Obstacle Avoidance Using Mobile Devices

• US 20180125740A1
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yu, Loc
• Granted Patent: US 10,722,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 1/02 Walking sticks with rollers for carrying parcels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2009/002 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 9/00 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 9/04 Ferrules or tips for crutches A61H3/0288
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/063 with tactile perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products estimate distances to aid a visually impaired user of a mobile device. As the user carries the mobile device, a camera in the mobile device captures images of a walking cane. The images of the walking cane are analyzed to infer a distance between a tip of the walking cane and the mobile device. The distance may then be used by navigational tools to aid the visually impaired user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

pairing a walking cane to a mobile device;

determining, by the mobile device, a location at which radio signals are received;

querying, by the mobile device, an electronic database for the location, the electronic database electronically associating obstacles to locations including the location at which the radio signals are received;

retrieving, by the mobile device, an obstacle of the obstacles in the electronic database that is electronically associated to the location at which the radio signals are received; and

inferring, by the mobile device, a distance from the walking cane to the obstacle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the distance from a tip of the walking cane to the obstacle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an orientation of the walking cane.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the distance from the walking cane to the obstacle based on the orientation of the walking cane.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a warning of the obstacle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating haptic feedback associated with the obstacle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying global positioning system information associated with the obstacle.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed causing the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

pairing a walking cane;

determining a location at which radio signals are received;

querying an electronic database for the location, the electronic database electronically associating obstacles to locations including the location at which the radio signals are received;

identifying an obstacle of the obstacles in the electronic database that is electronically associated to the location at which the radio signals are received; and

inferring a distance from the walking cane to the obstacle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining the distance from a tip of the walking cane to the obstacle.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining an orientation of the walking cane.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining the distance from the walking cane to the obstacle based on the orientation of the walking cane.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise generating a warning of the obstacle.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise generating haptic feedback associated with the obstacle.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise identifying global positioning system information associated with the obstacle.

15. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

pairing a walking cane;

determining a location at which radio signals are received;

querying an electronic database for the location, the electronic database electronically associating obstacles to locations including the location at which the radio signals are received;

identifying an obstacle of the obstacles in the electronic database that is electronically associated to the location at which the radio signals are received; and

inferring a distance from the walking cane to the obstacle.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining the distance from a tip of the walking cane to the obstacle.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining an orientation of the walking cane.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining the distance from the walking cane to the obstacle based on the orientation of the walking cane.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise generating a warning of the obstacle.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise generating haptic feedback associated with the obstacle.