Context-based smartphone sensor logic
First Claim
1. A portable user device including an image or sound sensor, a processor, and a memory, the memory containing software instructions causing the device to perform a method that includes:
- applying a first classification procedure to information received by said image or sound sensor, to identify a type of said received image or sound information from among plural possible types;
applying a second classification procedure to received second information, to identify a scenario, from among plural possible scenarios, the identified scenario comprising the confluence of at least three circumstances, the received second information being different than said received image or sound information; and
activating one or more of plural recognition modules based on outputs from the first and second classification procedures, and not activating one or more other of said plural recognition modules;
wherein the identified scenario comprises the confluence of at least three circumstances selected from the list consisting of;
information from a first camera of said portable user device, information from a second camera of said portable user device, social networking information, and information about a person in proximity to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods employ sensors in portable devices (e.g., smartphones) both to sense content information (e.g., audio and imagery) and context information. Device processing is desirably dependent on both. For example, some embodiments activate certain processor intensive operations (e.g., content recognition) based on classification of sensed content and context. The context can control the location where information produced from such operations is stored, or control an alert signal indicating, e.g., that sensed speech is being transcribed. Some arrangements post sensor data collected by one device to a cloud repository, for access and processing by other devices. Multiple devices can collaborate in collecting and processing data, to exploit advantages each may have (e.g., in location, processing ability, social network resources, etc.). A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.
50 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A portable user device including an image or sound sensor, a processor, and a memory, the memory containing software instructions causing the device to perform a method that includes:
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applying a first classification procedure to information received by said image or sound sensor, to identify a type of said received image or sound information from among plural possible types; applying a second classification procedure to received second information, to identify a scenario, from among plural possible scenarios, the identified scenario comprising the confluence of at least three circumstances, the received second information being different than said received image or sound information; and activating one or more of plural recognition modules based on outputs from the first and second classification procedures, and not activating one or more other of said plural recognition modules; wherein the identified scenario comprises the confluence of at least three circumstances selected from the list consisting of;
information from a first camera of said portable user device, information from a second camera of said portable user device, social networking information, and information about a person in proximity to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method involving plural different recognition modules and a portable user device, the method comprising the acts:
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applying a first classification procedure to received audio and/or visual information, to identify a type of said received audio and/or visual information from among plural possible types; applying a second classification procedure to received second information, to identify a scenario, from among plural possible scenarios, the identified scenario comprising the confluence of at least three circumstances, the received second information being different than said received audio and/or visual information; and activating one or more of said recognition modules based on outputs from the first and second classification procedures, and not activating one or more other of said recognition modules; wherein at least one of said acts is performed by hardware in said portable user device configured to perform such act(s); and wherein the identified scenario comprises the confluence of at least three circumstances selected from the list consisting of;
information from a first camera of said portable user device, information from a second camera of said portable user device, social networking information, and information about a person in proximity to the user. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for improving the functioning of a battery-powered portable device, said device including a camera and plural different recognition modules, the method comprising the acts:
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applying a classification procedure to received visual information, to identify a type of said received visual information from among plural possible types; identifying a scenario, from among plural possible scenarios, the identified scenario being based on received second information and comprising the confluence of at least three circumstances, the received second information being different than said received visual information; and activating one or more of said plural recognition modules based both on said identified type of received visual information and on said identified scenario, and not activating one or more other of said plural recognition modules; wherein at least one of said acts is performed by hardware configured to perform such act(s); and wherein battery power is conserved, and execution of other device operations is aided, by not attempting operations that are unneeded or inappropriate in view said identified scenario. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A portable device comprising:
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an image sensor; a processor; a battery; plural different recognition modules; and hardware defining software instructions, which software instructions configure the device to perform acts including; applying a classification procedure to received visual information, to identify a type of said received visual information from among plural possible types; identifying a scenario, from among plural possible scenarios, the identified scenario being based on received second information and comprising the confluence of at least three circumstances, the received second information being different than said received visual information; and activating one or more of said plural recognition modules based both on said identified type of received visual information and on said identified scenario, and not activating one or more other of said plural recognition modules; wherein said device saves battery power, and aids execution of other device operations, by not attempting operations that are unneeded or inappropriate in view of said identified scenario.
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Specification