METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MATERIAL AND ELECTRONICALLY TRACKING SAME
First Claim
1. A dispensing device for use in performing a dispensing operation to dispense a material, the dispensing device comprising:
- a hand-held housing;
a memory to store processor-executable instructions;
at least one processor coupled to the memory and disposed within or communicatively coupled to the hand-held housing;
at least one camera system mechanically and/or communicatively coupled to the dispensing device so as to provide image information to the at least one processor, wherein the image information relates to the dispensing operation; and
a dispensing mechanism to control dispensing of the material, the material not being readily visible after the dispensing operation;
wherein the at least one processor, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions;
A) analyzes the image information to determine tracking information indicative of a motion or an orientation of the dispensing device;
B) determines actuation information relating at least in part to user operation of the dispensing mechanism; and
C) stores, in the memory, the actuation information and the tracking information so as to provide an electronic record of one or more geographic locations at which the material is dispensed by the dispensing device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing device is provided for use in a dispensing operation. The dispensing device includes a hand-held housing, a memory to store processor-executable instructions, a processor coupled to the memory and disposed within or communicatively coupled to the hand-held housing, and a camera system mechanically and/or communicatively coupled to the dispensing device to provide image information to the processor. The image information relates to the dispensing operation. The dispensing device also includes a dispensing mechanism to control dispensing of the material. The material is not readily visible after the dispensing operation. The processor analyzes the image information to determine tracking information indicative of a motion or an orientation of the dispensing device. The processor also determines actuation information relating to operation of the dispensing mechanism and stores the actuation information and the tracking information to provide an electronic record of geographic locations at which the material is dispensed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A dispensing device for use in performing a dispensing operation to dispense a material, the dispensing device comprising:
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a hand-held housing; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; at least one processor coupled to the memory and disposed within or communicatively coupled to the hand-held housing; at least one camera system mechanically and/or communicatively coupled to the dispensing device so as to provide image information to the at least one processor, wherein the image information relates to the dispensing operation; and a dispensing mechanism to control dispensing of the material, the material not being readily visible after the dispensing operation; wherein the at least one processor, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions; A) analyzes the image information to determine tracking information indicative of a motion or an orientation of the dispensing device; B) determines actuation information relating at least in part to user operation of the dispensing mechanism; and C) stores, in the memory, the actuation information and the tracking information so as to provide an electronic record of one or more geographic locations at which the material is dispensed by the dispensing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:
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A) receiving image information from at least one camera system mechanically and/or communicatively coupled to a dispensing device adapted to dispense a material and having a dispensing mechanism to control dispensing of the material, the material not being readily visible after the dispensing operation; B) analyzing the image information to determine tracking information indicative of a motion or an orientation of the dispensing device; C) determining actuation information relating at least in part to user operation of the dispensing mechanism; and D) storing, in a memory, the actuation information and the tracking information so as to provide an electronic record of one or more geographic locations at which the material is dispensed by the dispensing device.
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24. A method of performing a dispensing operation to dispense a material, the method comprising:
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A) receiving image information from at least one camera system mechanically and/or communicatively coupled to a dispensing device adapted to dispense a material and having a dispensing mechanism to control dispensing of the material, the material not being readily visible after the dispensing operation; B) analyzing the image information to determine tracking information indicative of a motion or an orientation of the dispensing device; C) determining actuation information relating at least in part to user operation of the dispensing mechanism; and D) storing, in a memory, the actuation information and the tracking information so as to provide an electronic record of one or more geographic locations at which the material is dispensed by the dispensing device.
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Specification