IP Library Granted Patent US 10,304,094
Granted Patent B2
US 10,304,094 · App. 15/908,234 · Granted May 28, 2019

Observation platform for performing structured communications

Inventors: Steven Paul Russell (Menlo Park, CA); Guy R. VanBuskirk (Spicewood, TX); Ravi Shankar Kumar (Richardson, TX); Kranthimanoj Nagothu (Garland, TX)
Assignee: Theatro Labs, Inc.
G06Q30/0281G06Q10/06393G06Q30/0207G06Q30/0261G06Q30/06H04W4/02H04W4/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,304,094
App. No.
15/908,234
Granted
May 28, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method of structured communications in an observation platform, a signal is received from a first communication device. The signal is received at a second communication device that is associated with a computer system. The signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein the third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein the user is required to acknowledge receipt of the mandatory message. The signal is forwarded by the second communication device to the third communication device. Responsive to receipt of the signal by the third communication device, the features of the third communication device are locked such that the user has no access to the features for at least until the mandatory message has been acknowledged by the user. The second communication device receives an acknowledgement of the mandatory message from the third communication device.

Claims (61)

1. A method of structured communications in an observation platform, comprising:

receiving a signal from a first communication device, said signal received at a second communication device that is associated with a computer system, wherein said signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein said third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein said user is required to acknowledge receipt of said mandatory message;

forwarding, by said second communication device, said signal to said third communication device;

responsive to receipt of said signal by said third communication device, locking features of said third communication device such that said user has no access to said features for at least until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by said user; and

receiving, by said second communication device, an acknowledgement of said mandatory message from said third communication device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

forwarding, by second communication device, said acknowledgement of said mandatory message to said first communication device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising:

responsive to said first communication device receiving said acknowledgement, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message via said third communication device, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by said second communication device, said acknowledgement to said computer system; and

responsive to said receipt of said acknowledgement by said computer system, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising:

storing an aspect of said acknowledgement in said computer system for later analysis, said aspect selected from the group of aspects consisting of: a time when said acknowledgment was made; a location where said acknowledgement was made; and a spoken response of said user in said acknowledgement.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

forwarding said signal with said mandatory message to a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of users, said signal configured such that receipt of said mandatory message at each of said plurality of communication devices, features of each of said plurality of communication devices lock until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by each of said plurality of users.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method of structured communications in an observation platform, said method comprising:

receiving a signal from a first communication device, said signal received at a second communication device that is associated with a computer system, wherein said signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein said third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein said user is required to acknowledge receipt of said mandatory message;

forwarding, by said second communication device, said signal to said third communication device, said signal configured such that responsive to receipt of said mandatory message at said third communication device, features of said third communication device lock for at least until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by said user; and

receiving, by said second communication device, an acknowledgement of said mandatory message from said third communication device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein said method further comprises:

forwarding, by second communication device, said acknowledgement of said mandatory message to said first communication device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said method further comprises:

responsive to said first communication device receiving said acknowledgement, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein said method further comprises:

responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message via said third communication device, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein said method further comprises:

providing, by said second communication device, said acknowledgement to said computer system; and

responsive to said receipt of said acknowledgement by said computer system, unlocking said features of said third communication device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:

storing an aspect of said acknowledgement in said computer system for later analysis, said aspect selected from the group of aspects consisting of: a time when said acknowledgment was made; a location where said acknowledgement was made; and a spoken response of said user in said acknowledgement.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein said method further comprises:

forwarding said signal with said mandatory message to a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of users, said signal configured such that responsive to receipt of said mandatory message at each of said plurality of communication devices, features of each of said plurality of communication devices lock until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by each of said plurality of users.

15. An observation platform for structured communications, said observation platform comprising:

a second communication device, wherein said second communication device configured to receive a signal from a first communication device, wherein said signal comprises a mandatory message for a third communication device, wherein said third communication device is associated with a user, and wherein said user is required to acknowledge receipt of said mandatory message; and

a computer system associated with said second communication device and configured to:

forward, via said second communication device, said signal to said third communication device, said signal configured such that responsive to receipt of said mandatory message at said third communication device, features of said third communication device lock for at least until said mandatory message has been acknowledged by said user; and

receive, via said second communication device, an acknowledgement of said mandatory message from said third communication device.

16. The observation platform of claim 15 , further comprising:

said first communication device.

17. The observation platform of claim 15 , further comprising:

said third communication device.

18. The observation platform of claim 17 , wherein said third communication device is configured to:

unlock said features of said third communication device responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message via said third communication device.

19. The observation platform of claim 17 , wherein said third communication device is configured to:

automatically send said acknowledgement responsive to said user accessing said mandatory message on said third communication device.

20. The observation platform of claim 15 , wherein said computer system is further configured to:

forward, via second communication device, said acknowledgement of said mandatory message to said first communication device.

21. The observation platform of claim 20 , wherein said computer system is further configured to:

unlock said features of said third communication device responsive to receipt of said acknowledgement at first communication device.

22. The observation platform of claim 15 , wherein said computer system is further configured to:

unlock said features of said third communication device responsive to receipt of said acknowledgement at said computer system.

23. The observation platform of claim 15 , wherein said computer system is further configured to:

store a time of said acknowledgement, a location of said acknowledgement, said user of said third communication device, and a spoken response of said user in said acknowledgement.

24. The observation platform of claim 15 , wherein said computer system is further configured to:

forward said signal with said mandatory message to a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of users.

25. The observation platform of claim 15 , wherein said acknowledgement comprises data that said mandatory message was accessed by said user.

26. The observation platform of claim 15 , wherein said acknowledgement comprises an acknowledgement message from said third communication device, created by said user, and selected from the group of acknowledgement messages consisting of: an audible message, a text message, and a text message with an audible alert.

27. The observation platform of claim 15 , wherein said mandatory message is selected from the group of mandatory messages consisting of: an audible message; a text message; and a text message with an audible alert.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2025
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070779/0538 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2024
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066524/0950 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2024
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066524/0966 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059051/0030 →
FIRST AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059232/0505 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST (035329/0527) Recorded Mar 22, 2021
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VIII, INC.
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055679/0379 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST (047052/0301) Recorded Mar 22, 2021
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VIII, INC.
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055684/0013 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 18, 2021
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 055334/0321 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2020
From: RUSSELL, STEVEN PAUL; VANBUSKIRK, GUY R; KUMAR, RAVI SHANKAR; NAGOTHU, KRANTHIMANOJ
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052658/0957 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2018
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VIII, INC.
Reel/Frame 047052/0301 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2018
From: RUSSELL, STEVEN PAUL; VANBUSKIRK, GUY R.; KUMAR, RAVI SHANKAR; NAGOTHU, KRANTHIMANOJ
To: THEATROLABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045067/0738 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 15375725 · Dec 12, 2016
Continuation 14320356 · Jun 30, 2014
Continuation In Part 13401146 · Feb 21, 2012
Continuation In Part 15908234
Continuation In Part 13665527 · Oct 31, 2012
Provisional Application 61445504 · Feb 22, 2011
Provisional Application 61487432 · May 18, 2011
Related Publication 20180189844A1 · Jul 5, 2018
Cited By (9)
US 12,218,997 US 12,288,177 US 12,314,884 US 12,321,881 US 12,387,162 US 12,456,134 US 12,488,302 US 12,489,831 US 12,530,981