Object detection framework for set of related objects

• US 7,817,038 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Torning, Kristian
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US11/625,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/568.1, 340/539.32, 340/573.1, 340/539.22, 340/572.2
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 objects, wherein the objects are related independently of the location of the set and an object is designated as a parent object and the other objects are designated as child objects;

defining the child objects to be a child set of child objects for tracking a disassociation of a child object from other child objects in the child set;

defining the parent object and the child set to be a hierarchical set for tracking a disassociation of all the child objects from the parent object;

upon automatically detecting when a child object of the child set disassociates from the other child objects of the child set, signaling a disassociation within the child set, the detecting occurring when a child object exceeds a pre-defined proximity from another child object of the child set; and

upon automatically detecting when all the child objects of the child set disassociates from the hierarchical set, signaling a disassociation within the hierarchical set, the detecting occurring when the parent object of the hierarchical set exceeds a pre-defined proximity from the child set.

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.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling of the disassociation within the child set occurs when a threshold number of child objects become disassociated from the child set.

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:

a component that defines a child set of child objects for tracking a disassociation of a child object from other child objects in the child set;

a component that defines a hierarchical set of a parent object and the child set for tracking a disassociation of all the child objects from the parent object;

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 such that when a child object disassociates from the other child objects of the child set the disassociate event signal indicates a disassociation within the child set and when all the child objects of the child set disassociate from the parent object, the disassociate event signal indicates a disassociation within the hierarchical 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, 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

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

defining a hierarchical set of a parent object and the child set by applying at least one of an emitter object and a detector object on the parent object;

upon automatically detecting when a child object of the child set disassociates from the other child objects of the child set, signaling a disassociation within the child set; and

upon automatically detecting when all of the child objects of the child set disassociate from the parent object, signaling a disassociation within the hierarchical set.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said defining includes defining structural information about the object relationships in the set.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the child objects are related equally.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a child object of the child set has a priority.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, generating a notification to a user near the parent object to notify the user of the disassociation.

17. A system including a plurality of markers and a detector comprising means for carrying out the method of claim 12.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the signaling of the disassociation within the child set occurs when a threshold number of child objects become disassociated from the child set.