages and data.  
         [0020]    The information sources  140 - 160  may be any type of device capable of providing information content in one or more various formats. For example, the information sources  140 - 160  may be network servers, databases, television or radio stations, information pager service supplier systems, and the like [INVENTORS: PLEASE ADD TO THE LIST AS YOU SEE FIT]. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information sources  140 - 160  are servers that provide information content in one or more of textual format, graphical and/or video format, and audio format. The information from information suppliers  140 - 160  is supplied to information content retrieval device  120  via the one or more networks  130  in the form of data transmissions.  
         [0021]    The one or more networks  130  may be any type of network capable of conveying information from an information source to an information content retrieval device  120 . The one or more networks  130  are the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within distributed data processing system  100 . The one or more networks  130  may include connections, such as wired communication links, wireless communication links, satellite communication links, cellular or similar radio based communication links, infrared communication links, fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, and the like.  
         [0022]    The one or more networks  130  may include a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), intranet, satellite network, infrared network, radio network, cellular telephone network or other type of wireless communication network, the Internet, and the like. The one or more networks  130  may further be a bus or hub that allows communication between different devices within a local area network or within a single device. For example, the information content retrieval device  120  and the information sources  140 - 160  may be housed in a single device and may be coupled to one another via a bus, bridge, or the like, that comprises network  130 .  
         [0023]    In the depicted example, network data processing system  100  is the Internet with the one or more networks  130  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages.  
         [0024]    The information content retrieval device  120  may be any device capable of receiving input from an identification device  110 , sending information content request messages to information sources  140 - 160 , and providing the information content as output to a user of the identification device  110 . The information content retrieval device  120  may be a computer, a workstation, a kiosk, a computerized television device, a computerized radio transmission receiving device, and the like. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information content retrieval device  120  is a computer.  
         [0025]    The information content retrieval device  120  receives identification information from the identification device  110  and sends a request for information content to an appropriate information source  140 - 160  based on the identification information and an information content selection of a user of the identification device  110 . The identification device  110  may be embodied in a plurality of different devices including a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartcard, a wireless transmitter, a two-way pager device, a BluetoothT™ enabled device, a wearable computer, and the like. The identification device  110  may be equipped with output and/or input interfaces for outputting information content and receiving selections from a user, respectively. Furthermore, the identification device  110  may be a device that is installed in a vehicle or other apparatus used by the user rather than a personal device such as those described above. In a preferred embodiment, the identification device  110  is a wireless transmitter that is programmed with identification information of a user.  
         [0026]    The user of the identification device  110  is a user having some type of information receipt and interpretation limitation. The information receipt and interpretation limitation may be, for example, loss of hearing, blindness or other vision loss, inability to speak the common language, dyslexia, diminished mental capacity, and the like.  
         [0027]    The identification device  110  is preferably programmed with information identifying the user&#39;s information receipt and interpretation limitation(s) and may also include an identifier of a preferred format for receiving information content. The programming of the identification device  110  may be performed in any known manner, such as uploading a profile into the identification device  110  from a computer terminal, encoding the identification information onto a magnetic stripe, programming the identification information into a memory of the identification device  110 , or the like.  
         [0028]    When the user of the identification device is within the vicinity of the information content retrieval device  120 , the identification information for the user may be sent to the information content retrieval device  120 . This may be done in many different ways. For example, the information content retrieval device  120  or the identification device  110  may continuously broadcast a message which is receivable by the other device. In response to receiving a broadcast message from the information content retrieval device  120 , the identification device  110  may transmit the identification information, for example.  
         [0029]    Alternatively, the transmission of the identification information may be performed in response to manipulation of an input interface of the information content retrieval device  120  by a user of the identification device  110 . The information content retrieval device  120  may transmit a message to the identification device  110  in response to manipulation of the input interface and then receive the identification information in response to receipt of the message by the identification device  110 .  
         [0030]    Moreover, the identification information may be read from the identification device  110  in response to the user inserting the identification device  110  or otherwise placing the identification device  110  in a position to be read by a reader device associated with the information retrieval device  120 . For example, the information retrieval device  120  may be equipped with a smartcard or magnetic stripe card reader that reads the identification information when the user inserts the identification device  110  into the reader.  
         [0031]    Additionally, the identification information may be transmitted to the information content retrieval device  120  in response to a transmission command having been entered through an input interface associated with the identification device  110 . For example, if the identification device  110  is a personal digital assistant, the user may select a graphical icon representing a “transmit identification information” function. Other manners by which the identification information may be provided to the information content retrieval device  120  may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0032]    In addition to the identification information, the information content retrieval device  120  may receive a selection of information content desired by the user of the identification device  110 . The selection of information content may be performed via an input device associated with either the information content retrieval device  120  or the identification device  110 . If the selection is input via an input interface of the identification device  110 , the selection may be transmitted to the information content retrieval device  120  in a similar manner as the identification information.  
         [0033]    Alternatively, the information content retrieval device  120  may output the same information content without allowing a user to select information content. For example, the information content retrieval device  120  may only broadcast one type of information content, yet in formats that are adaptable to the limitations of the users in the vicinity of the information content retrieval device  120 . In such a case, the selection of information content may not be required of the user.  
         [0034]    Based on the identification information received from the identification device  110 , the information retrieval device determines the information receipt and interpretation limitations of the user. For example, the information content retrieval device  120  may determine from the identification information that the user is hearing impaired, blind, has limited vision, speaks a different language, or the like.  
         [0035]    The determination of the limitations of the user may be performed based only on the identification information or may be based on a combination of the identification information and lookup information in a user profile database stored in the information content retrieval device  120 . For example, if the identification information provided by the identification device  110  includes only an identifier of the user, the user identifier may be used to perform a lookup in the user profile database to identify the limitations of that user. Alternatively, the limitations of the user may be reported to the information content retrieval device  120  directly in the identification information provided by the identification device  110 .  
         [0036]    Based on the identification of the limitations of the user, a format that is best suited for these limitations may be determined. Such a format may include, for example, using only text information, using only video or graphical information, using only audio information, or any combination of these. Additionally, the format may be determined in such a way as to enhance certain portions of a standard information content while degrading other portions of the standard format. For example, audio information may be enhanced while video information is degraded. The format may be determined by the information content retrieval device  120  or may be reported to the information content retrieval device  120  by the identification device  110 .  
         [0037]    Once the identification of the user&#39;s limitations is performed and the determination of a preferred information format is made, the information content retrieval device  120  may send a request to an information source  140 - 160  for information content. The request may be directed to a specific information source  140 - 160  or may be broadcast over the network  130  in such a manner that information sources  140 - 160  that provide the desired information content will respond to the request.  
         [0038]    The information sources  140 - 160  may provide different types of information content in various formats, may provide information content in a single format, or may provide the same type of information content in various formats. In other words, information source  140  may provide sports news information content in textual, graphical, video and audio formats while information source  150  provides entertainment programs in graphical, video and audio formats. Information source  140  may alternatively provide sports news information content in only audio format. Information source  150  may alternatively provide sports news information content in video and textual format.  
         [0039]    Based on the preferred format for the user of the identification device  110 , information content may be downloaded or streamed from an information source  140 - 160 . In this way, the information content is provided to the user in a format that is best cognizable to the user.  
         [0040]    In another embodiment of the present invention, each of the information sources  140 - 160  may provide the same standard formatted information content regardless of the preferred format for the user. In such an embodiment, the standard formatted information content is downloaded or streamed to the information content retrieval device  120  and then portions of the information content are enhance and/or degraded to thereby reformat the information content to the preferred format for the user.  
         [0041]    For example, sports news information content may be streamed to the information content retrieval device  120  from the information source  150 . The sports news information content may contain video, textual and audio information. If the user is sight impaired, the information content retrieval device  120  will degrade the video and textual aspects of the information content and may enhance the audio aspect of the information.  
         [0042]    Enhancement of various aspects of the information content may include amplifying the output signal, increasing the bandwidth for a particular portion of the information content stream, providing additional information in that format, e.g. providing audio information that describes the video information that has been degraded, and the like. The additional information in that format may be downloaded or streamed from the same information source or a different information source. In this way, the user is provided with an enhanced information content output that is formatted to the particular needs of the user.  
         [0043]    The information content that is formatted to the particular needs of the user may then be output by the information content retrieval device  120 , the identification device  110 , or the like. For example, the information content retrieval device  120  and/or identification device  110  may include a display, audio speaker, and the like, for outputting information content in various formats. The information content retrieval device  120  may output the information content directly using its own output devices or may transmit the information content to the identification device  110  for output.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating an information source according to the present invention. Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors  202  and  204  connected to system bus  206 .  
         [0045]    Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus  206  is memory controller/cache  208 , which provides an interface to local memory  209 . I/O bus bridge  210  is connected to system bus  206  and provides an interface to I/O bus  212 . Memory controller/cache  208  and I/O bus bridge  210  may be integrated as depicted.  
         [0046]    Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge  214  connected to  1 / 0  bus  212  provides an interface to PCI local bus  216 . A number of modems may be connected to PCI bus  216 . Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communications links to network computers  108 - 112  in FIG. 1 may be provided through modem  218  and network adapter  220  connected to PCI local bus  216  through add-in boards.  
         [0047]    Additional PCI bus bridges  222  and  224  provide interfaces for additional PCI buses  226  and  228 , from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system  200  allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter  230  and hard disk  232  may also be connected to I/O bus  212  as depicted, either directly or indirectly.  
         [0048]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention.  
         [0049]    The data processing system depicted in FIG. 2 may be, for example, an IBM RISC/System  6000  system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating an information content retrieval device according to the present invention. Data processing system  300  is an example of a client computer that is a client of the information sources of the network. Data processing system  300  employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) may be used. Processor  302  and main memory  304  are connected to PCI local bus  306  through PCI bridge  308 . PCI bridge  308  also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for processor  302 . Additional connections to PCI local bus  306  may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards.  
         [0051]    In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  310 , SCSI host bus adapter  312 , and expansion bus interface  314  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter  316 , graphics adapter  318 , and audio/video adapter  319  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface  314  provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter  320 , modem  322 , and additional memory  324 . Small computer system interface (SCSI) host bus adapter  312  provides a connection for hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , and CD-ROM drive  330 . Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.  
         [0052]    An operating system runs on processor  302  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system  300  in FIG. 3. An object oriented programming system such as Java may run in conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  300 . “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  326 , and may be loaded into main memory  304  for execution by processor  302 .  
         [0053]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in FIG. 3 may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3. In particular, the hardware in FIG. 3 may further include one or more transceivers for receiving identification information from the identification device  110 , for example. Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system.  
         [0054]    As another example, data processing system  300  may be a stand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on some type of network communication interface, whether or not data processing system  300  comprises some type of network communication interface. As a further example, data processing system  300  may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide nonvolatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data.  
         [0055]    The depicted example in FIG. 3 and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system  300  also may be a notebook computer or hand held computer in addition to taking the form of a PDA. Data processing system  300  also may be a kiosk or a Web appliance.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the primary operational components of an information content retrieval device according to the present invention. The operational components described in FIG. 4 may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operation components are implemented as software executed by one or more of the hardware devices shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0057]    As shown in FIG. 4, the information content retrieval device includes a controller  410 , an input interface  420 , a network interface  430 , a memory  440 , an output interface  450 , and a user profile storage device  460 . These elements are coupled to one another via the control/data bus  470 . Although a bus architecture is shown in FIG. 4, any architecture that facilitates the exchange of control messages and data between the elements  410 - 460  may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0058]    The controller  410  controls the overall operation of the information content retrieval device. The controller  410  receives identification information from an identification device via the input interface as well as a user selection of information content, if appropriate for the particular embodiment. The controller  410  then determines the limitations of the user based on the received identification information and information stored in the user profile storage device  460  based on instructions maintained in the memory  440 .  
         [0059]    Based on the user limitations, the controller  410  issues a request message to an information source via the network interface  430 . Once the requested information content is received from the information source via the network interface  430 , the controller  410  may reformat the information content by enhancing and/or degrading aspects of the information content. The reformatted information content may then be provided to the user via the output interface  450 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the primary operational components of an information source according to the present invention. The operational components described in FIG. 5 may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operation components are implemented as software executed by one or more of the hardware devices shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0061]    As shown in FIG. 5, the information source includes a controller  510 , a network interface  520  and an information content storage device  530 . These elements are coupled to one another via the control/data bus  540 . Although a bus architecture is shown in FIG. 5, any architecture that facilitates the exchange of control messages and data between the elements  510 - 530  may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0062]    The controller  510  controls the overall operation of the information source. The controller  510  receives information content requests from the information content retrieval device via the network interface  520 . The controller  510  then retrieves information content from the information content storage device  530  based on the received request. The information content retrieved may be formatted according to the request received or may be a standard format information content, as described above.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 6 is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation of an information content retrieval device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the operation starts with receiving identification information from an identification device (step  610 ). Optionally, a user selection of an information content may also be received (step  620 ). User limitations are then determined based on the identification information received (step  630 ).  
         [0064]    A request for information content is then transmitted to an appropriate information source (step  640 ). A determination is made as to whether a reply to the request is received (step  650 ). If not, a determination is made as to whether the request has timed out (step  660 ). If the request has not timed out, the request is retransmitted (step  670 ) and the operation returns to step  650 . If the request has timed out, the operation ends and an error message may be output.  
         [0065]    If a reply message is received in response to the request message, the requested information content is received from the information source (step  680 ). The information content is then output to the user in an appropriate format as determined in the manner described above (step  690 ). The operation then ends.  
         [0066]    Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for providing information content to a user formatted for the user&#39;s particular needs. The formatting of the information content is based on limitations of the user regarding the user&#39;s ability to receive and understand the form of the information content. In this way, a user&#39;s disabilities may be taken into account when providing the user with information content. In addition, the formatting of the information may be performed in an automatic manner with little or no input necessary from the user.  
         [0067]    It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media such a floppy disc, a hard disk drive, a RAM, and CD-ROMs and transmission-type media such as digital and analog communications links.  
         [0068]    The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.