Device Identification and Monitoring System and Method

• US 20120117232A1
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J., Schobel, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,851,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and system for collecting and recognizing information from a monitoring device is provided. On a mobile computer device a user can capture an image of a monitoring device. The image captures at least two aspects: (1) monitored data tracked or acquired by the monitoring device, and (2) a portion of the monitoring device sufficient to recognize the monitoring device. Recognition functions are provided for: (1) recognizing and converting the monitored data visible in the captured image into quantifiable data, and (2) for recognizing the monitoring device. A note taking function can be provided to allow a user to create notes. The notes can be enriched with the quantifiable data and/or the recognized monitoring device (or vice versa). A suggestion function can be provided for suggesting services where the quantifiable data, the recognized monitoring device, and/or the notes can be bound.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and recognizing information from a monitoring device, comprising:

(a) on a mobile computer device capturing an image of a monitoring device, wherein said image comprises at least;

(i) monitored data tracked or acquired by said monitoring device, and (ii) a portion of said monitoring device sufficient to recognize said monitoring device;

(b) providing a text recognition function for recognizing and converting said monitored data visible in said captured image into quantifiable data;

(c) providing a monitoring device recognition function for recognizing said monitoring device; and

(d) providing a categorizing function for categorizing;

(j) said quantifiable data, (jj) said recognized monitoring device, or (iii) a combination thereof with one or more categories.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising providing a note taking function to allow a user to create a note on a user device, wherein said created note is stored;

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising enriching said note with said quantifiable data, said recognized monitoring device, said one or more categories, or a combination thereof.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said note comprises text, audio media, visual media, audio-visual media, recorded data, a weblink, a pointer to an information source, or any combination thereof.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said monitoring device is a health monitoring device, a sport device, a training device or a medical device.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recognizing said monitoring device is recognizing in terms of type, kind, brand, model, or a combination thereof.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein one or more context traits are associated with said quantifiable data, said recognized monitoring device, said one or more categories, or a combination thereof.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one or more context traits comprises a location, a place, a time, a source, a related note, a person, people, a group, a tag, an identity, sensor data, a media file, an audio file, physical data relating to said monitoring device or said mobile computer device, derived data, or any combination thereof.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising suggesting one or more of services where said quantifiable data, said recognized monitoring device, or said one or more categories can be bound.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising automatically binding said quantifiable data, said recognized monitoring device, or said one or more categories to one of said suggested services.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said monitoring device recognition function uses a library of information related to monitoring devices for recognizing said imaged monitoring device.