Proximity-based shared configuration of systems and devices

Abstract

To provide a system and a method for adapting a provided service based on local taxonomy defining a local community of individuals.SOLUTION: A method comprises a device that includes a close proximity protocol used for detecting and / or communicating with various mobile devices positioned within a particular range of a site position, and requests information from the mobile devices; and a device that provides a service to one or more users within a range of a service providing device. Local taxonomy is generated and evolved based on dynamics of an individual's local community (that is, as individuals enter and leave the range of the system). The provided service is adapted according to change of the local taxonomy.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Exemplary embodiments relate to adaptive configuration of systems and devices based on user proximity and find particular application in systems and methods for adapting services provided by a service-providing device based on a generated local taxonomy defined by information associated with one or more proximate individuals.

[0002] Many systems and devices provide services to individuals within a limited range or proximity, but remain unaware of the changing dynamics and preferences of those individuals without their directed actions. In other words, those systems and devices that provide services to communities of people have no direct knowledge of the current environment. As a result, those services provided to those individuals and groups of people cannot meet the needs or desires of those communities.

[0003] As a result, there is a need for systems and methods for adapting the services provided by various systems and devices based on the needs and preferences of individuals and groups of people located within close proximity of such systems and devices.

[0004] According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a system for dynamically adapting a service based on a local taxonomy is provided. The system includes an information requesting device disposed at a site that requests information about a user in the vicinity of the site, and a service providing device that provides a service that is adapted based on the information about the user. The information requesting device includes a proximity module that can detect and communicate with one or more mobile devices associated with individuals located within at least a first proximity to the site, a requesting component that requests sharable user information from the mobile devices and receives the sharable user information from the mobile devices, a local taxonomy generator that generates a local taxonomy based on the sharable user information received from the local mobile devices, and an output component configured to output the local taxonomy to the service providing device. The information requesting device can include a processor that implements one or more of the device's components and generators, and a memory device that stores the sharable user information, the local taxonomy, and instructions for implementing the various components.

[0005] Further, the service providing device provides services to at least one of the users associated with one or more mobile devices located within a first proximity to the site, the services being adapted based on the local taxonomy.

[0006] In a particular embodiment, the master taxonomy is defined by a plurality of user information categories and the local taxonomy is defined by a subset of the plurality of user information categories based on sharable user information received from one or more proximate mobile devices.

[0007] According to another aspect of an example embodiment, a system includes one or more mobile devices having an information sharing component capable of communicating with an information requesting device to transmit user information associated with the mobile device. The information sharing component can include an information privacy component configured to determine whether the user information associated with the mobile device is sharable user information or private user information and to selectively share only the sharable user information with the information requesting device.

[0008] According to yet another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for adapting a service provided by a service providing device based on a local taxonomy, the method includes deploying an information requesting device and a service providing device at a site, detecting one or more mobile devices located within at least a first proximity to the site, requesting sharable user information from the one or more mobile devices located within at least the first proximity to the site, generating a local taxonomy of user information based on the sharable user information received from the one or more mobile devices, and modifying a service provided by the service providing device based on the local taxonomy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for dynamically adapting services provided by a service providing device based on a local taxonomy defined by user information collected from a plurality of mobile devices associated with the user that are located within at least a first proximity to a deployment site. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates various components of the system of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a system for dynamically adapting services provided by a service-providing device. [Figure 4]1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for adapting services provided by a service providing device, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Systems and methods are described that adaptively modify services provided by a device in response to the collection and classification of information from one or more mobile devices of users that are located within a certain distance of the device providing the service. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] As used herein, the term "taxonomy" is considered to include any organization of data for each user that describes a particular user's preferences regarding use of a service. For example, a user may prefer that color, double-sided, and stapled printing be performed on a printer. In this case, the preference data may include those data as part of the taxonomy.

[0011] 1 and 2, various components of a system 100 for adaptively modifying services provided by a device 102 based on the generation of a local taxonomy are shown. The system 100 includes a service providing device 102 and an information requesting device 104. The service providing device 102 and the information requesting device 104 may be located (i.e., deployed) at a site 101.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the information requesting device 104 requests user information from one or more mobile devices 106, 108, 110, each of which is associated with a corresponding user 112A, 114, 116. One or more of the users 112A, 114, 116 and their associated mobile devices 106, 108, 110 may be located within at least a first proximity to the information requesting device 104. For example, as seen in FIG. 1, the users 112A, 114 and their associated mobile devices 106, 108 are located within a first proximity 118 to the information requesting device 104, defined by a perimeter 120.

[0013] Additionally, additional users may be present within one or more additional proximity to the information requesting device 104. For example, a user 116 and associated mobile devices 110 are located within a second proximity 122, defined by a perimeter 124. The users 106, 108, 110 located within one or more proximity to the site 101 form a local community of users 126. As discussed further below, the information requesting device 104 detects the mobile devices 106, 108, 110 of the users 112A, 114, 116 of this community of users 126 and generates a local taxonomy 128 of user information, which is then communicated (e.g., via a wireless or wired connection 140) to the service providing device 102 and used by the service providing device 102 to match the services it provides to one or more users in the community 126.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the community of users 126 changes over time as users move in and out of one or more proximity zones near the site 101. For example, as seen in FIG. 1, user 112A and associated mobile device 106A leave the first and second proximity zones 118, 122 along arrow 130 into zone 132. In some embodiments, zone 132 is outside the proximity zones 118, 122, and thus the information requesting device 104 can no longer detect and request information from such user. In other words, user 112A is located within at least a first proximity 118 to the information requesting device 104 and can be included in the generation of the local taxonomy 128 based on user information from the community of users 126, while user 112B and its associated out-of-range device 106B are no longer part of the community of users 126. As a result, the local taxonomy 128 is dynamically updated as one or more users enter and leave at least the first proximity 118 to the site 101 .

[0015] In particular embodiments, the information requesting device 104 and the one or more mobile devices 106A, 108, 110 communicate via connections 134, 136, 138 to send and receive information, such as shareable user information. In some embodiments, the connections 134, 136, 138 are established via a very close proximity protocol. The very close proximity protocol may be, for example, a Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) connection 134, 136. However, other wireless personal area network connections 138 are contemplated, such as Wi-Fi Direct and NFC.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the service providing device 102 provides services to at least one of one or more users located within at least a first proximity 118 to the site 101. The services provided are adapted to best meet the needs of the local community 126 of users 112A, 114, 116 based on a local taxonomy 128 of user information generated by the information requesting device 104. Furthermore, the services provided are dynamically adapted as users move in and out of the at least first proximity 118 to the site 101.

[0017] The various components of the above-mentioned system will now be discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a system 300 for dynamically adapting services provided by a service-providing device. The system 300 includes an information requesting device 302 having a processor 304, a memory 306, and input / output (I / O) interfaces 308, 310. A controller / bus 312 may operatively connect the processor 304, the memory 306, and the input / output interfaces 308, 310 together. The memory 306 includes instructions 314 for implementing the methods disclosed herein, and the processor 304 in communication with the memory 306 executes the instructions for implementing at least some or all of the methods discussed below. The processor may also control the overall operation of the device 302 and / or the system 300. In addition, the system 300 may include one or more PCs, such as desktops, laptops, palmtop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), server computers, mobile phones, table computers, mobile devices, etc., or combinations thereof.

[0018] The memory 306 may represent any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic disk or tape, optical disk, flash memory, or holographic memory. In one embodiment, the memory 306 includes a combination of random access memory and read-only memory. In some embodiments, the processor 304 and the memory 306 may be combined in a single chip. An input / output (I / O) interface 308 enables the device 302 to communicate with other devices over a computer network. The digital processor 304 may be variously embodied by a single-core processor, a dual-core processor (or more generally a multi-core processor), a digital processor and a co-operative co-processor, a digital controller, and the like.

[0019] As used herein, the term "software" is intended to encompass any collection or set of instructions executable by a computer or other digital system to configure the computer or other digital system to perform the tasks for which the software is intended. The term "software" is intended to encompass such instructions stored on a storage medium, such as RAM, a hard disk, an optical disk, and is also intended to encompass so-called "firmware," which is software stored in ROM or the like. Such software may be organized in a variety of ways and may include software components organized as libraries, Internet-based programs stored on a remote server or the like, source code, interpreted code, object code, directly executable code, and the like. It is contemplated that the software may invoke system level code or calls to other software resident on a server or elsewhere to perform certain functions.

[0020] In certain embodiments, the information requesting device 302 may include an input / output interface 308 that is a proximity module 308 that can detect and communicate with one or more mobile devices 316 via a close proximity protocol 320 (e.g., Bluetooth low energy). The one or more mobile devices 316 may be located within at least a first proximity to the site at which the information requesting device 302 is located. In some embodiments, the proximity module 308 may detect one or more mobile devices 316 that are located within at least a second proximity to the site.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the software instructions 314 of the information requesting device 302 include a request component 322, a local taxonomy generator 326, and an output component 330. The request component 322 can be configured to request and receive sharable user information 324 from one or more mobile devices 316 via the proximity module 308.

[0022] The local taxonomy generator 326 may be configured to generate a local taxonomy 328 based on the sharable user information 324 received from one or more mobile devices 316. In a particular embodiment, the information requesting device 322 further includes a classification component 336, and the local taxonomy generator 326 generates the local taxonomy 328 after the sharable user information 324 received from the mobile device 316 is classified into at least one of a plurality of user information categories. The classification component 336 may be configured to classify at least a portion of the sharable user information 324 received from the one or more mobile devices 316 based on a master taxonomy 338 defined by the plurality of user information categories. At least a portion of the sharable user information 324 received from the one or more mobile devices 316 may be classified by the classification component 336 into at least one of the plurality of user information categories of the master taxonomy 338. In some embodiments, the multiple user information categories that define the master taxonomy 338 may include at least one of a native time zone, music preferences, video preferences, user hobbies, language preferences, temperature preferences, and printer output preferences. In such embodiments, the shareable user information 324 received from one or more mobile devices 316 may include at least one of a native time zone 340, music playlists 342, names of music artists, interests or hobbies 344, native language, genre or type of music, genre of video (e.g., horror movies), and other information 346, such as temperature (e.g., preferred temperature for sleeping), print and scamp references, etc. For example, print and scamp references may include, but are not limited to, color settings (e.g., print or scan in color or grayscale), finishing settings (e.g., stapling, hole punch, etc.), preferred number of copies (e.g., print multiple copies), and duplex settings (e.g., double-sided or single-sided).

[0023] In certain embodiments, the local taxonomy 328 is defined by a subset of the plurality of user information categories of the master taxonomy 328. For example, if the master taxonomy 328 is defined by 100 user information categories, the local taxonomy 326 may be defined by user information 324 (received from the mobile device 316) that has been categorized or associated with any number of user information categories (as defined by a central authority and / or as predetermined). Thus, the local taxonomy generator 326 may generate the local taxonomy 328 based on the shareable user information 324 that has been categorized by the classification component 336 into at least one of the plurality of user information categories.

[0024] The output component 330 may be configured to output the local taxonomy 328 to a service providing device 332 via a connection 334 .

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the system 300 includes a service providing device 332 that provides a service to at least one of the users associated with the one or more mobile devices 316. The service providing device 332 may include, for example, an audio device, a visual display device, a heating system, or a cooling system. In a more specific embodiment, the service providing device may be a speaker system, a display screen (e.g., a television, monitor, etc.), or an HVAC system. In such an embodiment, the service provided may be, for example, playing music, playing advertisements, or adjusting the temperature of an area (e.g., a room, a building, etc.).

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the services provided by the service providing device 332 are adapted based on the local taxonomy 328. In other words, the services provided by the service providing device 332 to at least one of the users associated with one or more mobile devices 316 located near the site of the information requesting device 302 may be tailored or modified based on the shareable user information 324 classified into at least one of the multiple user information categories that define the local taxonomy 328.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the local taxonomy includes the sharable user information 324 received from two or more mobile devices 316 located within a certain distance (i.e., a first proximity) of the site of the information requesting device 302, and the service provided by the service providing device 332 to at least one of the users associated with the two or more mobile devices 316 located within the first proximity to the site is adapted based on the combined sharable user information 324 classified into at least one of the multiple user information categories of the local taxonomy 328. For example, when the information requesting device 302 receives the sharable user information 324 that two or more users in the vicinity of the information requesting device 302 share a common interest in a particular sport, the user information may be classified and incorporated into the local taxonomy 328, and the service providing device 332, which may be a display monitor, may display advertisements for the sport. In an embodiment where the one or more mobile devices 316 include a mobile device 316 located within at least a second proximity to the site of the information requesting device 302, the services provided by the service providing device 332 are adapted based on the usage information 324 associated with such user.

[0028] In yet further embodiments, the system 300 includes one or more mobile devices 316 located within at least a first proximity to a site of the information requesting device 302. Each mobile device 316 can include an information sharing component 350 capable of communicating with the information requesting device 302 to transmit sharable user information 324 (including metadata) associated with the user and the mobile device 316, a processor for implementing the information sharing component 350, and a memory device that stores instructions for implementing the information sharing component 350. In some embodiments, the information sharing component 350 includes a unique identifier generator 352 configured to generate a unique identifier 354 associated with the mobile device 316. In further embodiments, the identifier generator 352 generates a new unique identifier 354 each time the mobile device 316 encounters the information requesting device 302.

[0029] The information sharing component 350 may further include an information privacy component 356 configured to determine whether the user information 358 associated with the mobile device 316 is shareable user information 324 or private user information. In other words, the privacy component 356 determines whether the information requested by the information requesting device 302 should be shared or whether the information should be withheld.

[0030] Also disclosed herein is a method for adapting a service provided by a service providing device based on a local taxonomy.The method starts at S100.

[0031] In S101, an information requesting device 302 and a service providing device 332 are deployed at a site location. The information requesting device 302 may begin to monitor the site location area (i.e., at least a first proximity to the area) for a mobile device 316 associated with a user entering or leaving the site location area. The service providing device may be initialized by performing an initial service.

[0032] In S102, one or more mobile devices 316 may be detected by the information requesting device 302. As described above, the information requesting device 302 may include a proximity module that can detect a mobile device 316 within at least a first proximity to the site location using a close proximity protocol. If a mobile device 316 is not detected, the initial service may continue without change in step S112 or may be suspended until one or more users are detected within at least a first proximity to the site location. If one or more mobile devices 316 are detected, in step S103, it is determined whether the device 316 is located within at least a first desired proximity to the information requesting device 302 and / or the service providing device 322. If the detected device 316 is not within a predetermined range / proximity, the service provided by the service providing device 322 may continue to be initialized in step S112 or may be suspended until another mobile device is detected and within range.

[0033] At S104, the information requesting device 302 requests user information from one or more mobile devices 316 located within at least a first proximity to the site location. In a particular embodiment, the device 302 requests specific shareable user information 324, which may be based on one or more user information categories defined in a master taxonomy 338.

[0034] At S105, shareable user information 324 is received from one or more mobile devices 316. The information 324 may be a subset of user information 358 associated with the device 316 (i.e., the device 316 includes additional information that is considered "private" and is not shared). The information 324 may further include metadata associated with the device 316. The system 300 may prompt the user of one or more mobile devices 316 to input additional information or metadata via the application 350 to uncover unknown information or to better tailor the services provided by the service providing device 332.

[0035] At S 106 , a local taxonomy 328 of user information 324 defined by one or more user information categories (eg, from a master taxonomy 338 ) is generated based on the information 324 received from the device 316 .

[0036] In further embodiments, in step S107, an additional proximity check is performed to determine whether the mobile device 316 and associated user are still within the desired range / proximity to the site location, information requesting device 302, and / or service providing device 332. If the mobile device 316 for which user information 324 was added to the local taxonomy leaves the area (e.g., moves from zone 118 to zone 132 as seen in FIG. 1), the user information may be removed from the local taxonomy of user information 328 in step S108.

[0037] If the user and mobile device 316 are still within appropriate proximity to the site location, the information requesting device 302, and / or the service providing device 332, the services provided by the service providing device 332 are modified and / or adapted in step S109 based on the local taxonomy 328, as described above.

[0038] The above-described method and associated system may continue (i.e., continue adapting the local taxonomy 328) for any period of time depending on the progression of the user and the flow of the mobile device 316, until it terminates at step S150.

Claims

1. 1. A system for dynamically adapting services based on a local taxonomy, comprising: The system comprises: An information requesting device located at a site, the information requesting device comprising: a proximity module capable of detecting and communicating with one or more mobile devices located within at least a first proximity to the site; a requesting component configured to request sharable user information from the one or more mobile devices and receive the sharable user information from the one or more mobile devices; a local taxonomy generator configured to generate the local taxonomy based on the sharable user information received from the one or more mobile devices within the first proximity; an output component configured to output the local taxonomy to a service providing device; a classification component configured to classify at least a portion of the shareable user information received from the one or more mobile devices based on a master taxonomy defined by a plurality of user information categories, the plurality of user information categories defining the master taxonomy including at least one of a native time zone, music preferences, video preferences, user hobbies, language preferences, temperature preferences, and print and scan references; a processor for operating the proximity module and implementing the request component, the local taxonomy generator, and the output component; an information request device including a memory device that stores the shareable user information, the local taxonomy, and instructions for implementing the request component, the local taxonomy generator, and the output component; a service providing device that provides the service to at least one of users associated with the one or more mobile devices located within the first proximity to the site, the service being adapted based on the local taxonomy; A system comprising:

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sharable user information received from the one or more mobile devices is classified by the classification component into at least one of the plurality of user information categories.

3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the local taxonomy is defined by a subset of the plurality of user information categories of the master taxonomy, and the local taxonomy generator generates the local taxonomy based on the sharable user information classified by the classification component into the at least one of the plurality of user information categories.

4. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the services provided by the service providing device to the at least one of the users associated with the one or more mobile devices located within the first proximity to the site are adapted based on the shareable user information classified into at least one of the plurality of user information categories of the local taxonomy.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the local taxonomy comprises sharable user information received from two or more mobile devices located within the first proximity to the site.

6. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the service provided by the service providing device to the at least one of the users associated with the two or more mobile devices located within the first proximity to the site is adapted based on the shareable user information classified into at least one of the plurality of user information categories of the local taxonomy.

7. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the shareable user information received from the one or more mobile devices includes at least one of a native time zone, a music playlist, an artist, a hobby, a native language, a music genre, a video genre, a temperature, and a print color setting.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the service delivery device is at least one of an audio device, a visual display device, a heating system, and a cooling system.

9. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the proximity module is capable of detecting one or more mobile devices located within at least a second proximity to the site, and the local taxonomy generator is configured to generate the local taxonomy based on the sharable user information received from the one or more mobile devices located within at least the second proximity.

10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the services provided by the service providing device to at least one or more users associated with the one or more mobile devices located within at least the second proximity to the site are adapted based on the shareable user information classified into at least one of the plurality of user information categories of the local taxonomy.

11. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the one or more mobile devices located within the first proximity to the site, each mobile device having an information sharing component capable of communicating with the information requesting device to transmit the sharable user information associated with the mobile device, a processor for implementing the information sharing component, and a memory device storing instructions for implementing the information sharing component.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the information sharing component includes a unique identifier generator configured to generate a unique identifier associated with the mobile device.

13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the information sharing component further comprises an information privacy component configured to determine whether user information associated with the mobile device is shareable user information or private user information.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the service providing device includes the information requesting device.

15. 1. A method for deploying an information requesting device and a service providing device, each configured as a computer, at a site and adapting services provided by the service providing device based on a local taxonomy, the method comprising: detecting, by the information requesting device, one or more mobile devices located within at least a first proximity to the site; the information requesting device requesting sharable user information from the one or more mobile devices located within at least the first proximity to the site; receiving, by the information requesting device, shareable user information from at least one of the one or more mobile devices located within at least the first proximity to the site; generating, by the information requesting device, a local taxonomy of user information based on the sharable user information received from the at least one mobile device; the service providing device modifying the services provided by the service providing device based on the local taxonomy; The information requesting device classifies at least a portion of the shareable user information received from the one or more mobile devices based on a master taxonomy defined by a plurality of user information categories; Including, the plurality of user information categories defining the master taxonomy includes at least one of a native time zone, music preferences, video preferences, user hobbies, language preferences, temperature preferences, and print and scan references; method.

Images