Method of controlling an autonomous device

• US 8,311,675 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Parlantzas, Georgios, Marschner, Jens Friedemann
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US12/518,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20100030379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 700/13, 700/204, 700/253, 700/248, 700/258, 700/259, 901/8, 901/46, 901/47
• US Class Current: 700/253
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0003 Home robots, i.e. small robots for domestic use
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70

Abstract

The invention describes a method of controlling an autonomous device (1), which autonomous device records ambient data and optionally transmits the recorded ambient data, which method comprises positioning an indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) at a boundary (B) between a private area (P) and a non-private area (N) to optically distinguish the private area (P) from the non-private area (N) for a user of the autonomous device (1). The indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) is detected by the autonomous device (1) and interpreted to determine whether the autonomous device (1) is in a private area (P) or a non-private area (N). Subsequently, recording or transmission of ambient data is restricted while the autonomous device (1) is within the private area (P). The invention also describes a system ( ) for controlling an autonomous device (1), an autonomous device (1), and an indicator (S₃, S₄) for placement at a boundary between a private area (P) and a non-private area (N), to optically distinguish the private area (P) from the non-private area (N) for a user (2), comprising a number of electronically detectable components (23, 24).

Claims

1. A method of controlling an autonomous device that records ambient data and transmits the recorded ambient data, said method comprising:

positioning an indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) at a boundary (B) between a private area (P) and a non-private area (N) to optically distinguish the private area (P) from the non-private area (N) for a user of the autonomous device, wherein the indicator comprises a visual sign, that can be visually understood by a user, to demarcate an area on one side of the indicator as private and an area on the other side of the indicator as non-private, and wherein the boundary comprises an imaginary vertical line through the indicator between the one side and the other side;

detection of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device;

interpretation of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device to determine whether the autonomous device is in a private area (P) or a non-private area (N); and

restricting a recording or transmission of ambient data, in response to determining via the interpretation by the autonomous device that the autonomous device is in the private area, while the autonomous device is within the private area (P).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a location of the private area (P) relative to the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) is defined by an orientation of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the orientation of the indicator (S₁, S₂) is determined by the autonomous device using image analysis techniques applied to an image of the indicator (S₁, S₂).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicator (S₃, S₄) is detected electronically by the autonomous device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a location of the private area (P) relative to the indicator (S₃, S₄) is defined by characteristics of at least two electronically detectable components incorporated in the indicator (S₃, S₄).

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein an orientation of the indicator (S₃, S₄) is determined by the autonomous device using signal processing techniques on signals emitted by electronically detectable components of the indicator (S₃, S₄).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a crossing of the boundary (B) by the autonomous device is detected by a detector of the indicator (S₄) and reported to an external device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an acknowledgement of the boundary (B) is reported by the autonomous device to an external device upon detection of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device.

9. A method of controlling an autonomous device that records ambient data and transmits the recorded ambient data, said method comprising:

positioning an indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) at a boundary (B) between a private area (P) and a non-private area (N) to optically distinguish the private area (P) from the non-private area (N) for a user of the autonomous device;

detection of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device;

interpretation of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device to determine whether the autonomous device is in a private area (P) or a non-private area (N); and

restricting a recording or transmission of ambient data while the autonomous device is within the private area (P), wherein a crossing of the boundary (B) by the autonomous device is detected b a detector of the indicator (S₄) and resorted to an external device, and wherein an alarm is generated by the external device when the detector of the indicator (S₄) reports a crossing of the boundary (B) by the autonomous device and the autonomous device does not report an acknowledgement of the boundary (B) to the external device.

10. A system for controlling an autonomous device that records ambient data and transmits the recorded ambient data, said system comprising:

a indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) for positioning at a boundary (B) between a private area (P) and a non-private area (N) to optically distinguish the private area (P) from the non-private area (N) for a user of the autonomous device, wherein the indicator comprises a visual sign, that can be visually understood by a user, to demarcate an area on one side of the indicator as private and an area on the other side of the indicator as non-private, and wherein the boundary comprises an imaginary vertical line through the indicator between the one side and the other side;

a detector for detection of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device;

ah interpretation unit for interpretation of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device to determine whether the autonomous device is in a private area (P) or a non-private area (N); and

a control unit for restricting a recording or transmission of ambient data, in response to determining via the interpretation unit by the autonomous device that the autonomous device is in the private area, while the autonomous device is within the private area (P).

11. An autonomous device comprising:

a recording means for recording audio and/or video data;

a transmitter for transmitting recorded data to an external device;

a detector for detection of an indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) positioned at a boundary (B) between a private area (P) and a non-private area (N), which indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) optically distinguishes the private area (P) from the non-private area (N) for a user of the autonomous device, wherein the indicator comprises a visual sign, that can be visually understood by a user, to demarcate an area on one side of the indicator as private and an area on the other side of the indicator as non-private, and wherein the boundary comprises an imaginary vertical line through the indicator between the one side and the other side;

an interpretation unit for interpretation of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) to determine whether the autonomous device is in a private area (P) or a non-private area (N); and

a control unit for restricting a recording or transmission of ambient data, in response to determining via the interpretation unit that the autonomous device is in the private area, while the autonomous device is within the private area (P).

12. An indicator (S₃, S₄) for placement at a boundary between a private area (P) and a non-private area (N), to optically distinguish the private area (P) from the non-private area (N) for a user, which indicator (S₃, S₄) comprises a number of electronically detectable components, wherein the indicator comprises a visual skin, that can be visually understood by a user, to demarcate an area on one side of the indicator as private and an area on the other side of the indicator as non-private, and wherein the boundary comprises an imaginary vertical line through the indicator between the one side and the other side, and wherein the indicator is configured for use in a system for controlling an autonomous device that records ambient data and transmits the recorded ambient data, wherein the system comprises:

a detector for detection of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄) by the autonomous device;

an interpretation unit for interpretation of the indicator (S₁, S₂, S₂, S₄) by the autonomous device to determine whether the autonomous device is in a private area (P) or a non-private area (N); and

a control unit for restricting a recording or transmission of ambient data, in response to determining via the interpretation unit by the autonomous device that the autonomous device is in the private area, while the autonomous device is within the private area (P).