1. A device for sending compact discs or like plate-shaped data carriers, comprising a storage box for the data carrier and a label, wherein the label preferably comprises at least an address field, the storage box being manufactured from plastic of high impact resistance and relatively high elasticity, such that the storage box is at least substantially unbreakable, the storage box comprising at least two box parts which are pivotable relative to each other and connected via pivot means, the label being designed for attachment on the storage box, such that the two box parts in closed condition are interconnected by the label, at a distance from the pivot means, the arrangement being such that a data carrier in the storage box can be locked between the box parts, whereupon the storage box can be closed off and sealed by the label, whereupon the box can be sent by mail, without further outer package, to an addressee stated on the label.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the label comprises a postage.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the label comprises a first panel on which the address field is at least substantially provided, said first panel being connected to a second panel via folding means, the first panel extending, during use, on a first one of the two box parts and being secured thereon, while the second panel extends on the opposite, second box part and is secured thereon and the folding means extend at least substantially against a lateral side of the storage box.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the first panel and the second panel are interconnected by an intermediate panel which is connected via respective, substantially parallel folding lines, to the first and the second panel, the distance between the folding lines approximately corresponding to the thickness of the storage box.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the label comprises a first panel on which the address field is provided, while on two opposite sides, a third panel is connected to the first panel, such that the first panel can be secured on a first box part, while when the storage box is closed, the third panels can be secured against the side of the second box part facing away from the first box part.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the distance between the third panels is approximately equal to the width of the storage box, measured parallel to the sides of the box parts which are connected by the pivot means.
7. A device according to any one of claims 3-6, wherein the second panel is connected, via the folding means, to the first panel along a side of the first panel at right angles to the sides to which the third panels are connected, the length of the third panels and the first panel, measured at right angles to the second panel, being equal to or less than the relevant length of the storage box.
8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sender field is provided on the label.
9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage box is manufactured from polypropylene or a like relatively elastic, flexible plastic, the storage box preferably being manufactured in one piece.
10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage box is of the type as described in international patent publication WO9720315.
11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a chip or like memory-carrying means is included in the storage box, provided with sound-producing means, said chip preferably being activated at least during opening of the storage box.
12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the chip is a music chip.
13. A device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the chip is programmable, at least designed so that a sound, such as music or speech, is selectively recordable thereon by a user.
14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one data carrier is included with music, speech or other data recorded thereon.
15. A device according to any one of claims 11-13 and 14, wherein data recorded on the data carrier is subject-related, or at least thematically related, to sound, at least data, recorded in the chip.
16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a data carrier is provided of a type on which information can be recorded by a consumer, at least a portion of the available memory space on the data carrier being pre-recorded and a portion of the data carrier being free for adding information by the user.
17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the pre-recorded portion of the data carrier is write-protected, read only.
18. An assembly of a device according to any one of the preceding claims and a locking element, wherein the locking element is designed for positioning on or adjacent an edge of a data carrier to be placed in the storage box, such that it is locked between the box parts, and that when the storage box is closed, movement of the data carrier within the storage box is substantially prevented.
19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein the locking element comprises at least one slot with which it is slidable over a longitudinal edge of a data carrier, the locking element having a thickness, measured approximately at right angles to an inserting direction of the slot, which substantially corresponds to the corresponding distance of the inwardly facing side of the box parts.
20. An assembly according to claim 19, wherein at least two slots are provided in the locking element, above or next to each other, substantially parallel to each other.
21. An assembly of a storage device according to any one of claims 1-17 or an assembly according to any one of claims 18-20 and a picture postcard, wherein the picture postcard is locked in the storage box or between the storage box and the label.
22. A locking element for CDs and like data carriers in a storage box, wherein the locking element is provided with at least one slot whereby, during use, it can be placed on or adjacent a longitudinal edge of the data carrier, and the locking element, when the storage box is closed, is locked between two sides of the storage box which extend on either side of the data carrier.
23. A label for sending a storage box with CD or like data carrier included therein, said storage box having at least the usual thickness and width of a jewelbox-type CD box or of a CD box as known from WO9720315, wherein the label comprises a first panel and a second panel connected thereto, a third panel being provided between the first and the second panel, the third panel having a height between the first and the third panel that approximately corresponds to said thickness of the storage box, and at least the first and the second panel being provided, along a portion of their longitudinal edges, with adhesives for fixing them on respectively a front and rear side of the storage box, such that the third panel abuts against a side of the storage box which can be opened during use.
24. A label according to claim 23, wherein a third panel is connected on either side of the first panel, said third panels being arranged for attachment thereof over at least opposite sides of the storage box, the width of the first panel enclosed between the third panels being approximately equal to said width of the storage box.
25. A label according to claim 24, wherein the second panel is connected to the third panels, such that the label is somewhat sleeve-shaped and can be slid from a side over the storage box and subsequently adhered thereon.
26. A method for sending a CD or like data carrier, wherein the CD is locked in a CD box, whereafter a label is adhered on the CD box, such that the label covers at least a side of the CD box to be opened, remote from the pivoting side thereof, and is fitted on the two parts pivoting relative to each other, while an address and postage means are provided on the label, at least on the CD box, and the CD box is sent without further outer package.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the postage means are printed on the label, at least fixedly connected thereto, the label being sold together with the postage means.
28. A method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein an address sticker or like addressing means is provided on the CD box, next to or at least partially over the label.
29. A method for use of a device according to any one of claims 1-17 or an assembly according to any one of claims 18-20, wherein in the storage box, a data carrier is locked, such as a CD or diskette, a portion of which is provided with pre-recorded music or other data, said portion being preferably protected against manipulation by a read-only protection, a further portion being provided with data by a user.
30. A method for conveying a message, in particular wishes or greetings, wherein a thematically selected data carrier with the desired information is sent to an intended receiver in a device according to any one of claims 1-17 or an assembly according to any one of claims 18-20, wherein, preferably, the sender himself provides or causes to provide a part of the information.
31. An assembly of a number of devices according to any one of claims 1-17 or a number of assemblies according to any one of claims 18-20 and a corresponding number of labels, packaged jointly.
32. An assembly according to claim 31, wherein a corresponding number of picture postcards or the like is packaged along.
33. An assembly according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the devices andor assemblies, in particular packaged-along data carriers and picture postcards, are matched to each other thematically.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. (canceled)
2. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, configure the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
monitoring locations of multiple users over time;
determining locations at which the multiple users have met in the past;
generating a rally proposal to propose a meeting between the multiple users at one of the determined locations at which the multiple users have met in the past; and
sending the rally proposal to the multiple users.
3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 2, the rally proposal being based at least in part on:
a time since a last meeting between the multiple users;
schedules of the multiple users in one or more appointment calendars of the multiple users;
a weather forecast;
explicit preferences of the multiple users specified in user profiles of the multiple users; or
implicit preferences based on meetings that the multiple users have attended or declined in the past.
4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 2, the rally proposal comprising a proposed date, time, and location for the meeting.
5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein generating the rally point further comprising:
determining whether one of the multiple users has requested a rally proposal; and
based at least in part on determining that no users of the multiple users has requested a rally proposal, checking whether a predetermined time threshold has passed since the multiple users have last met.
6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein based at least in part on determining that one of the multiple users has requested a rally proposal:
establishing a rally proposal at least partly in response to receiving the request from the one of the multiple users; and
storing the rally proposal in memory in association with the one of the determined locations and the identification of the multiple users.
7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the locations comprise geographical coordinate locations.
8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the locations comprise point of interests or street addresses.
9. A method implemented at least partially by one or more processors, the method comprising:
monitoring locations of multiple users over time;
determining one or more locations at which the multiple users have previously met;
generating a meeting proposal to propose a meeting between the multiple users at one of the determined locations at which the multiple users have previously met, wherein generating is based at least in part on one of:
determining whether one of the multiple users has requested a rally proposal;
determining that no users of the multiple users has requested a rally proposal, checking whether a predetermined time threshold has passed since the multiple users have last met; and
sending the rally proposal to the multiple users.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a user profile from one of the multiple users specifying communication settings for the one of the multiple users.
11. The method of claim 10, the profile specifying available communication modes usable to send notifications to the multiple user, and times at which the multiple user is available to receive notifications.
12. The method of claim 11, the profile further specifying a particular communication mode to be used for a notification, based at least in part on a date and time of the notification andor a location of the multiple users.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein sending the rally proposal further comprising sending a notification to the multiple users when a first user of the multiple users is at the one of the determined locations.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the meeting proposal being based at least in part on:
a time since a last meeting between the multiple users;
schedules of the multiple users in one or more appointment calendars of the multiple users;
a weather forecast;
explicit preferences of the multiple users specified in user profiles of the multiple users; or
implicit preferences based on meetings that the multiple users have attended or declined in the past.
15. A system comprising:
a memory;
one or more processors coupled to the memory to perform acts comprising:
monitoring locations of multiple users over time;
determining locations at which the multiple users have rallied in the past;
generating a rally proposal to propose a rally between the multiple users at one of the determined locations at which the multiple users have rallied in the past, wherein the rally proposal being based at least in part on a time since a last rally between the multiple users; and
sending the rally proposal to the multiple users.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein generating the rally proposal further based at least in part on:
schedules of the multiple users in one or more appointment calendars of the multiple users;
a weather forecast;
explicit preferences of the multiple users specified in user profiles of the multiple users; or
implicit preferences based on meetings that the multiple users have attended or declined in the past.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein generating the rally proposal further comprises:
receiving, from one of the multiple users, a request to establish a rally point, the request including:
an identification of the one of the multiple users;
a location for the rally point;
identification of one or more target recipients of the multiple users to be notified when the one of the multiple users is at the rally point; and
a sensitivity of the rally point specifying an amount of time the one of the multiple users is to be present at the rally point before a notification is sent;
receiving, from each of the one or more target recipients, a recipient profile specifying a particular communication mode to be used to send the notification to the target recipient when the one of the multiple users is at the rally point;
receiving an indication that the one of the multiple users is at the rally point;
sending, based at least in part on receiving the indication, a rally point request to the one or more target recipients, the request sent based at least in part on the particular communication mode specified;
receiving an acceptance of the rally point request from at least one of the one or more target recipients;
establishing a rally point at least partly in response to receiving the acceptance from the at least one of the one or more target recipients; and
storing the rally point in memory in association with the location and the identifications of the one of the multiple users and the one or more target recipients.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising, in response to determining that the at least one of the one or more target recipients and the one of the multiple users are both at or en route to the rally point:
prompting the one of the multiple users to initiate a communication session with at least one of the one or more the target recipients;
prompting the at least one of the target recipients to initiate a communication session with the one of the multiple users; or
automatically initiating a communication session between the at least one of the target recipients and the one of the multiple users.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the rally proposal comprises a proposed date, time, and location for the rally.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the rally proposal comprises one or more of the following:
a duration that one of the multiple users expects to stay at the rally point;
the multiple users expected to be at the rally point; and
a geographical boundary of the rally point.
21. The system of claim 15, further comprising storing the rally point in memory in association with the location and the identifications of the multiple users.