SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE A CENTRALIZED ALERTING AND AWARENESS SYSTEM THROUGH THE USE OF AN EAR PIECE OR OTHER USER INTERFACE
The personal information manager system comprises a centralized information manager (CIM) and a personal information manager (PIM) device. The centralized information manager is encoded on a server and is accessable by the PIM device through Internet protocols over a wireless medium. The PIM, to be carried by a user, is connected to the CIM by a wireless transmitter, receives context-sensitive, customized, prioritized, filtered, and aggregated information from the CIM, and can directly receive GPS data and other sources of local information.
The present invention relates generally to methods for receiving information from multiple input streams and resending the information subject to a personalized priority based on characterization of information received.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONToday's communication systems make vast amounts of information potentially available to individuals, but each information source associates with a particular type of device for receiving the information. While some devices will access multiple information streams such as Internet, phone, and email, no one device can access all of the disparate sources available. Even if such a device were available, a problem would arise in managing the volume of information that could potentially be received. For example, a person may receive cell phone messages from home, and email messages from work on a blackberry. In addition, Global Positioning System (GPS) information, traffic alerts, weather alerts, and stock alerts may also be received. Sensor information such as biometric monitoring, temperature information, outside wind level information, and security monitoring may also be accessed. Such information is transmitted on different media and received on different receiving devices.
Therefore, a problem arises in management of multiple information streams. First, it would be desirable to receive information regarding all of the multiple streams through one device. Second, given the volume of messages coming to a user from a disparity of sources through such a single device, it would be desirable for a user to receive the information in a managed and non-disruptive way. Therefore, a need exists for a centralized information manager device to enable an individual to receive information regarding multiple streams through a single device. Further, a need arises for a system to control the flow of information to such a device in order to manage user disruption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe personal information manager system comprises a centralized information manager (CIM) and a personal information manager device (PIM). The CIM is encoded on a server that is accessable from the PIM thru a wireless medium. The CIM aggregates source data by way of Internet-based information alerts. The Internet-based information alerts are generated from a variety of sources. These sources include subscription services or other freely available data banks, software agents that proactively troll the Internet for relevant insights, and messages sent from the PIM (for example, a OPS locator to inform the CIM of the user's locale ((the PIM location)). The personal information manager device, to be carried by a user, communicates with the CIM by way of wireless protocols. A key aspect of the PIM is the ability of the PIM to automatically detect the current location of the user, which is best accomplished through the receipt of GPS data from the satellite. The CIM comprises a medium interface library, a rule formation program, a buffer program, and a transmission program. The personal information manager device comprises a processor, a power supply, a memory, a GPS receiver, a cellular transceiver, a user interface device, and a display. The personal information manager device may also have an in-ear device to alert the user to received data. The medium interface library contains an application interface for each medium in the system. Each application interface receives and formats information from the incoming data and sends the formatted information to the buffer program. The data is formatted in accordance with four characteristics: medium, originator, content, and external factors. The buffer program uses the formatted data to access a rule from the rules file and to apply the rule to determine a transmission time for the data and place the data in a queue within the buffer. The transmission program continuously checks the queue for transmission times that need to be increased or decreased based upon external sensor data or other factors and transmits the data when the transmission time for the data is reached. The queue in the buffer may be reordered based on a dynamic priority weighting of the information.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Persons skilled in the art are aware of multiple additional examples of types of data that can be formatted according to the characteristics of medium, originator, content, and external factors.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. The present invention encompasses all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification. The novel spirit of the present invention is still embodied by reordering or deleting some of the steps contained in this disclosure. The spirit of the invention is not meant to be limited in any way except by proper construction of the following claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a server containing a storage readable medium;
- a centralized information manager encoded on the storage readable medium and adapted to format a data item by a plurality of characteristics; and
- a personal information manager device adapted for communication with the centralized information manager;
- wherein, responsive to receiving a data item at the centralized information manager, sending the data item to the personal information manager device at a transmission time determined by a rule based upon the plurality of characteristics.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of characteristics comprise a medium, an originator, a content, and an external factor.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an external factor is a user location determined by global positioning system coordinates.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the content is created by an application interface located in a medium interface library at the server.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an external factor is determined by reference to a user's computerized calendar.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an in-ear device is adapted to receive a data from the personal information manager device.
7. A computer implemented method comprising:
- installing a centralized information manager on a storage readable medium at a server;
- wherein the centralized information manager comprises instructions for a processor to perform steps comprising: receiving a data item; formatting the data item by a plurality of characteristics; and determining a transmission time, based upon a rule associated with the plurality of characteristics, for transmission to a personal information manager device.
8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of characteristics comprise a medium, an originator, a content, and an external factor.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:
- determining a user location by global positioning system coordinates and comparing the user location to the external factor.
10. The computer implemented method of 7 further comprising:
- creating the content using an application interface located in a medium interface library at the server.
11. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein an external factor is determined by reference to a user's computerized calendar.
12. The computer implemented method of claim 6 wherein an in-ear device is adapted to receive data from the personal information manager device.
13. A computer program product comprising:
- a storage readable medium containing instructions to cause a processor to: responsive to receiving a data item, format the data item by a plurality of characteristics; and determine a transmission time, based upon a rule associated with the plurality of characteristics, for transmission to a personal information manager device.
14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the plurality of characteristics further comprise a medium, an originator, a content, and an external factor.
15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:
- instructions to cause the computer to determine a user location by global positioning system coordinates and compare the user location to the external factor.
16. The computer program product of claim implemented method of 13 further comprising:
- instructions to cause the computer to create the content using an application interface located in a medium interface library at the server.
17. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:
- determining an external factor by reference to a user's computerized calendar.
18. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising:
- instructions to send a formatted data item to an in-ear device.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 12, 2009
Inventors: David C. Brillhart (Orlando, FL), Christopher J. Dawson (Arlington, VA), Rick A. Hamilton, II (Charlottesville, VA), Michael D. Kendzierski (New York, NY), James W. Seaman (Falls Church, VA)
Application Number: 11/851,060
International Classification: G06F 15/16 (20060101);