Selecting a target device in a device network

• US 20020082026A1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanan, Ajith Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 6,925,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity

Abstract

A device network to process signals has target devices, selecting devices that are movable relative to the target devices, and controllers. The controllers are in communication with the target devices and the selecting devices. Each of the selecting devices has a position sensor and an orientation sensor to provide spatial and angular co-ordinates of position and orientation when pointing to a target device and upon receiving a user input. Each of the selecting devices also has a signal processor to generate a control signal having the position and orientation data. This control signal is then transmitted by a transmitter, via a radio frequency channel, to a controller. Upon receiving the control signal, the controller determines whether, for example, a target device has been selected by a selecting device by comparison of the orientation data with a derived orientation based on the position data and the known position of the target devices.

Claims

1. A device network having selectable target devices, said device network comprising:

a controller device;

one or more target devices in communication with said controller device; and

one or more selecting devices, each of which is movable relative to said target devices, and includes;

means for sensing position and orientation to provide data therefor;

means for generating at least one control signal, incorporating said position and orientation data in response to a user input; and

means for transmitting said control signals via at least one of a plurality of communication resources to said controller device; and

wherein said controller device acquires and stores actual location information for each target device, and assesses correspondence of said position and orientation data with said actual location data, and if there is correspondence, outputs a control signal to select said target device to be operative.

2. The device network of claim 1, wherein said controller assesses correspondence from the selecting device position and orientation and said actual target location by deriving a target orientation, and determining correspondence of said target orientation with said orientation data.

3. The device network of claim 1, wherein said orientation data includes angles between a ray joining the respective points in a three-dimensional Cartesian system and two respective axes of said system.

4. The device network of claim 2, wherein said position sensing means comprises an accelerometer whose output is doubly integrated to give an output of position, or a positioning means using UWB.

5. The device network of claim 4, wherein said orientation sensing means comprises a gyroscope.

6. The device network of claim 5, wherein said each selecting device includes a pointing means to line up a said target device.

7. The device network of claim 6, wherein said pointing means is a display, printed indicium, or pointed shape.

8. The device network of claim 1, wherein communication between said selecting devices and said controller device is wireless.

9. The device network of claim 8, wherein said wireless communication is either RF or IR type.

10. The device network of claim 1, wherein communication between said target devices and said controller device is wired or wireless.

11. A selecting device for selecting one or more target devices in a device network, said selecting device comprising:

means for sensing position and orientation to provide data therefor;

means for generating at least one control signal, incorporating said position and orientation data, in response to a user input; and

means for transmitting said control signals via at least one of a plurality of communication resources to said controller device.

12. The selecting device of claim 11, wherein said position sensing means comprises an accelerometer whose output is doubly integrated to give an output of position, or a positioning means using UWB.

13. The selecting device of claim 12, wherein said orientation sensing means comprises a gyroscope.

14. The selecting device of claim 13, wherein said each selecting device includes a pointing means to line up a said target device.

15. The selecting device of claim 11, wherein said transmitting means is wireless.

16. The selecting device of claim 15, wherein wireless communication is either IR or RF type.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said determining step is performed by deriving a target orientation from the selecting device location and actual target location, and comparing said derived orientation with said orientation data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said determining step is performed by deriving a orientation from the selecting device location and actual target location, and comparing said derived orientation with said orientation data.

17. A method for selecting one or more target devices in a device network, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a control signal from a selecting device, said control signal having position and orientation data of said selecting devices;

determining whether said one or more target devices can be identified based on said position and orientation data; and

generating a target control signal to activate an identified target device.

19. A method for selecting a target, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a control signal from a selecting device, said control signal having position and orientation data of said selecting devices; and

determining whether a target of known location can be identified based on said position and orientation data.

21. A device network having selectable target devices, said device network comprising:

a controller device;

one or more targets; and

one or more selecting devices, each of which is movable relative to said targets, and includes;

means for sensing position and orientation to provide data therefor;

means for generating at least one control signal, incorporating said position and orientation data in response to a user input; and

means for transmitting said control signals via at least one of a plurality of communication resources to said controller device; and

wherein said controller device stores actual location information for each target, and assesses correspondence of said position and orientation data with said actual location data, and if there is correspondence, selects said target.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said controller assesses correspondence from the selecting device position and orientation and said actual target location by deriving a target orientation, and determining correspondence of said target orientation with said orientation data.