Information processing apparatus, and method

• US 9,992,851 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oka, Takeshi, Nakanishi, Yoshihiro, Fukuma, Yohei, Hamada, Kazunori, Kawaguchi, Kenji, Kawauchi, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chai, Raymond R
• Application Number:
  US14/364,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20140333211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0008 Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724095 Worn on the wrist, hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present technique relates to an information processing apparatus and a method capable of realizing a communication tool of a new mode.

An LED emits light according to a light emission pattern identified based on a set of light emission parameters indicating characteristics of light emission. An action control unit controls the light emission pattern of the LED based on a relationship between the self apparatus and a group to which the self apparatus and at least one other information processing apparatus including the LED belong, or a relationship between the other information processing apparatus and the self apparatus belonging to the group. The present technique may be applied to an information processing apparatus used as a communication tool.

Claims

1. A first information processing apparatus, comprising:

a first light emission unit configured to emit light based on a light emission pattern, wherein the light emission pattern is identified based on a set of light emission parameters indicating characteristics of light emission;

a control unit configured to;

control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on one of a first relationship between the first information processing apparatus and a group to which the first information processing apparatus and at least one second information processing apparatus belong, or a second relationship between the at least one second information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus belonging to the group, wherein the at least one second information processing apparatus includes a second light emission unit, and

control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on an influence of an external object other than the group;

a communication control unit configured to control wireless communication with the at least one second information processing apparatus;

a sensor configured to detect a change in a physical quantity caused by a motion of a first user; and

an excitement determination unit configured to determine a degree of excitement of the first user based on the detected change,

wherein the external object is an imaging apparatus that captures a plurality of users of the first information processing apparatus and the at least one second information processing apparatus belonging to the group, and

wherein, based on a determination that the degree of excitement determined by the excitement determination unit is at or above a threshold, the communication control unit is configured to transmit a request to the imaging apparatus to start an image capture such that the image capture by the imaging apparatus is started with a second user of the first information processing apparatus taken as an image capturing target.

2. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit is further configured to control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on a third relationship identified based on a result of control by the communication control unit.

3. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration unit configured to vibrate based on a vibration pattern, wherein the vibration pattern is identified based on a set of vibration parameters indicating characteristics of vibration,

wherein the control unit is further configured to control the vibration pattern of the vibration unit based on a third relationship.

4. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a distance calculation unit configured to calculate, as the external object, based on a determination that each of the plurality of users of the first information processing apparatus and the at least one second information processing apparatus belonging to the group gathers at a determined location, a distance between the determined location and a current location of the first information processing apparatus,

wherein the communication control unit is further configured to identify, as the third relationship, a number of information processing apparatuses present within a specific range, based on position information of the at least one second information processing apparatus, and

wherein the control unit is further configured to control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit to change based on the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit and the number identified by the communication control unit.

5. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the communication control unit is further configured to control wireless communication with the external object, and

wherein the control unit is further configured to control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on a result of the wireless communication with the external object based on control by the communication control unit.

6. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the communication control unit is further configured to transmit the degree of excitement to the at least one second information processing apparatus, and to receive the degree of excitement of at least one user of the at least one second information processing apparatus, and

wherein the control unit is further configured to control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on a fourth relationship indicated by the degree of excitement of at least one of the first information processing apparatus and the at least one second information processing apparatus.

7. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the control unit is further configured to:

take a first condition that the group to which the first information processing apparatus belongs is made a target by the external object based on a detection result of a sensor unit of the external object, and

control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on a determination that the first condition for the influence of the external object and a second condition related to the fourth relationship are satisfied.

8. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second condition related to the fourth relationship is a condition that the degree of excitement of the first information processing apparatus is highest among the group.

9. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the communication control unit is further configured to receive information indicating that the image capture is started by the imaging apparatus based on the request for the start of the image capture from the first information processing apparatus, and

wherein the control unit is further configured to control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on the information received by the communication control unit.

10. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the excitement determination unit is further configured to determine the degree of excitement based on information, generated based on a detection result of the sensor, indicating a degree of relatedness or a degree of difference regarding synchronicity of motions of bodies or parts of bodies of the plurality of users.

11. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the imaging apparatus further captures a location where the group exists, and

acquires an image capturing result that shows the second user of the first information processing apparatus or of the at least one second information processing apparatus belonging to the group in a determined time slot, from a plurality of image capturing results of the imaging apparatus, and

wherein the communication control unit is further configured to transmit as acquisition information, to an external apparatus, a time based on a determination that the degree of excitement determined by the excitement determination unit has reached or exceeded the threshold, wherein the acquisition information is used at a time the image capturing result is acquired, wherein the image capturing result shows the second user of the first information processing apparatus.

12. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the communication control unit is further configured to transmit a position of the first information processing apparatus to the external apparatus as the acquisition information.

13. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the communication control unit is further configured to transmit an identifier (ID) of the first information processing apparatus to the external apparatus as the acquisition information.

14. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the communication control unit is further configured to receive information that enables identification of the light emission pattern of the second light emission unit of the at least one second information processing apparatus belonging to the group, and

wherein the control unit is further configured to control the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on the light emission pattern identified by the information that enables the identification of the light emission pattern received by the communication control unit.

15. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first information processing apparatus includes a ring-shaped portion wearable on an arm of the first user, and

wherein the ring-shaped portion includes a joining portion configured to release or connect a part of the ring-shaped portion.

16. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the joining portion includes a magnet and an attraction plate configured to connect the part of the ring-shaped portion.

17. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the joining portion is further configured to connect the part of the ring-shaped portion by elastic deformation of a material of the ring-shaped portion.

18. The first information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the characteristics of light emission indicate an amount of light emitted from the first light emission unit of the first information processing apparatus, and

wherein the amount of light emitted increases based on a distance between the first information processing apparatus and the at least one second information processing apparatus that is below a determined threshold.

19. An information processing method, comprising:

in a first information processing apparatus including a first light emission unit;

emitting light based on a light emission pattern of the first light emission unit, wherein the light emission pattern is identified based a set of light emission patterns indicating characteristics of light emission; and

controlling the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on a first relationship between the first information processing apparatus and a group to which the first information processing apparatus and at least one second information processing apparatus including a second light emission unit belong, or a second relationship between the at least one second information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus belonging to the group;

controlling the light emission pattern of the first light emission unit based on an influence of an external object other than the group;

controlling wireless communication with the at least one second information processing apparatus;

detecting a change in a physical quantity caused by a motion of a first user;

determining a degree of excitement of the first user based on the detected change,

wherein the external object is an imaging apparatus that captures a plurality of users of the first information processing apparatus and the at least one second information processing apparatus belonging to the group; and

based on the determination that the degree of excitement is at or above a threshold, transmitting a request to the imaging apparatus to start image capture such that the image capture by the imaging apparatus is started taking a second user of the first information processing apparatus as an image capturing target.