AUDIO TRIGGER FOR MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20080136623A1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: CALVARESE, Russell
• Application Number:
  US11/567,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader

Abstract

A mobile computing device having a reader element collecting information from target items, an audio system triggering a read event when a trigger sound is discerned and a processor activating the reader element when the read event is triggered by the audio system. The mobile computing device may be used to monitor with an audio system to detect a trigger sound, trigger a read event upon detection of the trigger sound and activate a reader element to acquire data pertaining to a tracked item.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a reader element collecting information from target items;

an audio system triggering a read event when a trigger sound is discerned; and

a processor activating the reader element when the read event is triggered by the audio system.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the audio system includes a microphone.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the audio system includes an audio driver for scanning data from a CODEC of the audio system to discern the trigger sound and trigger the read event.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reader element comprises one of an RFID reader, a laser scanner and an imager.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor further processes the information collected from the target items.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the audio system discerns the trigger sound based on at least one of an amplitude of the trigger sound, a frequency of the trigger sound and a waveform of the trigger sound.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor activates the reader element for a predetermined period of time upon receiving the read event.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the device is wearable.

9. A wearable RFID tracking device, comprising:

an RFID reader for interrogating an RFID tag of a tracked item and receiving data therefrom; and

an audio system for detecting background sounds and a trigger sound, the audio system triggering a read event of the RFID reader when the trigger sound is discerned from the background sounds.

10. The RFID tracking device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a processor controlling the RFID reader and the audio system, the processor manipulating the data received by the RFID reader.

11. The RFID tracking device according to claim 10, wherein the processor combines the data from the RFID tag with at least one of date, time, location and status information.

12. The RFID tracking device according to claim 9, wherein the audio system includes an audio driver screening a data stream of an audio CODEC to discern the trigger sound from the background sounds.

13. The RFID tracking device according to claim 12, wherein the audio driver discerns a higher amplitude of the trigger sound compared to a lower amplitude of the background sounds.

14. The RFID tracking device according to claim 9, wherein the audio system is wearable on a user'"'"'s hand.

15. The RFID tracking device according to claim 9, wherein the RFID reader interrogates the RFID tag with a reduced power signal when activated by the audio system.

16. The RFID tracking device according to claim 9, wherein the audio system detects the trigger sound corresponding to a user picking up the tracked item.

17. A method of tracking items, comprising:

monitoring with an audio system to detect a trigger sound;

triggering a read event upon detection of the trigger sound; and

activating a reader element to acquire data pertaining to a tracked item.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

manipulating the data pertaining to the tracked item in a processor.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the reader element is one of an RFID reader, a laser scanner and an imager.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the manipulating includes combining the data with at least one of a time, a date, a location and status information.

21. A mobile device, comprising:

a reader means for collecting information from target items;

an audio means for triggering a read event when a trigger sound is discerned; and

a processing means for activating the reader element when the read event is triggered by the audio means.