System and method to provide a centralized alerting and awareness system through the use of an ear piece or other user interface

Abstract

The personal information manager system comprises a centralized information manager (CIM) and a personal information manager (PIM) device. The centralized information manager is encoded on a server and is accessable by the PIM device through Internet protocols over a wireless medium. The PIM, to be carried by a user, is connected to the CIM by a wireless transmitter, receives context-sensitive, customized, prioritized, filtered, and aggregated information from the CIM, and can directly receive GPS data and other sources of local information.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a server containing a storage readable medium;   a centralized information manager encoded on the storage readable medium and adapted to format a data item by a plurality of characteristics; and   a personal information manager device adapted for communication with the centralized information manager;   wherein, responsive to receiving a data item at the centralized information manager, sending the data item to the personal information manager device at a transmission time determined by a rule based upon the plurality of characteristics.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of characteristics comprise a medium, an originator, a content, and an external factor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein an external factor is a user location determined by global positioning system coordinates. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the content is created by an application interface located in a medium interface library at the server. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein an external factor is determined by reference to a user's computerized calendar. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an in-ear device is adapted to receive a data from the personal information manager device. 
     
     
         7 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 installing a centralized information manager on a storage readable medium at a server;   wherein the centralized information manager comprises instructions for a processor to perform steps comprising:
 receiving a data item; 
 formatting the data item by a plurality of characteristics; and 
 determining a transmission time, based upon a rule associated with the plurality of characteristics, for transmission to a personal information manager device. 
   
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of characteristics comprise a medium, an originator, a content, and an external factor. 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 determining a user location by global positioning system coordinates and comparing the user location to the external factor.   
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  7  further comprising:
 creating the content using an application interface located in a medium interface library at the server.   
     
     
         11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 7  wherein an external factor is determined by reference to a user's computerized calendar. 
     
     
         12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6  wherein an in-ear device is adapted to receive data from the personal information manager device. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product comprising:
 a storage readable medium containing instructions to cause a processor to:
 responsive to receiving a data item, format the data item by a plurality of characteristics; and 
 determine a transmission time, based upon a rule associated with the plurality of characteristics, for transmission to a personal information manager device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of characteristics further comprise a medium, an originator, a content, and an external factor. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 instructions to cause the computer to determine a user location by global positioning system coordinates and compare the user location to the external factor.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of claim implemented method of  13  further comprising:
 instructions to cause the computer to create the content using an application interface located in a medium interface library at the server.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 determining an external factor by reference to a user's computerized calendar.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 12  further comprising:
 instructions to send a formatted data item to an in-ear device.