Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate generally to information technology, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing personalized, just-in-time information services. 
     Various situations may occur which require identification and/or tracking of people or objects. For example, the elderly and the very young may not have the capacity to effectively communicate information relating to their needs (e.g., medical conditions). Mentally challenged individuals may also have difficulty communicating their needs to others. There are also a variety of conditions that may occur which cause temporary incapacitation of otherwise healthy individuals (e.g., car accident, stroke, heart attack, etc.). As with individuals, animals and/or inanimate objects may also require identification and/or tracking for various reasons (e.g., a package on route to a destination). 
     The ability to identify and/or track individuals at a large-scale event can be challenging. Large crowds, ambient noise, and facilities with complex navigational structures reflect just a few of the elements that may contribute to the disorientation and separation of people. In fact, many individuals avoid these types of environments due to the incumbent stress and anxiety over the possibility of losing track of a loved one. 
     Important information regarding an individual (e.g., medical needs) may conceivably change from day to day (e.g., a very young child who is on a short-term medicine regime) and may require that this information be conveyed in the event that the child becomes separated with a responsible adult. The information may also change depending upon the location of an event to which the individual will attend (e.g., the individual visiting relatives across the country may require that different emergency contact information be conveyed). 
     What is needed is a way to quickly identify and/or track individuals, animals, and objects and for providing critical information as well. This capability could be utilized to promote safety, provide instant medical information and, consequently, peace of mind for associated individuals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing personalized information services. Methods include generating an instance of personalized information including time-sensitive elements, and outputting the personalized information onto a medium that is affixable to a subject with which the personalized information is associated. 
     Exemplary embodiments further include systems for providing personalized information services. Systems include a descriptor assembly application executing on a processor. The descriptor assembly application generates an instance of personalized information including time-sensitive elements. The system also includes an output device in communication with the descriptor assembly application for outputting the personalized information onto a medium that is affixable to a subject with which the personalized information is associated. 
     Computer program products for providing personalized, just-in-time information services include instructions for performing a method. The method includes generating an instance of personalized information including time-sensitive elements, and outputting the personalized information onto a medium that is affixable to a subject with which the personalized information is associated. 
     Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to exemplary embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system upon which the personalized information system functions may be implemented in exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow diagram describing a process for implementing the personalized information system functions in exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  is a sample personalized information artifact generated via the personalized information system in exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is an information artifact record generated via the personalized information system in exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a sample personalized information artifact generated via the personalized information system in alternative exemplary embodiments; and 
         FIG. 6  is a sample personalized information artifact generated via the personalized information system in further exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     According to exemplary embodiments, the personalized information system functions provide a means for relating personalized information, including identity information that is unique to a particular person, animal, or object, without having a-priori knowledge about the person, animal, or object. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the personalized information system may include network connectivity elements for corroborating the identification determination. The personalized information system provides just-in-time features that enable individuals to continuously convey timely, up-to-date, and situationally dependent information whenever needed. The personalized information may be applied to a substrate that is self-destructing in a manner that is commensurate with the currency of the information contained therein. This capability may be implemented utilizing, e.g., intelligent inks such as thermochromic, electrochromic, and/or photochromic materials. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an exemplary system for implementing the personalized information system is generally shown. The system of  FIG. 1  includes a user system  102  in communication with one or more entities  104 - 110  over a network  111 . The network  111  may be any type of communication network, including but not limited to the Internet, an intranet, extranet, local area network, cellular network, wireless network, etc. User system  102  may communicate with entities  104 - 110  over the network  111  utilizing one or a combination of communications technologies including, e.g., satellite or cellular technology, circuit-switched networking, and packet-switched networking, among others. 
     User system  102  may comprise a personal computer, e.g., desktop, laptop, portable handheld device, or similar type of processor-enabled device. In exemplary embodiments, user system  102  executes an application for implementing the information system activities. The descriptor assembly application  112  enables an operator of user system  102  to prepare and implement personalized information artifacts as will be described further herein. User system  102  may also execute a web browser and/or messaging application (e.g., email, facsimile, instant messaging). Further, user system  102  may execute a graphics application, photo-imaging application, encryption software, and other software that may be used in association with the descriptor assembly application  112  as described herein. Descriptor assembly application  112  may be a stand-alone application resident on user system  102  or may be accessible to user system  102  over a network such as network  111  via, e.g., the web browser program. 
     In accordance with exemplary embodiments, user system  102  is coupled to an output device  114  via, e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) cable, over a wireless network, or other suitable technology. Output device  114  may be a general-purpose printing device or other suitable device, e.g., a 3D lithographic outputter. 
     Trusted entity  104  refers to a computer device that is operated by an authorized individual or authority (e.g., police, fire department, emergency room, government agency, etc.). Trusted entity  104  may receive identification information from a variety of users of the information system and may retain and manage records of this information, if desired. Advertising entity  106  refers to a third-party source of information that may be provided on the personalized information artifacts generated by the descriptor assembly application  112 . Trusted entity  104  and advertising entity  106  may each comprise personal computers or networked computers that communicate with user system  102  and/or a registry service system  110  over network  111 . 
     In alternative exemplary embodiments, registry service system  110  provides personalized information management services to individuals or businesses such as user system  102 , trusted entity  104 , and advertising entity  106 . Registry service system  110  may execute the descriptor assembly application  112  and provide authorized entities such as user system  102  with access to the descriptor assembly application  112  as described above. In exemplary embodiments, registry service system  110  may be implemented via a server that is in communication with a storage device  116 . Storage device  116  stores data, records, etc., such as personalized information artifact records as described further in the diagram of  FIG. 4 . The server of registry service system  110  may comprise any suitable high-speed microprocessor capable of handling the volume of activities provided by the features and functions of the descriptor assembly application  112 . The server may be accessed over the communications network  111  and may further include a security feature or firewall (not shown) in order to protect the integrity of the data stored within the server and storage device  116 . 
     Registry service system  110  may be included in a venue that either hosts an event (e.g., concert, amusement park, festival) or in a business that desires to provide personalized information services as a value-added offering (e.g., medical facility, photo developer enterprise, etc.). Alternatively, registry service system  110  may be used in a private organization that provides personalized information services to its members or may be a commercial enterprise such as a network service provider (e.g., Internet Service Provider). 
     The descriptor assembly application  112  enables user system  102  to create and print personalized information artifacts, a sample of which is shown generally in  FIG. 1  affixed to a subject  118 . A user may configure the artifacts in a variety of ways and print them out onto a medium  120  shown with respect to output device  114 . The medium  120  may be any type of substrate capable of being affixed to a surface. The personalized information provided on these artifacts is specific to subject  118 , which may be, e.g., a human, animal, or object. For illustrative purposes, subject  118  as shown in  FIG. 1  is a human with a personalized information artifact  122  affixed to the arm. 
     The information provided on personalized information artifact  122  may be encoded using various encoding techniques, such as bar coding, glyphs, etc., in order to prevent unauthorized entities or individuals from acquiring protected information. A scanning device may be used to retrieve the encoded information. As shown in the system diagram of  FIG. 1 , discovery device  108  scans the personalized information artifact  122  and transmits the information over network  111  to one or more of user system  102 , trusted entity  104 , and registry service  110 . 
     Turning now to the flow diagram of  FIG. 2 , an exemplary process for implementing the personalized information system functions will now be described. At step  202 , personalized information data is collected. Elements of personal information suitable for inclusion in a personalized information artifact  122  may include subject identification information such as name, address (e.g., residential, vCard, etc), gender, and age. Graphical information such as a digitized photograph of the subject  118  may also be utilized. In addition, medical information such as a current drug list (including medications recently ingested by the subject  118 ) may be included. If the subject is an object such as a package, the information provided may include handling instructions, routing instructions, special care instructions (e.g., fragility, temperature exposure limitations, toxicity, etc.). 
     Medical information may be dynamically generated via a household media center associated with the subject (e.g., user system  102 ). Persistent conditions such as diabetes, blindness, and mental retardation may be included in the personalized information artifact  122 . Unique information sets such as blood type and family history may be included, as well as disambiguous markers such as security keys, social security numbers, etc. Using scanning devices (e.g., discovery device  108 ) at the time of generation of the personalized information artifacts  122 , other information sets may be leveraged and used to assist in disambiguating the content of the personalized information artifact  122 . For example, a driver&#39;s license photo may be scanned and incorporated into the personalized information artifact  122 . Alternatively, information gathered automatically via other ID systems such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to collect current proximity information may be utilized in identifying and tracking elements. 
     Optionally, at step  204 , a supplemental information artifact is generated. For example, a service or entity (e.g., registry service system  110 ) providing personalized information services may produce quantities of personalized information artifacts, whereby a portion of each include pre-printed information such as advertising received from advertising entity  106 , and/or community group information. For example, pre-printed information may include the name of the service provider, a current date, network elements, etc. Network elements are described further in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Community group information may assist in identifying groups of individuals or subjects that belong to a designated community (e.g., club organization, classroom students, travel tour members, etc.). Community group information may alternatively designate the service provider (e.g., entity  110 ) that is offering the personalized information services. 
     The descriptor assembly application  112  generates an instance of the personalized information data and, if used, the supplemental information artifact at step  206 . This may be accomplished either remotely (e.g., mailing service that enables users to create a ‘use once’ sticker for a package) or may be accomplished locally (e.g., a computer or handheld device that outputs a sticker). The descriptor assembly application  112  also formats the information set&#39;s constituent parts in order to accommodate a particular need. For example, the format may be a simple photograph and adjacent emergency service number, or a complex formatting that requires a standardized structure for use with other system, such as ‘health bracelets’ or other emergency services. Additionally, information encryption may be utilized as desired in order to output any required information, such as a distributed glyph creation or other encryption. Applying these types of technologies to a personalized information artifact  122  may be useful in enabling the artifact  122  to withstand some degree of degradation while preserving the information contained therein. 
     At step  208 , the instantiation is outputted to a selected medium. This may be accomplished by printing or outputting the information onto a stick-on substrate, similar to the process performed with band-aids in a typical production process. Alternatively, this may be accomplished by printing or outputting the information set onto a temporary tattoo medium. In yet further embodiments, this may be performed by outputting the information set into an electronic facsimile for transmission to the management service for allowing later querying and identification matching. Sample representations of a personalized information artifact are shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 . 
     The personalized information artifact is applied to the desired target at step  210 . This may be applied on the skin, clothing, or other object surface. 
     Optionally, the personalized information artifact may be registered with a service at step  212 . The service may be utilized for responding to any queries concerning the personalized information artifact. For example, if the personalized information artifact includes network elements, the information contained therein may be actively transmitted over a network (e.g., network  111 ) to the registry service system or may be passively transmitted via, e.g., discovery device  108  over network  111 . 
     A sample representation of a personalized information artifact is shown in  FIG. 3 . Personalized information artifact  300  includes a photo  302  of the artifact subject for aiding in identifying the subject if needed. Personalized information artifact  300  also includes a unique identification  304  that is uniquely assigned to the artifact  300 . Current information may be presented such as the date  306 . Other symbology  308  is shown in the artifact  300  and may include network elements such as an antenna, battery, and memory that are capable of actively transmitting information concerning the subject over a network. Current technology for printing antennae, batteries, and memory as understood by those skilled in the art may be used for printing the symbology  308 . Contact information  310  may also be presented on the artifact  300  for informing an entity (e.g., trusted entity  104 ) of a means for contacting a relevant source. Finally, artifact  300  includes encoded information (i.e., personalized information that has been encoded)  312 . For illustrative purposes the information is encoded utilizing bar coding technology. 
     If a registry service (e.g., registry service system  110 ) is utilized, much of the information described in  FIG. 3  may be stored in an information artifact record generated via the descriptor assembly application  112 , a sample of which is shown in  FIG. 4 . Information artifact record  400  may store information for each subject associated with a service recipient (e.g., a family). For example, record  400  displays a listing  402  of two subjects, Anna and Erik. A service recipient (or registry service system individual) may add a new subject  404  to the listing, whereby a subwindow  406  is presented for entering information relating to the new subject. As shown in subwindow  406 , a new subject record is created for Alex, along with desired personalized information. 
     As described above, various types of encoding means may be utilized in protecting personalized information presented on an artifact. A sample representation of a personalized information artifact utilizing glyph technology is shown generally in  FIG. 5 . Personalized information artifact  500  includes glyph encoding  502  presented in a border-like fashion around the perimeter of the artifact  500 . A discovery device may be utilized for decoding the information as desired. For example, a trusted authority such as entity  104  may possess the required devices for decoding the glyph information. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a sample personalized information artifact  600  is generally shown. Personalized information artifact  600  includes information  602  that is encoded utilizing bar coding technology. A scanning device such as a bar code scanner  604  retrieves the encoded data from the artifact  600  and translates the information into a readable form. 
     In alternative exemplary embodiments, the personalized information artifact may be generated using a RAID-like array where information is distributed over a medium and is reconstructable even where parts of the medium are missing. For example, the artifact may be designed so that designated information elements are assigned a specific location on the artifact. The existing (non-worn) information elements provide some of the information needed to reconstruct the missing information (e.g., using a checksum along with the existing information elements to inferentially determine the missing elements). 
     As indicated above, the personalized information system functions provide a means for relating personalized information, including identity information that is unique to a particular person, animal, or object, without having a-priori knowledge about the person, animal, or object. The personalized information system provides just-in-time features that enable individuals to continuously convey timely, up-to-date, and situationally dependent information whenever needed. The personalized information may be applied to a substrate that is self-destructing in a manner that is commensurate with the currency of the information contained therein. 
     As described above, embodiments may be in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. In exemplary embodiments, the invention is embodied in computer program code executed by one or more network elements. Embodiments include computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. Embodiments include computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: 3