Context-related arrangements

• US 8,868,039 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/651,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20140106710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 4554121- 2, 455/414.1, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/77 Graphical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

In one arrangement, a first device presents a display that is based on context data, derived from one or more of its sensors. This display is imaged by a camera in a second device. The second device uses context data from its own sensors to assess the information in the captured imagery, and makes a determination about the first device. In another arrangement, social network friend requests are automatically issued, or accepted, based on contextual similarity. In yet another arrangement, delivery of a message is triggered by a contextual circumstance other than (or in addition to) location. In still another arrangement, two or more devices automatically establish an ad hoc network (e.g., Bluetooth pairing) based on contextual parallels. In still another arrangement, historical context information is archived and used in transactions with other devices, e.g., in challenge-response authentication. A great number of other features and arrangements—many involving head-mounted displays—are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method employing a first device, comprising the acts:

using one or more sensors in said first device obtaining one or more context parameters selected from the list;

information based on visual stimulus recently sensed by the first device;

sensed radio transmissions;

sensed RFID data;

orientation sensor data;

magnetometer data;

audio classification data, received from a logical sensor fed by information both from an audio sensor and another sensor in said first device;

activity classification data; and

barometric sensor data;

generating an image based, at least in part, on said obtained parameter(s); and

presenting the image, for sensing by a camera of a second device, to authenticate a transaction, in which the generating act comprises encrypting a first of said obtained context parameters with a private key associated (a) with the first device, or (b) with a user of the first device, and representing the encrypted first context parameter as a barcode or digital watermark in the image.

2. The method of claim 1 that includes generating the image based, at least in part, on a parameter obtained from a logical sensor, the logical sensor fed by information from plural different sensors in said first device.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the generating includes generating said image based, at least in part, on two or more of said obtained parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the generating includes generating said image based, at least in part, on three or more of said obtained parameters.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the generating includes encoding information based on said obtained parameter(s) in image form.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the generating includes digitally watermarking imagery to convey information based on said obtained parameter(s).

7. The method of claim 1 in which the generating comprises generating an image based, at least in part, on said audio classification data.

8. The method of claim 1 in which generating an image includes encoding first data in said image based on the obtained parameter.

9. The method of claim 8 that further includes encrypting said first data in accordance with a private key associated with the first device.

10. The method of claim 1 that further includes sensing the presented image using the camera of the second device, and authenticating the transaction through use of information conveyed by the sensed image.

11. The method of claim 1 that further includes:

with a camera of the first device, sensing a barcode or watermark image presented by the second device, said image encoding an encrypted payload based on a context parameter from said list that was sensed by the second device;

with a hardware processor in the first device, decrypting said payload using a public key associated (a) with the second device, or (b) with a user of the second device, to thereby obtain the context parameter from said list that was sensed by the second device;

determining if said obtained context parameter that was sensed by the second device matches said context parameter obtained using the first device; and

taking an action based on a result of said determining.

12. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a first device, cause the first device to perform operations comprising:

obtaining, from one or more sensors in the first device one or more context parameters selected from the list;

sensed radio transmissions;

sensed RFID data;

orientation sensor data;

magnetometer data;

audio classification data, received from a logical sensor fed by information both from an audio sensor and another sensor in said first device;

activity classification data; and

barometric sensor data;

generating an image based, at least in part, on said obtained parameter(s); and

presenting the image, for sensing by a camera of a second device, to authenticate a transaction, in which said generating operation comprises encrypting a first of said obtained context parameters with a private key associated (a) with the first device, or (b) with a user of the first device, and representing the encrypted first context parameter as a barcode or digital watermark in the image.

13. The article of claim 12 in which said computer-readable medium stores further instructions that, if executed by the first device, cause the first device to perform operations comprising:

with a camera of the first device, sensing a barcode or watermark image presented by the second device, said image encoding an encrypted payload based on a context parameter from said list that was sensed by the second device;

decrypting said payload using a public key associated (a) with the second device, or (b) with a user of the second device, to thereby obtain the context parameter from said list that was sensed by the second device;

determining if said obtained context parameter that was sensed by the second device matches said context parameter obtained using the first device; and

taking an action based on a result of said determining.

14. A first device including a display, a processor, one or more sensors, and a memory, the memory containing instructions that configure the device to perform a method that includes:

obtaining from said sensors one or more context parameters selected from the list;

(a) sensed radio transmissions;

(b) sensed RFID data;

(c) orientation sensor data;

(d) magnetometer data;

(e) audio classification data, received from a logical sensor fed by information both from an audio sensor and another sensor in said first device;

(f) activity classification data; and

(g) barometric sensor data;

generating an image based, at least in part, on said obtained parameter(s); and

presenting the image, for sensing by a camera of a second device, to authenticate a transaction, in which said generating operation comprises encrypting a first of said obtained context parameters with a private key associated (a) with the first device, or (b) with a user of the first device, and representing the encrypted first context parameter as a barcode or digital watermark in the image.

15. The device of claim 14 in which said generating comprises generating an image based, at least in part, on context parameter (a) from said list.

16. The device of claim 15 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on one or more of context parameters (b)-(g) from said list.

17. The device of claim 15 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on two or more of context parameters (b)-(g) from said list.

18. The device of claim 14 in which said generating comprises generating an image based, at least in part, on context parameter (b) from said list.

19. The device of claim 18 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on one or more of context parameters (a), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) from said list.

20. The device of claim 18 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on two or more of context parameters (a), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) from said list.

21. The device of claim 14 in which said generating comprises generating an image based, at least in part, on context parameter (e) from said list.

22. The device of claim 21 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on one or more of context parameters (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), or (g) from said list.

23. The device of claim 21 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on two or more of context parameters (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), or (g) from said list.

24. The device of claim 14 in which said generating comprises generating an image based, at least in part, on context parameter (f) from said list.

25. The device of claim 24 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on one or more of context parameters (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (g) from said list.

26. The device of claim 24 in which said generating comprises generating an image based also on two or more of context parameters (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (g) from said list.

27. The device of claim 14 in which said instructions configure the device to perform further acts including:

with a camera of the first device, sensing a barcode or watermark image presented by the second device, said image encoding an encrypted payload based on a context parameter from said list that was sensed by the second device;

decrypting said payload using a public key associated (a) with the second device, or (b) with a user of the second device, to thereby obtain the context parameter from said list that was sensed by the second device;

determining if said obtained context parameter that was sensed by the second device matches said context parameter obtained using the first device; and

taking an action based on a result of said determining.