Requirements Specification

Background: The advent of portable personal electronics in society has encouraged isolation and antisocial behavior. For instance, iPods allow people to tune out their surroundings and isolate themselves from others. In response, some schools have banned use of iPods. Cell phones, in the same manner, allow people to escape their local social environment. Currently, there is a lack of mobile personal electronic devices which encourage social behavior. Systems which would allow people to find others with the same interests are very popular in the form of classifieds, date/friend matching websites and phone services.

We propose the Buddy Bug to fill the gap between mobile personal electronics and friend/date matching services. To accomplish this, the Buddy Bug will allow people to find others with similar interests while they are at a bar, class, lounge or any other place where people gather. Prior knowledge of similar interests will allow users to start a conversation and interact. In addition, if users wish to continue their interaction, they will be able to exchange contact information via the Buddy Bug, overcoming the problem of misplacement and disorganization of contact information. The Buddy Bug will therefore bring the usefulness of friend/date matching services to people while they are moving about their daily lives.

Deliverables: There are deliverables listed below

1. Five working prototypes of the Buddy Bug.
2. One Buddy Bug dock for interfacing with PC.
3. PC software for programming Buddy Bug.
4. The following manufacturing related artwork and documentation:
1. wiring artwork
2. parts list, assembly drawings, and assembly instructions
3. bill of materials
5. User's manual.
6. System specification, including the design concept, block diagram, functional description of the blocks, a system description, and any analysis done during the design.
7. Schematic diagrams and circuit descriptions.

Special Restrictions:

1. The device's RF output must be within FCC guidelines.

Principle of Operation: The Buddy Bug will be programmed by users at their home PC.  Using PC software, they will download their set of predefined interest groups, a personal URL, and a list of friend's bugs.  When going out in to a public setting, the user will wear the Buddy Bug externally.  The Buddy Bug will periodically transmit a beacon (including a unique ID).  When Buddy Bugs receive each other's beacons, they exchange their interest group list.  The Bugs then dynamically select colors to correspond to their common interests, and display up to 3 of these simultaneously (labeled below on an LCD).  In the case where several are proximate, a Bug will display the groups which the most other Bugs have.
By looking at the colors on their own and other's Bugs, a user can find that they have common interest with those around them, and use this as a conversation starter.  If users wish to continue interaction at a later date, they may Mate™ their Buddy Bugs to exchange URLs.  These URLs will generally point to the users' pages on one of the many web communities currently online.  Additionally, if a bug is nearby (as recognized by the unique ID) which has been previously Mated™ with, or listed as a friend, their name or ID will be displayed on the LCD.

User Interface:

The user interface will consist of a number of LEDs which are able to display multiple colors. There will also be a graphical display able to display information to the user by means of text and/or pictures. There will be a simple button interface to allow some control of the unit by means of navigating menus.

Input:

The input to the unit from other units will be by means of wireless data transmission, or by serial data transfer through contacts on the exterior of the bug. These contacts will also be used for synchronization and data upload from the user's PC. Buttons on the unit will allow the user to control the unit and/or change settings.

Output:

The unit will broadcast data by means of wireless RF transmissions. The RF transmission will be receivable by another Buddy Bug that is within a 40m radius (indoors). External contacts will serve as a serial data line out. The device will output data to the user in the form of LEDs, character/graphical display, and a vibration motor. The overall output will work as follows:

1. When the device detects no other devices nearby, the LEDs and display will be off and RF transmissions will be sporadic.
2. When another device is detected, the vibration motor will go off to alert the user in case the bug is in a pocket, purse, etc…
3. A data exchange will occur via RF between the two devices
4. If the devices determine they have groups in common, they will sync their phase and match colors on the LEDs representing the common group
5. if the users meet and mate their devices, data will be transmitted serially via the external contacts.

Owner's Manual Draft:

• Bug Exploration General Operating Procedure:

1. Turn on the device by setting the power switch to the ON position.
2. Once the device is on, it will operate automatically by communicating with other nearby Buddy Bugs.
3. If another Buddy Bug is detected, and an interest match is made, your Buddy Bug will vibrate and begin displaying that interest's specific pattern.
4. Look nearby for a Buddy Bug displaying the same interest-specific pattern. If multiple Buddy Bugs are matching, they will all display the same pattern.
5. Up to three (3) matching interest patterns can be displayed on a Buddy Bug at one time.
6. The character display will inform you on which interest patterns are being displayed. The same display will also list identifications for each Buddy Bug within range.
7. Turn off the Buddy Bug at any time by setting the power switch to the OFF position.
   
• Bug Mating General Operating Procedure: If you wish to swap and store information on your Buddy Bug about another Buddy Bug, follow these instructions:

1. Make sure your Buddy Bug's power switch is in the ON position.
2. Place labeled side of Buddy Bugs together.
3. The character display will show ‘Mating…' when the two Buddy Bugs have been successfully connected.
4. When the Buddy Bugs have completed swapping information, they will both display ‘Completed!' until the Buddy Bugs are separated.
5. After the ‘Completed!' message disappears, the Buddy Bug will return to normal ‘Exploration' mode.
   
• Bug Uplink to PC General Operating Procedure: To program your Buddy Bug with your interests and identification and to manage your ‘Mated' list, follow these instructions:
  
  1. Make sure your Buddy Bug's power switch is in the ON position.
  2. Put labeled side of Buddy Bug on dock.
  3. The character display will show ‘PC Connection' when the Buddy Bug has been successfully connected to your PC.
  4. Open the Buddy Bug software installed on your PC and follow the on-screen instructions.
  5. When instructed by the software, you may remove the Bug from the dock.

Acceptance Tests: The Bugs will be tested in several indoor locations to prove that they successfully communicate and match group patterns, varying the following parameters:

1. Number of bugs in a room
2. Distance between the bugs
3. Occupancy of the room

Additionally, the Bugs will be tested to confirm that the PC software successfully downloads programming information, and that two Bugs successfully swap identification.

Production Cost: The costs of parts will be less than $30.

Dispute Resolution Mechanism: All disputes shall be settled by binding arbitration. The costs of the arbitration shall be borne by the party losing the arbitration decision.

Updated on: 01.02.2006 22:24