OBJECT DETECTION FRAMEWORK FOR SET OF RELATED OBJECTS

• US 20080174425A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Torning, Kristian
• Granted Patent: US 7,817,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An object detection framework enables the definition of a set of related physical objects, and provides a corresponding ability to detect when one or more of the objects disassociates from the set. Object relationships within a set can be defined, and disassociation is detected when one or more of the object relationships no longer holds true, such as when one of the objects is no longer within a threshold proximity of the other objects of the set. Then, one or more responses, such as an alert, are automatically initiated in response to the disassociation. In various non-limiting implementations of the framework, each object of a related set is provisioned with the ability to any one or more of emit, detect and/or transmit detection information, process and/or store detection information, or initiate response(s) to detection information.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the disassociation of an object from a set of objects that are related independently of the location of the set, comprising:

receiving a definition of the set of objects, wherein the objects are related independently of the location of the set; and

automatically detecting when an object of the set of objects disassociates from the set including detecting when an object of the set of objects exceeds a pre-defined proximity from the set of objects.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating at least one signal in response to said detecting.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating includes, in response to said at least one signal, generating at least one of a sound, a lighting effect, a mechanical movement or a smell.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting the at least one signal to an application or service via a communications network for further action based on the at least one signal.

5. A plurality of integrated circuit components comprising means for carrying out the method of claim 1.

6. An object detection framework for application to a plurality of related physical objects enabling detection of when a physical object of the plurality of related physical objects exceeds a pre-defined separation from the plurality of related physical objects, comprising:

at least one detector component attached to at least one physical object of the set of related physical objects; and

a plurality of emitter components, wherein at least one emitter component is attached to each of the physical objects of the set of related physical objects not having at least one detector component;

wherein the plurality of emitter components emit proximity information to the at least one detector component, and wherein the at least one detector component generates at least one disassociation event signal when the at least one detector component determines that the proximity information emitted from any of the plurality of emitter components indicates that the physical object to which the emitter component is attached exceeds a threshold proximity from the other physical objects of the set.

7. The framework of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one transmitter component communicatively coupled to the at least one detector component for transmitting the at least one disassociation event signal to at least one application or service via a network.

8. The framework of claim 6, wherein the plurality of emitter components emit detection information to the at least one detector object via electronic, chemical or biological signals.

9. The framework of claim 6, wherein the at least one detector component is a parent component and the plurality of emitter components are child components, wherein the parent component is attached to a primary physical object of the set of related physical objects and the child components are attached to all other physical objects of the set of related physical objects, whereby the parent component detects when a child component exceeds a pre-defined distance based on a strength of the proximity information emitted by the child component.

10. The framework of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one responder component communicatively coupled to the at least one detector component for initiating a sensory alert in response to the at least one disassociation event signal, wherein the sensory alert includes at least one of a sound, a light, a smell or a vibration.

11. The framework of claim 6, wherein the plurality of emitter components include any of a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, a wireless communications integrated circuit, a biological composition, or a chemical composition.

12. The framework of claim 6, wherein the at least one detector component includes any of a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, a wireless communications integrated circuit, a biological composition detector, or a chemical composition detector.

13. A method for detecting the disassociation of an object from a set of related objects, comprising:

defining a set of related objects independent of physical location of the set by applying at least one of an emitter object and a detector object on each of the objects of the set; and

automatically detecting when an object of the set of related objects disassociates from the set of related objects.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said defining includes defining structural information about the object relationships in the set.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said defining includes defining a set of equally related objects.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said defining includes defining at least one subset of the set of related objects.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said defining includes defining at least one priority for an object of the set of related objects.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said defining includes defining hierarchical object relationships for the set of related objects.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising, generating a notification to a user near the set of related objects to notify the user of the disassociation.

20. A system including a plurality of markers and a detector comprising means for carrying out the method of claim 13.