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: 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: An observation platform determines relative responsiveness of enterprise employees to requests by external systems. A computer system of the observation platform monitors responses and actions of users to requests from external systems from a plurality of communication devices routed through a radio access point associated with the computer system. Each of the communication devices is associated with a user who is an employee in an enterprise. Information is extracted from the communications including users' identities. Performance of a plurality of the users is measured based on aspects of the extracted information related to the relative responsiveness to requests from the external systems. The requests are posed by the external systems and responded to via the communications devices. A numerical ranking of the measured performance by each of the plurality of measured users, with respect to others of the plurality of measured users, at responding to the requests is assigned.

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 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 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: 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 structured communications 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, wherein a first characteristic of the signal corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic of the signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first communication device. The computer system derives a query from the signal, wherein the query is related to the organization. The computer system determines a plurality of persons representing the organization to respond to the query, wherein the determining is based on a factor related to the plurality of persons representing the organization. The signal is forwarded to a plurality of communication devices associated with the plurality of persons representing the organization.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and distributing content and aggregation of data in a plurality of observation platforms are disclosed. A message is generated with content at a content distribution manager. A delivery of the message is scheduled and a plurality of specified devices are specified for delivery in a plurality of observation platforms at a designated time and/or location(s) via the content distribution manager, wherein the plurality of observation platforms are capable of receiving a signal from a first mobile device with a first characteristic that corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic that corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first mobile device and relaying the signal to a destination based on the first characteristic and/or the second characteristic. The message is delivered to the plurality of observation platforms which relays the message to the plurality of specified devices at the designated time.

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: Methods and systems for managing and distributing content and aggregation of data in a plurality of observation platforms are disclosed. A message is generated with content at a content distribution manager. A delivery of the message is scheduled and a plurality of specified devices are specified for delivery in a plurality of observation platforms at a designated time and/or location(s) via the content distribution manager, wherein the plurality of observation platforms are capable of receiving a signal from a first mobile device with a first characteristic that corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic that corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first mobile device and relaying the signal to a destination based on the first characteristic and/or the second characteristic. The message is delivered to the plurality of observation platforms which relays the message to the plurality of specified devices at the designated time.

Abstract: In a method of structured communications, responsive to a user interacting with an observation platform via a software application installed on a first communication device belonging to the user, a signal is received by a computer system of the observation platform. The computer system is associated with an organization. The computer system identifies credentials of the user. The computer system accesses a profile associated with the credentials the user. The profile includes a history of the user's activities associated with the organization. The computer system utilizes the profile of the user to determine a person representing the organization to place in contact with the user via the first communication device.

Abstract: In a method of structured communications 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, wherein a first characteristic of the signal corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic of the signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first communication device. The computer system derives a query from the signal, wherein the query is related to the organization. The computer system determines a plurality of persons representing the organization to respond to the query, wherein the determining is based on a factor related to the plurality of persons representing the organization. The signal is forwarded to a plurality of communication devices associated with the plurality of persons representing the organization.

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: In a method of using an observation platform to determine relative expertise of enterprise employees, a computer system of the observation platform monitors communications from and to a plurality of communication devices which have been routed through a radio access point associated with the computer system. Each of the communication devices is associated with a user who is an employee in an enterprise. The computer system extracts information from the communications including identities of the users. The computer system measures performance of a plurality of the users based on aspects of the extracted information which are related to questions on one or more of products and processes of the enterprise, wherein the questions are posed and responded to via the communications devices. The computer system assigns a numerical ranking of the measured performance by each of the measured users, with respect to other measured users, at responding to the questions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and distributing content and aggregation of data in a plurality of observation platforms are disclosed. A message is generated with content at a content distribution manager. A delivery of the message is scheduled and a plurality of specified devices are specified for delivery in a plurality of observation platforms at a designated time and/or location(s) via the content distribution manager, wherein the plurality of observation platforms are capable of receiving a signal from a first mobile device with a first characteristic that corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic that corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first mobile device and relaying the signal to a destination based on the first characteristic and/or the second characteristic. The message is delivered to the plurality of observation platforms which relays the message to the plurality of specified devices at the designated time.

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: Methods and systems for managing and distributing content and aggregation of data in a plurality of observation platforms are disclosed. A message is generated with content at a content distribution manager. A delivery of the message is scheduled and a plurality of specified devices are specified for delivery in a plurality of observation platforms at a designated time and/or location(s) via the content distribution manager, wherein the plurality of observation platforms are capable of receiving a signal from a first mobile device with a first characteristic that corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic that corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first mobile device and relaying the signal to a destination based on the first characteristic and/or the second characteristic. The message is delivered to the plurality of observation platforms which relays the message to the plurality of specified devices at the designated time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using an observation platform with an external device are disclosed. A signal is received from a first communication device at a second communication device associated with a computer system. Context information is derived from the signal at the computer system from, a speech to text analysis of the audible source, a policy implemented in the computer system by a controlling enterprise, and inferences calculated by a combination of text analysis, and secondary information contained in the signal. An action is determined to take place at an external device or user device based on the context information, wherein the external device is one of a plurality of external devices and is networked to the second communication device or a plurality of devices. A second signal is sent to the external device to instruct the device to take the action.