Audio positioning system

• US 8,988,216 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/853,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20140292508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/4.11, 340/10.1, 701/301, 701/426, 701/526, 700/91, 700/93, 342/350, 342/357.31, 342/451
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• 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 a bounded area in which a user of the mobile computing device is located;

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

the mobile computing device identifying a location of a first object of the plurality of known objects within the determined bounded area and comparing the location of the first object to a location of the mobile computing device within the determined bounded area;

the mobile computing device, based on the layout of the determined bounded area, determining one or more other objects of the plurality of known objects between the location of the mobile computing device and the location of the first object;

the mobile computing device creating a path to the location of the first object that avoids the one or more other objects;

the mobile computing device directing the user of the mobile computing device to the location of the first object with audio tones;

the mobile computing device identifying a location of a second object along the path to the location of the first object, wherein the second object is not included in the plurality of known objects; and

the mobile computing device causing the document describing the layout of the determined bounded area to be updated to include the location of the second object.

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 first object in relation to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the bounded 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 bounded 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. 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 a bounded area in which a user of the mobile computing device is located;

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

program instructions to identify a location of a first object of the plurality of known objects within the determined bounded area and compare the location of the first object to a location of the mobile computing device within the determined bounded area;

program instructions to, based on the layout of the determined bounded area, determine one or more other objects of the plurality of known objects between the location of the mobile computing device and the location of the first object;

program instructions to create a path to the location of the first object that avoids the one or more other objects;

program instructions to direct the user of the mobile computing device to the location of the first object with audio tones;

program instructions to identify a location of a second object along the path to the location of the first object, wherein the second object is not included in the plurality of known objects; and

program instructions to cause the document describing the layout of the determined bounded area to be updated to include the location of the second object.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, 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 first object in relation to the user.

7. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein program instructions to determine the bounded 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.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to determine the bounded 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.

9. 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 a bounded area in which a user of the mobile computing device is located;

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

program instructions to identify a location of a first object of the plurality of known objects within the determined bounded area and compare the location of the first object to a location of the mobile computing device within the determined bounded area;

program instructions to, based on the layout of the determined bounded area, determine one or more other objects of the plurality of known objects between the location of the mobile computing device and the location of the first object;

program instructions to create a path to the location of the first object that avoids the one or more other objects;

program instructions to direct the user of the mobile computing device to the location of the first object with audio tones;

program instructions to identify a location of a second object along the path to the location of the first object, wherein the second object is not included in the plurality of known objects; and

program instructions to cause the document describing the layout of the determined bounded area to be updated to include the location of the second object,

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

10. The computer system of claim 9, 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 first object in relation to the user.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein program instructions to determine the bounded 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.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions to determine the bounded 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.