U.S. patent application number 09/998079 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-05 for object tagging system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Palm, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kammer, David, Lemke, Steven C., Webb, Russell Y., Wong, Yoon Kean.
Application Number | 20030104782 09/998079 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25544718 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030104782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wong, Yoon Kean ; et
al. |
June 5, 2003 |
Object tagging system and method
Abstract
A method of indexing information stored on a portable electronic
device. The method includes receiving an association signal by the
portable electronic device the association signal providing an
indication of adjacent resources, accessing a database including a
table storing relationships between data stored on the portable
electronic device and the association signal, and indexing the data
based on the relationships accessed in the database.
Inventors: |
Wong, Yoon Kean; (Redwood
City, CA) ; Kammer, David; (Seattle, WA) ;
Webb, Russell Y.; (San Jose, CA) ; Lemke, Steven
C.; (Sunnyvale, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY & LARDNER
777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
SUITE 3800
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-5308
US
|
Assignee: |
Palm, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
25544718 |
Appl. No.: |
09/998079 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/41.1 ;
455/500; 455/503 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 19/201 20130101;
G06Q 20/346 20130101; G06Q 20/327 20130101; G07F 7/1008 20130101;
G07C 9/28 20200101; H04M 1/72412 20210101; H04M 2250/02 20130101;
G07C 9/37 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/41 ; 455/500;
455/503 |
International
Class: |
H04B 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of indexing information stored on a portable electronic
device, comprising: receiving an association signal by the portable
electronic device the association signal providing an indication of
adjacent resources; accessing a database including a table storing
relationships between data stored on the portable electronic device
and the association signal; and indexing the data based on the
relationships accessed in the database.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prioritizing the
indexed data.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the association signal includes a
signal from a wireless access point.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the association signal includes a
Bluetooth signal.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the association signal includes
an IEEE 802.11 signal.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the association signal includes a
biometric signal.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the association signal includes a
wireless access point signal.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the association signal includes
an infrared signal.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving data
stored on the portable electronic device and related to the
associating signal.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: displaying the data
retrieved.
11. A portable electronic device, comprising: a processor; a
transceiver coupled to the processor, the transceiver configured to
receive and transmit communication signals; a memory coupled to the
processor; and a program stored in the memory and running on the
processor configured to receive an association signal by the
transceiver, the association signal providing an indication of
adjacent resources, the program further configured to access a
database including a table storing relationships between data
stored on the portable electronic device and the association
signal, and the program configured to index the data based on the
relationships accessed in the database.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to
prioritize the indexed data.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the association signal includes
a signal from a wireless access point.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the association signal includes
a Bluetooth signal.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the association signal includes
an IEEE 802.11 signal.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the association signal includes
an infrared signal.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the association signal includes
a biometric signal.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the association signal includes
a wireless access point signal.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the indexed data is retrieved
by the program.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the retrieved data is displayed
on the portable electronic device.
21. A handheld computer, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled
to the processor; a display coupled to the processor; and a program
running on the processor and configured to identify an adjacent
known object and configured to index information stored in the
memory of the device based on the known object.
22. The handheld computer of claim 21, wherein the program is
configured to prioritize the indexed information.
23. The handheld computer of claim 21, wherein the identity of the
known object is associated with a signal from a wireless access
point.
24. The handheld computer of claim 21, wherein the identity of the
known object is associated with a Bluetooth signal.
25. The handheld computer of claim 21, wherein the identity of the
known object is associated with an IEEE 802.11 signal.
26. The handheld computer of claim 21, wherein the identity of the
known object is associated with an infrared signal.
27. The handheld computer of claim 21, wherein the identity of the
known object is associated with a biometric signal.
28. The handheld computer of claim 21, wherein information
associated with the known object is retrieved from memory of the
device.
29. The handheld computer of claim 28, wherein the retrieved
information is displayed on the display.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Handheld computers and other portable electronic devices
typically contain various types of information including phone
lists, to do lists, calendars, notes, personal interest lists,
graphics files, video files, audio files, maps, directions,
applications, etc. During use of a mobile device a user may
typically desire access to different information or different types
of information when they carry the device near certain known
objects, such as but not limited to landmarks, access points,
and/or other physical objects. Accordingly, when the device is near
certain known objects, the user may desire access to specific
information whenever that known object is encountered. Therefore,
it would be desirable for the portable device to access or provide
simplified and/or automatic access to information which was assumed
to be desired based on the encounter with the known object.
[0002] Accordingly, there is a need for a method to associate
information on a portable electronic device with certain known
objects. There is also a need for a system in which certain data on
the portable electronic device is automatically associated with the
known object. Further, there is a need for a program running on a
portable electronic device that allows for the association and
indexing of information stored on the device based on an encounter
with a known object.
[0003] It would be desirable to provide a system and/or method that
provides one or more of these or other advantageous features. Other
features and advantages will be made apparent from the present
specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments
which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of
whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned
needs.
SUMMARY
[0004] One embodiment of the invention relates to a method of
indexing information stored on a portable electronic device. The
method includes receiving an association signal by the portable
electronic device the association signal providing an indication of
adjacent resources, accessing a database including a table storing
relationships between data stored on the portable electronic device
and the association signal, and indexing the database on the
relationships accessed in the database.
[0005] Another embodiment of the invention relates to a portable
electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a
processor, a transceiver coupled to the processor, the transceiver
configured to receive and transmit communication signals, a memory
coupled to the processor, and a program stored in the memory and
running on the processor configured to receive an association
signal by the transceiver, the association signal providing an
indication of adjacent resources, the program further configured to
access a database including a table storing relationships between
data stored on the portable electronic device and the association
signal, and the program configured to index the data based on the
relationships accessed in the database.
[0006] Yet another embodiment of the invention relates to a
handheld computer. The handheld computer includes a processor, a
memory coupled to the processor, a display coupled to the
processor, and a program running on the processor and configured to
identify an adjacent known object and configured to index
information stored in the memory of the device based on the known
object.
[0007] Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features
and combination of features as may be generally recited in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention will become more fully understood from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless portable electronic
device object identification and association system;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a process for associating data
with objects;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of a portable electronic
device and data association system; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a handheld
computer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIG. 4, a portable electronic device, shown as,
but not limited to, handheld computer 100 is depicted according to
an exemplary embodiment. Handheld computer 100 may include palm
style computers manufactured by Palm, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif.
Other exemplary embodiments may include Windows CE handheld
computers, or other handheld computers and personal digital
assistants, as well as mobile telephones, and other mobile
computing devices.
[0014] Preferably, handheld computer 100 includes memory, a
processor, and interactive hardware and software that performs
functions such as, but not limited to maintaining calendars, phone
lists, task lists, notepads, calculator applications, spreadsheets,
games, and other applications capable of running on a computing
device. Further, handheld computer 100 may be configured for such
functions as voice memo recording and playback, as well as
communications network connectivity, internet connectivity,
wireless telephony, among others.
[0015] Handheld computer 100, depicted in FIG. 4 includes a
plurality of input function keys 112 and a display 114 having
graphical user interface features. Display 114 may be provided with
a touch screen interface that allows a user to select and alter
displayed content using a pointer, such as, but not limited to, a
stylus, a pen tip, a fingertip, or other pointing devices.
[0016] Handheld computer 100 may also include local area wireless
technology to permit wireless communication with other portable
electronic devices and computing devices that have compatible
communication technology. The local area wireless technology may be
Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11 compatible, or may support any of a
variety of other wireless communication protocols.
[0017] To support local area wireless communications, handheld
computer 100 may include wireless connectivity software integrated
into the operating system or stored in memory of handheld computer
100 or further added via an expansion card or transferred from
another computer or computer system. Further, to effectuate local
area communications, handheld computer 100 may include an RF
transceiver 124, or other electromagnetic reception and
transmission device. RF transceiver 124 may be provided on handheld
computer 100 as part of an expansion card or may alternatively be
integrated into handheld computer 100. Referring to FIG. 4,
handheld computer 100 may alternatively transmit and receive local
area wireless communications via infrared port 120. Expansion card
124, including an RF transceiver, may be installed in handheld
computer 100 via an expansion slot 122 used to house expansion
cards such as, but not limited to, secured digital (SD) cards. One
such expansion card 124 may be disposed in an expansion card slot
in handheld computer 100. An installed expansion card 124 may be
used for local area wireless communications. RF transceiver 124 may
be a Bluetooth transceiver and IEEE 802.11 transceiver, or any of a
variety of other RF, VHF, UHF, ultrasonic, or other wireless
transceiver devices.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, handheld computer 310 may be capable of
communicating with other electronic devices within a local area.
For example, handheld computer 310 may be able to communicate with
various other local devices such as, but not limited to, an
individual's mobile telephone 320. Mobile telephone 320 may include
a Bluetooth transceiver or other transceivers. Phone 320 may
broadcast a unique identifier (ID) associated with phone 320. In
another exemplary embodiment, a person's shoe 340 may include a
wireless transceiver device such as a Bluetooth transceiver. Such a
shoe may indicate any of a variety of information, such as, but not
limited to, the wearer of the shoe, for example, or any other
unique identifier. Further still, in an exemplary embodiment, a
networking access point, such as a Bluetooth access point 330 may
be in communication with handheld computer 310. Bluetooth access
point 330 may be configured to broadcast a unique identifier.
Further, access point 330 may be associated with a specific
location, for example, access point 330 may be located in the
handheld user's home or any other home, office, or building. In
such a case, handheld computer 310 may associate access point 330
with not only the network to which it is connected but also to the
location at which access point 330 is located. In further exemplary
embodiments, any of a variety of other known objects or access
points may include, but are not limited to, other computing devices
having wireless communication capability, such as soda machines,
other handheld computing devices, laptop computers, cellular
telephones, local area network access points, automated teller
machines (ATMs), etc.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, a handheld computer or other
portable electronic device 100 is depicted. Handheld computer 100
includes a processor 110 which may be any of a variety of
conventional processing devices. A memory 120 is coupled to
processor 110. Memory 120 may be any of a variety of memory devices
including, but not limited to read only memory (ROM), random access
memory (RAM), flash memory, etc. Memory 120 may be utilized to
store programs running on processor 110, and/or may be used to
store other types of information. A transceiver 130 is coupled to
processor 110. Transceiver 130 may be any of a variety of wireless
transceivers including, but not limited to RF or other
electromagnetic transceiver devices, and/or infrared or ultrasonic
devices, among others. In an exemplary embodiment, transceiver 130
includes an antenna 135 for transmitting and receiving
communication signals. Handheld computer 100 also includes a
display 140. Display 140 may be any of a variety of displays
including, but not limited to an LCD touch screen display. Display
140 may be used to display information to a user of handheld
computer 100. A database 150 may be stored on handheld computer
100. Database 150 may be stored in memory 120 or may be stored in
any of a variety of other storage devices including peripheral
devices such as a disk drive or memory card. Further, in an
alternative embodiment, database 150 may be stored on a server
computer which is accessed over a wireless communication link using
transceiver 130.
[0020] Because of the portability and ease of use and access to
handheld computer 100, it is often desirable for a user of handheld
computer 100 to take and/or share notes about a particular person,
place, and/or thing, and further to access these notes at a time
when the known object, person, or item is present. In systems of
the prior art, it is required that the user remember that such
notes are available and, further, remembers how to access them. As
wireless networking environments become even more data rich, this
problem becomes more evident. In a data rich environment, the user
of handheld computer 100 may be unaware of exactly what data is
available on the portable device. Thus, a method to automatically
pull up relevant data when a known object is nearby is
desirable.
[0021] Referring again to FIG. 1, known objects 160, 170, and 180
may be in nearby proximity to handheld computer 100, such that they
are in wireless communications with handheld computer 100.
Information that is collected by handheld computer 100 or is input
by a user of handheld computer 100 may be associated with a unique,
detectable identifier, that is associated with each of individual
objects 160, 170, and/or 180. The information that is collected or
input relating to each object may be stored on handheld computer
100 and an association and/or relationship of the object to the
data may be stored in database 150. In an alternative embodiment,
the data and the association and/or relationship may be stored in
database 150. There may be many ways to provide unique identifiers
for objects encountered by handheld computer 100. For example,
biometric information may be used about people, or location
information about places and/or stationary objects. Further, known
objects, people, or locations may be associated with a unique
wireless identifier (for example, a Bluetooth device address or
alias), that the known object may advertise or broadcast. In the
case that objects 160, 170, and 180 are broadcasting unique
identifiers or association signals, the handheld computer may then
access database 150 and identify relationships between stored data
on handheld computer 100 and the association signals being
received. The data may then be indexed based on the relationships
accessed in the database. Once the relevant data is indexed, the
data may be prioritized based on any of a number of factors
including, but not limited to distance from each of the objects,
importance of the objects, etc. Once the data is prioritized, the
relevant data may be retrieved from storage on handheld computer
100.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary process for
associating and/or relating data with objects and accessing the
data 200 is depicted. A handheld computer or other electronic
portable device receives association signals (step 210). When
association signals or object identifiers are received by the
handheld computer, a database is accessed, the database including
relationships between data sets and association signals or
identifiers (step 220). Based on the relationships retrieved from
the database, the data is indexed (step 230). In an alternative
embodiment, the data may be prioritized based on the index and/or
based on any of a variety of other types of information, including
distance and/or location (step 240). Further, in an alternative
embodiment, data is then accessed on a handheld computer by the
user automatically based on the prioritization (step 250).
[0023] Referring again to FIG. 3, a user of handheld computer 310
may approach a person carrying a phone 320. As the person is
approached, the phone broadcasts an identifier which is received by
handheld computer 310. Handheld computer 310 associates the
received signal with the particular person and accesses information
about the person. For example, handheld computer 310 may access
calendar information associated with the person such as, the
person's birthday is today, or any of a variety of other messages
or lists, etc.
[0024] While the detailed drawings, specific examples and
particular formulations given describe preferred and exemplary
embodiments, they serve the purpose of illustration only. The
inventions disclosed are not limited to the specific forms shown.
For example, the methods may be performed in any of a variety of
sequence of steps. The hardware and software configurations shown
and described may differ depending on the chosen performance
characteristics and physical characteristics of the computing
devices. For example, the type of computing device, communications
bus, or processor used may differ. The systems and methods depicted
and described are not limited to the precise details and conditions
disclosed. Furthermore, other substitutions, modifications,
changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating
conditions, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without
departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the
appended claims.
* * * * *