Abstract: In a method of query derivation in an observation platform a signal from a first communication device is received at a second communication device that is associated with a computer system. The computer system is associated with an organization and a first characteristic of the signal corresponds to an audible source. The signal is parsed, by the computer system according to a policy, to determine metadata associated with the signal, wherein the first communication device is operated by a user and wherein the policy dictates rules for use of the metadata. The computer system determines a prior user history of the user. The computer system converts the audible source of the signal to text or machine understandable language. The computer system derives a query related to the organization based on at least one of the prior user history, the metadata, and the text or machine understandable language.

Abstract: In a method of moderating action requests and structured communications within an observation platform, in response to a request interaction a computer system sets up an action request regarding a structured communication in the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to context in the observation platform, where the context is one of user context in the observation platform and device context in the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to status in the observation platform, where the status is one of user status in the observation platform and device status in the observation platform. The computer system moderates an action in the observation platform with respect to the structured communication based on results of the context and status analyses.

Abstract: In a method of observation platform collaboration integration, a collaboration application is provisioned at an observation platform. The provisioning is administered by a cloud services platform in collaboration with a computer system of the observation platform and includes configuration and deployment of the collaboration application within the observation platform. An automation software component is sent from the collaboration application for resident installation at an external collaboration application which is external to an environment of the observation platform. The automation software component organizes information in the external retailer system for exchange, via a cloud-based gateway, with the collaboration application. The collaboration application is communicatively coupled, via the cloud-based gateway, with the external collaboration application. User information and task information are synchronized between the collaboration application and the external collaboration application.

Abstract: In a method of managing emergency management information within an observation platform an emergency management and response application is provisioned at an observation platform. The provisioning is administered by a cloud services platform and includes configuration and deployment of the emergency management and response application within the observation platform. In response to receipt at the observation platform of a report of an emergency, operation of the emergency management and response application is triggered within the observation platform. Emergency management information is sent, via the emergency management and response application, to a group of users of the observation platform. The emergency management information includes at least one of an alert related to the emergency and instructions related to the emergency.

Abstract: A method for collecting data and deriving performance metrics for one or more users within an observation platform environment is described. The method includes recognizing a user identity based on signals from the communications device; Capturing a user's voice message and the secondary signal indicative of the location of the communications device or the relative proximity of the communications device to other devices; Deriving statistical data comprising: primary statistics, secondary statistics, and higher-order statistics from the secondary signal and voice message; and Storing the user identity, the voice message, the location of the communications device, and the statistical data in a database forming a user record, wherein the user record is processed by an inference engine to derive performance information about the user.

Abstract: One or more users in an observation platform environment is provided with a communications device capable of sending a user's voice and a secondary signal containing information regarding a location or relative proximity of the communications device. An observation platform is provided and has a communications system for receiving and sending data from and to at least one of the communications devices and a computer system configured to recognize the identity of a user of the users, based on signals from the communications device; capture, from the communications device, the secondary signal and a voice message of the user; derive statistical data about employee performance of the user; store the user identity, voice message, location, and statistical data in an employee performance library associated with the user; and generate at least one performance metric entry for the user, based on the performance information, into the employee performance library.

Abstract: In a method for managing and distributing content in a plurality of observation platforms, a message is generated with employment related content at a cloud based component of a content distribution manager in response to user interaction via an interface of the content distribution manager presented on a computer system. Responsive to the user interactions and to interactions of third party software via an application program interface with the cloud based component, delivery of the message is scheduled and a plurality of specified devices belonging to a specified class of employees are specified for delivery in a plurality of observation platforms at a designated time and location via the cloud based component. The message is delivered and the delivery and response to the message are measured to the plurality of observation platforms which relay the message to the plurality of specified devices at the designated time and the designated location.

Abstract: A computer mediated communication system includes a plurality of communication devices, a wireless transceiver, a computer system configured to wirelessly communicate with the communication devices via the wireless transceiver and mediate communications among the communication devices. The computer system a memory coupled with a processor.

Abstract: In a method of managing structured communications within an observation platform, responsive to a request interaction, a computer system sets up an action request regarding a structured communication in the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to a programmable policy of the observation platform and applications installed on the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to context in the observation platform, where the context is one of user context in the observation platform and device context in the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to status in the observation platform, where the status is one of user status in the observation platform and device status in the observation platform. The computer system moderates an action in the observation platform with respect to the structured communication based on results of the policy, context, and status analyses.

Abstract: In a method of managing emergency management information within an observation platform an emergency management and response application is provisioned at an observation platform. The provisioning is administered by a cloud services platform and includes configuration and deployment of the emergency management and response application within the observation platform. A communicative connection is established, via a gateway of the cloud services platform, between the emergency management and response application and a system external to the observation platform. In response to receipt at the observation platform of a report of an emergency, operation of the emergency management and response application is triggered within the observation platform. Emergency management information is sent, via the emergency management and response application, to a group of users of the observation platform.

Abstract: In a method for managing and distributing content in a plurality of observation platforms, a message is generated with employment related content at a cloud based component of a content distribution manager in response to user interaction via an interface of the content distribution manager presented on a computer system. Responsive to the user interactions and to interactions of third party software via an application program interface with the cloud based component, delivery of the message is scheduled and a plurality of specified devices belonging to a specified class of employees are specified for delivery in a plurality of observation platforms at a designated time and location via the cloud based component. The message is delivered and the delivery and response to the message are measured to the plurality of observation platforms which relay the message to the plurality of specified devices at the designated time and the designated location.

Abstract: In a method of observation platform buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) integration, a BOPIS application is provisioned at an observation platform. The provisioning is administered by a cloud services platform in collaboration with a computer system of the observation platform and includes configuration and deployment of the BOPIS application within the observation platform. An automation software component is sent from the BOPIS application for resident installation at an external retailer system which is external to an environment of the observation platform. The automation software component organizes information in the external retailer system for exchange, via a cloud-based gateway, with the BOPIS application. A message regarding a BOPIS order populated in the external retailer system is received at the BOPIS application from the external retailer system. The observation platform sends, to a device of a user of the observation platform, a task request to perform a task related to the message.

Abstract: A first communication, received from a first communication device operated by a first user, is parsed according to a policy to determine associated metadata comprising a first set of attributes. The policy dictates rules for use of the metadata. The first set of attributes is compared to attributes of a plurality of communication devices. Based on the comparing, at least one recipient communication device for the first communication is identified from the plurality of communication devices, wherein at least one of the first set of attributes matches at least one of the attributes of the plurality of communication devices. Based on the policy and the metadata, at least one of a feature available to the at least one identified recipient communication device and behavior of the at least one identified recipient communication device as perceived by a particular user associated with the at least one recipient communication device is determined.

Abstract: In a method of managing structured communications within an observation platform, responsive to a request interaction, a computer system sets up an action request regarding a structured communication in the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to a programmable policy of the observation platform and applications installed on the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to context in the observation platform, where the context is one of user context in the observation platform and device context in the observation platform. The computer system analyzes the action request with respect to status in the observation platform, where the status is one of user status in the observation platform and device status in the observation platform. The computer system moderates an action in the observation platform with respect to the structured communication based on results of the policy, context, and status analyses.

Abstract: In a method of observation platform buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) integration, a BOPIS application is provisioned at an observation platform. The provisioning is administered by a cloud services platform in collaboration with a computer system of the observation platform and includes configuration and deployment of the BOPIS application within the observation platform. An automation software component is sent from the BOPIS application for resident installation at an external retailer system which is external to an environment of the observation platform. The automation software component organizes information in the external retailer system for exchange, via a cloud-based gateway, with the BOPIS application. A message regarding a BOPIS order populated in the external retailer system is received at the BOPIS application from the external retailer system. The observation platform sends, to a device of a user of the observation platform, a task request to perform a task related to the message.

Abstract: In a method of managing emergency management information within an observation platform an emergency management and response application is provisioned at an observation platform. The provisioning is administered by a cloud services platform and includes configuration and deployment of the emergency management and response application within the observation platform. A communicative connection is established, via a gateway of the cloud services platform, between the emergency management and response application and a system external to the observation platform. In response to receipt at the observation platform of a report of an emergency, operation of the emergency management and response application is triggered within the observation platform. Emergency management information is sent, via the emergency management and response application, to a group of users of the observation platform.

Abstract: A first communication, received from a first communication device operated by a first user, is parsed according to a policy to determine associated metadata comprising a first set of attributes. The policy dictates rules for use of the metadata. The first set of attributes is compared to attributes of a plurality of communication devices. Based on the comparing, at least one recipient communication device for the first communication is identified from the plurality of communication devices, wherein at least one of the first set of attributes matches at least one of the attributes of the plurality of communication devices. Based on the policy and the metadata, at least one of a feature available to the at least one identified recipient communication device and behavior of the at least one identified recipient communication device as perceived by a particular user associated with the at least one recipient communication device is determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for sending information in an observation platform. A determination is made, at an observation platform, that a first communication device associated with a first user is located in an environment. A determination is made, at the observation platform, that the first communication device is located in proximity to a second communication device associated with a second user. Speech information is sent to the first communication device for the first user to use in communicating with the second user.

Abstract: In a method of determining proximity of device users within an environment of an observation platform, an observation platform determines that a first communication device associated with a first user is in the environment of the observation platform. The first communication device is detected in proximity to a second communication device associated with a second user. In response to the detection, the observation platform generates proximity information for the first user and the second user.

Abstract: In a method for managing and distributing content in a plurality of observation platforms, a message is generated with employment related content at a cloud based component of a content distribution manager in response to user interaction via an interface of the content distribution manager presented on a computer system. Responsive to the user interactions and to interactions of third party software via an application program interface with the cloud based component, delivery of the message is scheduled and a plurality of specified devices belonging to a specified class of employees are specified for delivery in a plurality of observation platforms at a designated time and location via the cloud based component. The message is delivered and the delivery and response to the message are measured to the plurality of observation platforms which relay the message to the plurality of specified devices at the designated time and the designated location.