Smartphone-Based Methods and Systems
Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
1 - 16 . (canceled)
17 . A method comprising:
in a retail store, receiving a signal indicating a product interest by a shopper in the store; and
taking an action based on said received signal, the action including at least one of: entering the shopper in a queue for service, providing information to the shopper about a wait time for service, providing the shopper information about a retail store staffer who will provide service, and providing the shopper an enticement for waiting for service, wherein said action is performed by a computer that is configured to perform such act.
18 . The method of claim 17 in which the action comprises entering the shopper in a queue for service ahead of one or more other shoppers who earlier entered the queue.
19 - 21 . (canceled)
22 . The method of claim 17 in which the action comprises entering the shopper in a queue for service.
23 . The method of claim 17 in which the action comprises providing information to the shopper about a wait time for service.
24 . The method of claim 17 in which the action comprises providing the shopper information about a retail store staffer who will provide service.
25 . The method of claim 24 wherein the provided information includes a picture of the staffer.
26 . The method of claim 17 in which the action comprises providing the shopper an enticement for waiting for service.
27 . The method of claim 26 wherein the enticement comprises entertainment content for which a charge would otherwise be assessed.
28 . A method comprising:
in a store of a retailer, receiving a signal sent by a person's portable device, indicating the presence of the person;
by reference to the received signal, obtaining information about the person; and
as a consequence of the foregoing, providing to the person free access to media content for which a charge would otherwise be assessed, using a computer that is configured to perform such act.
29 . The method of claim 28 that includes providing the person free access to the media content while the person remains in the store.
30 . The method of claim 28 that includes providing the person free access to the media content while the person remains in or near the store.
31 . The method of claim 28 that includes providing the person free downloads of a limited number of media content items.
32 . The method of claim 28 that includes, by reference to the received signal, obtaining profile information about the person.
33 . The method of claim 28 that includes, by reference to the received signal, obtaining information about the person's history with the retailer.
34 . A method comprising:
receiving a signal sent by a person's portable device, the signal serving to identify the person;
by reference to the received signal, obtaining information about the person; and
determining the person's place in a queue based, at least in part, on the obtained information, the determining being performed by a computer that is configured to perform such act.
35 . The method of claim 34 wherein the queue comprises a queue for service.
36 . The method of claim 34 wherein the queue comprises a queue for service by a service person.
37 . The method of claim 34 that includes receiving the signal in a retail store, wherein the queue comprises a queue for service by a store staffer.
38 . The method of claim 34 wherein the information obtained about the person is, at least in part, under the control of the person, wherein the person can receive a better place in the queue by making more information available.
39 . The method of claim 34 wherein the portable device comprises a telephone device.
40 . the method of claim 34 that includes obtaining information about the person from a public or commercial database having demographic profile information about the person.
41 . A method comprising:
in a retail store, receiving a signal concerning a shopper in the store, the signal comprising information about a product in which the shopper has indicated curiosity; and
as a consequence of the received signal, sending a signal to a portable device carried by a store staffer, to prompt the staffer to offer service to the shopper, the sending being under the control of a computer that is configured to perform such act.
42 . The method of claim 41 wherein the received signal comprises image information.
43 . The method of claim 42 wherein the image information comprises image information captured by a shopper's portable device.
44 . The method of claim 41 wherein the received signal comprises RFID or NFC information.
45 . The method of claim 41 wherein the received signal comprises information identifying the shopper.
46 . The method of claim 41 wherein the sent signal comprises background information about the shopper, so that the staffer might provide better service.