U.S. patent application number 15/163102 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-30 for object identification through electromagnetic tag signature.
The applicant listed for this patent is International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Rosanna S. Mannan, Dennis J. Wurth.
Application Number | 20170344769 15/163102 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60420583 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170344769 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mannan; Rosanna S. ; et
al. |
November 30, 2017 |
OBJECT IDENTIFICATION THROUGH ELECTROMAGNETIC TAG SIGNATURE
Abstract
In an approach for identifying an object using an
electromagnetic tag, an electromagnetic signal is received by a
sensor, wherein the electromagnetic signal originates from an
electromagnetic tag affixed to an object, and wherein the
electromagnetic signal passes through a physical propagation
channel. A processor searches a database for an electromagnetic
signature corresponding to the electromagnetic signal, wherein the
database comprises, at least, object information associated with
the electromagnetic signature. A processor determines the
electromagnetic signal corresponds to the electromagnetic
signature. A processor presents the object information associated
with the electromagnetic signature.
Inventors: |
Mannan; Rosanna S.; (San
Jose, CA) ; Wurth; Dennis J.; (Rochester,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
International Business Machines Corporation |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60420583 |
Appl. No.: |
15/163102 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01V 3/08 20130101; G07C
9/28 20200101; G01V 3/12 20130101; G06K 7/086 20130101; G06K
7/10366 20130101; G06K 19/067 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/10 20060101
G06K007/10 |
Claims
1. A method for identifying an object using an electromagnetic tag,
the method comprising: receiving, by a sensor of a device, an
electromagnetic signal, wherein the electromagnetic signal
originates from an electromagnetic tag affixed to an object, and
wherein the electromagnetic signal is transmitted from the
electromagnetic tag to the sensor through a physical propagation
channel; determining within a database, by one or more processors,
an electromagnetic signature corresponding to the electromagnetic
signal, wherein the database comprises, at least, object
information associated with the electromagnetic signature, and
wherein the object is a prescription bottle and the object
information comprises one or more of an identification of the
prescription, a number of times the user has touched the
prescription bottle during a predefined time period, what time the
user last touched the prescription bottle, when the user is
supposed to take a next dose, possible side effects of the
prescription, how to take the prescription, and how many doses are
remaining in the prescription bottle; and presenting, by one or
more processors, the object information associated with the
electromagnetic signature.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the object information
associated with the electromagnetic signature comprises audibly
presenting the object information associated with the
electromagnetic signature.
3. (canceled)
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal has a
frequency between ultra-high frequency and extremely high
frequency, or 300 MHz to 300 GHz.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical propagation channel
is a person.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a wearable
device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a smartwatch.
8. A computer program product for identifying an object using an
electromagnetic tag, 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 receive an
electromagnetic signal, wherein the electromagnetic signal
originates from an electromagnetic tag affixed to an object, and
wherein the electromagnetic signal is transmitted from the
electromagnetic tag to the sensor through a physical propagation
channel; program instructions to determine within a database an
electromagnetic signature corresponding to the electromagnetic
signal, wherein the database comprises, at least, object
information associated with the electromagnetic signature, and
wherein the object is a prescription bottle and the object
information comprises one or more of an identification of the
prescription, a number of times the user has touched the
prescription bottle during a predefined time period, what time the
user last touched the prescription bottle, when the user is
supposed to take a next dose, possible side effects of the
prescription, how to take the prescription, and how many doses are
remaining in the prescription bottle; and program instructions to
present the object information associated with the electromagnetic
signature.
9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program
instructions to present the object information associated with the
electromagnetic signature comprise audibly presenting the object
information associated with the electromagnetic signature.
10. (canceled)
11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the
electromagnetic signal has a frequency between ultra-high frequency
and extremely high frequency, or 300 MHz to 300 GHz.
12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the physical
propagation channel is a person.
13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the device is
a wearable device.
14. The computing program product of claim 8, wherein the device is
a smartwatch.
15. A computer system for identifying an object using an
electromagnetic tag, 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 receive an
electromagnetic signal, wherein the electromagnetic signal
originates from an electromagnetic tag affixed to an object, and
wherein the electromagnetic signal is transmitted from the
electromagnetic tag to the sensor through a physical propagation
channel; program instructions to determine within a database an
electromagnetic signature corresponding to the electromagnetic
signal, wherein the database comprises, at least, object
information associated with the electromagnetic signature, and
wherein the object is a prescription bottle and the object
information comprises one or more of an identification of the
prescription, a number of times the user has touched the
prescription bottle during a predefined time period, what time the
user last touched the prescription bottle, when the user is
supposed to take a next dose, possible side effects of the
prescription, how to take the prescription, and how many doses are
remaining in the prescription bottle; and program instructions to
present the object information associated with the electromagnetic
signature.
16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program
instructions to present the object information associated with the
electromagnetic signature comprise audibly presenting the object
information associated with the electromagnetic signature.
17. (canceled)
18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the electromagnetic
signal has a frequency between ultra-high frequency and extremely
high frequency, or 300 MHz to 300 GHz.
19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the physical
propagation channel is a person.
20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the device is a
wearable device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
electromagnetic waves, and more particularly to object
identification using electromagnetic waves.
[0002] Electromagnetic (EM) waves are synchronized oscillations of
electric and magnetic fields that can be characterized by either
the frequency or wavelength of their oscillations to form the
electromagnetic spectrum. Many electrical and electromechanical
objects emit small amounts of EM noise during operation. When a
person makes physical contact with such an object, this EM noise
propagates through the person because of the conductivity of the
human body. A sensor worn by the person can detect the EM noise and
identify the object that emitted the noise.
SUMMARY
[0003] Aspects of an embodiment of the present invention disclose a
method, computer program produce, and computer system for
identifying an object using an electromagnetic tag. A sensor of a
device receives an electromagnetic signal wherein the
electromagnetic signal originates from an electromagnetic tag
affixed to an object, and wherein the electromagnetic signal passes
through a physical propagation channel. A processor of the device
searches a database for an electromagnetic signature corresponding
to the electromagnetic signal, wherein the database comprises, at
least, object information associated with the electromagnetic
signature. A processor of the device determines the electromagnetic
signal corresponds to the electromagnetic signature. A processor of
the device presents the object information associated with the
electromagnetic signature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
electromagnetic tag system environment, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting operational steps of an
object identification program, on a wearable device within the
environment of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0006] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of components of the wearable
device executing the object identification program, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention recognize the need to
help visually-disabled people identify, and provide information
about, objects. In some instances, visually-disabled people use
tactile methods, such as braille, to identify objects. For example,
a visually-disabled person may attach a braille label to a
medication bottle that gives the name of the medication. However,
not all visually-disabled people know braille and limited amounts
of information can reasonably be conveyed on a braille label. Thus,
there is a need for system where a visually-disabled person can
identify objects and get more information about the objects more
quickly. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions for
identifying an object and obtaining information about the object
without having to read braille.
[0008] Embodiments of the present invention also recognize that
many everyday objects do not emit electromagnetic (EM) noise. For
electrical and electromechanical objects, a sensor worn by a
visually-disabled person can detect the EM noise and identify these
objects. However, a sensor worn by a visually-disabled person
cannot identify objects that do not emit EM noise. Thus, there is a
need for a way for visually-disable people to identify objects that
do not emit EM noise. Embodiments of the present invention provide
solutions for identifying an object and obtaining information about
the object that does not emit EM noise. In this manner, as
discussed in greater detail herein, embodiments of the present
invention can provide a way to identify an object and receive
additional information about the object through an attached EM tag
with a signature EM signal.
[0009] The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the Figures.
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of EM tag system environment 10, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1
provides only an illustration of one embodiment and does not imply
any limitations with regard to the environments in which different
embodiments may be implemented.
[0011] In the depicted embodiment, EM tag system environment 10
includes wearable device 20, EM tag 30, and propagation channel 40.
EM tag system environment 10 may include additional computing
devices, servers, computers, mobile devices, or other devices not
shown.
[0012] Wearable device 20 is held by a user, worn by a user, or
otherwise operably attached to a user. Wearable device 20 may be a
smart watch, smart phone, laptop computer, netbook computer, tablet
computer, or similar computing device. In general, wearable device
20 may be any electronic device or computing system capable of
running an application or program, receiving data from an attached
EM sensor, and using a speaker to audibly state object information.
In the depicted embodiment, wearable device 20 includes object
identification program 2, EM sensor 22, and database 23. In some
embodiments, wearable device 20 includes a speaker (not shown) for
audibly relaying object information stored in database 23to a
user.
[0013] Object identification program 21 operates to present
information to a user about an object using an EM tag, such as EM
tag 30, emitting a signature EM signal. In the depicted embodiment,
object identification program 21 can communicate with EM sensor 22
and database 23. Object identification program 21 can be mobile
application software, i.e., an app, which is a computer program
typically designed to run on smart phones, tablet computers and
other mobile devices. In an exemplary embodiment, object
identification program 21 is an app in which a user can assign an
EM tag to a specific object, and the user can input object
information to be presented to the user. In the depicted
embodiment, object identification program 21 receives a detected EM
signal from EM sensor 22. Then, object identification program 21
searches database 23 for the signature EM signal corresponding to
the received EM signal. Once, object identification program 21
identifies the corresponding signature EM signal, object
identification program 21 can identify the associated EM tag and
any object information assigned to that EM tag. Finally, object
identification program 21 presents the object information to the
user. Object information may include the name of the object, how
many times a user has touched the object during a certain
predefined time period, and any other information the user wants to
be told when he or she touches the EM tag. In object identification
program 21, a user can program a time period, such as a day or a
week, over which the user would like to know how many times the
user has touched the object. For example, if the object is a
prescription bottle, object information may include the name of the
prescription, how many times the user has touched the bottle in a
day, what time the user last touched the prescription bottle, when
the user is supposed to take the next dose, possible side effects
of the prescription, how to take the prescription, and how many
doses are remaining in the prescription bottle. In some
embodiments, object identification program 21 resides on wearable
device 20. In other embodiments, object identification program 21
may reside on another server, or another computing device, provided
that object identification program 21 has access to location
identifying information associated with wearable device 20.
[0014] EM sensor 22 operates to measure EM signals detected through
propagation channel 40. A sensor is a device that detects or
measures a physical property and then records or otherwise responds
to that property, such as vibration, chemicals, radio frequencies,
environment, weather, humidity, light, etc. EM sensor 22 can be
attached to or a part of wearable device 20. In one embodiment, EM
sensor 22 is a conducting electrode connected to a software-defined
radio receiver, which converts the incoming EM signal into
transmittable data. EM sensor 22 detects an EM signal and then
transmits the data related to the detected EM signal to object
identification program 21. In the exemplary embodiment, wearable
device 20 is a smartwatch worn by a user around the wrist with EM
sensor 22 on the underside of the smartwatch touching the user's
skin.
[0015] Database 23 is a repository for data input by a user using
object identification program 21. In the depicted embodiment,
database 23 resides on wearable device 20. In another embodiment,
database 23 may reside elsewhere within EM tag system environment
10 provided object identification program 21 has access to database
23. A database is an organized collection of data. Database 23 can
be implemented with any type of storage device capable of storing
data and configuration files that can be accessed and utilized by
wearable device 20, such as a database server, a hard disk drive,
or a flash memory. Database 23 stores object information input
provided by the user in object identification program 21 regarding
objects assigned an EM tag with a signature EM signal. For example,
when a user attaches EM tag 30 to a fiction book, the user will
input this assignment in object identification program 21, the
signature EM signal for EM tag 30, and any additional object
information the user would like to be associated with the fiction
book. Object identification program 21 stores this information in
database 23.
[0016] EM tag 30 is a device that is attached to an object and
emits a signature EM signal. In some embodiments, EM tag 30
represents one or more EM tags within EM tag system environment 10
with each EM tag emitting a different signature EM signal. In some
embodiments, EM tag 30 is active and includes a power source to
generate the EM signal. In some embodiments, EM tag 30 is passive
and receives its input power from the wearable device 20 through
propagation channel 40. In some embodiments, the EM signal is
between an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio wave and an extremely
high frequency (EHF) microwave, or 300 MHz to 300 GHz.
[0017] Propagation channel 40 operates to carry an EM signal from
an EM tag to an EM sensor, such as EM sensor 22 of wearable device
20. In some embodiments, propagation channel 40 is a user's body,
such as when a user physically touches an EM tag or physically
touches an object with an attached EM tag. In other embodiments,
wearable device 20 with EM sensor 22 is in direct contact EM tag
30, and no propagation channel is necessary.
[0018] FIG. 2 is flowchart 200 depicting operational steps of
object identification program 21, executing within EM tag system
environment 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. In the depicted embodiment, object
identification program 21 operates to present information to a user
about an object using EM tag 30, affixed to the object and emitting
a signature EM signal.
[0019] In step 210, object identification program 21 receives an EM
signal. In the depicted embodiment, object identification program
21 receives an EM signal from EM sensor 22, which detected the EM
signal emitted by EM tag 30 through propagation channel 40. For
example, when a user touches EM tag 30 attached to a blood pressure
prescription bottle, the signature EM signal emitting from EM tag
30 propagates through the user, is detected by EM sensor 22, and
then, is received by object identification program 21. In another
example, when a user touches a flute, or any conductive object,
with EM tag 30 attached, the signature EM signal emitting from EM
tag 30 propagates through the flute and then through the user, is
detected by EM sensor 22, and then, is received by object
identification program 21.
[0020] In step 220, object identification program 21 searches a
database. In the depicted embodiment, object identification program
21 searches database 23, which includes each EM tag's signature EM
signal, the object each EM tag has been assigned to, and any object
information input by a user. Object identification program 21
searches database 23 for the stored signature EM signal that most
closely matches the received EM signal. Slight variations between a
detected EM signal and the stored signature EM signal for a
specific EM tag can be caused by different placements on a user's
body of wearable device 20. Because of these slight variations,
object identification program 21 uses a threshold tolerance, an
allowable amount of variation of the EM signal, when searching
database 23.
[0021] In step 230, object identification program 21 identifies
object information. Object identification program 21 matches the
received EM signal to the stored signature EM signal and
corresponding EM tag. Then, object identification program 21
identifies object information corresponding with the identified EM
tag, such as the name of the object, how many times a user has
touched the object during a certain predefined time period, and any
other information the user inputs. Continuing the prescription
bottle example, object identification program 21 matches the
received EM signal to the stored signature EM signal of EM tag 30,
which the user assigned to the prescription bottle. Then, object
identification program 21 identifies object information input by
the user, such as the name of the prescription, how many times the
user has touched the bottle in a day, what time the user last
touched the prescription bottle, when the user is supposed to take
the next dose, possible side effects of the prescription, how to
take the prescription, and how many doses are remaining in the
prescription bottle.
[0022] In step 240, object identification program 21 presents
object information. In some embodiments, object identification
program 21 transforms the identified object information into an
audio signal and transmits the signal via a speaker of wearable
device 20, headphones plugged into wearable device 20, or
BLUETOOTH.RTM. headphones to audibly present the identified object.
Continuing with the prescription bottle example, object
identification program 21 will audibly state, "blood pressure
prescription bottle." In one embodiment, object identification
program 21 audibly presents object information input by the user
when a microphone of wearable device 20 hears the user state, "more
information." Then, object identification program 21 will audibly
present the object information stored in database 23, such as what
time the user last touched the prescription bottle, when the user
is supposed to take the next dose, possible side effects of the
prescription, how to take the prescription, and how many doses are
remaining in the prescription bottle. Object identification program
21 uses natural language processing (e.g., deep linguistic
processing, sentence splitting, named entry recognition,
tokenization, word sense disambiguation, chunking, parsing, and
topic segmentation, etc.) to process the semantics of what the
microphone hears the user state. In other embodiments, object
identification program 21 delivers vibration pulses in Morse code
of the object information. In other embodiments, object
identification program 21 visually displays the identified object
information on wearable device 20. In yet other embodiments, object
identification program 21 presents additional object information in
any one of the methods described after the user taps wearable
device 20.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting components of a computer
300 suitable for executing the object identification program 21.
FIG. 3 displays the computer 300, the one or more processor(s) 304
(including one or more computer processors), the communications
fabric 302, the memory 306, the cache 316, the persistent storage
308, the communications unit 310, the I/O interfaces 312, the
display 320, and the external devices 318. It should be appreciated
that FIG. 3 provides only an illustration of one embodiment and
does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in
which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications
to the depicted environment may be made.
[0024] As depicted, the computer 300 operates over a communications
fabric 302, which provides communications between the cache 316,
the computer processor(s) 304, the memory 306, the persistent
storage 308, the communications unit 310, and the input/output
(I/O) interface(s) 312. The communications fabric 302 may be
implemented with any architecture suitable for passing data and/or
control information between the processors 304 (e.g.
microprocessors, communications processors, and network processors,
etc.), the memory 306, the external devices 318, and any other
hardware components within a system.
[0025] The memory 306 and persistent storage 308 are computer
readable storage media. In the depicted embodiment, the memory 306
includes a random access memory (RAM). In general, the memory 306
may include any suitable volatile or non-volatile implementations
of one or more computer readable storage media. The cache 316 is a
fast memory that enhances the performance of computer processor(s)
304 by holding recently accessed data, and data near accessed data,
from memory 306.
[0026] Program instructions for object identification program 21
may be stored in the persistent storage 308 or in memory 306, or
more generally, any computer readable storage media, for execution
by one or more of the respective computer processors 304 via the
cache 316. The persistent storage 308 may include a magnetic hard
disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard disk
drive, the persistent storage 308 may include, a solid state hard
disk drive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM),
electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),
flash memory, or any other computer readable storage media that is
capable of storing program instructions or digital information.
[0027] The media used by the persistent storage 308 may also be
removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for
persistent storage 308. Other examples include optical and magnetic
disks, thumb drives, and smart cards that are inserted into a drive
for transfer onto another computer readable storage medium that is
also part of the persistent storage 308.
[0028] The communications unit 310, in these examples, provides for
communications with other data processing systems or devices. In
these examples, the communications unit 310 may include one or more
network interface cards. The communications unit 310 may provide
communications through the use of either or both physical and
wireless communications links. Object identification program2l may
be downloaded to the persistent storage 308 through the
communications unit 310. In the context of some embodiments of the
present invention, the source of the various input data may be
physically remote to the computer 300 such that the input data may
be received and the output similarly transmitted via the
communications unit 310.
[0029] The I/O interface(s) 312 allows for input and output of data
with other devices that may operate in conjunction with the
computer 300. For example, the I/O interface 312 may provide a
connection to the external devices 318, which may include a
keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input
devices. External devices 318 may also include portable computer
readable storage media, for example, thumb drives, portable optical
or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to
practice embodiments of the present invention may be stored on such
portable computer readable storage media and may be loaded onto the
persistent storage 308 via the I/O interface(s) 312. The I/O
interface(s) 312 may similarly connect to a display 320. The
display 320 provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may
be, for example, a computer monitor. Display 320 may also provide a
mechanism to audibly present data to a user and may be, for
example, a speaker.
[0030] The programs described herein are identified based upon the
application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment
of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any
particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for
convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use
solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by
such nomenclature.
[0031] The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a
computer program product at any possible technical detail level of
integration. The computer program product may include a computer
readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program
instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects
of the present invention.
[0032] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible
device that can retain and store instructions for use by an
instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium
may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of
more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium
includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk,
a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable
programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static
random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a
floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,
and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable
storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being
transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves
propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,
light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical
signals transmitted through a wire.
[0033] Computer readable program instructions described herein can
be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a
computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or
external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a
local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical
transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,
switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter
card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives computer readable program instructions from the network
and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage
in a computer readable storage medium within the respective
computing/processing device.
[0034] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out
operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions,
instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware
instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated
circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any
combination of one or more programming languages, including an
object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the
like, and procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language or similar programming languages. The computer
readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's
computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software
package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote
computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the
latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's
computer through any type of network, including a local area
network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may
be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet
using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments,
electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic
circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable
logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program
instructions by utilizing state information of the computer
readable program instructions to personalize the electronic
circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present
invention.
[0035] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable
program instructions.
[0036] These computer readable program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in
a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a
programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable
storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an
article of manufacture including instructions which implement
aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0037] The computer readable program instructions may also be
loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing
apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps
to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or
other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that
the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable
apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0038] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one
or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the
functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in
the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of
the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations
of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can
be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that
perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations
of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
* * * * *