Abstract:
An electronic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing that a person can carry and a circuit coupled to the housing. The circuit causes a device to operate according to a predetermined user profile of the person, wherein the device is remote from the housing and the circuit. The device can be used in a system that also includes the device that, when remote from the electronic apparatus, stores a first predetermined user profile of a first person, detects the first electronic apparatus, and operates according to the first user profile in response to detecting the electronic apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates generally to electronic equipment, and more particularly to an apparatus for causing a remote device to implement a user profile, to the remote device, and to related systems and methods.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0004]    Electronic devices today can store profiles of user preferences and recall selected profiles on demand. For example, some automobiles allow a driver to program an onboard computer with his preferences, such as the position of the driver&#39;s seat, tilt of the steering wheel, angle of the mirrors, interior temperature, and favorite radio stations. The computer then stores these preferences as the driver&#39;s preference profile. Once the computer stores the profile, the driver need only push a button or take some other simple action whenever he or she wants the automobile to recall the profile. Because profile storing removes the need for a driver to manually reset the seat position, etc. after another driver has driven the automobile, such profile storing can save the driver time, particularly if there are multiple drivers sharing the same automobile. Other devices that allow a user to program and store his preference profile include televisions, stereos, and other electronic equipment.  
           [0005]    Typically, a user must manually configure such a device according to his preferences and then cause the device to save the resulting preference profile before the profile can be recalled with “the touch of a button.” For example, a driver typically programs an automobile computer with his preferences by manually positioning the driver&#39;s seat, angling the mirrors, setting the interior temperature, selecting a favorite radio station, and then instructing the computer to save these preferences as a recallable profile. Thereafter, the driver can recall the profile by pushing a button or taking some other action as discussed above.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, manually configuring such a device can be inconvenient. Additionally, the ability to recall a stored profile can lose its advantages if too many people use the device or if a person uses multiple devices. For example, manually positioning a driver&#39;s seat to program an automobile computer with a driver&#39;s profile can take a few minutes. If the computer can store two profiles, and no more than two drivers share the automobile, then the inconvenience of performing the manual configuration is minimized since the driver need only perform this manual set up once. However, if three or more drivers share the subject automobile, then at least one of the drivers will be unable to store a profile. Consequently, this driver will have to manually position the driver&#39;s seat, etc., whenever the automobile has been configured according to another driver&#39;s profile. Furthermore, if a driver uses different automobiles on a regular basis—as might a frequent traveler who rents automobiles—the ability to store a profile is of little advantage since the driver must manually configure each automobile at least once. And even if the driver stores a profile in each automobile used, the driver may never have occasion to recall his profile, particularly if he or she rarely or never uses the same automobile more than once.  
           [0007]    In addition, manually recalling a stored profile may be inconvenient as well. For example, suppose that to recall a profile, a driver must push a button mounted to the dashboard that cannot be reached from any location other than the driver&#39;s seat. If the previous driver is shorter than the current driver, then the current driver may have to squeeze into the driver&#39;s seat to push the button, and thus may experience discomfort until the seat moves into the driver&#39;s preferred position.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, an electronic apparatus is carried by a person and causes a device to recall the person&#39;s profile. The apparatus may download the person&#39;s profile into the device, or the person may have previously loaded his profile into the device.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the invention, the device stores the person&#39;s profile, detects the electronic apparatus as it is being carried by the person, and recalls the profile in response to receiving a signal from or otherwise detecting the apparatus.  
           [0010]    In yet another aspect of the invention, where the person has previously stored his profile in the device, the electronic apparatus causes the device to automatically recall the person&#39;s profile, thus eliminating the need for the person to manually recall his profile. For example, the apparatus can cause an automobile to automatically recall a driver&#39;s profile when the driver nears his automobile such that the seat moves into the profile position before the driver sits down.  
           [0011]    In addition, where the electronic apparatus provides the person&#39;s profile to the device, the person need not manually configure the device to program it with his profile. For example, the apparatus can automatically download the driver&#39;s profile to a rental car as the driver nears the car, and then cause the car to recall the profile before the driver sits down. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a view of a driver carrying an electronic apparatus and an automobile that recalls the driver&#39;s profile in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a view of a person carrying an electronic apparatus and a television that recalls the person&#39;s profile in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a view of a person carrying an electronic apparatus and a base unit that causes one or more devices to recall the person&#39;s respective profiles in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a view of a person carrying an electronic apparatus and a vending machine that displays selections according to the person&#39;s profile in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the circuitry within the electronic apparatus of FIGS.  1 - 4  and the circuitry within the profile circuits of the automobile of FIG. 1, the television of FIG. 2, the base unit of FIG. 3, and the vending machine of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a view of a driver  10  carrying an electronic apparatus  12 , and an automobile  14  that recalls the driver&#39;s profile in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus  12  causes the automobile  14  to recall the profile of the driver  10 , thus eliminating the need for the driver  10  to manually recall his profile. In addition, the apparatus  12  may also provide the driver&#39;s profile to the automobile  14 , thus eliminating the need for the driver  10  to manually configure the automobile according to his preferences and then cause the automobile to save these preferences as his profile.  
         [0018]    The electronic apparatus  12  can be a portable apparatus such as a PDA that the driver  10  carries in his pocket. Alternatively, the apparatus  12  can be a laptop computer or any other apparatus that the driver  10  can carry and that operates as discussed herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus  12  signals the automobile  14  to recall the driver&#39;s profile, which the driver  10  has previously programmed into or otherwise provided to the automobile. In a related embodiment, the apparatus  12  also downloads the driver&#39;s profile to the automobile  14 . In this embodiment, the driver  10  programs the apparatus  12  with his profile for the automobile  14 . The programming details can be in accordance with menu-driven keystrokes, or in accordance with other user input techniques. Alternatively, the apparatus  12  may include a port (not shown) that allows the driver  10  to connect a computer (not shown) to the apparatus and to download the automobile profile to the apparatus from the computer.  
         [0019]    The automobile  14  includes a driver&#39;s seat  16 , a steering wheel  17 , and a profile circuit  18 , which causes the automobile to recall the profile of the driver  10  in response to the apparatus  12 . The driver  10  may manually program or download his profile into the circuit  18  using a dashboard keypad (not shown) or other conventional technique. Alternatively, the apparatus  12  may download the driver&#39;s profile to the circuit  18  and then cause the circuit to recall the profile. Typically, the circuit  18  communicates with the seat, mirror, climate, and other controls (not shown) via a cable (not shown) or other means so that it can set these controls according to the preferences included in the driver&#39;s profile.  
         [0020]    The apparatus  12  and circuit  18  communicate over a path  20 , which may be any type of wireless or a cabled (wired) path. Where the path  20  is wireless, the apparatus  12  and circuit  18  may communicate using conventional radio-wave protocols such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth protocol or may use conventional infrared protocols such as those used with television remote controls (not shown). Where infrared is used, a direct, preferably unobstructed path between the apparatus  12  and circuit  18  is typically required for successful communication. Where the path  20  is cabled, it may include a standard wire cable or a fiber-optic cable (not shown).  
         [0021]    In operation, the electronic apparatus  12  and the circuit  18  establish communication with one another when a PAN  22  of the driver  10  intersects with the circuit  18 , that is, when the circuit  18  enters the driver&#39;s personal area network (PAN). Where the path  20  is wireless, the PAN  22  is akin to a “bubble” that is centered around the driver  10  and has a predetermined radius  24  that depends on the device, such as the automobile  14 . For example, the radius  24  may be one foot or less for the automobile  14  so that equipment carried by other persons (not shown) not seated in the driver&#39;s seat  16  do not cause the circuit  18  to recall a profile other than the driver&#39;s profile.  
         [0022]    Interaction between the apparatus  12  and the circuit  18  commences when the circuit enters the driver&#39;s PAN  22 , typically when the driver  10  sits in the driver&#39;s seat  16 . For example, the apparatus  12  may detect the circuit  18  before the circuit enters the driver&#39;s PAN  22 , determine when the circuit enters the driver&#39;s PAN, and then initiate communication with the circuit. Or the circuit  18  may detect the apparatus  12  before the circuit enters the driver&#39;s PAN  22 , determine when it enters the driver&#39;s PAN, and then initiate communication with the apparatus. Moreover, the driver  10  may initiate communication between the apparatus  12  and circuit  18  via an interface such as a keyboard (not shown) on the apparatus or circuit. Where the path  20  is cabled, the circuit  18  typically enters the drivers PAN  22  when the driver  10  or another person (not shown) connects the apparatus  12  to the circuit with a cable (not shown). Communication between the apparatus  12  and circuit  18  may commence automatically with the connection of the cable, or may be initiated by the driver  10  via an interface such as a keyboard on the apparatus or circuit. Furthermore, although the PAN  22  is shown as being spherical, it may have another shape.  
         [0023]    Once communication between the apparatus  12  and circuit  18  is established, the circuit  18  recalls the driver&#39;s profile by configuring the automobile  14  according to the profile. If the driver  10  has previously loaded his profile into the circuit  18 , then the apparatus  12  identifies the driver  10 . In response to this identification, the circuit  18  recalls the profile corresponding to the driver by setting the driver&#39;s seat  16 , mirrors (not shown), steering wheel  17 , radio (not shown), etc. to the positions or settings specified by the recalled profile. If the driver  10  has not previously loaded his profile into the circuit  18 , then the circuit notifies the apparatus  12  that it has stored no profile corresponding to the driver  10 . In response, the apparatus  12  downloads the driver&#39;s profile to the circuit  18 , which, after the download is complete, recalls the profile as discussed above. If, however, the apparatus  12  cannot download the driver&#39;s profile or the driver has not programmed his profile into the apparatus, then the driver  10  loads his profile into the circuit  18  via an interface such as a dashboard keypad (not shown) or via other means. Alternatively, the driver  10  may load his profile into the apparatus  12 , which then can download the profile to the circuit  18 .  
         [0024]    There are a number of ways to reduce the possibility of the profile circuit  18  recalling the profile of another person (not shown) who is near the automobile  14  and carrying a profile apparatus similar to the apparatus  12 . As discussed above, the PAN  22  of the driver  10  may be sized so that it only intersects the profile circuit  18  when the driver is sitting in the driver&#39;s seat  16 . Consequently, the PANs of passengers (not shown) will not intersect the circuit  18 . Alternatively, the apparatus  12  may require the driver  10  to push a button or take some other action before it causes the circuit  18  to recall the driver&#39;s profile. Or, where multiple device similar to apparatus  12  are within range, the circuit  18  or apparatus  12  may have the capability to determine which apparatus  12  is closest to the driver  10 —or other driver (not shown) sitting in the driver&#39;s seat  16 —such that the circuit  18  recalls only the profile of the driver identified by the closest apparatus.  
         [0025]    Alternatively, the profile circuit  18  may recall a profile that is the combination of the profiles of the driver  10  and a passenger (not shown) who is carrying a profile apparatus similar to the apparatus  12 . In one embodiment, the circuit  18  can recall a combination profile for non-driver-specific preferences such as the temperature inside the automobile  14 . For example, suppose that the driver  10  prefers the temperature to be between 65°-70° Fahrenheit (F), and the passenger prefers the temperature to be between 68°-73° F. The circuit  18  recognizes that these two ranges overlap between 68°-70° F., and thus recalls a combination profile by configuring the automobile  14  to maintain the temperature between 68°-70° F. Thus, the circuit  18  recalls a profile that satisfies the temperature preferences of both the driver  10  and the passenger. Similarly, the circuit  18  can recall a combination profile that causes the automobile radio (not shown) to play only stations that are common to the profiles of the driver  10  and the passenger.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a view of a person  30  carrying the electronic profile apparatus  12  and of a television  32  that recalls the person&#39;s profile in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. Like numbers are used to reference components similar to those in FIG. 1. In a manner that accords with described above in conjunction with FIG. 1, the apparatus  12  causes the television  32  to recall the viewing profile of the person  30 , thus eliminating the need for the person to manually recall a profile. In addition, the apparatus  12  may also provide the person&#39;s profile to the television  32 , thus eliminating the need for the person  30  to manually configure the television with his preferences and then cause the television to store these preferences as his profile.  
         [0027]    The television  32  includes controls  34 , a display screen  36 , speakers  38 , and a profile circuit  40 , which may be similar to the profile circuit  18  of FIG. 1 and which causes the television to recall the profile of the person  30  in response to the apparatus  12 . The person  30  may manually program his profile into the circuit  40  using the controls  34  or other conventional means. Alternatively, the apparatus  12  may download the person&#39;s profile to the circuit  40  and then cause the circuit to recall the profile. Typically, the circuit  40  conventionally communicates with other circuits (not shown) within the television  32  so that it can set these circuits according to the preferences included in the person&#39;s profile. The person&#39;s profile may include, e.g., preferred volume and brightness settings, a preferred channel for viewing at a particular time of day, and a preferred group of television channels available for viewing. For example, the person  30  may prefer to watch the channel-five news at six o&#39;clock on weeknights. Also, if the person  30  is a minor, his preferred group of television channels may omit channels that his parents (not shown) forbid him to view.  
         [0028]    In operation, the profile apparatus  12  and the circuit  40  establish communication with one another when the PAN  22  of the person  30  intersects with the circuit  40  as discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 1. The radius  24  of the PAN  22  can be any practical length, for example between five and ten feet.  
         [0029]    Once communication between the apparatus  12  and circuit  40  is established, the circuit  40  recalls the person&#39;s profile by configuring the television  34  according to the profile. If the person  30  has previously loaded his profile into the circuit  40 , then the apparatus  12  identifies the person  30 . In response to this identification, the circuit  40  recalls the profile corresponding to the person  30  by setting the volume, picture, channel selection, etc. to the settings specified by the recalled profile. If the person  30  has not previously loaded his profile into the circuit  40 , then the circuit notifies the apparatus  12  that it has stored no profile corresponding to the person  30 . In response, the apparatus  12  downloads the person&#39;s profile to the circuit  40 , which, after the download is complete, recalls the profile as discussed above. If, however, the apparatus  12  cannot download the person&#39;s profile or the person has not programmed his profile into the apparatus, then the person  30  preferably loads an appropriate profile into the circuit  40  via the controls  34  or via other means. Alternatively, the person  30  may load his profile into the apparatus  12 , which then can download the profile to the circuit  40 .  
         [0030]    There are a number of ways to resolve conflicts when the PANs of multiple persons carrying apparatus  12  intersect with the circuit  40 . For example, the circuit  40  may recall the profile of the person closest to the television  32 . Alternatively, the apparatus  12  may require the person  30  to push a button (not shown) or take some other action before it causes the circuit  40  to recall the person&#39;s profile. Or, the person&#39;s profile can include a priority designation that the circuit  40  uses to determine which profile to recall in case of a conflict. For example, a parent may have priority over a child (not shown), and thus the parent or child&#39;s profiles may indicate this priority. Therefore, if the PANs of both parent and child—assuming of course that both parent and child are carrying a respective apparatus  12 —simultaneously intersect the circuit  40 , the circuit recalls the parent&#39;s profile because the parent has viewing priority over the child. Alternatively, the circuit  40  may recall a profile that is the combination of the profiles of persons (only the person  30  shown) carrying apparatus  12  and whose PANs intersect the circuit  40 . For example, the circuit  40  may recall a combination profile that enables the television  32  to display only the channels that are included as viewable in the profiles of all these persons. Therefore, if a child is one of the persons, the circuit  40  will disable the television  32  from displaying any channels that the child&#39;s parents (not shown) have omitted from his profile.  
         [0031]    Although discussed in conjunction with the television  32 , the profile apparatus  12  and profile circuit  40  can operate similarly where the circuit  40  is included in another electronic appliance or device such as a stereo or coffee maker (FIG. 3).  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a view of the person  30  carrying the electronic profile apparatus  12 , and of a base unit  50  that causes each of one or more satellite devices to recall the person&#39;s respective profile in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. Like numbers are used to reference components similar to those in FIGS. 1 and 2. The base unit  50  allows the apparatus  12  to communicate with a single unit instead of each individual device. The apparatus  12 , via the base unit  50 , causes each of the devices to recall the respective profile of the person  30 , thus eliminating the need for the person to manually recall his profiles. In addition, the apparatus  12  may also provide the person&#39;s profiles to the base unit  50 , which provides them to the respective devices. This eliminates the need for the person  30  to manually configure the devices with his preferences and then cause the devices to save these preferences as his respective profiles.  
         [0033]    The base unit  50  includes a profile circuit  52 , which may be similar to the profile circuits  18  and  40  of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, and which, in response to the apparatus  12 , causes each of the devices to recall the respective profile of the person  30 . In one embodiment, the base unit  50  is a computer that includes a key board  54 . The person  30  may manually load his profiles into the base unit  50  using the key board  54  or other conventional means. Alternatively, the apparatus  12  may download the person&#39;s profiles to the circuit  52 , which in turn downloads the profiles to the respective devices or otherwise causes the devices to operate according to the respective profiles. Or, the apparatus  12  may download the profiles directly to the respective devices.  
         [0034]    The satellite devices with which the base unit  50  communicates are typically programmable with user preferences, and can include a coffee maker  56 , furnace/air conditioner  58 , television  59 , and stereo  60 . The person&#39;s profile for the coffee maker  56  can include such preferences as a morning turn-on time and coffee strength. The person&#39;s profile for the furnace/air conditioner  58  can include such preferences as the temperature throughout the house or in the room where the base unit  50  is located. And the person&#39;s profile for the stereo  60  can include such preferences as favorite radio stations, bass, treble, and sound settings, and sound configuration. Although these devices are programmable, they may each be unable to store more than one set of preference, i.e., profile. Therefore, in this situation the base unit  50  can store multiple profiles for each device, and download the profiles of the person  30  in response to the apparatus  12 .  
         [0035]    The profile circuit  52  of the base unit  50  and the devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60  communicate over respective paths  62   a - 62   d , which each may be any type of wireless or cabled path. Where a path  62  is wireless, the circuit  52  and respective device may communicate using conventional radio-wave protocols such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth protocol or may use conventional infrared protocols such as those used with television remote controls (not shown). Where infrared is used, a direct, unobstructed path between the base unit  50  and the respective device is typically required for successful communication. Where a path  62  is cabled, it may include a standard wire cable or a fiber-optic cable, or may include a home&#39;s electrical wiring (not shown) and the power cords (not shown) of the base unit  50  and respective device.  
         [0036]    In operation, the profile apparatus  12  and the profile circuit  52  of the base unit  50  establish communication with one another when the PAN  22  of the person  30  intersects with the circuit  52  as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. The radius  24  of the PAN  22  can be any practical length. For example, because the base unit  50  can control devices throughout a home (not shown) and the base unit  50  can be located in any room of the home, a radius equal to the longest dimension of the home insures that the circuit  52  recalls the person&#39;s profiles regardless of his location within the home.  
         [0037]    Once communication between the apparatus  12  and circuit  52  is established, the circuit  52  causes the devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60  to recall the respective profiles of the person  30 . If the person  30  has previously loaded his profile or profiles into the circuit  52  or the devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60 , then the apparatus  12  identifies the person  30 . In response to this identification, the circuit  52  causes the devices to recall the respective profiles corresponding to the person  30 . If the person  30  has not previously loaded his profile or profiles into the circuit  52  or the devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60 , then the circuit  52  notifies the apparatus  12  that no profiles are stored corresponding to the person  30 . In response, the apparatus  12  downloads the person&#39;s profiles to the circuit  52  or directly to the devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60 . After the download is complete, the circuit  52  causes the devices to recall the respective profiles as discussed above. If, however, the apparatus  12  cannot download the person&#39;s profiles or if the person has not loaded his profile into the apparatus, then the person  30  loads his profile into the circuit  52  or devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60  via an interface or respective interfaces (not shown) or via other means. Alternatively, the person  30  may load his profile into the apparatus  12 , which then can download the profile to the circuit  52  or to the devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60  as discussed above.  
         [0038]    There are a number of ways to resolve conflicts when the PANs of multiple persons carrying apparatus  12  intersect with the circuit  52 . For example, the circuit  52  may recall the respective profile of the person closest to a particular device. That is, the circuit  52  may recall the stereo profile of the person standing closest to the stereo  60 , where the apparatus  12  and base unit  50  can use conventional techniques to determine which person is closest to a particular device. Alternatively, the apparatus  12  or base unit  50  may require the person  30  to push a button (not shown) or take some other action before the apparatus  12  causes the circuit  52  to recall the person&#39;s profiles. Or, the person&#39;s profiles can include a priority designation that the circuit  52  uses to determine which person&#39;s profiles to recall in case of a conflict. For example, a parent may have priority over a child (not shown), and thus the parent or child&#39;s profiles may indicate this. Therefore, if the PANs of both parent and child—assuming of course that both parent and child are carrying a respective apparatus  12 —simultaneously intersect the circuit  52 , the circuit  52  causes one or more of the devices  56 ,  58 ,  59 , and  60  to recall the parent&#39;s respective profiles because the parent has priority over the child. In addition, the circuit  52  may recall a combination profile as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0039]    Although discussed in conjunction with devices that do not include profile circuits, the coffee maker  56 , furnace/air conditioner  58 , television  59 , and stereo  60  may each include a profile circuit such as the circuit  40  of FIG. 2 and operate similarly to the television  32  of FIG. 2 except for communicating with the apparatus  12  via the base unit  50 . Furthermore, other programmable electronic appliances or devices can be coupled to and controlled by the base unit  50  as discussed above.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 4 is a view of the person  30  carrying the electronic profile apparatus  12  and of a vending machine  70  that recalls the person&#39;s profile in response to the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. Like numbers are used to reference components similar to those in FIGS.  1 - 3 . The apparatus  12  causes the vending machine  70  to recall a product-selection profile of the person  30 , thus facilitating the person&#39;s viewing and selection of products offered by the machine  70 . For example, if the person  30  is a diabetic and has a diabetic profile, the machine  70  may display only low-sugar or sugar-free selections. Implementing such product-selection profile often saves the person  30  time because he or she need not view products in which he or she has no interest.  
         [0041]    The vending machine  70  includes a profile circuit  72  that can be similar to the circuit  40  of FIG. 2, product-display windows  74 , a payment/selection interface  76  for accepting currency or credit cards (not shown) and allowing the person  30  to select a product, and a product-dispense port  78 . Because the vending machine  70  is intended for public use and the person  30  may use the machine  70  infrequently, it is often impractical to allow the person  30  to manually load his profile into the circuit  72 , although allowing such manual loading is contemplated. Instead, the apparatus  12  typically downloads the person&#39;s profile to the circuit  72  and then causes the circuit to recall the profile.  
         [0042]    In operation, the profile apparatus  12  and the circuit  72  establish communication with one another when the PAN  22  of the person  30  intersects with the circuit  72  as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. The radius  24  of the PAN  22  can be any practical length, for example between one and five feet.  
         [0043]    Once communication between the apparatus  12  and circuit  72  is established, the circuit  72  configures the vending machine  70  to display its selection according to the profile of the person  30 . Typically, the apparatus  12  downloads the person&#39;s profile to the circuit  72 , which, after the download is complete, recalls the profile as discussed above.  
         [0044]    After the vending machine  70  displays the profiled selection of products, the person  30  selects and pays for the desired product or products via the interface  76 , and retrieves the selected product or products from the port  78 .  
         [0045]    The apparatus  12  and circuit  72  can implement conventional techniques such as those discussed above in conjunction with FIGS.  1 - 3  to resolve conflicts that arise when the PANs of multiple persons carrying apparatus  12  intersect with the circuit  72 .  
         [0046]    Furthermore, to conserve memory space, the vending machine  70  may delete the person&#39;s profile after the person  30  has finished selecting products for purchase. For example, the circuit  72  may delete the profile a predetermined time after the person  30  makes his selection, when the person&#39;s PAN  22  no longer intersects the circuit  72 , or when another person&#39;s PAN intersects the circuit  72 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of circuitry  79  within the apparatus  12  of FIGS.  1 - 4  and of the profile circuit  18  of FIG. 1, it being understood that the profile circuits  40 ,  52 , and  72  of FIGS.  2 - 4  can be similar the to circuit  18 .  
         [0048]    The circuitry  79  includes a processor  80 , a transmitter/receiver  82  that interfaces the processor with an antenna  84  or connector  86 , a memory  88 , and an optional data interface  90  such as a key pad or touch screen. The processor  80  provides the identity of a person (not shown in FIG. 5) wearing the apparatus  12  to the circuit  18  or otherwise causes the circuit  18  to recall the person&#39;s profile as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS.  1 - 4 . If communication is via a wireless path  92 , then the processor  80  communicates with the circuit  18  via the transmitter/receiver  82  and the antenna  84 ; if communication is via a cabled path  94 , then the processor communicates with the circuit  18  via the transmitter/receiver  82  and the connector  86 . The processor  80  can also cause the apparatus  12  to perform the other functions described above in conjunction with FIGS.  1 - 4  such as determining how far the person wearing the apparatus  12  is from the circuit  18  and when the PAN of the person intersects the circuit  18 . Where the apparatus  12  can store the person&#39;s profile, the person (not shown in FIG. 5) loads his profile via the data interface  90 , and the processor  80  stores the profile in the memory  88 . Alternatively, the person may load the profile via the wireless path  90  or the cabled path  94 . The memory  88 , which may be volatile or nonvolatile, may store the operating program for the processor  80  as well as the person&#39;s profile and the identifier that identifies the person to the circuit  18 .  
         [0049]    The circuit  18  is similar to the circuitry  79  of the apparatus  12 , and includes a processor  96 , a transmitter/receiver  98  that interfaces the processor with an antenna  100  or connector  102 , a memory  104 , and an optional data interface  106  such as a key pad or touch screen. The processor  96  receives the identity of a person (not shown in FIG. 5) wearing the apparatus  12  from the processor  80  and recalls the person&#39;s profile from the memory  104  as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS.  1 - 4 . The processor  96  can also perform or cause the circuit  18  to perform the other functions described above in conjunction with FIGS.  1 - 4  such as determining how far the person wearing the apparatus  12  is from the circuit  18  and when the PAN of the person intersects the circuit  18 . The processor  96  receives the download of the person&#39;s profile from the processor  80  or from the data interface  106  and stores the profile in the memory  104 . Alternatively, the processor  80  may receive the download of the profile from another source via the antenna  100  or connector  102 . The memory  104  may store the operating program for the processor  96  as well as the downloaded profile. The memory  104  may also store person identifiers so that the processor  96  can recall the correct profile for a particular person.