Source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2003/0013438.html
Timestamp: 2018-06-24 09:06:01
Document Index: 229120633

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n3', 'art.\n9', 'art.\n12', 'art.\n17', 'art.\n18', 'art.\n20', 'art.\n21', 'art.\n22', 'art.\n24', 'art.\n31', 'art.\n34', 'art.\n43', 'art.\n49', 'art.\n52', 'art.\n57', 'art.\n58', 'art.\n60', 'art.\n61', 'art.\n62', 'art.\n64', 'art.\n71', 'art.\n74', 'art.\n83']

Pocket concierge system and method - DARBY GEORGE EUGENE
United States Patent Application 20030013438
Darby, George Eugene (Mililani, HI, US)
10/201916
G06Q30/02; H04L29/08; H04M3/493; H04M3/51; (IPC1-7): H04M3/00
Download PDF 20030013438 PDF help
20080076480 SWING-TYPE MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND SWING DEVICE THEREOF March, 2008 Jeong et al.
20060148496 Method for administrating SMS message of mobile phone July, 2006 Zhu et al.
George, Darby E. (P.O. BOX 893010, MILILANI, HI, 96789-3010, US)
1. A method of providing information services, comprising: using a Call Center to provide multimedia applications selected from the group comprising navigational, informational, commercial, and communications services to at least one Pocket Part by means of a wireless digital network selected from the group comprising a mobile telephone network and a proximate area network; wherein the primary user interface on the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising touch-sensitive display panel, voice recognition, soft keyboard, conversation with a person associated with the Call Center, and conversation with a software agent associated with the Call Center.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the provision of navigational services by: equipping a Pocket Part with a video camera with sensitivity and processing in a spectral range selected from the group comprising visible light, infrared, and multispectral; matching at the Call Center or a Network server the video output from the Pocket Part camera showing the locale of an end-user of the Pocket Part with a wireframe model of that locale sourced from a Call Center or Network server; superimposing the wireframe model on the video of the locale sourced from the end-user's Pocket Part; sourcing from the Call Center or Network server additional textual detail about features in the locale, and additional iconic and textual detail about navigating to points within the locale shown in the video sourced from the end-user's Pocket Part; superimposing the additional detail on the locale video with reference to features in the wireframe model to create a composite video; transmitting a composite video of locale video, wireframe model, and additional detail to the end-user's Pocket Part, and displaying the composite video on the display of the Pocket Part.
3. A method of providing information services, comprising: exchanging between a Pocket Part and a Call Center requests by a user of the Pocket Part and responses to those requests; wherein the primary user interface on the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising touch-sensitive display panel, voice recognition, soft keyboard, conversation with a person associated with the Call Center, and conversation with a software agent associated with the Call Center; wherein the messages exchanged between the Pocket Part and the Call Center are in digital format and are via wireless transmission; and wherein an audio, user interface between the Pocket Part and the user of the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising a wireless headset, wireless earset (an ear-mounted headphone and microphone with wireless transmit and receive connectivity to the Pocket Part), wired headset, and wired earset.
4. A method of providing information services, comprising: using a Pocket Part enrolled in an inventory tracking program resident on a Pocket Part asset management server interfaced with a serving Call Center; exchanging between the Pocket Part and the asset management server messages concerning asset management; exchanging between the Pocket Part and the Call Center requests by a user of the Pocket Part and responses to those requests; wherein the primary user interface on the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising touch-sensitive display panel, voice recognition, soft keyboard, conversation with a person associated with the Call Center, and conversation with a software agent associated with the Call Center; wherein the messages exchanged between the Pocket Part and the Call Center are in digital format and are via wireless transmission; and wherein an audio, user interface between the Pocket Part and the user of the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising a wireless headset, wireless earset (an ear-mounted headphone and microphone with wireless transmit and receive connectivity to the Pocket Part), wired headset, and wired earset.
5. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: using wireline transmission as a backup transmission path between the Pocket Part and the Call Center when the Pocket Part is in a location where wireless service unavailable or unreliable.
6. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with a user interface selected from the group comprising eye goggle, tactile/skin pad, and video recognition.
7. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with a proximate area network interface; and using a proximate area network for local wireless communications between the Pocket Part and proximate area network nodes selected from the group comprising Point of Sale, Point of Offer, navigational, and inventory tracking.
8. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: using a Network interfaced with the Call Center and with one ore more servers to provide services requested by a user of the Pocket Part.
9. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with a sensor selected from the group comprising medical sensors, environmental sensors, panic button, dosimeters, audio transducers, video transducers, and impact transducers; providing sensor output signals to a server interfaced with the Call Center; and dispatching assistance to a user of the Pocket Part based on analysis of the sensor output.
10. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Call Center with a means of natural language translation; and providing natural language translation of the messages exchanged between a user of the Pocket Part and a person selected from the group comprising a Call Center operator and a third party in communication with the Call Center over a Network.
11. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part and the Call Center with a means for determining the geographic location of the Pocket Part and for exchanging geographic location messages between the Pocket Part and the Call Center; and presenting navigational instructions to a user of the Pocket Part based on the geographic location messages and on input by the user of the Pocket Part.
12. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: periodically polling the location of each Pocket Part managed by an asset management server interfaced with the Call Center to determine compliance with predefined geographic limits of permitted use of the Pocket Part; and if a given Pocket Part is located outside the predefined geographic limits of permitted use of the Pocket Part, implementing a predefined response selected from the group comprising a warning that user functionality will be disabled unless the Pocket Part is returned to within permitted geographic limits, a warning that surcharges will be incurred while the Pocket Part is outside permitted geographic limits, disablement of user functionality of the Pocket Part, and surcharging the user for having the Pocket Part outside predefined geographic limits.
13. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: determining the geographic location of the Pocket Part using a method selected from the group comprising RF triangulation, RF proximity detection via a proximate area network, announcements by the Pocket Part over a Network, and transaction history.
14. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with a button or menu selection that, when activated, causes an instant display on the Pocket Part of the location of the user and of other points of interest of types selected by the user in a given locale.
15. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: enabling user functionality of the Pocket Part only so long as the Pocket Part receives a “keep alive” command from an asset management server interfaced with the Call Center.
16. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with an RF tag; detecting RF tags in proximity to an RF tag detector, and using messages between RF tag detectors and an inventory tracking program resident on an asset management server interfaced to the Call Center to track the location of the Pocket Part.
17. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part and a server interfaced with the Call Center with application software tailored to industry sectors selected from the group comprising financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain, distribution channel, retail sales, and travel industry; transmitting to the Pocket Part from the server in response to Pocket Part user or Call Center operator inquiry information responsive to such inquiry, wherein such responsive information is selected from the group comprising multimedia and single medium (audio, video, text, or graphics); and displaying such information on the Pocket Part.
18. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: loading servers interfaced with the Call Center with information selected from the group comprising product information, destination information, service information, training, and educational information; providing resources selected from the group comprising persons, databases, and software agents, each with connectivity to the Call Center; and distributing to a Pocket Part information requested by a user of the Pocket Part and obtained from such resources; and presenting such information on the Pocket Part, wherein such presentation is selected from the group comprising multimedia and single medium (audio, video, text, or graphics).
19. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Call Center with a means for directory number translation (“follow me service”) so that voice, fax, video, and data calls intended for other network addresses (including telephone numbers) of a user of a Pocket Part are delivered to such user on the Pocket Part.
20. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping servers interfaced with the Call Center with a means for storing and forwarding messages and a means for message payload conversion; converting message payloads between formats selected from the group comprising voice and text; and forwarding messages in a format specified by a user of a Pocket Part to that user's Pocket Part.
21. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping servers interfaced with the Call Center with a means for storing and forwarding messages and a means for message payload conversion; converting message payloads between formats selected from the group comprising fax, graphics, and video; and forwarding messages in a format specified by a user of a Pocket Part to that user's Pocket Part.
22. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: interfacing with the Call Center one or more servers containing foreign language information; equipping the Pocket Part and one or more Call Center servers with foreign language application software; staffing the seats in the Call Center with personnel competent in the foreign language and in one or more languages of the locale in which the Pocket Part is used; providing to the Pocket Part in a foreign language selected by the user of the Pocket Part oral and server-based information related to the locale; and optionally, providing to the Pocket Part in a local language oral and server-based information related to such locale.
23. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: reducing transmission capacity required between the Call Center and the Pocket Part by storing in the Pocket Part software components selected from the group comprising graphic elements, lip motion rules, and body motion rules; and using such components in generating content presented on the Pocket Part.
24. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: responding to inquiries from a user of the Pocket Part concerning the location of goods or services by transmitting to the Pocket Part location and navigational information selected from the group comprising text, video, audio, and graphics and oriented to the user's present position.
25. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: providing to a user of the Pocket Part services selected from the group comprising assistance from personnel associated with a Call Center, assistance from software agents, access to one or more databases, access to one or more application servers, Internet access, live television programming, live radio programming, news, weather forecasts, prerecorded audio programming, prerecorded video programming, single player games, multiplayer games, data calling, local calling, domestic long distance calling, international long distance calling, video calling, location reporting, navigational guidance, private network access, contests, fax, email, paging, web browsing, messaging, conferencing, telemedicine, telesecurity, remote sensing using sensors associated with the Pocket Part, access to sensors interfaced with the Call Center, remote diagnostics, reservations, entertainment, shopping/procurement, industry sector (financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain management, distribution channel management, and travel industry) software applications, industry sector information services, fee-based services, educational courseware, and training courseware.
26. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: providing to a user of the Pocket Part services packaged and quantified (by call-minutes or packets) in tiers, wherein such communications and information services are selected from the group comprising assistance from personnel associated with a Call Center, assistance from software agents, access to one or more databases, access to one or more application servers, Internet access, live television programming, live radio programming, news, weather forecasts, prerecorded audio programming, prerecorded video programming, single player games, multiplayer games, data calling, local calling, domestic long distance calling, international long distance calling, video calling, location reporting, navigational guidance, private network access, contests, fax, email, paging, web browsing, messaging, conferencing, telemedicine, telesecurity, remote sensing using sensors associated with the Pocket Part, access to sensors interfaced with the Call Center, remote diagnostics, reservations, entertainment, shopping/procurement, industry sector (financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain management, distribution channel management, and travel industry) software applications, industry sector information services, fee-based services, educational courseware, and training courseware.
27. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: providing to a user of the Pocket Part services packaged and quantified (by call-minutes or packets) in tiers, wherein such services are selected from the group comprising assistance from personnel associated with a Call Center, assistance from software agents, access to one or more databases, access to one or more application servers, Internet access, live television programming, live radio programming, news, weather forecasts, prerecorded audio programming, prerecorded video programming, single player games, multiplayer games, data calling, local calling, domestic long distance calling, international long distance calling, video calling, location reporting, physical security, building access, room access, navigational guidance, private network access, contests, fax, email, paging, web browsing, messaging, conferencing, telemedicine, telesecurity, remote sensing using sensors associated with the Pocket Part, access to sensors interfaced with the Call Center, remote diagnostics, reservations, entertainment, shopping/procurement, industry sector (financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain management, distribution channel management, and travel industry) software applications, industry sector information services, fee-based services, educational courseware, and training courseware; and using software running on an asset management server interfaced with the Call Center to authorize and account for the usage of such services by the Pocket Part, and in response to a user's attempt to use services and amounts not included in a given tier to generate a response selected from the group comprising blocking such attempted use, permitting such attempted use by surcharging the user, or escalating the tier level subscribed to by the user and charging the user for such higher tier.
28. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: providing to a user of the Pocket Part enrollment in a reward system based on an action by the user selected from the group comprising purchase by the user of goods or services, performance by the user in games, participation by the user in a contest, participation by the user in market research, and the user's viewing advertisements.
29. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with a digital camera; and transmitting the digital camera output from the Pocket Part to the Call Center for storage or further transmission.
30. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with a digital camera; and storing the digital camera output in the Pocket Part.
31. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: transmitting one or more electronic coupons from the Call Center to the Pocket Part to promote purchasing by a user of the Pocket Part; transmitting the one or more electronic coupon from the Pocket Part to a Point of Sale; and redeeming the one or more electronic coupons after transmission of an electronic coupon from the Pocket Part to the Point of Sale.
32. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: collecting revenue by an operator of the Call Center based on the sales to a user of the Pocket Part of items selected from the group comprising communications services, information services, commercial services, goods sold by the operator of the Call Center to the user of the Pocket Part, other services sold by the operator of the Call Center to the user of the Pocket Part, other services sold by the operator of the Call Center to a vendor to promote the vendor's goods and services, and commissions on sales by third parties to a user of the Pocket Part in which payment is settled through the Pocket Part; and wherein such other services are selected from the group comprising providing to a user navigation guidance to a vendor's Point of Sale or Point of Offer, providing user preferences to a vendor, providing a user's shopping/procurement information to a vendor, providing vendor advertisements to a user, providing vendor coupons to a user, translating between the language of a vendor's information or staff and the language of a user, charging the vendor for payment of consideration in the user's favor for access to the user, and services that the operator of the Call Center sources from third parties and sells as a service of the Call Center operator.
33. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: transmitting announcement messages from the Pocket Part to at least one proximate area network receiver for a use selected from the group comprising tracking the location of the Pocket Part, providing the purchasing preferences of a user of the Pocket Part to a Point of Sale or Point of Offer, triggering the transmission of electronic coupons from a Point of Sale or Point of Offer to the Pocket Part, and triggering the transmission of advertisements from a Point of Sale or Point of Offer to the Pocket Part.
34. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with software that negotiates with software agents or human representatives of merchants whose Points of Offer or Points of Sale are within proximate area network range; presenting an offer transmitted from a Point of Offer or Point of Sale to a user of the Pocket Part user in a language specified by the user.
35. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with a payment means to facilitate sales transactions using the Pocket Part and selected from the group comprising credit card swipe reader, stored value memory, and stored value card; and settling payment for purchases made by a user of the Pocket Part by use of such payment means.
36. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: transmitting information responsive to an inquiry from a user of the Pocket Part to a network or postal address specified by the user.
37. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: maintaining a history of purchase negotiations entered into by a user of the Pocket Part; and using the information in such transactional history in follow-up marketing efforts to the user.
38. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: enabling a user of a Pocket Part to be anonymous in purchase negotiations by providing a proxy identification for the user to use in payments settled through the Pocket Part, but maintaining a cross-reference to the user's true identity on a server interfaced with the Call Center.
39. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: maintaining the identification and transactional history of a user of the Pocket Part on a server interfaced with the Call Center, and in the event such user again uses a Pocket Part, updating the transactional history of such user and extending suggestions and promotional messages to the user based on such transactional history.
40. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with one or more interfaces to support external devices selected from the group comprising displays, digital cameras, printers, amplifiers, loudspeakers, microphones, external sensors, sensors, and instrumentation.
41. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with one or more sensors that monitor vital signs of a user of the Pocket Part or of a person in proximity to and with connectivity to the Pocket Part; and transmitting the output of such sensors to a server interfaced with the Call Center.
42. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: equipping the Pocket Part with one or more sensors that monitor vital signs of a user of the Pocket Part or of a person in proximity to and with connectivity to the Pocket Part; equipping the Pocket Part with software that monitors the one or more sensors and determines if a predefined vital sign threshold is exceeded; and if such threshold is exceeded, transmitting to a server interfaced with the Call Center a message selected from the group comprising the vital sign exceeding such threshold, specified sensor outputs, all sensor outputs, and the location of the Pocket Part.
43. A system of providing information services, comprising: a means for exchanging between a Pocket Part and a Call Center requests by a user of the Pocket Part and responses to those requests; wherein the primary user interface on the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising touch-sensitive display panel, voice recognition, soft keyboard, conversation with a person associated with the Call Center, and conversation with a software agent associated with the Call Center; wherein the messages exchanged between the Pocket Part and the Call Center are in digital format and are via wireless transmission; and wherein an audio, user interface between the Pocket Part and the user of the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising a wireless headset, wireless earset (an ear-mounted headphone and microphone with wireless transmit and receive connectivity to the Pocket Part), wired headset, and wired earset.
44. A system of providing information services, comprising: a means for enrolling a Pocket Part in an inventory tracking program resident on a Pocket Part asset management server interfaced with a serving Call Center; a means for exchanging between the Pocket Part and the asset management server messages concerning asset management; a means for exchanging between the Pocket Part and the Call Center requests by a user of the Pocket Part and responses to those requests; wherein the primary user interface on the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising touch-sensitive display panel, voice recognition, soft keyboard, conversation with a person associated with the Call Center, and conversation with a software agent associated with the Call Center; wherein the messages exchanged between the Pocket Part and the Call Center are in digital format and are via wireless transmission; and wherein an audio, user interface between the Pocket Part and the user of the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising a wireless headset, wireless earset (an ear-mounted headphone and microphone with wireless transmit and receive connectivity to the Pocket Part), wired headset, and wired earset.
45. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a wireline transmission path as a backup transmission path between the Pocket Part and the Call Center when the Pocket Part is in a location where wireless service unavailable or unreliable.
46. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a Pocket Part user interface selected from the group comprising eye goggle, tactile/skin pad, and video recognition.
47. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a proximate area network interface on the Pocket Part; and a proximate area network for local wireless communications between the Pocket Part and proximate area network nodes selected from the group comprising Point of Sale, Point of Offer, navigational, and inventory tracking.
48. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a Network interfaced with the Call Center and with one ore more servers to provide services requested by a user of the Pocket Part.
49. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a sensor interfaced with the Pocket Part and selected from the group comprising medical sensors, environmental sensors, panic button, dosimeters, audio transducers, video transducers, and impact transducers; a means for transmitting sensor output signals to a server interfaced with the Call Center; and a means for dispatching assistance to a user of the Pocket Part based on analysis of the sensor output.
50. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for translating natural languages at the Call Center; and natural language translation of the messages exchanged between a user of the Pocket Part and a person selected from the group comprising a Call Center operator and a third party in communication with the Call Center over a Network.
51. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means on the Pocket Part and a means interfaced with the Call Center for determining the geographic location of the Pocket Part and for exchanging geographic location messages between the Pocket Part and the Call Center; and a means on the Pocket Part for presenting navigational instructions provided from the Call Center to a user of the Pocket Part based on the geographic location messages and on input by the user of the Pocket Part.
52. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for periodically polling the location of each Pocket Part managed by an asset management server interfaced with the Call Center to determine compliance with predefined geographic limits of permitted use of the Pocket Part; and a means for implementing a predefined response selected from the group comprising a warning that user functionality will be disabled unless the Pocket Part is returned to within permitted geographic limits, a warning that surcharges will be incurred while the Pocket Part is outside permitted geographic limits, disablement of user functionality of the Pocket Part, and surcharging the user for having the Pocket Part outside predefined geographic limits.
53. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for determining the geographic location of the Pocket Part using a method selected from the group comprising RF triangulation, RF proximity detection via a proximate area network, announcements by the Pocket Part over a Network, and transaction history.
54. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a button or menu selection on the Pocket Part that, when activated, causes an instant display on the Pocket Part of the location of the user and of other points of interest of types selected by the user in a given locale.
55. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for enabling user functionality of the Pocket Part only so long as the Pocket Part receives a “keep alive” command from an asset management server interfaced with the Call Center.
56. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: an RF tag integral with the Pocket Part; detection of such RF tags in proximity to RF tag detectors, and messages between RF tag detectors and an inventory tracking program resident on an asset management server interfaced to the Call Center to track the location of the Pocket Part.
57. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: application software running on the Pocket Part and a server interfaced with the Call Center and tailored to industry sectors selected from the group comprising financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain, distribution channel, retail sales, and travel industry; and a means for transmitting to the Pocket Part from the server in response to Pocket Part user or Call Center operator inquiry information responsive to such inquiry, wherein such responsive information is selected from the group comprising multimedia and single medium (audio, video, text, or graphics); wherein such responsive information is presented by the Pocket Part.
58. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: servers interfaced with the Call Center and loaded with information selected from the group comprising product information, destination information, service information, training, and educational information; resources selected from the group comprising persons, databases, and software agents, each with connectivity to the Call Center; a means for distributing to a Pocket Part of information requested by a user of the Pocket Part and obtained from such resources; and a means for presenting such information on the Pocket Part, wherein such presentation is selected from the group comprising multimedia and single medium (audio, video, text, or graphics).
59. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means associated with the Call Center for directory number translation (“follow me service”) so that voice, fax, video, and data calls intended for other network addresses (including telephone numbers) of a user of a Pocket Part are delivered to such user on the Pocket Part.
60. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: servers interfaced with the Call Center and equipped with a means for storing and forwarding messages and a means for message payload conversion; a means for conversion of message payloads between formats selected from the group comprising voice and text; and a means for forwarding messages in a format specified by a user of a Pocket Part to that user's Pocket Part.
61. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: servers interfaced with the Call Center and equipped with a means for storing and forwarding messages and a means for message payload conversion; a means for conversion of message payloads between formats selected from the group comprising fax, graphics, and video; and a means for forwarding messages in a format specified by a user of a Pocket Part to that user's Pocket Part.
62. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: one or more servers interfaced with the Call Center and containing foreign language information; foreign language application software running on the Pocket Part and on one or more servers in the Call Center; personnel competent in one or more languages of the locale in which the Pocket Part is used, which personnel staff seats in the Call Center; a means for providing to the Pocket Part in a foreign language selected by the user oral and server-based information related to the locale; and optionally, a means for providing to the Pocket Part in a local language oral and server-based information related to such locale.
63. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: software components in the Pocket Part selected from the group comprising graphic elements, lip motion rules, and body motion rules that reduce transmission capacity required between the Call Center and the Pocket Part; and a means for using such components in generating content presented on the Pocket Part.
64. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for responding to inquiries from a user of the Pocket Part concerning the location of goods or services by transmitting to the Pocket Part location and navigational information selected from the group comprising text, video, audio, and graphics and oriented to the user's present position.
65. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: services provided to a user of the Pocket Part and selected from the group comprising assistance from personnel associated with a Call Center, assistance from software agents, access to one or more databases, access to one or more application servers, Internet access, live television programming, live radio programming, news, weather forecasts, prerecorded audio programming, prerecorded video programming, single player games, multiplayer games, data calling, local calling, domestic long distance calling, international long distance calling, video calling, location reporting, navigational guidance, private network access, contests, fax, email, paging, web browsing, messaging, conferencing, telemedicine, telesecurity, remote sensing using sensors associated with the Pocket Part, access to sensors interfaced with the Call Center, remote diagnostics, reservations, entertainment, shopping/procurement, industry sector (financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain management, distribution channel management, and travel industry) software applications, industry sector information services, fee-based services, educational courseware, and training courseware.
66. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: services provided to a user of the Pocket Part and packaged and quantified (by call-minutes or packets) in tiers, wherein such services are selected from the group comprising assistance from personnel associated with a Call Center, assistance from software agents, access to one or more databases, access to one or more application servers, Internet access, live television programming, live radio programming, news, weather forecasts, prerecorded audio programming, prerecorded video programming, single player games, multiplayer games, data calling, local calling, domestic long distance calling, international long distance calling, video calling, location reporting, navigational guidance, private network access, contests, fax, email, paging, web browsing, messaging, conferencing, telemedicine, telesecurity, remote sensing using sensors associated with the Pocket Part, access to sensors interfaced with the Call Center, remote diagnostics, reservations, entertainment, shopping/procurement, industry sector (financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain management, distribution channel management, and travel industry) software applications, industry sector information services, fee-based services, educational courseware, and training courseware.
67. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: services provided to a user of the Pocket Part and packaged and quantified (by call-minutes or packets) in tiers, wherein such services are selected from the group comprising assistance from personnel associated with a Call Center, assistance from software agents, access to one or more databases, access to one or more application servers, Internet access, live television programming, live radio programming, news, weather forecasts, prerecorded audio programming, prerecorded video programming, single player games, multiplayer games, data calling, local calling, domestic long distance calling, international long distance calling, video calling, location reporting, physical security, building access, room access, navigational guidance, private network access, contests, fax, email, paging, web browsing, messaging, conferencing, telemedicine, telesecurity, remote sensing using sensors associated with the Pocket Part, access to sensors interfaced with the Call Center, remote diagnostics, reservations, entertainment, shopping/procurement, industry sector (financial services, pharmaceuticals, sales force automation, security, engineering, construction, medical, manufacturing, extractive, legal, supply chain management, distribution channel management, and travel industry) software applications, industry sector information services, fee-based services, educational courseware, and training courseware; and software running on an asset management server interfaced with the Call Center that authorizes and accounts for the usage of such services by the Pocket Part, and in response to a user's attempt to use services and amounts not included in a given tier, generates a response selected from the group comprising blocking such attempted use, permitting such attempted use by surcharging the user, or escalating the tier level subscribed to by the user and charging the user for such higher tier.
68. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a reward system based on an action by the user selected from the group comprising purchase by the user of the Pocket Part of goods or services, performance by the user of the Pocket Part in games, participation by the user of the Pocket Part in a contest, participation by the user of the Pocket Part in market research, and the user's viewing advertisements.
69. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a digital camera interfaced with the Pocket Part; and a means for transmitting the digital camera output from the Pocket Part to the Call Center for storage or further transmission.
70. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a digital camera interfaced with the Pocket Part; and a means for storing the digital camera output in the Pocket Part.
71. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: one or more electronic coupons transmitted from the Call Center to the Pocket Part to promote purchasing by a user of the Pocket Part; a means for transmitting such coupons from the Pocket Part to a Point of Sale; and a means for redeeming the one or more electronic coupons after transmission of a such coupons from the Pocket Part to the Point of Sale.
72. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for collecting revenue by an operator of the Call Center based on the sales to a user of the Pocket Part of items selected from the group comprising communications services, information services, commercial services, goods sold by the operator of the Call Center to the user of the Pocket Part, other services sold by the operator of the Call Center to the user of the Pocket Part, other services sold by the operator of the Call Center to a vendor to promote the vendor's goods and services, and commissions on sales by third parties to a user of the Pocket Part in which payment is settled through the Pocket Part; and wherein such other services are selected from the group comprising providing to a user navigation guidance to a vendor's Point of Sale or Point of Offer, providing user preferences to a vendor, providing a user's shopping /procurement information to a vendor, providing vendor advertisements to a user, providing vendor coupons to a user, translating between the language of a vendor's information or staff and the language of a user, charging the vendor for payment of consideration in the user's favor for access to the user, and services that the operator of the Call Center sources from third parties and sells as a service of the Call Center operator.
73. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: announcement messages transmitted from the Pocket Part to at least one proximate area network receiver for a use selected from the group comprising tracking the location of the Pocket Part, providing the purchasing preferences of a user of the Pocket Part to a Point of Sale or Point of Offer, triggering the transmission of electronic coupons from a Point of Sale or Point of Offer to the Pocket Part, and triggering the transmission of advertisements from a Point of Sale or Point of Offer to the Pocket Part.
74. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: software running on the Pocket Part that negotiates with software agents or human representatives of merchants whose Points of Offer or Points of Sale are within proximate area network range; one or more offers transmitted from a Point of Offer or Point of Sale to a user of the Pocket Part user in a language specified by the user.
75. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for facilitating sales transactions interfaced with the Pocket Part and selected from the group comprising credit card swipe reader, stored value memory, and stored value card; and a means for settlement of payment for purchases made by a user of the Pocket Part by use of such facilitating means.
76. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for transmitting information responsive to an inquiry from a user of the Pocket Part to a network or postal address specified by the user.
77. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for maintaining a history of purchase negotiations entered into by a user of the Pocket Part; and a means for using the information in such transactional history in follow-up marketing efforts to the user.
78. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for enabling a user of a Pocket Part to be anonymous in purchase negotiations by providing a proxy identification for the user to use in payments settled through the Pocket Part, but maintaining a cross-reference to the user's true identity on a server interfaced with the Call Center.
79. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: a means for maintaining the identification and transactional history of a user of the Pocket Part on a server interfaced with the Call Center, and in the event such user again uses a Pocket Part, updating the transactional history of such user and extending suggestions and promotional messages to the user based on such transactional history.
80. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: one or more interfaces integral with the Pocket Part that support external devices selected from the group comprising displays, digital cameras, printers, amplifiers, loudspeakers, microphones, external sensors, sensors, and instrumentation.
81. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: one or more sensors interfaced with the Pocket Part that monitor vital signs of a user of the Pocket Part or of a person in proximity to and with connectivity to the Pocket Part; and transmission of the output of such sensors to a server interfaced with the Call Center.
82. The system of claim 43 or 44, further comprising: one or more sensors interfaced with the Pocket Part that monitor vital signs of a user of the Pocket Part or of a person in proximity to and with connectivity to the Pocket Part; software running of the Pocket Part that monitors the one or more sensors and determines if a predefined vital sign threshold is exceeded; and if such threshold is exceeded, a means for transmitting from the Pocket Part to a server interfaced with the Call Center a message selected from the group comprising the vital sign exceeding such threshold, specified sensor outputs, all sensor outputs, and the location of the Pocket Part.
83. A method of providing information services, comprising: a Call Center that provides multimedia applications selected from the group comprising navigational, informational, commercial, and communications services to at least one Pocket Part by means of a wireless digital network selected from the group comprising a mobile telephone network and a proximate area network; wherein the primary user interface on the Pocket Part is selected from the group comprising touch-sensitive display panel, voice recognition, soft keyboard, conversation with a person associated with the Call Center, and conversation with a software agent associated with the Call Center.
84. The method of claim 83, further comprising the provision of navigational services by: a Pocket Part equipped with a video camera with sensitivity and processing in a spectral range selected from the group comprising visible light, infrared, and multispectral; a Call Center or a Network server that matches the video output from the Pocket Part camera showing the locale of an end-user of the Pocket Part with a wireframe model of that locale sourced from a Call Center or Network server, and superimposes the wireframe model on the video of the locale sourced from the end-user's Pocket Part; Call Center or Network server that provides additional textual detail about features in the locale, and additional iconic and textual detail about navigating to points within the locale shown in the video sourced from the end-user's Pocket Part, and superimposes the additional detail on the locale video with reference to features in the wireframe model to create a composite video; and transmission of a composite video of locale video, wireframe model, and additional detail to the end-user's Pocket Part, wherein the Pocket Part displays the composite video on the display of the Pocket Part.
[0008] With the advent of multimedia, mobile “smart phones,” XML and HTML browsers for small, handheld computers and smart phones, and high speed data channels serving such computers and phones, multimedia, wireless call center services have become technically and economically feasible. In particular, the high-speed data services under Unified Mobile Telephone System (“UMTS” or “G3”), wireless local area network (“WLAN”), and similar protocols will soon provide the technological platform for multimedia, wireless call center services, but unsolved problems remain concerning how to architect such systems, what services to provide, and how such services should be provided from operational, and end-user interface, standpoints.
[0024] The Compaq H3600 iPAQ series of Pocket Computers, available from Compaq Computer Corporation, 20555 SH 249, Houston, Tex. (www.compaq.com), was the first commercially available product that provides the minimum complement of features required for the Pocket Part. The Compaq H3600 Pocket PCs have: an XML/HTML browser; a color, 320×240 pixel, touch sensitive screen; input/output interface to a Wireless Module; data entry using soft keyboard (i.e., the end-user selects a given letter by touching the appropriate letter on a miniature keyboard displayed on the LCD screen), microphone, loudspeaker, and headphone jack. Wireless Modules for the H3600 uses various airlink standards, e.g., GSM, CDMA, and soon UMTS. Although Wireless Modules that use telephony airlink standards are described, other airlink standards could be used, e.g., cellular packet data, private radio, satellite. The Pocket Part normally includes a proximate area network interface (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, other wireless local area network, infrared) for local wireless communications. The Pocket Part can include a terrestrial network interface (dial-up modem, serial port, USB port, etc.) as failover or backup support if wireless access is not available. Several other Pocket Computers are available, such as the Toshiba e740, which includes a WLAN or Bluetooth transceiver. All telecom services used by the Pocket Part are digital, which requires that the Pocket Part have an audio codec and a video playback codec. A Pocket Part equipped with a video camera also has a video compression codec to compress the video signal originating at the Pocket Part. The audio and video codecs can be selectable rate codecs to permit use of higher data rates when available or when affordable.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates the basic components of the Pocket Concierge service.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the Pocket Concierge System and Method invention comprises is a Pocket Part (101), a serving Call Center (102), and a wireless link (103). One or more remote Call Centers (104) connected to the serving Call Center by a Network (105), and one or more optional Points of Sale (106) and Points of Offer (107) connected to the Pocket Part (101) by proximate area network links (108), are used in the preferred embodiment. A Pocket Part comprises a Pocket Computer (109) and a Wireless Module (110). The Pocket Computer (109) contains at least an XML/HTML browser, input/output interface to the Wireless Module, a display capability, a data entry capability, audiovisual (“multimedia”) capability, and the other normal parts of a computer (CPU, ROM, RAM, systems software, applications software), and optionally, removable storage, and additional interfaces. The Wireless Module (110) contains at least an input/output interface to the Pocket Computer, a wireless transceiver for the wireless link (103), and an optional proximate area network transceiver for the proximate area network links (108). The serving Call Center has connectivity to wireless links (103) and to the Network (105). The Pocket Concierge service is normally operated using points of sale and points of offer subsystems. If points of sale and points of offer are used, the Wireless Module and the points of sale and points of offer exchange wireless messages using a proximate area network technology and contain proximate area network transceivers.
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