High precision spatially defined data transfer system

• US 5,793,630 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Newman, William M., Theimer, Marvin M., Want, Roy, Greene, Daniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US08/665,161
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 364/140, 364/140.01, 340/825.49, 340/825.54, 340/825.72, 340/574, 340/539, 340/825.45, 340/572, 348/125, 348/127, 348/128, 348/135, 348/169, 348/170, 455/521, 342/44
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/06 by comparison of two or more pictures of the same area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A system for transferring digital information to spatially localizable portable electronic devices has a plurality of portable electronic devices, with each portable electronic device supporting wireless communication. A spatial localizing module determines spatial location with submeter precision for each of the plurality of electronic devices, and a communication module is connected to the spatial localizing module for mediating wireless communication between the portable electronic devices. A user can define electronic data transfers between portable electronic devices in user determined spatial locations with submeter precision. Data transfers are possible to adjacent electronic devices, electronic devices within a defined radius, electronic devices along a defined bearing or having specific orientations, or even located within a defined set of regions or rooms.

Claims

1. A system for transferring digital information to spatially localizable portable electronic devices, the system comprising

a plurality of portable electronic devices, each portable electronic device supporting wireless communication,

a spatial localizing module having an image processing system for determining spatial location of each of the plurality of electronic devices, and

a communication module connected to the spatial localizing module for mediating wireless communication between a first portable electronic device and those members of the plurality of portable electronic devices in a user defined spatial location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user defined spatial region further comprises an electronic device adjacent to a first electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user defined spatial region further comprises those electronic devices within a predetermined radius of a first electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user defined spatial region further comprises those electronic devices within at least one room defined by a user with a first portable electronic device.

5. A system for transferring digital information to spatially localizable portable electronic devices, the system comprising

a plurality of portable electronic devices, each portable electronic device supporting wireless communication.

a spatial localizing module for determining spatial location of each of the plurality of electronic devices, the spatial localizing module having

at least two video cameras capable of detecting infrared light, each of the video cameras being configured to provide a sequence of images,

at least one infrared tag attached to at least one of the plurality of portable electronic devices for providing modulated infrared signals,

an image processing system configured to extract modulated infrared signals from the sequence of images and identify the spatial location of each of the infrared tags attached to the portable electronic devices, and

a communication module connected to the spatial localizing module for mediating wireless communication between a first portable electronic device and those members of the plurality of portable electronic devices in a user defined spatial location.

6. A method for transferring digital information to spatially localizable electronic devices, the method comprising the steps of

determining spatial location of each of a plurality of electronic devices with an image processing system,

selecting a user defined spatial region for communicating with the plurality of electronic devices, and

facilitating wireless communication between a first portable electronic device and those members of the plurality of portable electronic devices in the user defined spatial region.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of selecting a user defined spatial region further comprises the step of selecting an adjacent electronic device for communication with a user held first portable electronic device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of selecting a user defined spatial region further comprises the step of selecting at least one room containing at least some of the plurality of electronic devices for communication with a user held first portable electronic device.

9. A system for precisely locating electronic devices with attached identification tags comprises

at least two video cameras, with each video camera configured to provide a sequence of images at a first frame rate,

an identification tag attached to an electronic device for providing a series of spaced apart signals at a second frame rate defined to be less than the first frame rate, with the signals being perceptible by the video camera,

an image processing system configured to extract the three dimensional spatial location of the identification tag from the sequence of images.