Apparatus and method for finding a misplaced object using a database and instructions generated by a portable device

• US 7,986,230 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 2, LLC
• Original Assignee: TrackThings LLC
• Inventors: Gabara, Constance
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/559,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20080112591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.32, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.25
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/255 Detecting or recognising potential candidate objects based on visual cues, e.g. shapes

Abstract

The basic invention uses a portable device that can contain a camera, a database, and a text, voice or visual entry to control the storage of an image and its location into a database. The database can be distributed over several memory arrays in different devices. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio data. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target if the user does not recall the current location. The user'"'"'s commands can be issued verbally, textually or by scrolling through the target images in the database until the desired one is found. This target can be shoes, pink sneakers, a toy or some comparable items, etc. that the user desires to find.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a user of a portable device to find an object comprising the steps of:

searching a database for an absolute location of the object;

determining a current location of the user;

determining an absolute position of the object;

mapping a path from the current location to the absolute position; and

issuing directions for the user of the portable device to move along the path;

thereby

allowing the user to find the object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of moving the device to scan additional images;

and

combining the additional images with a previous image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the directions are displayed on a display screen of the portable device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the directions are audibly emitted from the portable device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

a current position of the object is determined by a recognition algorithm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the absolute position of the object is determined by a recognition algorithm.

7. A portable device allowing a user to find a target comprising:

a database containing a plurality of objects each with an absolute position;

a current location of the user is determined from the database;

the target is selected from the plurality of objects;

a path mapped from the current location to the target; and

the user of the portable device moves along the path, thereby

allowing the user to find the target.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, whereby

the portable device is moved to scan additional images and

the additional images are combined with images scanned at an earlier time.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising

a recognition algorithm determining the absolute position of the plurality of objects.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein

a current absolute position of at least one object is compared to its previous absolute position that was stored in the database at an earlier date.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein

a difference in comparison updates the object in the database from the previous absolute position to the current absolute position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the database is shared with other users.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein

the directions are provided audibly, visually or both audibly and visually by the portable device.

14. A portable device allowing a user to find a target comprising:

a database containing absolute positions and corresponding images of objects;

the absolute position of the target is selected from the database;

a current location of the user is determined by scanning a surrounding area and matching images of objects to images in the database that were scanned at an earlier time;

a path mapped from the current location to the absolute position of the target; and

the user of the portable device moves along the path;

thereby

allowing the user to find the target.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, whereby

a new image scanned by the moving portable device and

the new image is combined with previous images.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising

a recognition algorithm determining the absolute position of the target.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein

a current absolute position of at least one object is compared to its previous absolute position that was stored in the database at an earlier date.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein

a difference in comparison transfers the object in the database from the previous absolute position to the current absolute position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein

the database is shared with other users.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein

the directions are provided audibly, visually or both audibly and visually by the portable device.