WO2016051369A1 - System for the description of an environment - Google Patents

System for the description of an environment Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016051369A1
WO2016051369A1 PCT/IB2015/057515 IB2015057515W WO2016051369A1 WO 2016051369 A1 WO2016051369 A1 WO 2016051369A1 IB 2015057515 W IB2015057515 W IB 2015057515W WO 2016051369 A1 WO2016051369 A1 WO 2016051369A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
identification device
identification
information
event
unit
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2015/057515
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Alessio Maria D'AMICO
Fabrizio Loppini
Original Assignee
D Amico Alessio Maria
Fabrizio Loppini
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by D Amico Alessio Maria, Fabrizio Loppini filed Critical D Amico Alessio Maria
Publication of WO2016051369A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016051369A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
    • G06K17/0022—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device
    • G06K17/0029—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/0723—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for the description of an environment, within which environment a plurality of objects is provided.
  • the system further comprises at least one acquisition unit.
  • the acquisition unit is used by at least one user for obtaining a description of the environment .
  • the system relates also to the known "augmented reality” technology, namely obtaining information that cannot be directly obtained when looking at an object, but that in prior art known systems are gathered from the internet network.
  • Prior art known systems can further be integrated with sound or acoustic means, particularly in order to provide information also to blind users, for example in order to allow them to visit art cities, replacing at least partially information that can be obtained by the sight with sounds and words.
  • the present invention achieves the above aims by providing a system for the description of reality such as described before, wherein an identification device associated to each object is present.
  • the identification device uniquely identifies the object to which it is associated and it comprises at least one transmitting/receiving unit intended to communicate at least with the acquisition unit and at least one storage unit inside such storage unit information about the object associated to said identification device are provided.
  • each identification device communicates with the other identification devices present within the environment through the transmitting/receiving unit.
  • Each identification device comprises at least one processing unit intended to process information received from the other identification devices, which information are stored within the storage unit.
  • each identification device gathers information from the identification devices present within the same environment .
  • each object inside the environment has information about the other objects, by means of the communication between the identification devices, information that can be then transmitted to the acquisition unit and, consequently, to the user.
  • the acquisition unit comprises at least one output interface intended to communicate and/or display information received from the identification devices.
  • Information can reach the user in any manner, both visually, for example through a display, and acoustically, through sound generating means, or a combination thereof.
  • Information can be further processed on the basis of the user needs, for example they can be filtered, limiting the amount of information needed by the user.
  • the acquisition unit preferably comprises processing means intended to process information received from the identification devices.
  • each identification device comprises locating means intended to identify the location of the object to which the identification device is associated.
  • the acquisition unit comprises locating members intended to identify the location of the acquisition unit.
  • each identification device comprises locating members intended to identify the location of other identification devices.
  • the transmitting/receiving unit comprises an output unit intended to display and/or communicate information present in each identification device .
  • the output unit is composed of a display made according to the "electronic-ink” technology.
  • the processing unit of the identification devices comprises processing means for executing a logic program, whose execution causes each identification device to operate by performing the following steps:
  • each identification device comprises a database of functional relations of the identification device with the objects to which the other one or more identification devices are associated, which functional relations are related to actions, activities or functions that provide the active or passive involvement of one or more of the objects associated to the identification devices.
  • each identification device determines on the basis of the database information whether the involvement of the object associated thereto is expected or not, and if that is the case which is the nature of the function that the object associated to the identification device has to carry out and which are the modes for carrying out the expected function.
  • the logic program provided therein detects such non- involvement condition and it activates a pause or stand-by function where the identification device waits, but it does not transmit information signals till its involvement is required based on change in the situation which is required or commanded or spontaneously occurring and it is detected by the event detection and identification devices.
  • the event can be automatically detected by sensors that characterize its quality and that generate event identification signals, while the database comprises information about the actions, activities or functions that result from the event by identifying also the objects involved in these actions, activities or functions .
  • the event can be a command or a request sent from an identification device in relation to a change in the state of the object identified by it, or as an alternative or in combination the event can be a command or a request by the user through the acquisition device by means of which an activation command or signal or actuation command of an action, activity or function is transmitted.
  • the interrogation step a) takes place for each identification device belonging to the system that interrogates the remaining part of the identification devices, such that each identification device is aware of the surrounding environment due to information sent by the other devices to it.
  • a user by interrogating any identification device through the acquisition unit, can be aware of the surrounding environment.
  • the description of the surrounding environment occurs as it was seen from an origin coinciding with the interrogated identification device.
  • the received data can be modified meaning that the observation point is changed by moving it on one of the further involved identification devices.
  • the user can obtain all the necessary information through a code, of the QR code type or the like that is displayed by the identification devices around him/her.
  • step c) for the displaying and/or communication provides to code information present within the storage unit by displaying an identification code , of the QR code type .
  • the interrogation step a) is automatically performed any time a change of information present in the storage unit of each identification device occurs, each identification device comprising a control unit intended to control said change.
  • the environment and the objects therein not only become talking by allowing the configuration, the basic characteristics, the space location and the condition to be known, but are able to interact with each other and not only with the user.
  • the relation between objects associated to the identification codes on the basis of actions, activities or functions required or deriving from the occurrence of events , both whether they are automatically or manually detected or whether the event is a command or a request by the user, allows the environment and the objects therein to be animated in a functional manner such to maximize efficacy and the chances of success of the action, activity or function to be carried out.
  • Fig.l is a schematic block diagram of the system for the description of an environment according to the present invention.
  • Fig.2 is a schematic block diagram of the preferred embodiment allowing one interaction.
  • Figure 1 shows the system for the description of an environment 10 inside which environment 10 a plurality of objects 1, 2, 3, and 4 is provided.
  • the system comprises at least one acquisition unit
  • the acquisition unit 5 is used by a user 6 who has to move within the environment 10.
  • an identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 associated to each object 1, 2 , 3 and 4.
  • Each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 uniquely identifies the object to which it is associated.
  • the identification device 11 uniquely identifies the object 1
  • the identification device 21 uniquely identifies the object 2 and so on.
  • each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 not only uniquely relate the object to which it is associated to a number or a code, but it may contain any information related to the object.
  • Each identification device comprises at least one storage unit 12, 22, 32 and 42 inside which information about the object associated to the identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 are present.
  • each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 comprises at least one transmitting/receiving unit 13, 23, 33 and 43 intended to communicate at least with the acquisition unit 2.
  • 31 and 41 communicates with the other identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41 present within the environment 10 through the transmitting/receiving unit 13, 23, 33 and 43.
  • each identification device comprises at least one processing unit 14, 24, 34 and 44 intended to process information received from the other identification devices, which information are stored in the storage units 13, 23, 33 and 43.
  • the interface unit 5 comprises at least one output interface intended to communicate and/or display information received from said identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41.
  • the acquisition unit 5 can be made in any manner known in the prior art, and it can provide, besides the output interface, also processing means intended to process information received from the identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41.
  • the acquisition unit 5 can be composed of a portable device, such as smartphone, tablet or the like .
  • each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 can comprise locating means intended to identify the location of the object 1, 2, 3, and 4 to which the identification device is associated.
  • the acquisition unit 5 comprises locating members intended to identify the location of the acquisition unit 5.
  • the provision of the locating means and members allows the accurate location of each object 1, 2, 3 and 4 within the environment and of the acquisition unit 5, namely of the user 6, to be identified.
  • the locating means and members can for example be composed of a satellite system of the GPS type or the like .
  • the locating process can be absolute, that is it relates to an absolute, fixed coordinate system, where each component of the system has precise coordinates.
  • a relative locating process for example by using a reference system related to the environment 10, or a variable system that analyzes the distance of each object 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the basis of the position of the acquisition unit 5, that is the distance of such objects from the same unit 5.
  • the transmitting/receiving unit 12, 22, 32 and 42 comprises an output unit intended to display and/or communicate information present in each identification device.
  • the output unit for example can be composed of any device able to transmit to the user 6, through the acquisition unit 5, information about the several objects 1, 2, 3 and 4.
  • the output unit is composed of a display implemented according to the "electronic-ink” technology.
  • Such technology is commonly used in the e-book field and it is known as electronic paper.
  • the electronic paper known also as e-ink or e- paper, is a display technology designed to mimic the appearance of ink on ordinary paper. Unlike a conventional display that uses light from the back of the display to illuminate the pixels, the e-paper reflects ambient light like a paper sheet.
  • the most used technology provides to use very tiny spheres inside the display. Such spheres are electrically charged; one hemisphere is positive and black coloured while the other hemisphere is negatively charged and it is white coloured. By electric fields it is possible to orient the spheres to obtain the change of colour in the several points of the display.
  • processing units 14, 24, 34 and 44 associated to each object 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprise processing means for executing a logic program, whose execution causes each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 to operate by performing the following steps: a) interrogating at least one further identification device;
  • the identification device 11 it is possible to provide the identification device 11 to communicate for example with the identification device 21 and to receive information about the object 2 stored in the storage unit 23 through the transmitting and receiving unit 12 and the transmitting and receiving unit 22.
  • Each identi ication device 11, 21, 31 and 41 can act in a similar manner, interrogating one or more interrogation devices.
  • the user 6 then can obtain information from any identification device through the acquisition unit 5.
  • each identification device can be equipped with an antenna able to find the acquisition unit 5 inside a specific receiving field and to automatically transmit information .
  • information can be transmitted manually, that is by a command from the user 6 through the acquisition unit 5 that interrogates the identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41.
  • a particular embodiment of the system of the present invention provides step c) displaying and/or sending information to code information present into the storage unit by displaying an identification code, of the QR code type.
  • the acquisition unit 5 will be composed of a device of the smartphone type or the like and the user 6 can obtain information by simply reading the code .
  • Such variant embodiment is particularly advantageous in combination with the implementation of the output unit as an electronic-paper technology display.
  • the step interrogating the identification devices can be automatically carried out .
  • step a) for the interrogation is automatically carried out each time information present in the storage unit of each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 is modified, each identification device 11, 21 ,31 and 41 comprising a control unit intended to control said modification.
  • the control unit of the identification device 21 detects the change in position and it carries out the interrogation of the other identification devices 11, 31, and 41 such that all of them are informed about such change in position.
  • a blind user may, through his/her acquisition unit 5, move inside the environment 10 without hitting any object.
  • the acquisition unit 5 is informed about the map of the environment 10 and it can guide the blind user 6 by making specific paths on the basis of the needs of the user .
  • the acquisition unit 5 may be possible with the acquisition unit 5 to know the expiry dates of all the products, the positioning and the prices and to be informed about any change of the products.
  • the identification devices may be equipped with a temperature sensor it may be possible to control the temperature of each product associated to the identification devices.
  • system of the present invention may be used also for managing warehouses, making it possible to obtain all information about the products in the warehouse .
  • the system of the present invention is generally particularly efficient each time information about a plurality of objects is desired, depending on the information of interest obviously the identification devices will be equipped with detectors for the parameters able to provide such information.
  • the system described above can exhibit further improvements .
  • each identification device comprises a database of functional relations of the identification device with the objects to which the other one or more identi ication devices are associated, which functional relations are related to actions, activities or functions that provide the active or passive involvement of one or more of the objects associated to the identification devices.
  • each identification device determines on the basis of the database information whether the involvement of the object associated thereto is expected or not, and if that is the case which is the nature of the function that the object associated to the identification device has to carry out and which are the modes for carrying out the expected function.
  • the logic program provided therein detects such non- involvement condition and it activates a pause or stand-by function where the identification device waits, but it does not transmit information signals till its involvement is required based on change in the situation which is required or commanded or spontaneously occurring and it is detected by the event detection and identification devices.
  • the event can be automatically detected by sensors that characterize its quality and that generate event identification signals, while the database comprises information about the actions, activities or functions that result from the event by identifying also the objects involved in these actions, activities or functions .
  • the event can be a command or a request sent from an identification device in relation to a change in the state of the object identified by it, or as an alternative or in combination the event can be a command or a request by the user through the acquisition device by means of which an activation command or signal or actuation command of an action, activity or function is transmitted.
  • identification devices by considering as comprised therein not only the devices that identify objects, but also the devices identifying object conditions and/or environmental parameters and/or physiological parameters not only of the user but also of possible people or animals related in any manner to him/her, it is possible to provide different fulfilment modes.
  • the person PI is provided with an acquisition unit 5 that can communicate according to one or several different wireless protocols with a plurality of tags, such as for example rfid tags or other types of tags 11 that compose the several identification devices.
  • tags such as for example rfid tags or other types of tags 11 that compose the several identification devices.
  • Each one of them has a processing unit wherein a control logic program is loaded which relate data and information about the quality of the object to which it is associated with morphological conditions and with state conditions of the object with position information of other identification devices 11 and with the relevant information about quality, morphological characteristics and state conditions of the objects identified by them on the basis of a database of functional and/or topographic relations namely space position relations and depending on events that can be detected by detection and identification devices 11' that are also within a network with the other identification devices or that are automatically operated by other identification devices or by the user PI or P2 by the aid of the acquisition unit 5.
  • the user P2 for example at risk because he/she is near a dangerous event E, can be provided with identification devices that signal his/her position and/or the state physiological conditions by detecting them automatically or by a manual setting by the user.
  • the same acquisition device possibly owned by the user P2 can work as an identification and detection device as well as for manually inputting data about the physiological conditions of the user.
  • a database contains a list of functional relations between identification devices on the basis of actions, activities or functions required because of an event that can be automatically detected or induced for example in the form of a command.
  • the identification devices that are related to each other by the activity, action or function caused by the event are kept active, while the identification devices that are not directly involved are kept in by pass and only waiting for an activation request should the event conditions change.
  • the example shows a flat where there is the user PI, a corridor 110 leading to a stairwell 120.
  • a lift 130 is provided immediately before the stairwell.
  • the event E a small fire in the kitchen room, causes damages to the user P2.
  • the blind user PI is activated for recovering in any manner the user P2 and for escaping.
  • the condition of event E is monitored by the identification devices present in the kitchen room where it has been detected. These identifiers are automatically kept active while the other ones in the remote area and in the opposite blind angle of the living room are in standby.
  • a further dangerous event for P2 is detected by the identification device associated to P2 and the conditions are signaled to PI.
  • the two events are related to each other since the relative position detected between P2 and the event E denotes that there is a space relation and that a recovery function may be performed within the time periods and by the action modes that the functional relation database make available.
  • the blind user PI is guided towards P2 with no other interfering identification devices since only those involved in signalling obstacles, the condition and the position of the event, the condition and the position of P2 and the position of the access door are active .
  • the relation database activates, depending on the event, the escape function that involves other identification devices and particularly those that are essential for passing in the corridor and for reaching the lift.
  • the identification devices of the lift communicate with and are related to the event detector and therefore they make it possible to operate the lift depending on safety conditions determined on the basis of the size of the fire.
  • the identification devices associated to the staircase inform to be a possible alternative .
  • a superordinate control system that manages the communication network, the identification devices in the broadest meaning defined above and also the acquisition unit of the user or users.
  • a superordinate unit such as a control server denoted by 150 in figure 2

Abstract

System for the description of an environment (10), inside which environment a plurality of objects (1, 2, 3, 4) is provided, which system comprises at least one acquisition unit (5). There is further provided an identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) associated to each object (1, 2, 3, 4) which identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) uniquely identifies the object (1, 2, 3, 4) to which it is associated, said identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) comprising at least one transmitting/receiving unit (12, 22, 32, 42) intended to communicate at least with said acquisition unit (5) and at least one storage unit (13, 23, 33, 43) inside such storage unit (13, 23, 33, 43) information about the object associated to said identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) are provided.

Description

System for the description of an environment.
The present invention relates to a system for the description of an environment, within which environment a plurality of objects is provided.
The system further comprises at least one acquisition unit.
Preferably the acquisition unit is used by at least one user for obtaining a description of the environment .
It is specified that the term "description" means not only a real account about the description of the objects present in the environment and their positioning.
The system relates also to the known "augmented reality" technology, namely obtaining information that cannot be directly obtained when looking at an object, but that in prior art known systems are gathered from the internet network.
In prior art known systems the use of a camera of a device of the smartphone type or the like allows monuments or famous buildings to be recognized and through internet connection the same device provides to the user historical, artistic information or information of any type, about the framed object.
Prior art known systems can further be integrated with sound or acoustic means, particularly in order to provide information also to blind users, for example in order to allow them to visit art cities, replacing at least partially information that can be obtained by the sight with sounds and words.
From what just described it is clear how such systems are particularly efficient and functional, but they are unusable in case of lack of internet connection or in unknown environments, such as for example any house room, wherein objects of common use are present, such as seats, tables, walls, pictures, etc .
Therefore there is the unsatisfied need in prior art known systems to provide a system for the description of an environment that solves the drawbacks just described.
The present invention achieves the above aims by providing a system for the description of reality such as described before, wherein an identification device associated to each object is present.
The identification device uniquely identifies the object to which it is associated and it comprises at least one transmitting/receiving unit intended to communicate at least with the acquisition unit and at least one storage unit inside such storage unit information about the object associated to said identification device are provided.
Preferably according to a preferred embodiment, each identification device communicates with the other identification devices present within the environment through the transmitting/receiving unit.
Each identification device comprises at least one processing unit intended to process information received from the other identification devices, which information are stored within the storage unit.
Thus a network of identification devices communicating with each other is implemented, wherein each identification device gathers information from the identification devices present within the same environment .
Consequently each object inside the environment has information about the other objects, by means of the communication between the identification devices, information that can be then transmitted to the acquisition unit and, consequently, to the user.
Advantageously the acquisition unit comprises at least one output interface intended to communicate and/or display information received from the identification devices.
Information can reach the user in any manner, both visually, for example through a display, and acoustically, through sound generating means, or a combination thereof.
Information can be further processed on the basis of the user needs, for example they can be filtered, limiting the amount of information needed by the user.
For this reason the acquisition unit preferably comprises processing means intended to process information received from the identification devices.
According to a further variant embodiment, each identification device comprises locating means intended to identify the location of the object to which the identification device is associated. Moreover it is possible to provide the acquisition unit to comprise locating members intended to identify the location of the acquisition unit.
Still according to a further characteristic each identification device comprises locating members intended to identify the location of other identification devices.
The advantage of the provision of locating means and of the locating members is clear, since it allows information to be obtained about the precise positioning of each object in relation to the acquisition unit and in relation to the other objects to which an identification device is associated. As it is clear such variant further has a particularly advantageous aspect when the user is a blind user, since it allows him/her to move, to be followed and guided on his/her way by information obtained from the acquisition unit through the identification devices.
Advantageously the transmitting/receiving unit comprises an output unit intended to display and/or communicate information present in each identification device .
According to an improvement the output unit is composed of a display made according to the "electronic-ink" technology.
Such technology, known in the prior art, particularly in e-book field, allows electricity for the display to be saved since it allows the contents of the display to be displayed without the need of backlight illumination of pixels. According to a preferred embodiment, the processing unit of the identification devices comprises processing means for executing a logic program, whose execution causes each identification device to operate by performing the following steps:
a) interrogating at least one further identification device;
b) reading and/or storing information about said further identification device within the storage unit, c) displaying and/or sending the acquisition unit the information contained in the storage unit of the identification device which information are about the identification device itself and the further identification device .
According to a further variant the logic program of each identification device comprises a database of functional relations of the identification device with the objects to which the other one or more identification devices are associated, which functional relations are related to actions, activities or functions that provide the active or passive involvement of one or more of the objects associated to the identification devices.
In this case it is possible that, on the basis of a trigger event such as the announcement of an event through the identification devices of the event or of requests for the activation of an event, an activity or an action or a function, each identification device determines on the basis of the database information whether the involvement of the object associated thereto is expected or not, and if that is the case which is the nature of the function that the object associated to the identification device has to carry out and which are the modes for carrying out the expected function.
For the identification devices associated to the objects that are not involved in carrying out the event, the activity, the action or the function, the logic program provided therein detects such non- involvement condition and it activates a pause or stand-by function where the identification device waits, but it does not transmit information signals till its involvement is required based on change in the situation which is required or commanded or spontaneously occurring and it is detected by the event detection and identification devices.
This allows noise from identification devices of objects that are not involved in an event or activity to be eliminated by leaving active only those identification devices that are associated to directly involved objects. However the stand-by condition, if changes in the situation occur, allows the identification devices of the objects involved in the changes of the event conditions to be activated automatically or by a command or by a request and they enter in the network with the other identification devices and with the user acquisition device.
The event can be automatically detected by sensors that characterize its quality and that generate event identification signals, while the database comprises information about the actions, activities or functions that result from the event by identifying also the objects involved in these actions, activities or functions .
As an alternative or in combination the event can be a command or a request sent from an identification device in relation to a change in the state of the object identified by it, or as an alternative or in combination the event can be a command or a request by the user through the acquisition device by means of which an activation command or signal or actuation command of an action, activity or function is transmitted.
What described above has considerable advantages particularly for blind people, but not only, above all in emergency conditions such as for example to indicate the best and nearest routes of escape and relevant paths or the areas intended for refuge in case of danger .
In the case of blind people, moreover, the advantages are considerable also for carrying out simple activities such as moving in an environment due to a function or an activity that he/she desires to carry out such as going to the bathroom, going in the kitchen, going out on the balcony.
As regards the database of events, activities of actions and functions they can be accompanied by importance indicators that classify their hierarchical importance and priority position.
As regards the cooperation and interaction between identi ication devices, by considering as comprised therein not only the devices that identify objects, but also the devices identifying object conditions and/or environmental parameters and/or physiological parameters not only of the user but also of possible people or animals related in any manner to him/her, it is possible to provide different fulfilment modes. Preferably the interrogation step a) takes place for each identification device belonging to the system that interrogates the remaining part of the identification devices, such that each identification device is aware of the surrounding environment due to information sent by the other devices to it.
A user, by interrogating any identification device through the acquisition unit, can be aware of the surrounding environment.
In one embodiment the description of the surrounding environment occurs as it was seen from an origin coinciding with the interrogated identification device.
As an alternative the received data can be modified meaning that the observation point is changed by moving it on one of the further involved identification devices.
It is clear that in the case of blind users, all this can occur through a voice interface both of command or request or input by the user and of description of the data such as for example the conditions of the environment the conditions of people or animals or both of them. It is possible to provide also a superordinate control system that manages the communication network, the identi ication devices in the most broad meaning defined above and also the acquisition unit of the user and by means of which it is possible to intervene on the operations of the system both by a logic management program and manually for example in case of failure or in case of the need of expanding the interaction to wider areas that involve different environments that usually are not connected or not communicating with each other .
In a different alternative, for example the user can obtain all the necessary information through a code, of the QR code type or the like that is displayed by the identification devices around him/her.
Such alternative has advantages of simplicity, and low cost, but at the same time it is not the preferred one when an extreme interaction in real-time of the identification devices is required or when the conditions and information change very quickly and require constant adjustments of the system and of the data of the database .
In this more simple and limited variant, consequently step c) for the displaying and/or communication provides to code information present within the storage unit by displaying an identification code , of the QR code type .
By using devices displaying the QRCode however it is possible to make also such system more flexible and to resemble its functionalities to the preferred ones. Finally according to a further improvement the interrogation step a) is automatically performed any time a change of information present in the storage unit of each identification device occurs, each identification device comprising a control unit intended to control said change.
From what described above the advantages of the present invention clearly appear and which make the interaction within an environment very easy, simple and safe for people not completely aware of the characteristics and of the conditions thereof or for people, on the contrary, having limits as regards data acquisition functions both acoustic and visual ones and also cognitive ones.
The environment and the objects therein not only become talking by allowing the configuration, the basic characteristics, the space location and the condition to be known, but are able to interact with each other and not only with the user.
The relation between objects associated to the identification codes on the basis of actions, activities or functions required or deriving from the occurrence of events , both whether they are automatically or manually detected or whether the event is a command or a request by the user, allows the environment and the objects therein to be animated in a functional manner such to maximize efficacy and the chances of success of the action, activity or function to be carried out.
These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following description of some embodiments shown in the annexed drawings wherein:
Fig.l is a schematic block diagram of the system for the description of an environment according to the present invention.
Fig.2 is a schematic block diagram of the preferred embodiment allowing one interaction.
It is specified that the figure annexed in the present patent application shows a variant embodiment of the system for the description of an environment according to the present invention, but such variant has to be intended merely for illustrative purposes, in order to better explain the innovative aspects and the advantages of the present invention, but it has not to be considered as limiting the inventive concept.
Figure 1 shows the system for the description of an environment 10 inside which environment 10 a plurality of objects 1, 2, 3, and 4 is provided.
The system comprises at least one acquisition unit
5.
Preferably the acquisition unit 5 is used by a user 6 who has to move within the environment 10.
Moreover there is provided an identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 associated to each object 1, 2 , 3 and 4.
Each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 uniquely identifies the object to which it is associated.
Therefore for example the identification device 11 uniquely identifies the object 1, the identification device 21 uniquely identifies the object 2 and so on.
Moreover each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 not only uniquely relate the object to which it is associated to a number or a code, but it may contain any information related to the object.
Each identification device comprises at least one storage unit 12, 22, 32 and 42 inside which information about the object associated to the identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 are present.
Moreover each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 comprises at least one transmitting/receiving unit 13, 23, 33 and 43 intended to communicate at least with the acquisition unit 2.
Advantageously each identification device 11, 21,
31 and 41 communicates with the other identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41 present within the environment 10 through the transmitting/receiving unit 13, 23, 33 and 43.
In particular each identification device comprises at least one processing unit 14, 24, 34 and 44 intended to process information received from the other identification devices, which information are stored in the storage units 13, 23, 33 and 43.
Advantageously the interface unit 5 comprises at least one output interface intended to communicate and/or display information received from said identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41.
Obviously the acquisition unit 5 can be made in any manner known in the prior art, and it can provide, besides the output interface, also processing means intended to process information received from the identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41.
For example the acquisition unit 5 can be composed of a portable device, such as smartphone, tablet or the like .
According to a possible embodiment each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 can comprise locating means intended to identify the location of the object 1, 2, 3, and 4 to which the identification device is associated.
Similarly the acquisition unit 5 comprises locating members intended to identify the location of the acquisition unit 5.
As mentioned above and as it will be described below the provision of the locating means and members allows the accurate location of each object 1, 2, 3 and 4 within the environment and of the acquisition unit 5, namely of the user 6, to be identified.
The locating means and members can for example be composed of a satellite system of the GPS type or the like .
The locating process can be absolute, that is it relates to an absolute, fixed coordinate system, where each component of the system has precise coordinates.
As an alternative or in combination it is possible to provide a relative locating process, for example by using a reference system related to the environment 10, or a variable system that analyzes the distance of each object 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the basis of the position of the acquisition unit 5, that is the distance of such objects from the same unit 5.
All information about the location and the calculation of the distance will be stored in the storage units 13, 23, 33 and 43 and will be available for the acquisition unit 5, that therefore can provide to the user 6 all the necessary information for moving inside the environment 10, without hitting the objects 1, 2, 3 and 4.
According to a preferred embodiment, the transmitting/receiving unit 12, 22, 32 and 42 comprises an output unit intended to display and/or communicate information present in each identification device.
The output unit for example can be composed of any device able to transmit to the user 6, through the acquisition unit 5, information about the several objects 1, 2, 3 and 4.
According to a preferred variant embodiment the output unit is composed of a display implemented according to the "electronic-ink" technology.
Such technology is commonly used in the e-book field and it is known as electronic paper.
The electronic paper, known also as e-ink or e- paper, is a display technology designed to mimic the appearance of ink on ordinary paper. Unlike a conventional display that uses light from the back of the display to illuminate the pixels, the e-paper reflects ambient light like a paper sheet.
The most used technology provides to use very tiny spheres inside the display. Such spheres are electrically charged; one hemisphere is positive and black coloured while the other hemisphere is negatively charged and it is white coloured. By electric fields it is possible to orient the spheres to obtain the change of colour in the several points of the display.
This allows supports to be made that are thin and that require power only when the configuration of the spheres is desired to be modified. Therefore it is possible to implement devices that are lightweight and having a long operating time, since power is required only for changing the contents of the display.
Obviously in this case it will be necessary to provide a power unit intended to power the output unit associated to each object 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Preferably the processing units 14, 24, 34 and 44 associated to each object 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprise processing means for executing a logic program, whose execution causes each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 to operate by performing the following steps: a) interrogating at least one further identification device;
b) storing information about said further identification device within the storage unit,
c) displaying and/or sending said acquisition unit the information contained in said storage unit.
Therefore with a particular reference to figure 1, it is possible to provide the identification device 11 to communicate for example with the identification device 21 and to receive information about the object 2 stored in the storage unit 23 through the transmitting and receiving unit 12 and the transmitting and receiving unit 22.
Each identi ication device 11, 21, 31 and 41 can act in a similar manner, interrogating one or more interrogation devices.
The user 6 then can obtain information from any identification device through the acquisition unit 5.
Information can be transmitted both automatically and manually.
As regards the automatic transmission for example it is possible to program the identification devices such that they transmit information to the acquisition unit according to specific intervals, or each identification device can be equipped with an antenna able to find the acquisition unit 5 inside a specific receiving field and to automatically transmit information .
As an alternative or in combination, information can be transmitted manually, that is by a command from the user 6 through the acquisition unit 5 that interrogates the identification devices 11, 21, 31 and 41.
A particular embodiment of the system of the present invention provides step c) displaying and/or sending information to code information present into the storage unit by displaying an identification code, of the QR code type.
In this case the acquisition unit 5 will be composed of a device of the smartphone type or the like and the user 6 can obtain information by simply reading the code .
Such variant embodiment is particularly advantageous in combination with the implementation of the output unit as an electronic-paper technology display.
As described with reference to the step sending information, preferably also the step interrogating the identification devices can be automatically carried out .
According to a further embodiment step a) for the interrogation is automatically carried out each time information present in the storage unit of each identification device 11, 21, 31 and 41 is modified, each identification device 11, 21 ,31 and 41 comprising a control unit intended to control said modification.
For example, with a particular reference to figure 1, if the object 2 is moved the control unit of the identification device 21 detects the change in position and it carries out the interrogation of the other identification devices 11, 31, and 41 such that all of them are informed about such change in position.
From what described it is clear how the system for the description of an environment of the present invention can be used for many activities.
For example a blind user may, through his/her acquisition unit 5, move inside the environment 10 without hitting any object.
In this case the acquisition unit 5 is informed about the map of the environment 10 and it can guide the blind user 6 by making specific paths on the basis of the needs of the user .
The potentials of the system of the present invention are not limited to such application, for example think of its use for managing warehouses or product departments of supermarkets .
For example it may be possible with the acquisition unit 5 to know the expiry dates of all the products, the positioning and the prices and to be informed about any change of the products.
Moreover by equipping the identification devices with a temperature sensor it may be possible to control the temperature of each product associated to the identification devices.
Finally the system of the present invention may be used also for managing warehouses, making it possible to obtain all information about the products in the warehouse .
Finally the system of the present invention is generally particularly efficient each time information about a plurality of objects is desired, depending on the information of interest obviously the identification devices will be equipped with detectors for the parameters able to provide such information.
According to a particularly evolved embodiment, the system described above can exhibit further improvements .
According to a further variant the logic program of each identification device comprises a database of functional relations of the identification device with the objects to which the other one or more identi ication devices are associated, which functional relations are related to actions, activities or functions that provide the active or passive involvement of one or more of the objects associated to the identification devices.
In this case it is possible that, on the basis of a trigger event such as the announcement of an event through the identification devices of the event or of requests for the activation of an event, an activity or an action or a function, each identification device determines on the basis of the database information whether the involvement of the object associated thereto is expected or not, and if that is the case which is the nature of the function that the object associated to the identification device has to carry out and which are the modes for carrying out the expected function.
For the identification devices associated to the objects that are not involved in carrying out the event, the activity, the action or the function, the logic program provided therein detects such non- involvement condition and it activates a pause or stand-by function where the identification device waits, but it does not transmit information signals till its involvement is required based on change in the situation which is required or commanded or spontaneously occurring and it is detected by the event detection and identification devices.
This allows noise from identification devices of objects that are not involved in an event or activity to be eliminated by leaving active only those identi ication devices that are associated to directly involved objects. However the stand-by condition, if changes in the situation occur, allows the identification devices of the objects involved in the changes of the event conditions to be activated automatically or by a command or by a request and they enter in the network with the other identification devices and with the user acquisition device.
The event can be automatically detected by sensors that characterize its quality and that generate event identification signals, while the database comprises information about the actions, activities or functions that result from the event by identifying also the objects involved in these actions, activities or functions .
As an alternative or in combination the event can be a command or a request sent from an identification device in relation to a change in the state of the object identified by it, or as an alternative or in combination the event can be a command or a request by the user through the acquisition device by means of which an activation command or signal or actuation command of an action, activity or function is transmitted.
What described above has considerable advantages particularly for blind people, but not only, above all in emergency conditions such as for example to indicate the best and nearest routes of escape and relevant paths or the areas intended for refuge in case of danger .
In the case of blind people, moreover, there are considerable advantages also in carrying out simple activities such as moving within an environment due to a function or an activity that he/she desires to carry out such as going to the bathroom, going in the kitchen, going out on the balcony.
As regards the database of events, activities actions and functions they can be accompanied by importance indicators that classify their hierarchical importance and priority position.
As regards the cooperation and interaction between identification devices, by considering as comprised therein not only the devices that identify objects, but also the devices identifying object conditions and/or environmental parameters and/or physiological parameters not only of the user but also of possible people or animals related in any manner to him/her, it is possible to provide different fulfilment modes.
An example is shown in figure 2.
The person PI is provided with an acquisition unit 5 that can communicate according to one or several different wireless protocols with a plurality of tags, such as for example rfid tags or other types of tags 11 that compose the several identification devices.
Each one of them has a processing unit wherein a control logic program is loaded which relate data and information about the quality of the object to which it is associated with morphological conditions and with state conditions of the object with position information of other identification devices 11 and with the relevant information about quality, morphological characteristics and state conditions of the objects identified by them on the basis of a database of functional and/or topographic relations namely space position relations and depending on events that can be detected by detection and identification devices 11' that are also within a network with the other identification devices or that are automatically operated by other identification devices or by the user PI or P2 by the aid of the acquisition unit 5.
The user P2 for example at risk because he/she is near a dangerous event E, can be provided with identification devices that signal his/her position and/or the state physiological conditions by detecting them automatically or by a manual setting by the user. In this case, the same acquisition device possibly owned by the user P2 can work as an identification and detection device as well as for manually inputting data about the physiological conditions of the user. A database contains a list of functional relations between identification devices on the basis of actions, activities or functions required because of an event that can be automatically detected or induced for example in the form of a command. The identification devices that are related to each other by the activity, action or function caused by the event are kept active, while the identification devices that are not directly involved are kept in by pass and only waiting for an activation request should the event conditions change. The example shows a flat where there is the user PI, a corridor 110 leading to a stairwell 120. A lift 130 is provided immediately before the stairwell.
The event E, a small fire in the kitchen room, causes damages to the user P2. The blind user PI is activated for recovering in any manner the user P2 and for escaping.
In the relation database it is possible to generate the condition of recovery emergency event and the escape emergency event.
The condition of event E is monitored by the identification devices present in the kitchen room where it has been detected. These identifiers are automatically kept active while the other ones in the remote area and in the opposite blind angle of the living room are in standby.
A further dangerous event for P2 is detected by the identification device associated to P2 and the conditions are signaled to PI. The two events are related to each other since the relative position detected between P2 and the event E denotes that there is a space relation and that a recovery function may be performed within the time periods and by the action modes that the functional relation database make available.
The blind user PI is guided towards P2 with no other interfering identification devices since only those involved in signalling obstacles, the condition and the position of the event, the condition and the position of P2 and the position of the access door are active .
Once P2 is recovered, if the event continues, the relation database activates, depending on the event, the escape function that involves other identification devices and particularly those that are essential for passing in the corridor and for reaching the lift.
The identification devices of the lift communicate with and are related to the event detector and therefore they make it possible to operate the lift depending on safety conditions determined on the basis of the size of the fire. The identification devices associated to the staircase inform to be a possible alternative .
During all the escape in the kitchen and in the flat only the event detection devices important for informing the identification devices whether the lift can be used or not or whether the staircases have to be used or not and also for giving information about the propagation speed and therefore about the escape speed are kept active.
In addition to the dynamic system of the interaction between identification devices and acquisition devices it is possible to provide also a superordinate control system that manages the communication network, the identification devices in the broadest meaning defined above and also the acquisition unit of the user or users. By means of such superordinate unit, such as a control server denoted by 150 in figure 2, it is possible to intervene on the operations of the system both by a logic management program and manually for example in case of failure or in case of the need of expanding the interaction to wider areas that involve different environments that usually are not connected or not communicating with each other .

Claims

1. System for the description of an environment (10) , inside which environment a plurality of objects (1, 2, 3, 4) is provided, which system comprises at least one acquisition unit (5) ,
characterized in that
there is provided an identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) associated to each object (1, 2, 3, 4) which identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) uniquely identifies the object (1, 2, 3, 4) to which it is associated,
said identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) comprising at least one transmitting/receiving unit (12, 22, 32, 42) intended to communicate at least with said acquisition unit (5) and at least one storage unit (13, 23, 33, 43) inside such storage unit (13, 23, 33, 43) information about the object associated to said identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) are provided.
2. System according to claim 1, wherein each identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) communicates with the other identification devices (11, 21, 31, 41) present within said environment (10) through the transmitting/receiving unit (12, 22, 32, 42), each identification device (11, 21, 31 41) comprising at least one processing unit intended to process information received from the other identification devices (11, 21, 31, 41) which information are stored in said storage unit (13, 23, 33, 43) .
3. System according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition unit (5) comprises at least one output interface intended to communicate and/or display information received from said identification devices (11, 21, 31, 41) .
4. System according to claim 1, wherein each identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) comprises locating means intended to identify the location of the object to which the identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) is associated.
5. System according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition unit (5) comprises locating members intended to identify the location of the acquisition unit .
6. System according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition unit (5) comprises processing means intended to process information received from said identification devices (11, 21, 31, 41).
7. System according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting/receiving unit comprises an output unit intended to display and/or communicate information present in each identification device (11, 21, 31, 41).
8. System according to claim 7, wherein said output unit is composed of a display made according to the "electronic-ink" technology.
9. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said processing unit (14, 24, 34, 44) comprises processing means for executing a logic program, whose execution causes each identification device (11, 21, 31, 41) to operate by performing the following steps: a) interrogating at least one further identification device;
b) storing information about said further identification device within the storage unit,
c) displaying and/or sending said acquisition unit
(5) the information contained in said storage unit of the identification device which information are about the identification device itself and about the further identification device .
10. System according to claim 9, wherein the logic program of each identification device comprises a database of functional relations of the identification device with the objects to which the other one or more identification devices are associated, which functional relations are related to actions, activities or functions that provide the active or passive involvement of one or more of the objects associated to the identification devices.
11. System according to claim 10, wherein on the basis of a trigger event such as the announcement of an event through the identification devices of the event or of requests for the activation of an event, an activity an action or a function, each identification device determines on the basis of the database information whether the involvement of the object associated thereto is expected or not, and if that is the case which is the nature of the function that the object associated to the identification device has to carry out and which are the modes for carrying out the expected function.
12. System according to claim 10 or 11, wherein for the identification devices associated to the objects that are not involved in carrying out the event, the activity, the action or the function, the logic program provided therein detects such non- involvement condition and it activates a pause or stand-by function where the identification device waits, but it does not transmit information signals till its involvement is required based on change in the situation which is required or commanded or spontaneously occurring and it is detected by the event detection and identification devices.
13. System according to one or more of the preceding claims 9 to 12, wherein the event is automatically detected by sensors that characterize its quality and that generate event identification signals, while the database comprises information about the actions, activities or functions that result from the event by identifying also the objects involved in these actions, activities or functions.
1 . System according to one or more of the preceding claims 9 to 13, wherein the event is a command or a request sent from an identification device in relation to a change in the state of the object identified by it, or as an alternative or in combination the event can be a command or a request by the user through the acquisition device by means of which an activation command or signal or actuation command of an action, activity or function is transmitted.
15. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification device is associated to a person or an animal and it has means detecting the physical and physiological conditions and the position within an environment with reference to the user.
16. System according to claim 9, wherein step c) provides to code information present in the storage unit by displaying an identification code, of the QR code type .
17. System according to claim 9, wherein step a) is performed automatically each time a modification of information present in the storage units of each identification device takes place, each identification device comprising a control unit intended to control said modification.
18. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the QR code is displayed on a display.
19. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a server for managing the network and for the interface between environments separated from each other.
20. Use of a system according to one or more of the preceding claims for the generation of an interactive environment with people having different abilities or handicaps and particularly with blind people for information exchange optimized on functions activities or actions to be carried out due to external orders or by choice.
PCT/IB2015/057515 2014-10-01 2015-10-01 System for the description of an environment WO2016051369A1 (en)

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Citations (4)

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US7005985B1 (en) * 1999-07-20 2006-02-28 Axcess, Inc. Radio frequency identification system and method

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5892441A (en) * 1996-06-26 1999-04-06 Par Government Systems Corporation Sensing with active electronic tags
WO1999062269A2 (en) * 1998-05-29 1999-12-02 Tagcorp., Inc. Remote controlled electronic price tag
US7005985B1 (en) * 1999-07-20 2006-02-28 Axcess, Inc. Radio frequency identification system and method
US20040212480A1 (en) * 2003-04-28 2004-10-28 Battelle Memorial Institute System and method for inventorying multiple remote objects

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