METHOD OF AUTOMATIC TASK EXECUTION WITH TRIGGERING BY OBJECT ATTRIBUTE RECOGNITION, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

• US 20110261229A1
• Filed: 10/25/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Yang, Chih-Ying, Fang, Wen-Chieh, Lin, Yueh-Hsien, Tang, Hsien-Hui, Lee, Yang-Bee, Hsiao, Gwen, Fong, Mu-Chern, Chen, Cheng-Wei, Wu, Wen-Jong
• Granted Patent: US 8,456,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A method of automatic task execution is adapted to be performed by an electronic apparatus that includes an image-capturing module and a processing module. The method includes the steps of: a) recording in the processing module a relationship between a visible physical attribute of an object and a corresponding task to be executed by the processing module; b) configuring the electronic apparatus for capturing an image containing a target using the image-capturing module; c) configuring the processing module to determine if the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image captured by the image-capturing module; and d) when the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image, configuring the processing module to execute the corresponding task automatically.

Claims

1. A method of automatic task execution adapted to be performed by an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus including an image-capturing module and a processing module, said method comprising the steps of:

a) recording in the processing module a relationship between a visible physical attribute of an object and a corresponding task to be executed by the processing module;

b) configuring the electronic apparatus for capturing an image containing a target using the image-capturing module;

c) configuring the processing module to determine if the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image captured by the image-capturing module; and

d) when the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image, configuring the processing module to execute the corresponding task automatically.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step a), the visible physical attribute of the object is selected from the group consisting of a shape attribute, a color attribute, a symbol attribute, and combinations thereof.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the object is a re-adherable flag, the target includes a re-adherable flag, and, in step d), the corresponding task is executed when the target contained in the image has a visible physical attribute matching that of the object.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the corresponding task is to transmit the image captured by the image-capturing module to a predetermined recipient defined in the relationship recorded in the processing module.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein, in step d), the image is transmitted to the predetermined recipient via one of multi-media messaging service, electronic mail, and uploading to a network server.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

in step b), the captured image contains execution date information; and

in step d) , the processing module is configured to determine the execution date information from the captured image, and to schedule automatic execution of the corresponding task according to the execution date information contained in the captured image.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

in step b) , the target is on a calendar and is disposed to correspond in position to a date; and

in step d), the execution date information is determined based on the date on the calendar that corresponds in position to the target.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the corresponding task is to transmit the image captured by the image-capturing module to a predetermined recipient defined in the relationship recorded in the processing module.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein, in step d), the image is transmitted to the predetermined recipient via one of multi-media messaging service, electronic mail, and uploading to a network server.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, the electronic apparatus further including an image output module, wherein, in step d), the corresponding task is to establish a connection with a network server, to download a web page from the network server, and to display the web page through the image output module.

11. An electronic apparatus capable of automatic task execution, said electronic apparatus comprising:

a processing module including a storage medium that records a relationship between a visible physical attribute of an object and a corresponding task to be executed by said processing module; and

an image-capturing module coupled to said processing module and operable to capture an image containing a target;

wherein said processing module is configured to determine if the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image captured by said image-capturing module, and, when the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image, to execute the corresponding task automatically.

12. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the visible physical attribute of the object recorded in said storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a shape attribute, a color attribute, a symbol attribute, and combinations thereof.

13. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the object is a re-adherable flag, the target includes a re-adherable flag, and the corresponding task is executed by said processing module when the target contained in the image has a visible physical attribute matching that of the object.

14. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the corresponding task is to transmit the image captured by said image-capturing module to a predetermined recipient defined in the relationship recorded in said storage medium.

15. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the image is transmitted to the predetermined recipient via one of multi-media messaging service, electronic mail, and uploading to a network server when said processing module executes the corresponding task.

16. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the image captured by said image-capturing module contains execution date information; and

the processing module is configured to determine the execution date information from the captured image, and to schedule automatic execution of the corresponding task according to the execution date information contained in the captured image.

17. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

in the image captured by said image-capturing module, the target is on a calendar and is disposed to correspond in position to a date; and

said processing module is configured to determine the execution date information based on the date on the calendar that corresponds in position to the target.

18. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the corresponding task is to transmit the image captured by said image-capturing module to a predetermined recipient defined in the relationship recorded in said storage medium.

19. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the image is transmitted to the predetermined recipient via one of multi-media messaging service, electronic mail, and uploading to a network server when said processing module executes the corresponding task.

20. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an image output module coupled to said processing module, wherein the corresponding task is to establish a connection with a network server, to download a web page from the network server, and to display the web page through said image output module.

21. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said image output module is an image-projecting module.

22. A computer program product for configuring an electronic apparatus to perform steps of a method of automatic task execution, the electronic apparatus including an image-capturing module, said computer program product comprising a machine-readable storage medium, said machine-readable storage medium comprising:

program instructions for recording in the electronic apparatus a relationship between a visible physical attribute of an object and a corresponding task to be executed by the electronic apparatus;

program instructions for configuring the electronic apparatus to determine if the visible physical attribute of the object is found in an image captured by the image-capturing module; and

program instructions for configuring the processing module to execute the corresponding task automatically when the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image captured by the image-capturing module.