Remote control via proximity data

• US 10,642,358 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Billau, Michael R., Hartenbaum, Alissa J., Johnson, Trenton J., Vennam, Saikrishna
• Primary Examiner(s): Sadio, Insa
• Application Number:
  US16/288,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20190196584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883

Abstract

Embodiments relate to use of proximity sensors to control a digital interface. More specifically, proximity detection and analysis of the sensors, and translating the proximity into one or more commands is utilized to control the interface. In various embodiments, a system is provided with a set of sensors operatively coupled to a secondary surface. The sensors are in communication with a hub positioned proximal to the sensors. The hub is configured to be in communication with a remote interface. Similarly, the remote interface is configured operatively coupled to a remote physical device (e.g. digital interface). As changes in the sensor position data are measured, the remote interface device communicates an action based on a set of rules. The action is communicated from the interface to the remote physical device and functions to physically transform a functional aspect of the device.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a first set of sensors including two or more sensors operatively coupled to a sensor hub, the first of the sensors, Si, fixed to a first location, a second of the sensors, Sj, fixed to a second location, and the sensor hub fixed to a third location;

the sensor hub in communication with a remote interface;

the remote interface operatively coupled to a device;

a tool in communication with the sensor hub to utilize sensor position data to interface with the device, including;

measure an initial set of sensor positions, including a first distance between sensors, Si and Sj;

read a changed position of the sensors from the initial set of sensor positions, including a second distance between sensors Si and Sj, and generate changed sensor position data;

search a corpus for evidence of the similar sensor positions, and generate a first outcome set of actions; and

search the first outcome set for a similar sensor position response of at least one action matching the changed sensor position data, select the at least one action, and communicate the at least one action, Aij, to the remote interface, the remote interface to physically transform a functional aspect of the device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the tool to amend the corpus, including assignment of the at least one action and an associated rule to the changed sensor position data and storage of the assignment in the corpus.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the assignment includes assignment of a new action and a new rule to a new sensor position.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the tool to amend an existing rule and an associated action in the corpus with the changed sensor position data, including updating the existing rule to reflect the changed position data.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising the tool to amend the existing rule with the changed sensor position data as a function of a similarity between existing sensor position data associated with the existing rule and the changed sensor position data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the amendment to the existing rule is generated automatically.

7. A computer program product for utilizing proximity sensor positioning for interfacing with a device, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by a processing unit to:

measure an initial set of sensor positions, including a first distance between wearable sensors, Si and Sj;

read a changed position of the sensors from the initial set of sensor positions, including measure a second distances between wearable sensors, Si and Sj for the changed position, and generate changed sensor position data;

search a corpus for similar sensor positions, and generate a first outcome set of actions; and

search the first outcome set for a similar sensor position of at least one action matching the changed sensor position data, select the at least one action, and communicate the at least one action, Aij, to a remote physical device, the at least one action to physically transform a functional aspect of the device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising program code to amend the corpus, including assigning the at least one action and an associated rule to the changed sensor position data and storing the assignment in the corpus.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the assigning includes assignment of a new action and a new rule to a new sensor position.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising program code to amend an existing rule and an associated action in the corpus with the changed sensor position data, including program code to update the existing rule to reflect the changed position data.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising program code to amend the existing rule with the changed sensor position data as a function of a similarity between existing sensor position data associated with the existing rule and the changed sensor position data.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the amendment to the existing rule is generated automatically.

13. A method for utilizing proximity sensor positioning for interfacing with a device, comprising:

positioning wearable sensors, Si and Sj;

measuring an initial set of sensor positions, including a first distance between wearable sensors, Si and Sj;

reading a changed position of the sensors from the initial set of sensor positions, including measuring a second distances between wearable sensors, Si and Sj for the changed position, and generate changed sensor position data;

searching a corpus for similar sensor positions, and generating a first outcome set of actions; and

searching the first outcome set for a similar sensor position of at least one action matching the changed sensor position data, selecting the at least one action, and communicating the at least one action, Aij, to a remote physical device, the at least one action to physically transform a functional aspect of the device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising amending the corpus, including assigning the at least one action and an associated rule to the changed sensor position data and storing the assignment in the corpus.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the assigning includes assignment of a new action and a new rule to a new sensor position.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising amending an existing rule and an associated action in the corpus with the changed sensor position data, including updating the existing rule to reflect the changed position data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising amending the existing rule with the changed sensor position data sensor proximity data as a function of a similarity between existing sensor position data associated with the existing rule and the changed sensor position data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the amendment to the existing rule is generated automatically.