METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING SENSOR-EQUIPPED SMART PHONES

• US 20110165917A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Mary Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US12/982,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20110165917A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The present technology concerns improvements to smart phones and related sensor-equipped systems. Some embodiments relate to smart phone-assisted commuting, e.g., by bicycle. Some involve novel human-computer interactions, e.g., using tactile grammars—some of which may be customized by users. Others involve spoken clues, e.g., by which a user can assist a smart phone in identifying what portion of imagery captured by a smart phone camera should be processed, or identifying what type of image processing should be conducted. Some arrangements include the degradation of captured content information in accordance with privacy rules, which may be location-dependent, or based on the unusualness of the captured content, or responsive to later consultation of the stored content information by the user. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A device including a memory, a processor, and at least one sensor that produces an output signal responsive to physical taps from a user, the memory containing software instructions enabling the user to define and store a custom grammar by which different sequences of user taps initiate different device operations.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said at least one of said sequences of user taps includes taps at different locations relative to the device, as opposed to taps all at a common location relative to the device.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said at least one of said sequences of user taps includes taps at different intensities.

4. The device of claim 1 in which one of said sequence of user taps initiates a voiced recitation of weather information by the device.

5. A device including a sensor module and a processor module, said modules cooperating to perform the following operations:

(a) sense repeated taps by a single finger at a single location on the device, and output a first signal indicating same; and

(b) sense taps by plural fingers at different locations on the device, and output a second, different, signal indicating same.

6-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A system comprising a memory, a processor, and at least one output component, the memory containing software instructions configuring the system to perform the following operations:

recall a default wake-up alarm time;

consult a data repository to identify a circumstance that may merit adjusting the default wake-up time;

set a wake-up alarm for an adjusted wake-up time different than the recalled default wake-up alarm time; and

issue the wake-up alarm at the adjusted wake-up time, using the output component.

17. The system of claim 16 in which the software instructions further configure the system to perform the following operations:

present information about a suggested adjustment to the default wake-up time to a user; and

receive user input assenting to the suggested adjustment.

18. The system of claim 17 in which the information is presented to the user on a screen component, and the wake-up alarm is issued using an audio transducer component.

19. The system of claim 16 in which the software instructions configure the system to consult stored calendar data that identifies one or more user appointments, and to determine the adjusted wake-up time based thereon.

20. The system of claim 16 in which the software instructions configure the system to consult stored history data that identifies a historical pattern of user activity, and to determine the adjusted wake-up time based thereon.

21. The system of claim 16 in which the software instructions configure the system to consult stored weather forecast data, and to determine the adjusted wake-up time based thereon.

22. A system comprising a memory, a processor, and at least one output component, the memory containing software instructions configuring the system to perform the following operations:

(a) recall historical data corresponding to one or more previous commutes to a destination;

(b) check data corresponding to a current commute;

(c) determine, from the checked data, that the current commute will probably result in an arrival time to the destination later than a previous commute; and

(d) take an action, based on the foregoing.

23. The system of claim 22 in which operation (b) comprises checking transit agency data that identifies timing of a mass transit service in connection with the current commute.

24. The system of claim 22 in which operation (b) comprises checking a user'"'"'s current location versus a current time.

25. The system of claim 22 in which operation (b) comprises checking weather data.

26. The system of claim 22 in which operation (b) comprises checking user heart rate data.

27. The system of claim 22 in which operation (b) comprises checking user pedal cadence data.

28. The system of claim 22 in which operation (d) comprises providing information to a user about an alternate commute.

29. A system comprising a memory, a processor, and at least one vibration component, the memory containing software instructions configuring the system to perform the following operations:

(a) sense a user'"'"'s direction of movement;

(b) direct that a vibration component issue a first vibratory signal to the user to signal that the user should take a right turn; and

(c) direct that a vibration component issue a second vibratory signal to the user to signal that the user should take a left turn.

30. The system of claim 29 in which the vibration component that issues the first vibratory signal is also the vibration component that issues the second vibratory signal.

31. The system of claim 29 in which the software instructions further configure the system to direct that a vibration component issue a third vibratory signal to the user to signal that the user should continue in the sensed direction of movement.

32-36. -36. (canceled)