Using a display to select a target object for communication

• US 8,315,673 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gum, Arnold Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/685,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20110170787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 455/550.1, 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 701/214, 702/94, 702/95, 702/150, 702/152, 702/153, 348/231.3, 348/207.1, 348/222.1, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106, 382/190, 382/229
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/00 Scenes; Scene-specific elements control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to interacting with a target object using an imaging device of a handheld mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing an image from a mobile device comprising object images of a plurality of target objects;

displaying said captured image on a display device of said mobile device;

determining an approximate position of said mobile device;

obtaining information on a plurality of objects of interest whose locations are within a radius of the approximate position of the mobile device, wherein the number of objects of interest in the plurality is predefined, and wherein the size of the radius is based at least in part on a distance from the approximate position of said mobile device necessary to encompass the locations of the predefined number of objects;

identifying said plurality of target objects based at least in part on comparing the plurality of target objects to the information on the plurality of objects of interest;

receiving a selection of at least one of said plurality of target objects in said displayed captured image; and

initiating communication with said at least one selected target object responsive to said selection via said mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one of said target objects; and

acquiring information regarding said at least one identified selected target object.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying said information regarding said at least one identified selected target object in said display device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said information comprises a description of a mode of communication supported by said plurality of target objects.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said information is stored and/or indexed on an image-keyed database located on a communication network including a base station and/or transceiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

overlaying one or more labels on said displayed captured image; and

selecting said at least one selected target object based on a selection of said one or more labels.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said one or more labels respectively overlay said object images of said plurality of target objects.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an icon in said display device; and

navigating said icon to one of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image to select said one of said at least one of said target objects.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a selection indicator in said display device to indicate which of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image is currently selected;

toggling a position of said selection indicator among said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image; and

selecting one of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image based, at least in part, on said position of said selection indicator.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

resolving said captured image into said plurality of said target objects.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on signals comprising Near-Field Communication (NFC) signals, WiFi signals, Bluetooth signals, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) signals, Wide Area Network (WAN) signals, digital TV signals, and/or cell tower ID.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on acquisition of one or more satellite positioning system signals at the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on user input.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing one or more features of said captured image with one or more features of a plurality of stored images.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said comparing said one or more features of said captured image with one or more features of said plurality of stored images further comprises:

transmitting said captured image to a location comprising a memory that stores said plurality of stored images, wherein said location is remote from said mobile device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

designating at least one of said target objects to which to communicate based, at least in part, on a visual identification mark, visual indicator, screen pattern, and/or bar code or numerical designator.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for capturing an image from a mobile device comprising object images of a plurality of target objects;

means for displaying said captured image on a display device of said mobile device;

means for determining an approximate position of said mobile device;

means for obtaining information on a plurality of objects of interest whose locations are within a radius of the approximate position of the mobile device, wherein the number of objects of interest in the plurality is predefined, and wherein the size of the radius is based at least in part on a distance from the approximate position of said mobile device necessary to encompass the locations of the predefined number of objects;

means for identifying said plurality of target objects based at least in part on comparing the plurality of target objects to the information on the plurality of objects of interest;

means for receiving a selection of at least one of said plurality of target objects in said displayed captured image; and

means for initiating communication with said at least one selected target object responsive to said selection via said mobile device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for identifying at least one of said target objects; and

means for acquiring information regarding said at least one identified selected target object.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for displaying said information regarding said selected target object in said display device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for overlaying one or more labels on said displayed captured image; and

means for selecting said at least one selected target object based on a selection of said one or more labels.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said one or more labels respectively overlay said object images of said plurality of target objects.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for displaying an icon in said display device; and

means for navigating said icon to one of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image to select said one of said at least one of said target objects.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for displaying a selection indicator in said display device to indicate which of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image is currently selected;

means for toggling a position of said selection indicator among said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image; and

means for selecting one of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image based, at least in part, on said position of said selection indicator.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for resolving said captured image into said plurality of said target objects.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on signals comprising Near-Field Communication (NFC) signals, WiFi signals, Bluetooth signals, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) signals, Wide Area Network (WAN) signals, digital TV signals, and/or cell tower ID.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on acquisition of one or more satellite positioning system signals at the mobile device.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on user input.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for comparing one or more features of said captured image with one or more features of a plurality of stored images.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said means for comparing said one or more features of said captured image with one or more features of said plurality of stored images further comprises:

means for transmitting said captured image to a location comprising a memory that stores said plurality of stored images, wherein said location is remote from said mobile device.

30. A mobile device comprising:

an imaging device to capture an image of one or more target objects;

a display device to display said captured image;

a special purpose computing device adapted to;

determine an approximate position of said mobile device;

obtain information on a plurality of objects of interest whose locations are within a radius of the approximate position of the mobile device, wherein the number of objects of interest in the plurality is predefined, and wherein the size of the radius is based at least in part on a distance from the approximate position of said mobile device necessary to encompass the locations of the predefined number of objects;

identify said plurality of target objects based at least in part on comparing the plurality of target objects to the information on the plurality of objects of interest;

a user interface to receive a selection of at least one of said one or more target objects in said displayed captured image; and

the special purpose computing device further adapted to initiate communication with said at least one selected target object responsive to said selection via said mobile device.

31. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to:

overlay one or more labels on said displayed captured image; and

receive said selection of said at least one selected target object based on a selection of said one or more labels.

32. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein said one or more labels respectively overlay corresponding target objects among said one or more target objects.

33. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to compare one or more features of said at least one selected target object with one or more features of a plurality of stored images.

34. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to operate in an RF environment to compare said one or more features of said selected target object with one or more features of said plurality of stored images by transmitting an image of said selected target object to a location comprising a memory that stores said plurality of stored images, wherein said location is remote from said mobile device.

35. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to operate in an RF environment to determine said approximate position of said mobile device based, at least in part, on signals comprising Near-Field Communication (NFC) signals, WiFi signals, Bluetooth signals, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) signals, Wide Area Network (WAN) signals, digital TV signals, and/or cell tower ID.

36. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to operate in an RF environment to determine an approximate position of said mobile device based, at least in part, on acquisition of one or more satellite positioning system signals at the mobile device.

37. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to operate in an RF environment to determine an approximate position of said handheld mobile device based, at least in part, on user input.

38. A non-transitory article comprising:

a storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon that, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to;

capture an image from a mobile device comprising object images of a plurality of target objects;

display said captured image on a display device of said mobile device;

determine an approximate position of said mobile device;

obtain information on a plurality of objects of interest whose locations are within a radius of the approximate position of the mobile device, wherein the number of objects of interest in the plurality is predefined, and wherein the size of the radius is based at least in part on a minimum distance from the approximate position of said mobile device necessary to encompass the locations of the predefined number of objects;

identify said plurality of target objects based at least in part on comparing the plurality of target objects to the information on the plurality of objects of interest;

receive a selection of at least one of said plurality of target objects in said displayed captured image; and

initiate communication with said at least one selected target object responsive to said selection via said mobile device.

39. The article of claim 38, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

display information regarding said at least one selected target object in said display device.

40. The article of claim 38, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

identify at least one of said plurality of target objects; and

acquire information regarding said identified at least one target object.

41. The article of claim 38, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

overlay one or more labels on said displayed captured image; and

select said at least one selected target object based on a selection of said one or more labels.

42. The article of claim 41, wherein said one or more labels respectively overlay said object images of said plurality of target objects.

43. The article of claim 38, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

display an icon in said display device; and

navigate said icon to one of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image to select said one of said at least one of said target objects.

44. The article of claim 38, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

display a selection indicator in said display device to indicate which of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image is currently selected;

toggle a position of said selection indicator among said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image; and

select one of said at least one of said target objects in said displayed captured image based, at least in part, on said position of said selection indicator.

45. The article of claim 38, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

resolve said captured image into said plurality of said target objects.

46. The article of claim 38, wherein said determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on signals comprising Near-Field Communication (NFC) signals, WiFi signals, Bluetooth signals, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) signals, Wide Area Network (WAN) signals, digital TV signals, and/or cell tower ID.

47. The article of claim 38, wherein said determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on acquisition of one or more satellite positioning system signals at the mobile device.

48. The article of claim 38, wherein said determining said approximate position of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on user input.

49. The article of claim 38, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

compare one or more features of said captured image with one or more features of a plurality of stored images.

50. The article of claim 49, wherein said machine-readable instructions, in response to being executed by a special purpose computing device, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

transmit said captured image to a location comprising a memory that stores said plurality of stored images, wherein said location is remote from said mobile device.