Methods And Apparatuses For Using A Mobile Device To Provide Remote Assistance

• US 20100238194A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Roach, Peter JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,619,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5125 with remote located operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0015 First party call control architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/385 of the core network

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing remote assistance to a user are disclosed. A remote assistance system may communicate with a mobile device operated by the user and may manipulate devices configured on the mobile device, such as a camera, an illumination device, a projection device, or any other types of devices. Images may be captured with a camera of the mobile phone and transmitted by the mobile phone to the remote assistance system. A remote assistant may transmit images or other visual data to the mobile phone that are then overlaid upon images presented on the mobile phone. Various image manipulation and stabilization means and methods are disclosed, as well as various ways of obtaining and providing remote assistance.

Claims

3-1. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising an illumination device.

11. A remote assistance system comprising:

a processor configured to generate remote assistance data;

a transceiver configured to transmit the remote assistance data to a mobile device and receive mobile device data from the mobile device; and

a display configured to present the receive mobile device data,

wherein the processor is further configured to establish a remote assistance session with a mobile device via the transceiver, and

wherein the transceiver is further configured to communicate with a server configured to track the remote assistance session.

12. The remote assistance system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device data comprises at least one image captured by a camera configured on the mobile device.

13. The remote assistance system of claim 12, wherein the remote assistance data comprises a layer of visual data, wherein the layer of visual data is overlaid on the at least one image.

14. The remote assistance system of claim 11, wherein the remote assistance data comprises a layer of visual data that is overlaid on an image presented on a display of the mobile device.

15. The remote assistance system of claim 11, wherein the remote assistance data comprises instructions to manipulate a component of the mobile device.

16. The remote assistance system of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to adjust at least one of a camera of the mobile device, a projection device of the mobile device, and an illumination device of the mobile device.

17. The remote assistance system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to generate remote assistance session data, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the remote assistance session data to a billing server.

18. The remote assistance system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to coordinate remote assistance activities among a plurality of remote assistance providers.

19. A remote assistance server comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive requests for remote assistance from mobile devices;

a processor configured to;

determine a priority for each of the requests for remote assistance,

determine a highest priority request,

determine a remote assistance provider to which to transmit the highest priority request; and

the transceiver further configured to transmit the highest priority request to the remote assistance provider.

20. A method of providing remote assistance comprising:

receiving an image captured by a mobile device at a remote assistance device;

presenting the image on a display of the remote assistance device;

generating overlay data at the remote assistance device; and

transmitting the overlay data to the remote assistance device.