Vision-enabled household appliances
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of automating an appliance through a sensing device, the method comprising:
- receiving a visual image;
determining that one or more features in the visual image match with one or more features from at least one previously identified household object, where the determination of the matching one or more features is performed by a visually-based automated process;
analyzing one or more quality metrics associated with the match between the one or more features of the visual image and the at least one previously identified household object; and
automatically determining that the match is potentially unreliable at least partly based on the analysis of the one or more quality metrics.
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Abstract
The invention is generally related to the systems and methods through which household appliances can provide intuitive and enhanced interactivity through visual inputs. In particular, the disclosure presents methods relating to control of a household appliance, such as a microwave or a refrigerator, via recognition of visual indicia, such as graphics, text, and the like, using a visual sensor such as a camera.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of automating an appliance through a sensing device, the method comprising:
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receiving a visual image;
determining that one or more features in the visual image match with one or more features from at least one previously identified household object, where the determination of the matching one or more features is performed by a visually-based automated process;
analyzing one or more quality metrics associated with the match between the one or more features of the visual image and the at least one previously identified household object; and
automatically determining that the match is potentially unreliable at least partly based on the analysis of the one or more quality metrics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for automating an appliance, the system comprising:
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a sensor configured to receive a visual image;
a circuit configured to determine that one or more features in the visual image match with one or more features from at least one previously identified household object, where the determination of the matching one or more features is performed by a visually-based automated process;
a circuit configured to analyze one or more quality metrics associated with the match between the one or more features of the visual image and the at least one previously identified household object; and
a circuit configured to automatically determine that the match is potentially unreliable at least partly based on the analysis of the one or more quality metrics. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. The system as defined in claim 77, wherein the circuit is embodied in a household appliance for a household duty.
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10. A computer program embodied in a tangible medium for identifying a potentially unreliable match for automating an appliance, the computer program comprising:
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a module with instructions configured to determine that one or more features in a visual image match with one or more features from at least one previously identified household object, where the determination of the matching one or more features is performed by a visually-based automated process;
a module with instructions configured to analyze one or more quality metrics associated with the match between the one or more features of the visual image and the at least one previously identified household object; and
a module with instructions configured to automatically determine that the match is potentially unreliable at least partly based on the analysis of the one or more quality metrics. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of filtering potentially unreliable measurements from automating an appliance, the method comprising:
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receiving an indication that a visual image matches with features observed in a previously identified household object, where the visual image is provided by a visual sensor;
computing a measure of a quality of a measurement;
comparing the measure of the quality of the visual image to at least one predetermined criterion to determine at least one of two states, where a first state that indicates a higher quality measurement than a second state;
avoiding use of the measurement for automating the appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the second state indicating the lower quality match; and
using the measurement for automating the appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the first state indicating the higher quality match. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A circuit for filtering potentially unreliable measurements from automating an appliance, the method comprising:
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a circuit configured to receive an indication that a visual image matches with features observed in a previously identified household object, where the visual image is provided by a visual sensor;
a circuit configured to compute a measure of a quality of a measurement;
a circuit configured to compare the measure of the quality of the measurement to at least one predetermined criterion to determine at least one of two states, where a first state that indicates a higher quality measurement than a second state;
a circuit configured to avoid use of the measurement for automating the appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the second state indicating the lower quality match; and
a circuit configured to use the measurement for automating the appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the first state indicating the higher quality match. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer program embodied in a tangible medium for filtering potentially unreliable measurements from automating an appliance, the computer program comprising:
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a module with instructions configured to receive an indication that a previously identified household object matches with features observed in an image, where the image is provided by a visual sensor;
a module with instructions configured to compute a measure of a quality of a measurement;
a module with instructions configured to compare the measure of the quality of the measurement to at least one predetermined criterion to determine at least one of two states, where a first state that indicates a higher quality measurement than a second state;
a module with instructions configured to avoid use of the measurement for automating the appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the second state indicating the lower quality match; and
a module with instructions configured to use the measurement for automating the appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the first state indicating the higher quality match. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A circuit for filtering potentially unreliable measurements from automating an appliance, the circuit comprising:
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a means for receiving an indication that a previously identified household object matches with features observed in an image, where the image is provided by a visual sensor;
a means for computing a measure of a quality of a measurement;
a means for comparing the measure of the quality of the measurement to at least one predetermined criterion to determine at least one of two states, where a first state that indicates a higher quality measurement than a second state;
a means for avoiding use of the measurement for automating the appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the second state indicating the lower quality match; and
a means for using the measurement for automating household appliance at least partly in response to a determination of the first state indicating the higher quality match. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of filtering potentially unreliable measurements from automating an appliance, the method comprising:
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receiving a list of one or more household objects that have been preliminarily identified as matching with features observed in an image, where the image is provided by a visual sensor coupled to a household appliance for which the automation applies;
computing a measure of a quality of a measurement corresponding to each household object in the list;
comparing the measure of the quality of each of the measurements to at least one predetermined criterion to determine at least one of two states, where a first state indicates a higher-quality measurement and a second state indicates a lower-quality measurement;
generating a modified list by selectively removing a measurement from the list of the one or more measurements at least partly in response to a determination that the measure of the quality of the measurement associated with the household object corresponds to the second state indicating the lower-quality measurement; and
providing the modified list for use in automation. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer program embodied in a tangible medium for filtering potentially unreliable measurements from automating an appliance, the computer program comprising:
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a module with instructions configured to receive a list of one or more household objects that have been preliminarily identified as matching with features observed in an image, where the image is provided by a visual sensor coupled to an household appliance for which the automation applies;
a module with instructions configured to compute a measure of a quality of a measurement corresponding to each household object in the list;
a module with instructions configured to compare the measure of the quality of each of the measurements to at least one predetermined criterion to determine at least one of two states, where a first state indicates a higher-quality measurement and a second state indicates a lower-quality measurement;
a module with instructions configured to generate a modified list by selectively removing a measurement from the list of the one or more measurements at least partly in response to a determination that the measure of the quality of the measurement associated with the household object corresponds to the second state indicating the lower-quality measurement; and
a module with instructions configured to provide the modified list for use in automating the appliance.
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Specification