Wireless communications with perceived targets

Abstract

A method of exchanging data comprises specifying in a first electronic device a recipient via perceptual addressing, and sending information from the first electronic device indicating an intent to conditionally communicate with the recipient only upon an expression of interest from the recipient in communicating with a user of the first electronic device. In a further example, a conditional message is sent from the first electronic device to the specified recipient electronic device such that the conditional message is visible to a recipient device user only upon the expression of interest from the recipient in communicating with a user of the first electronic device.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first input into a first communication terminal from a first person using a first method of perceptual addressing, wherein the first input specifies a second person;   presenting to the first person for the first time a first set of information that was directed to the first person as a result of a second communication terminal receiving a second input from the second person using a second method of perceptual addressing, wherein the second input specifies the first person, wherein the second input occurs before the first input, and wherein both the second and first input must occur before presenting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of perceptual addressing employs the first communication terminal and a functionally integrated camera that captures an image of the second person. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of perceptual addressing employs the first communication terminal that detects a physical distance, direction, or position of the second person; 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of perceptual addressing employs the first communication terminal and a functionally integrated microphone that captures a voice sample of the second person. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of perceptual addressing comprises receiving a distinguishing factor of the second person in response to a request from the first communication terminal for distinguishing factors of people who are in the perceptual proximity of the first person at the time of the request. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of perceptual addressing comprises receiving, in a broadcast transmission, a distinguishing factor of the second person. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of perceptual addressing employs the first communication terminal to determine a list comprised exclusively of the communication terminals of people that are in the perceptual proximity of the first communication terminal at the time the list is determined. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first input results in the determination of the communication address of the second person before presenting to the first person for the first time the first set of information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising initiating sending a second set of information to the second person before presenting to the first person for the first time the first set of information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of information comprises contact or identification information of the second person, and the second set of information comprises contact or identification information of the first person. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the first set of information in the form of a wireless transmission before receiving the first input from the first person. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing the first set of information at least until the presenting to the first person for the first time a first set of information.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the first set of information for the first time to the first person is the first time that any information is presented to the first person as a result of the second communication terminal receiving the second input from the second person. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of perceptual addressing and second method of perceptual addressing are the same. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first information set comprising a second designation of a second person and an indication that the source of the second designation is a first person; and   receiving a second information set comprising a first designation of the first person and an indication that the source of the first designation is the second person; and   directing a third information set to the second person only after receiving both the first information set and the second information set, wherein no information was previously directed to the second person as a result of receiving an information set comprising both a designation of the second person and an indication that the source of the designation is the first person; and   directing a fourth information set to the first person only after receiving both the first information set and the second information set, wherein no information was previously directed to the first person as a result of receiving an information set comprising both a designation of the first person and an indication that the source of the designation is the second person.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein directing the third information set and directing the fourth information set occur simultaneously or within a time period short enough that it would not be apparent to either the first person or the second person without using specialized equipment that the two information sets were directed at different times. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein directing a third information set to the second person comprises transmitting the third information set to a second communication address of the second person. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second communication address is determined using a method of perceptual addressing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second designation is a distinguishing factor of the second person, but is not a communication address. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second designation is a distinguishing characteristic of the second person.