A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract: This invention may be used to facilitate meetings, conferences and forums. Existing conference facilities do not support efficient networked communication. This invention is a programmable communications system that enables users to participate efficiently in structured and dynamic networked communication. The invention provides a communications system comprising an array of spaced apart locations at each of which a plurality of users may enter into discussion with one another, each location being provided with indicia associated with a subject for discussion, and means for altering the indicia at at least a location to indicia associated with a further subject. Further refinements are identified that increase the efficiency and functionality of the communications system as well as improving its user-interface.

Description: ammended. (3) A new forum group can be set up by displaying a new topic or theme on a discussion topic sign. In some embodiments of the invention more than one topic may be displayed on the same discussion topic sign. This sort of discussion topic sign may take the form of a map, diagram of the forum or a chart which can be used to indicate what is being discussed by more than one forum group. In some embodiments of the invention a display is provided for displaying a plurality of the subjects currently for discussion. In some preferred embodiments of the invention a display is provided for displaying all of the subjects currently for discussion. In some embodiments means are provided for the display to be altered by the remote control that alters the indicia at the spaced apart locations. In some embodiments means are provided for altering the display from at least one of the spaced apart locations. Locations in which forum groups are discussing similar types of subject may be clustered into named topic zones. This may be achieved by visually or physically linking together locations into zones. For example, locations may be physically clustered together into a topic zone which is named by some form of sign. Names of zones may be fixed or changeable. Names of topic zones may be changed by changing the sign associated with that topic zone. In some embodiments of the invention indicia are provided that are local to a plurality of locations as well as means for altering the indicia to enable users to identify a subject that is common to those locations. In some embodiments of the invention a display unit is provided to display subjects that are common to a plurality of locations together with the subjects that are associated with each of those locations. Topic zones may be fixed or changeable in terms of the number of locations they contain. This may be achieved by colour coding. For example users may be seated at tables which may each be lit in different colours. Changeable topic zones can be created by lighting tables in the same zone in the same colour. In some preferred embodiments of the invention locations comprise a table at which users may sit or stand. In some embodiments of the invention tables have a top illuminatable in colour associated in a look up table with the subject to be discussed. This enables tables, at which users are discussing similar subjects, to be illuminated in the same colour. In some embodiments, indicia are provided that may be altered to associate discussion subjects with colours used to illuminate tables. In some embodiments of the invention, the facility may be divided into named topic zones but may not utilize discussion topic signs. In some embodiments of the invention the indicia comprise colour. So that indicia associated with similar subjects may display these subjects in the same colour. This invention has some possible embodiments that arise from combinations and sub-combinations of the systems and methods described herein by reference to any one or more of the figures of which: Figure 1 shows a table 1 which accommodates users and an electronic sign-board 2 which is used to display subjects for discussion. In some embodiments of the invention the electronic sign-board 2 can be altered remotely by a microcomputer. In some embodiments the electronic sign-board 2 can be operated locally by a keyboard 3. In some embodiments the electronic sign-board 2 can be operated both locally and remotely. Figure 2 shows a plan view of a possible embodiment in which users are accommodated at loosely tessellated hexagonal tables, (this is not a scale diagram and spaces between tables would be greater than the appearance of the diagram suggests). Fig. 2 shows hexagonal tables 1 that are grouped into coloured zones in which users discuss similar subjects. Zones are identified by large electronic signboards 4. Surfaces of tables in the same zone are lit in the same colour. A table adjacent to a zone may therefore be added to a zone by illuminating its surface in the colour that codes for that zone. Figure 3 is a view of a display unit. Electronic discussion topic sign-boards communicate with the display unit Fig 3 which provides an overview of the whole facility and shows what is being discussed at each table as well as displaying the names and colours of topic zones. This invention has many possible embodiments that arise from combinations and sub-combinations of the systems and methods described thus far. This invention includes the method of communication that arises from the use of the communications system described herein.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A communications system comprising an array of spaced apart locations at each of which a plurality of users may enter into discussion with one another, each location being provided with indicia associated with a subject for discussion, and a remote control for remotely altering the indicia at at least a location to indicia associated with a further subject. 2. A communications system as claimed in claim 1 comprising a remote control for remotely altering the indicia at substantially all of the spaced apart locations. 3. A communications system comprising an array of spaced apart locations at each of which a plurality of users may enter into discussion with one another, each location being provided with indicia associated with a subject for discussion and a local electronic control for altering the indicia at that location to indicia associated with a further subject. 4. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one location comprises seating. 5. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one location comprises a table at which users may sit or stand. 6. A communications system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a local control for locally altering the indicia at a location and means for reporting to the remote control data associated with the indicia displayed at the location. 7. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a display for displaying a plurality of the subjects currently for discussion. 8. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a display for displaying all of the subjects currently for discussion. 9. A communications system as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein means are provided for the display to be altered by the remote control that alters the indicia at the spaced apart locations. 6 10. A communications system as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein means are provided for altering the display from at least one of the spaced apart locations. 11. A communications system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the table has a top illuminatable in colour associated in a look up table with the subject to be discussed. 12. A communications system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the table has a top illuminatable in colour associated by indicia with the subject to be discussed. 13. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising indicia that are local to a plurality of locations and means for altering the indicia to enable users to identify a subject that is common to those locations. 14. A communications system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a display unit to display subjects that are common to a plurality of locations together with the subjects that are associated with each of those locations. 7 15. A communications system substantially as described herein by reference to any one or more of the figures. 16. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the indicia comprise colour. 17. A method of communications comprising providing a communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims for users to engage in discussion. 18. A method of communications substantially as described herein by reference to any one or more of the figures. 8 A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a communication system and method of communications. At least some embodiments of the invention may be used to facilitate meetings, conferences and forums. Some embodiments may be used as a form of entertainment or to enhance Internet cafes and leisure facilities. Some embodiments may be used to facilitate networking sessions, training sessions, educational programmes and public consultations. Some embodiments may be utilized by market researchers to constitute study groups for qualitative research. Some embodiments may also be used by media and news gathering organizations that require direct access to public opinion. THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The Internet makes it easy for participants to set-up and join forum groups to communicate with other participants who share interests. No conference facility yet exists that provides an efficient framework which enables participants to do this in person. Existing conference facilities do not support efficient networked communication. In some embodiments, this invention is a programmable communications system that enables users to participate efficiently in structured and dynamic networked communication. THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a communications system comprising an array of spaced apart locations at each of which a plurality of users may enter into discussion with one another, each location being provided with indicia associated with a subject for discussion, and means for altering the indicia at at least a location to indicia associated with a further subject. In some embodiments of the invention a remote control is provided for remotely altering the indicia at at least a location to indicia associated with a further subject. In some preferred embodiments of the invention the remote control can alter substantially all the indicia at the spaced apart locations. In some embodiments of the invention each location is provided with a local electronic control for altering the indicia at that location to indicia associated with a further subject. 1 Some embodiments of the invention comprise a remote control for remotely altering the indicia at a location and a local control for locally altering the indicia at a location and means for reporting to the remote control data associated with the indicia displayed at the location. In some embodiments, the invention is a programmable forum that includes discussion topic signs (indicia). In the context of this invention a forum group is defined as a group of users who wish to pursue a particular discussion or conversation. Some embodiments of this invention may be set up in such a way as to enable users to gather together at the spaced apart locations to form forum groups. Accommodation may therefore be provided at the spaced apart locations to enable members of forum groups to sit together. In some embodiments of the invention at least one location comprises seating. In some embodiments of the invention at least one location comprises a table at which users may sit or stand. Discussion topic signs (indicia) are arranged within some embodiments of this invention in such a way that they indicate the type of discussion or conversation that forum groups wish to pursue. Users may be accommodated around or near discussion topic signs or other visual or symbolic means may be used to link discussion topic signs with specific locations. Discussion topic signs (indicia) are used to display discussion topics or themes or conversation topics or themes. Discussion topic signs may use any means, any materials or any form of technology to display these things. Discussion topic signs may for example be: - electronic (e.g. using LED, LCD, plasma displays, VDU monitors or any other form of electronic display), they may be handwritten (e.g. on an electronic notepad), they may be mechanical or electromechanical or assembled using magnetic characters, they may be computer generated or optically generated (for example by projection). In some embodiments of the invention, indicia comprising audio or video messages are used instead of text based discussion topic signs. These audio or video discussion topic signs consist of messages which are used to identify the discussion topic or theme or conversation topic or theme that is associated with a specific location. Discussion topic signs may be amended to display new discussion topics, discussion themes or conversation themes. Discussion topic signs may be operated and amended by any known means such as: through a keyboard, by handwriting, by erasing, through a computer mouse, by touch screen, by assemblage of alphabetical characters and so on. The following communication protocols are important features of some preferred embodiments of this invention: (1 ) A discussion topic sign is used to indicate the type of discussion or conversation that members of a forum group wish to pursue. (2) Information displayed on discussion topic signs can be altered, replaced or otherwise

Inventors: NORRIS DANIEL, NORRIS, DANIEL
Applicants: NORRIS DANIEL, NORRIS, DANIEL
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q10