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

• US 8,410,927 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• 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:
  US13/480,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20120230544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.32, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.25, 382/199, 348/143, 348/231.3, 348/231.5, 348/239
• 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 into a database. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target that the user does not recall its 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 that the user needs to find.

Claims

1. A portable device apparatus comprising:

a database storing desired objects;

a camera that scans a region of space producing a first image;

the camera is moved to scan an adjacent region of space to produce additional images;

all of the images are stored in the database;

the first and the additional images are combined together forming a composite image; and

a recognition unit that matches objects within the composite image to the desired objects, thereby forming matched objects, wherein

the database can be distributed over different physically distinct memories, wherein

each memory can be individually queried, wherein

a latest timestamp on the matched objects in the queried database indicates a current location of the matched object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

a location of the matched objects can be determined.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the location of the matched objects are updated in the database if these objects are moved.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

a search engine can be used to locate the matched object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a continuous scan of the regions of space.

6. A method of locating positions of desired objects in an image comprising the steps of:

storing the desired objects into a database;

scanning the image using a camera in a portable device;

storing the image into the database;

comparing portions of the image on a display screen of the portable device with a search and recognition algorithm;

identifying at least one desired object within the image;

locating the position of the desired object in the image;

embedding the portable device in a pair of glasses;

viewing an environment to obtain other images; and

continuously updating the database with the other images.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

moving the portable device to scan additional images; and

combining the image with the additional images into a composite image.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

storing the additional images into memory.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

continuously scanning the composite image.

10. A portable device apparatus comprising:

a database storing desired objects;

a camera that scans a region of space producing a first image;

the camera is moved to scan an adjacent region of space to produce additional images;

all of the images are stored in the database;

the first and the additional images are combined together forming a composite image;

a recognition unit that matches objects within the composite image to the desired objects, thereby forming matched objects; and

a textual, visual, colored screen, or audio instruction generated by the device to aid in locating the matched object.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein

the database can be distributed over different physically distinct memories, wherein

each memory can be individually queried.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein

a location of the matched object can be determined.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein

the location of the matched objects are updated in the database if these objects are moved.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein

a search engine can be used to locate the matched object.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

the portable device embedded in a pair of glasses that views an environment to obtain other images and updates the database with the other images.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a continuous scan of the regions of space.

17. A portable device apparatus comprising:

a database storing desired objects;

a camera that scans a region of space producing a first image;

the camera is moved to scan an adjacent region of space to produce additional images;

all of the images are stored in the database;

the first and the additional images are combined together forming a composite image;

a recognition unit that matches objects within the composite image to the desired objects, thereby forming matched objects; and

the portable device embedded in a pair of glasses that views an environment to obtain other images and updates the database with the other images.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein

a location of the matched objects can be determined.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein

the location of the objects are updated in the database if these objects are moved.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein

the database can be distributed over different physically distinct memories, wherein each memory can be individually queried.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein

a search engine can be used to locate the matched object.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a continuous scan of the regions of space.

23. A portable device apparatus comprising:

a database containing stored objects;

a camera scrolls an image of region of space on a display screen;

a recognition unit matching an object in the image to one of the stored objects, whereby

the object is identified as one of the stored objects in the database forming a matched object; and

the portable device, embedded in a pair of glasses that views an environment to obtain other images and updates the database with the other images.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein

a location of the matched objects can be determined.