METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING MOTION OF A PORTABLE CONTAINER AND PROVIDING HUMAN PERCEPTIBLE INDICIA BASED ON THE SENSED MOTION
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a sensor subsystem configured to produce a sensor output indicating a value of a variable sensed condition selected from a motion, an orientation, a change in orientation, an acceleration, shock, a vibration, a magnetic field, a pressure, a temperature, a presence of a chemical, an absence of a chemical, and a humidity level;
a processing system that receives the sensor output and implements a state machine having a first state and a second state, wherein upon entry into the first state, the processing system starts a timer, and while in the second state, the processing system waits for a specific sensor output value to be received, and wherein the processing system transitions from the first state to the second state upon expiration of the timer, and the processing system transitions from the second state to the first state when the sensor output corresponds to the specific sensor output value; and
an output device which, when the state machine is in the second state, produces a human-perceptible indicia configured to prompt a human user to perform an action that is likely to cause the sensor to produce the sensor output that corresponds to the specific sensor output value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods include a sensor subsystem (e.g., within a container-mounted device) that produces a sensor output, and a processing system that implements a state machine. Upon entry into a first state, the processing system starts a timer, and while in a second state, the processing system waits for a specific sensor output value to be received. The processing system transitions from the first state to the second state upon expiration of the timer, and the processing system transitions from the second state to the first state when the sensor output corresponds to the specific sensor output value. When the state machine is in the second state, the output device produces a human-perceptible indicia configured to prompt a human user to perform an action that is likely to cause the sensor to produce the sensor output that corresponds to the specific sensor output value.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a sensor subsystem configured to produce a sensor output indicating a value of a variable sensed condition selected from a motion, an orientation, a change in orientation, an acceleration, shock, a vibration, a magnetic field, a pressure, a temperature, a presence of a chemical, an absence of a chemical, and a humidity level; a processing system that receives the sensor output and implements a state machine having a first state and a second state, wherein upon entry into the first state, the processing system starts a timer, and while in the second state, the processing system waits for a specific sensor output value to be received, and wherein the processing system transitions from the first state to the second state upon expiration of the timer, and the processing system transitions from the second state to the first state when the sensor output corresponds to the specific sensor output value; and an output device which, when the state machine is in the second state, produces a human-perceptible indicia configured to prompt a human user to perform an action that is likely to cause the sensor to produce the sensor output that corresponds to the specific sensor output value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a sensor subsystem configured to produce a sensor output indicating acceleration in at least one direction; a processing system that receives the sensor output and implements a state machine having a first state and a second state, wherein upon entry into the first state, the processing system starts a timer, and while in the second state, the processing system waits for a specific acceleration value to be received, and wherein the processing system transitions from the first state to the second state upon expiration of the timer, and the processing system transitions from the second state to the first state when the sensor output corresponds to the specific acceleration value; and an output device which, when the state machine is in the second state, produces a human-perceptible indicia configured to prompt a human user to perform an action that is likely to cause the sensor to produce the sensor output that corresponds to the specific acceleration value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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producing, by a sensor, a sensor output indicating a value of a variable sensed condition selected from a motion, an orientation, a change in orientation, an acceleration, a shock, a vibration, a magnetic field, a pressure, a temperature, a presence of a chemical, an absence of a chemical, and a humidity level; transitioning into a first state of a state machine, wherein operation in the first state includes starting a timer and monitoring whether the timer has expired; upon expiration of the timer, transitioning into a second state, wherein operation in the second state includes monitoring the sensor output, determining whether a specific sensor output value has been received, and producing a human-perceptible indicia configured to prompt a human user to perform an action that is likely to cause the sensor to produce the sensor output that corresponds to the specific sensor output value. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification