US 2008/0174425 A1 · OBJECT DETECTION FRAMEWORK FOR SET OF RELATED OBJECTS

Abstract

An object detection framework enables the definition of a set of related physical objects, and provides a corresponding ability to detect when one or more of the objects disassociates from the set. Object relationships within a set can be defined, and disassociation is detected when one or more of the object relationships no longer holds true, such as when one of the objects is no longer within a threshold proximity of the other objects of the set. Then, one or more responses, such as an alert, are automatically initiated in response to the disassociation. In various non-limiting implementations of the framework, each object of a related set is provisioned with the ability to any one or more of emit, detect and/or transmit detection information, process and/or store detection information, or initiate response(s) to detection information.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for detecting the disassociation of an object from a set of objects that are related independently of the location of the set, comprising:

receiving a definition of the set of objects, wherein the objects are related independently of the location of the set;
and
automatically detecting when an object of the set of objects disassociates from the set including detecting when an object of the set of objects exceeds a pre-defined proximity from the set of objects.

An object detection framework for application to a plurality of related physical objects enabling detection of when a physical object of the plurality of related physical objects exceeds a pre-defined separation from the plurality of related physical objects, comprising:

at least one detector component attached to at least one physical object of the set of related physical objects;
and
a plurality of emitter components, wherein at least one emitter component is attached to each of the physical objects of the set of related physical objects not having at least one detector component;
wherein the plurality of emitter components emit proximity information to the at least one detector component, and wherein the at least one detector component generates at least one disassociation event signal when the at least one detector component determines that the proximity information emitted from any of the plurality of emitter components indicates that the physical object to which the emitter component is attached exceeds a threshold proximity from the other physical objects of the set.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Object detection framework for set of related objects

Life of this patent

Object detection framework for set of related objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20