SYSTEM AND METHOD TO USE SENSORS TO IDENTIFY OBJECTS PLACED ON A SURFACE

• US 20090179734A1
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seacat, Lisa A., Do, Lydia M., Nesbitt, Pamela A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are provided for identifying an object placed on a surface. An indication is received that an object has been placed on the surface. A plurality of physical characteristics are identified that are associated with the object. Using the plurality of physical characteristics, a data structure is searched to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics. Responsive to a match, a determination is made as to whether the single object has an associated presentation. Responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, the associated presentation is presented to a user.

Claims

1. A method for identifying an object placed on a surface, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that the object has been placed on the surface;

identifying a plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object;

using the plurality of physical characteristics, searching a data structure to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to a match, determining if the single object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, presenting the associated presentation to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

responsive to a failure to identify the single object, searching the data structure to determine the existence of one or more objects with physical characteristics within a tolerance of the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to identifying the one or more objects, prompting the user to identify the object from a list of the one or more objects;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determining if the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, presenting the associated presentation to a user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising;

responsive to a failure to identify the one or more objects, prompting the user to identify the object;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determining if the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, presenting the associated presentation to a user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing the identification of the object and the plurality of physical characteristics in the data structure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the plurality of physical characteristics, searching the data structure to determine the existence of the single object based on physical characteristics associated with another object;

responsive to a match of physical characteristics of the single object based on the physical characteristics associated with the another object, determining if the single object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of an associated presentation, presenting the associated presentation to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object has changed; and

responsive to a change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object, sending an indication to another user with an identification of the single object and the change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least one of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, or characteristic markings.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least two from the set of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, and characteristic markings.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed in a data processing system, causes the data processing system to:

receive an indication that an object has been placed on the surface;

identify a plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object;

using the plurality of physical characteristics, search a data structure to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to a match, determine if the single object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

responsive to a failure to identify the single object, search the data structure to determine the existence of one or more objects with physical characteristics within a tolerance of the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to identifying the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object from a list of the one or more objects;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine if the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

responsive to a failure to identify the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine if the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

store the identification of the object and the plurality of physical characteristics in the data structure.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

using the plurality of physical characteristics, search the data structure to determine the existence of the single object based on physical characteristics associated with another object;

responsive to a match of the characteristics of the single object based on the physical characteristics associated with the another object, determine if the single object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of an associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program further causes the data processing system to:

determine if at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object has changed; and

responsive to a change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics associated with the single object, send an indication to another user with an identification of the single object and the change in the at least one of the plurality of physical characteristics.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least one of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, or characteristic markings.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least two from the set of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, and characteristic markings.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive an indication that an object has been placed on the surface;

identify a plurality of physical characteristics associated with the object;

using the plurality of physical characteristics, search a data structure to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to a match, determine if the single object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

responsive to a failure to identify the single object, search the data structure to determine the existence of one or more objects with physical characteristics within a tolerance of the plurality of physical characteristics;

responsive to identifying the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object from a list of the one or more objects;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine if the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

responsive to a failure to identify the one or more objects, prompt the user to identify the object;

responsive to the user identifying the object, determine if the object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

store the identification of the object and the plurality of physical characteristics in the data structure.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

using the plurality of physical characteristics, search the data structure to determine the existence of the single object based on physical characteristics associated with another object;

responsive to a match of the characteristics of the single object based on the physical characteristics associated with the another object, determine if the single object has an associated presentation; and

responsive to the existence of an associated presentation, present the associated presentation to a user.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

send an indication to another user with an identification of the single object and the plurality of physical characteristics.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least one of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, or characteristic markings.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of physical characteristics comprise at least two from the set of weight, temperature, area, geometric shape, and characteristic markings.