WO2007096256A1

WO2007096256A1 - Portable interactive data reception and transmission apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007096256A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/051253
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claudio Zipoli
Original assignee: Engineering & Security Srl
Current assignee: Engineering & Security Srl
Priority date: 2006-02-24
Filing date: 2007-02-09
Publication date: 2007-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-24
Also published as: ITGE20060022A1

Abstract

Portable interactive data reception and transmission apparatus, comprising a first device provided with a casing (1) carrying a display (2), a first set of multi-function keys (3) and a processor (13) connected to a communication module (14) and to a module (15) for storing a first set of personal data which can be stored in a corresponding personal profile (PP) and a second set of searched-for data which can be stored in a corresponding searched-for profile (PC); this communication module (14) is capable of signalling the presence of this first device (1) to a second communication module of a second device (1') in which one or more data elements from the personal profile (PP') entered into this second device (1') match the searched-for profile (PC) entered with a certain degree of selection into this first device (1), and vice versa, and/or is capable of signalling the presence of this first device (1) to other devices within a community and/or to a data processing unit or server (19) into which data (A1-An) usable by this device (1) have been entered.

Description

TITLE: "Portable interactive data reception and transmission apparatus"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a portable interactive data reception and transmission apparatus.

As is known, it is possible to use an Internet connection and an ordinary personal computer to connect to Internet sites concerned with enabling meetings between persons with common or similar interests, or to gather information about events and places, to buy products, or to access specific services. This search for persons or services on the Internet often consumes a large amount of Internet connection time, and makes it necessary to visit a specific place for meeting or for the provision of a specific service, for example a company or the like, when the required person or service has been located. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a portable interactive data reception and transmission apparatus, which enables a first person, who has a first device and decides to meet persons whom he likes or who have common or similar interests, to enter a certain quantity of personal and searched-for data into this device and detect, within a certain radius of operation, the presence of one or more persons owning another device, in which the personal parameters entered by this first person have been set as search keys, or which, if this person is searching for a specific service by entering a certain search key into the device, notifies this first person of such a service in the vicinity, by connection to a server. This object is achieved by the present invention by means of a portable interactive data reception and transmission apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a first device provided with a casing carrying a display, a first set of multi-function keys and a processor connected to a communication module and to a module for storing a first set of personal data which can be stored in a corresponding personal profile and a second set of searched-for data which can be stored in a corresponding searched-for profile; this communication module is capable of signalling the presence of this first device to a second communication module of a second device in which one or more data elements from the personal profile entered into this second device match the searched-for profile entered with a certain degree of selection into the said first device, and vice versa, and/or is capable of signalling the presence of this first device to other devices within a community and/or to a data processing unit or server into which data usable by this device have been entered.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be made clearer by the following description, to be considered as exemplary and non-exclusive, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 a shows a front view of a portable interactive data reception and transmission device according to the present invention;

Fig. 1 b shows a first side view of the device of Fig. 1 a;

Fig. 1 c shows a second side view of the device of Fig. 1 a;

Fig. 1 d shows a view from above of the device of Fig. 1 a;

Fig. 1 e shows a partially sectional rear view of the device of Fig. 1 a; and - Fig. 2 shows a schematic operating diagram of a first device according to the present invention communicating with a second device according to the present invention, and of a server which communicates with these first and second devices. With reference to the attached drawings, and with particular reference to Fig. 1 a, the numeral 1 indicates a casing of a portable interactive data reception and transmission device according to the present invention. This device has a frontal colour liquid crystal display 2 and five multi-function keys 3, to enable the user, for example, to navigate through specific menus which appear on the display 2. This display 2 can also show MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) or other videos, a digital magnetic compass, and other interfaces used, for example, during the reproduction of music in MP3 (MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer 3) format or the like. On its sides, as shown in Figs. 1 b and 1 c, the present device comprises two function keys 4, a socket 5 for connecting earpieces 6 which may be provided with a microphone 7, a key 8 for access to the menu which can be shown on the display 2, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) socket 9. On its top, this casing 1 comprises an on/off key 10, a push button 1 1 for locking the various multi-function keys, and an indicator lamp 12 to indicate that the device is switched on and operational. As can be seen, the casing 1 of the device is formed by two half-shells 101 and 201 which can be separated for access to its interior. Fig. 1 e shows schematically the main elements provided inside the casing 1 of the present device. These include a processor 13 connected to a communication module 14 for sending and receiving radio signals, a storage module 15 for archiving data, music or other material, a power supply battery 16, a reset key 17 and a radio-frequency tag (RFID) reader 18. The present device can also be provided with an intercom for communication with a similar device and with a voice- operated device. Fig. 2 shows two portable interactive data reception and transmission devices according to the present invention communicating with each other. By using the menu which can be displayed on the display 2 and the various function keys 3 and 4 described above, a user can store in the device, for example the left-hand device 1 as shown in the figure, two types of profile, namely a personal profile PP in which data can be entered by means of a set of progressively numbered fields, such as the person's age, in the field PP1 for example, his eye colour in field PP2, or other data; and a searched-for profile PC, comprising a set of fields PCI -PCn into which the characteristics required in the person whom he wishes to meet, or in the service which he wishes to seek, can be entered in order of importance. The personal profile PP can be provided with a first set of fixed fields, for example PP1 -PP20, and a second set of customizable fields, for example PP21 to PPn. Using the communication module 14, the device 1 , into which the user has entered the personal and searched-for profiles described above, sends a certain radio signal which can be captured by another similar device 1 '. The user of the device 1 will have used the menu and the various function keys to set his device in such a way that it signals the presence of a person, in possession of the device 1 ', who has a certain number of characteristics which have been entered in the searched-for profile PC, and which may or may not be in order of importance. Clearly, as the number of characteristics entered into the searched-for profile PC increases, the necessary degree of selection also increases and the possibility of meeting a person with similar or related interests and/or tastes decreases. The personal profile PP' of the person possessing the device 1 ' includes four characteristics, PP2', PP5', PP7' and PP21 ', entered into the profile searched for by the user of the device 1. In turn, the person in possession of the device 1 ' has his own searched-for profile, and some of the searched-for characteristics PC1 ', PC2', etc., correspond to those possessed by the user of the device 1 and entered into his personal profile PP, for example PP1 , PP2, PP7 and PP30. Therefore, the possessor of the device, having discovered another person's device in the vicinity, carries out an exchange with this person, automatically or in response to the corresponding search keys, compare the personal profiles with the search profiles or keys, evaluates the degree of affinity on the basis of the quantity of data present in his own searched-for profile which match the personal profile of the other person, and, if the degree of affinity is evaluated positively, sends a request for communication to the other person and, if the other person responds affirmatively, can initiate a communication between this user and this person by means of the earpieces and microphone which have been described. Clearly, the fixed or customizable fields of the personal profiles PP and PP' must have a common format; additionally, the personal profiles are never exchanged, in order to protect any sensitive data and thus protect privacy. The present device can therefore operate substantially in three modes, namely a first mode described above, known as "stand alone", in which two devices 1 and 1 ' establish radio contact and evaluate the personal and searched-for profiles; a second mode, known as "community", in which a certain number of users can customize their own devices so as to limit the communication to the members of the community, where clearly each device can form part of more than one community and can activate one or more communities simultaneously; and a third mode which is a slave mode. This third mode relates to the case in which the device or devices 1 and 1 ' are located in an area (see Fig. 2) controlled by a data processing unit or server 19 which communicates with the said devices. The devices 1 and 1 ' send the searched-for profiles to the server 19 and wait for any compatibility proposals, for example in the case in which the server is located in a retail centre and the user has entered a specific article among the search keys. The server 19 is therefore provided with an archive A into which the articles present in the controlled area are entered in specified fields AI -An. Clearly, the present device can also have various other functions; for example, in the case of operation in slave mode, it can serve as an interactive tourist guide, with data communicated by the server 19, as a remote control for private or business domotics, as a game terminal in an electronic amusement centre, as a support for blind persons, as a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) terminal for making calls in a closed network, or other device. Furthermore, the present device, with the elements described above, can also be incorporated into another existing portable device such as a mobile telephone, a notebook or palmtop computer, or other device.

Claims

1. Portable interactive data reception and transmission apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a first device provided with a casing (1 ) carrying a display (2), a first set of multi-function keys (3) and a processor (13) connected to a communication module (14) and to a module (15) for storing a first set of personal data which can be stored in a corresponding personal profile (PP) and a second set of searched-for data which can be stored in a corresponding searched-for profile (PC); the said communication module (14) being capable of signalling the presence of the said first device (1 ) to a second communication module of a second device (1 ') in which one or more data elements from the personal profile (PP') entered into the said second device (1 ') match the searched-for profile (PC) entered with a certain degree of selection into the said first device (1 ), and vice versa, and/or capable of signalling the presence of the said first device (1 ) to other devices within a community and/or to a data processing unit or server (19) into which data (AI -An) usable by the said device (1 ) have been entered.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said communication module (14) of the said first device (1 ) can send and receive radio signals to and from other devices (1 ') and/or the said server (19) within a certain operating radius.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said device (1 ) comprises a key (8) for access to a menu for entering the said personal profile (PP, PP') and searched-for profile (PC, PC) to be displayed on the display (2).

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said personal profile (PP, PP') entered into the device (1 , 1 ') comprises a first set of fixed data fields and a second set of customizable data fields.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said first and second devices (1 , 1 ') communicate by means of an intercom and possibly a voice-operated device.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said device (1 ) comprises a radio-frequency tag (RFID) reader (18).

7. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said device (1 ) comprises a second set of multi-function keys (4, 10) positioned on the sides and/or top of the casing.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the casing of the device is formed by two half-shells (101 , 201 ) which can be separated from each other.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said device (1 ) comprises at least one reset key (17).

10. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said device comprises at least one USB socket (9).

1 1. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said device (1 ) comprises a socket (5) for the connection of earpieces (6) and/or a microphone (7).

12. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that a digital magnetic compass and/or other graphic, video or other interfaces can be displayed on the said display (2).

13. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said device comprises a push button (1 1 ) for locking the various multi-function keys with which it is provided.