Radar Recognition-Aided Searches

• US 20160055201A1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Poupyrev, Ivan, Aiello, Gaetano Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 11,169,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883

Abstract

This document describes techniques and devices for a radar recognition-aided search. Through use of a radar-based recognition system, gestures made by, and physiological information about, persons can be determined. In the case of physiological information, the techniques can use this information to refine a search. For example, if a person requests a search for a coffee shop, the techniques may refine the search to coffee shops in the direction that the person is walking. In the case of a gesture, the techniques may refine or base a search solely on the gesture. Thus, a search for information about a store, car, or tree can be made responsive to a gesture pointing at the store, car, or tree with or without explicit entry of a search query.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a computing device, a search request having a search query;

recognizing a gesture received through a radar-based recognition system;

determining information about the gesture that is relevant to the search request;

causing a search to be performed using the search query and the determined information; and

providing information responsive to the search request.

2. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein providing the provided information:

presents results of the search in a list;

presents a map displaying visual elements;

or presents audio or visual media.

3. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein receiving the search request receives the search request through a mobile computing device, determining information about the gesture determines that the gesture indicates a geographic direction to refine the search, causing the search to be performed performs the requested search by refining the search using the geographic direction, and providing the provided information provides results according to the search query and within the geographic direction.

4. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 3, wherein receiving the search request receives the search request through an audio communication system and determining information is responsive to and based on the gesture being received commensurate with receiving the search request through the audio communication system.

5. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 3, wherein the geographic direction indicates a street and performing the requested search refines the search to search results having an address on the street.

6. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 3, wherein the geographic direction indicates a building and causing the requested search to be performed performs the requested search by refining the search to search results having an address within the building.

7. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein determining information about the gesture determines that the gesture indicates an intended path to refine the search, causing the requested search to be performed refines the search using the intended path, and providing the provided information provides results of the search along the intended path.

8. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein determining information about the gesture that is relevant to the search request compares a meaning associated with the gesture and refines the search with the associated meaning.

9. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein causing the requested search to be performed uses the search query and refines, based on the determined information, a prior search performed using the search query.

10. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein determining information about the gesture that is relevant to the search request determines an object to which the gesture is directed, the determined information being information about the object, and wherein performing the requested search uses the information about the object.

11. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein the object is determined to be currently presented as part of a media presentation and further comprising determining the information about the object by analyzing the media presentation.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an indication that a person is requesting a search;

recognizing a gesture received through a radar-based recognition system;

determining information about the gesture sufficient to perform a search;

performing, or causing performance of, the requested search using the determined information; and

providing the search results resulting from performing the requested search using the determined information.

13. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 12, wherein performing the requested search using the determined information uses only the determined information.

14. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 12, wherein receiving the indication that the person is requesting a search receives the indication responsive to recognizing another gesture through the radar-based recognition system prior to recognizing the gesture.

15. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 12, further comprising, prior to performing the search using the determined information, prompting selection of additional information, receiving the additional information, and wherein performing the search is responsive to receiving the additional information.

16. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 12, further comprising, prior to performing the search using the determined information, determining context for the gesture, the context indicating that media is presented, and using information about the media to refine the search.

17. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 12, wherein determining the information about the gesture determines that the gesture is directed to an entity that is currently presented as part of a media presentation and further comprising determining the information about the entity by analyzing the media presentation.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from an input device, a search request having a search query;

determining, through a radar-based recognition system, physiological information about a person associated with the input device;

performing, or causing performance of, the requested search using the search query and the determined physiological information about the person; and

providing the search results resulting from performing the requested search using the search query and the determined physiological information.

19. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 18, wherein determining the physiological information about the person determines the person'"'"'s heart rate, hydration level, body temperature, or stress level.

20. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 18, wherein determining the physiological information about the person determines the person physical orientation.