Physical object search

• US 8,825,368 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rakshit, Sarbajit K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): TESTARDI, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/476,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 701/302, 701/400, 340/539.25, 340/539.32
• US Class Current: 701/302
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes

Abstract

A method and system for searching for items is provided. The method includes receiving, from a user, description data describing search requirements associated with a requested physical object to be located. Locations of the user are monitored and a request to locate the physical object is transmitted to video data retrieval devices. In response, video data associated with associated physical objects and location data for associated locations are retrieved. Distances and relative velocities between current locations of the user and each location of each physical object are calculated. In response, recommendations associated with traveling to view each physical object are generated and presented to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor of a remote computing system from a mobile user via a mobile device, description data describing search requirements associated with a requested physical object to be located;

generating, by said computer processor, a request associated with a real time search for said requested physical object associated with said description data;

monitoring, by said computer processor, current locations of said mobile user;

transmitting, by said computer processor, said request to a plurality of video data retrieval devices, wherein each video data retrieval device is located in a different location;

receiving, by said computer processor in response to said request from said plurality of video data retrieval devices, video data associated with a plurality of physical objects associated with said requested physical object;

receiving, by said computer processor, location data associated with an object location for each physical object of said plurality of physical objects;

calculating, by said computer processor, distances between said current locations of said mobile user and each said object location for each said physical object;

calculating, by said computer processor, a relative velocity between said mobile user and each said physical object;

first determining, by said computer processor based on each said relative velocity, that a first group of physical objects of said plurality of physical objects are moving away from said mobile user;

second determining, by said computer processor based on each said relative velocity, that a second group of physical objects of said plurality of physical objects are moving towards said mobile user, wherein said generating said recommendations are further based on said first determining and said second determining;

generating, by said computer processor based on said first determining, said second determining, each distance of said distances, and each said relative velocity, recommendations associated with traveling to view each said physical object; and

presenting, by said computer processor to said mobile user, said recommendations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating said recommendations comprises:

calculating an intersection location between said mobile user and each said physical object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating said recommendations further comprises:

calculating, for said mobile user, a time of arrival to each said intersection location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by said computer processor from said mobile user, destination data indicating a requested destination for said mobile user; and

identifying, by said computer processor, a current route of travel for said mobile user, wherein said current route of travel is associated with said requested destination, wherein said generating said recommendations are further based on said destination data and said current route of travel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing, by said computer processor, a historic pattern of said mobile user'"'"'s movement; and

determining, by said computer processor based results of said analyzing, a target location associated with a destination of said mobile user, wherein said generating said recommendations are further based on said target location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating said recommendations comprises:

determining a route change for said mobile user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating said recommendations comprises:

determining a change to a speed of travel for said mobile user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said description data comprises video images.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said description data comprises text data.

10. A process for supporting computing infrastructure, the process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computer comprising a processor, wherein the processor carries out instructions contained in the code causing the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a remote computing system implements a method, said method comprising:

receiving, by said computer processor from a mobile user via a mobile device, description data describing search requirements associated with a requested physical object to be located;

generating, by said computer processor, a request associated with a real time search for said requested physical object associated with said description data;

monitoring, by said computer processor, current locations of said mobile user;

transmitting, by said computer processor, said request to a plurality of video data retrieval devices, wherein each video data retrieval device is located in a different location;

receiving, by said computer processor in response to said request from said plurality of video data retrieval devices, video data associated with a plurality of physical objects associated with said requested physical object;

receiving, by said computer processor, location data associated with an object location for each physical object of said plurality of physical objects;

calculating, by said computer processor, distances between said current locations of said mobile user and each said object location for each said physical object;

calculating, by said computer processor, a relative velocity between said mobile user and each said physical object;

first determining, by said computer processor based on each said relative velocity, that a first group of physical objects of said plurality of physical objects are moving away from said mobile user;

second determining, by said computer processor based on each said relative velocity, that a second group of physical objects of said plurality of physical objects are moving towards said mobile user, wherein said generating said recommendations are further based on said first determining and said second determining;

generating, by said computer processor based on said first determining, said second determining, each distance of said distances, and each said relative velocity, recommendations associated with traveling to view each said physical object; and

presenting, by said computer processor to said mobile user, said recommendations.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said generating said recommendations comprises:

calculating an intersection location between said mobile user and each said physical object.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said generating said recommendations further comprises:

calculating, for said mobile user, a time of arrival to each said intersection location.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said computer processor from said mobile user, destination data indicating a requested destination for said mobile user; and

identifying, by said computer processor, a current route of travel for said mobile user, wherein said current route of travel is associated with said requested destination, wherein said generating said recommendations are further based on said destination data and said current route of travel.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

analyzing, by said computer processor, a historic pattern of said mobile user'"'"'s movement; and

determining, by said computer processor based results of said analyzing, a target location associated with a destination of said mobile user, wherein said generating said recommendations are further based on said target location.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said generating said recommendations comprises:

determining a route change for said mobile user.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said generating said recommendations comprises:

determining a change to a speed of travel for said mobile user.

18. A computer system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor of a remote computing system implements a method comprising:

receiving, by said computer processor from a mobile user via a mobile device, description data describing search requirements associated with a requested physical object to be located;

generating, by said computer processor, a request associated with a real time search for said requested physical object associated with said description data;

monitoring, by said computer processor, current locations of said mobile user;

transmitting, by said computer processor, said request to a plurality of video data retrieval devices, wherein each video data retrieval device is located in a different location;

receiving, by said computer processor in response to said request from said plurality of video data retrieval devices, video data associated with a plurality of physical objects associated with said requested physical object;

receiving, by said computer processor, location data associated with an object location for each physical object of said plurality of physical objects;

calculating, by said computer processor, distances between said current locations of said mobile user and each said object location for each said physical object;

calculating, by said computer processor, a relative velocity between said mobile user and each said physical object;

first determining, by said computer processor based on each said relative velocity, that a first group of physical objects of said plurality of physical objects are moving away from said mobile user;

second determining, by said computer processor based on each said relative velocity, that a second group of physical objects of said plurality of physical objects are moving towards said mobile user, wherein said generating said recommendations are further based on said first determining and said second determining;

generating, by said computer processor based on said first determining, said second determining, each distance of said distances, and each said relative velocity, recommendations associated with traveling to view each said physical object; and

presenting, by said computer processor to said mobile user, said recommendations.