AUDIO POSITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20140292508A1
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir S., DeLuca, Lisa Seacat, Do, Lydia M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,988,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/06 Walking aids for blind persons replacing direct visual perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means

Abstract

In a method for directing a user of a mobile computing device to an object, a mobile computing device determines an area in which a user of the mobile computing device is located. The mobile computing device determines a location of an object within the area, in relation to the user. The mobile computing device provides at least one audio tone to indicate at least the location of the object in relation to the user.

Claims

1. A method for directing a user of a mobile computing device to an object, the method comprising the steps of:

a mobile computing device determining an area in which a user of the mobile computing device is located;

the mobile computing device determining a location of an object within the area, in relation to the user; and

the mobile computing device providing at least one audio tone to indicate at least the location of the object in relation to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device provides a user interface providing options to the user to select customizable audio feedback to indicate at least the location of the object in relation to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining an area in which the user of the mobile device is located comprises determining geographic coordinates and, based on the geographic coordinates, identifying a corresponding bounded area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining the area in which the user is located comprises:

determining geographic coordinates of the mobile computing device using trilateration;

locating the geographic coordinates on a digital map; and

identifying, on the digital map, a bounded area in which the coordinates are located.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining the location of the object in relation to the user comprises receiving an identity of a bounded area from an identification tag at the bounded area.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining the location of the object in relation to the user comprises:

based on the identified bounded area, the mobile computing device retrieving a document describing a layout of the identified bounded area, including locations of a plurality of objects within the identified bounded area; and

identifying the location of the object within the identified bounded area and comparing the location of the object to the geographic coordinates of the mobile computing device within the identified bounded area.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

based on the layout of the identified bounded area, determining obstructions between the mobile computing device and the location of the object;

creating a path to the object that avoids the obstructions; and

directing the user of the mobile computing device to the object with audio tones.

8. A computer program product for directing a user of a mobile computing device to an object, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to determine an area in which a user of the mobile computing device is located;

program instructions to determine a location of an object within the area, in relation to the user; and

program instructions to provide at least one audio tone to indicate at least the location of the object in relation to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile computing device provides a user interface providing options to the user to select customizable audio feedback to indicate at least the location of the object in relation to the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein program instructions to determine an area in which the user of the mobile device is located comprises program instructions to determine geographic coordinates and, based on the geographic coordinates, identifying a corresponding bounded area.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the program instructions to determine the area in which the user is located comprises:

program instructions to determine geographic coordinates of the mobile computing device using trilateration;

program instructions to locate the geographic coordinates on a digital map; and

program instructions to identify, on the digital map, a bounded area in which the coordinates are located.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining the location of the object in relation to the user comprises receiving an identity of a bounded area from an identification tag at the bounded area.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein program instructions to determine the location of the object in relation to the user comprises:

based on the identified bounded area, the program instructions to retrieve a document describing a layout of the identified bounded area, including locations of a plurality of objects within the identified bounded area; and

program instructions to identify the location of the object within the identified bounded area and comparing the location of the object to the geographic coordinates of the mobile computing device within the identified bounded area.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

based on the layout of the identified bounded area, program instructions to determine obstructions between the mobile computing device and the location of the object;

program instructions to create a path to the object that avoids the obstructions; and

program instructions to direct the user of the mobile computing device to the object with audio tones.

15. A computer system for directing a user of a mobile computing device to an object, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer-readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to determine an area in which a user of the mobile computing device is located;

program instructions to determine a location of an object within the area, in relation to the user; and

program instructions to provide at least one audio tone to indicate at least the location of the object in relation to the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the mobile computing device provides a user interface providing options to the user to select customizable audio feedback to indicate at least the location of the object in relation to the user.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein program instructions to determine an area in which the user of the mobile device is located comprises program instructions to determine geographic coordinates and, based on the geographic coordinates, identifying a corresponding bounded area.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the program instructions to determine the area in which the user is located comprises:

program instructions to determine geographic coordinates of the mobile computing device using trilateration;

program instructions to locate the geographic coordinates on a digital map; and

program instructions to identify, on the digital map, a bounded area in which the coordinates are located.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining the location of the object in relation to the user comprises receiving an identity of a bounded area from an identification tag at the bounded area.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein program instructions to determine the location of the object in relation to the user comprises:

based on the identified bounded area, the program instructions to retrieve a document describing a layout of the identified bounded area, including locations of a plurality of objects within the identified bounded area; and

program instructions to identify the location of the object within the identified bounded area and comparing the location of the object to the geographic coordinates of the mobile computing device within the identified bounded area.