Using sensors to identify objects placed on a surface

• US 8,228,170 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Do, Lydia M., Nesbitt, Pamela A., Seacat, Lisa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US11/971,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20090179734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/7.54
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes

Abstract

Mechanisms are provided for identifying an object placed on a clear surface. An indication is received that an object has been placed on the surface. A plurality of physical characteristics are identified that are associated with the object. Using the plurality of physical characteristics, a data structure is searched to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics. Responsive to a match, a determination is made as to whether the single object has an associated presentation. Responsive to an existence of the associated presentation, the associated presentation is presented to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed.

Claims

1. A method for identifying an object placed on a clear surface, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that the object has been placed on the clear surface;

identifying a plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object;

using the plurality of physical characteristics, searching a data structure to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to a match, determining whether the single object has an associated presentation;

responsive to an existence of the associated presentation, presenting the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed;

determining whether at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object has changed from previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object; and

responsive to a change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object from the previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object, sending an indication to another user with an identification of the single object and the change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics from previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a failure to identify the single object, searching the data structure to determine the existence of one or more objects with physical characteristics within a tolerance of the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to identifying the one or more objects, prompting the user to identify the object from a list of the one or more objects;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determining whether the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, presenting the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

responsive to a failure to identify the one or more objects, prompting the user to identify the object;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determining whether the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, presenting the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing the identification of the object and the plurality of physical characteristics in the data structure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise temperature and at least one of weight, area, geometric shape, or characteristic markings.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least two from the set of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, and characteristic markings.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sensors that identify the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object are beneath the clear surface.

7. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed in a data processing system, causes the data processing system to:

receive an indication that an object has been placed on a clear surface;

identify a plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object;

using the plurality of physical characteristics, search a data structure to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to a match, determine whether the single object has an associated presentation;

responsive to an existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed;

determine whether at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object has changed from previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object; and

responsive to a change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object from the previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object, send an indication to another user with an identification of the single object and the change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics from the previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

responsive to a failure to identify the single object, search the data structure to determine the existence of one or more objects with physical characteristics within a tolerance of the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to identifying the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object from a list of the one or more objects;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine whether the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

responsive to a failure to identify the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine whether the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

store the identification of the object and the plurality of physical characteristics in the data structure.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise temperature and at least one of weight, area, geometric shape, or characteristic markings.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least two from the set of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, and characteristic markings.

20. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein a plurality of sensors that identify the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object are beneath the clear surface.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive an indication that an object has been placed on a clear surface;

identify a plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object;

using the plurality of physical characteristics, search a data structure to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to a match, determine whether the single object has an associated presentation;

responsive to an existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed;

determine whether at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object has changed from previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object; and

responsive to a change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object from the previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object, send an indication to another user with an identification of the single object and the plurality of physical characteristics from the previously identified physical characteristics associated with the single object.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

responsive to a failure to identify the single object, search the data structure to determine the existence of one or more objects with physical characteristics within a tolerance of the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to identifying the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object from a list of the one or more objects;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine whether the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

responsive to a failure to identify the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine whether the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user through the clear surface on which the object has been placed.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

store the identification of the object and the plurality of physical characteristics in the data structure.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise temperature and at least one of weight, area, geometric shape, or characteristic markings.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least two from the set of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, and characteristic markings.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein a plurality of sensors that identify the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object are beneath the clear surface.