Mobile Object Tracking via Image Sensor State Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in efficiently tracking the location and state of objects in everyday life, as existing methods consume significant time and effort, leading to lost productivity and inaccuracies, especially when objects are moved or their states change.

Innovation Solution

A mobile computing device with image sensors that acquire and process video data to identify and track inanimate objects, storing their state information and providing notifications upon user request or contextual triggers, allowing for adaptive learning and shared tracking across multiple users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If manual tracking methods are used to locate and monitor objects, then people can obtain information about object locations and states, but it consumes significant time and effort, leading to lost productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject location and state informationVSAvoidtime spent searching for objects

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tracked object itself performs the tracking function through an integrated sensor that automatically detects its own location and state (e.g., emptiness level) without requiring manual observation or external monitoring systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical search methods with an electronic sensor-based system that automatically detects and transmits object location and state information wirelessly to remote devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual tracking methods are used, then people can monitor object states, but inaccuracies occur when objects are moved or their states change without the owner's knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of object state trackingVSAvoidchanges in object location and state

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor continuously monitors the tracked object's location and state and automatically transmits updates to remote devices, providing real-time feedback that ensures the owner always has accurate current information without manual checking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The object autonomously monitors and reports its own state changes (such as being moved or emptied) through the integrated sensor, eliminating reliance on the owner's awareness or manual tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If automated object tracking systems are implemented, then tracking accuracy and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases due to sensors and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of object trackingVSAvoidcomplexity of tracking system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the tracking functionality from complex external systems and embeds it directly into the tracked object itself through a simple integrated sensor, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining automated tracking capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated sensor serves multiple functions including location detection, state monitoring (such as emptiness level), and wireless communication, reducing the need for separate specialized components and simplifying the system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9979809B2Object tracking

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the automatic tracking of objects. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of operating a mobile computing device having an image sensor. The method includes acquiring image data, identifying an inanimate moveable object in the image data, determining whether the inanimate moveable object is a tracked object, if the inanimate moveable object is a tracked object, then storing information regarding a state of the inanimate moveable object, detecting a trigger to provide a notification of the state of the inanimate moveable object, and providing an output of the notification of the state of the inanimate moveable object.