SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALTERING A STATE OF A SYSTEM USING A REMOTE DEVICE THAT PROCESSES GESTURES

• US 20160231817A1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tannenbaum, Harry, Hong, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,958,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods systems and methods for altering a state of system using a remote device that processes gestures are described herein. The electronic device can communicate with the system in response to monitoring a user generated gesture or other interaction. For example, a user can wave the personal device or wave to the personal device, and in response thereto, the personal device can transmit an instruction to the system that causes it to change its operational state. Thus, embodiments discussed herein enable a user to perform remote gestures with a first device to affect the operation of a second device.

Claims

1. A method for processing a gesture monitored by a personal device to alter a state of a hazard detection system, the method implemented by the hazard detection system, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction from the personal device, wherein the instruction is generated in response to a user enacted gesture;

determining a location of the personal device;

verifying that the location satisfies at least one condition; and

selectively altering a state of the hazard detection system, based on the received instruction, when satisfaction of the at least one condition is verified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user enacted gesture comprises a physical manipulation of the personal device according to a gesture.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user enacted gesture comprises a user gesture that is performed in free space within a monitorable vicinity of the personal device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises GPS data, wherein determining the location comprises:

evaluating the GPS data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location comprises:

triangulating the location of the personal device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard detection device is mounted within a room of a structure, wherein the at least one condition comprises ensuring that the personal device is located within the room of the structure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard detection device is mounted within a structure, wherein the at least one condition comprises ensuring that the personal device is located within the structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying comprises:

using at least one ultrasonic sensor to confirm presence of the portable device within at least one ultrasonic detection field of the hazard detection device.

9. A method for processing a gesture monitored by a personal device to alter a state of a hazard detection system, the method implemented by the personal device, the method comprising:

monitoring for a gesture interaction by a user, the gesture interaction specifying a command to alter a state of the hazard detection system;

determining whether a gesture interaction is monitored; and

transmitting an instruction to the hazard detection device in response to determining that a gesture interaction is monitored, wherein the instruction comprises the command to alter a state of the hazard detection system.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving an indication that the hazard detection system is alarming, wherein the transmitted instruction is operative to cause the hazard detection to cease alarming.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the gesture interaction comprises a physical manipulation of the personal device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring comprising using at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the gesture interaction comprises a user gesture that is performed in free space within a monitorable vicinity of the personal device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring comprises using at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a camera, a microphone, an ultrasonic sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an ambient light sensor, and any combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the instruction comprises location information.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising periodically communicating with the hazard detection system to provide location information.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

emitting a high frequency (non-audible) audio signal commensurate with the transmission of the instruction.

18. A first device for processing a gesture monitored by a personal device to alter a state of the first device, the first device comprising:

communications circuitry operative to transmit and receive wireless signals; and

a processor coupled to the communications circuitry and operative to;

receive an instruction from the personal device, wherein the instruction is generated in response to a user enacted gesture;

determine a location of the personal device;

verify that the location satisfies at least one condition; and

selectively alter a state of the hazard detection system, based on the received instruction, when satisfaction of the at least one condition is verified.

19. The first device of claim 18, wherein the user enacted gesture comprises a physical manipulation of the personal device according to a gesture.

20. The first device of claim 18, wherein the user enacted gesture comprises a user gesture that is performed in free space within a monitorable vicinity of the personal device.

21. The first device of claim 18, wherein the first device is a hazard detection device.

22. The first device of claim 18, wherein the first device is selected from the group consisting of a light, a lock, a doorbell, an alarm, and a thermostat.