WO2005071596A2

WO2005071596A2 - System and method for using rf tags as action triggers

Info

Publication number: WO2005071596A2
Application number: PCT/IB2005/050163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pawel Musial; Dennis Van De Meulenhof
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.; U.S. Philips Corporation
Priority date: 2004-01-16
Filing date: 2005-01-14
Publication date: 2005-08-04
Also published as: WO2005071596A3

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) tag system and method that use RF tag movements to initiate actions. The system comprises: a first device having an RF tag (12) capable of emitting a signal; and a second device having: a plurality of tag readers (14) capable of receiving the signal; and a control system (36) that initiates an action based on an order in which the signal was received by the plurality of tag readers.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING RF TAGS AS ACTION TRIGGERS

The present invention relates generally to devices that utilize radio frequency (RF) tags, and more specifically relates to a system and method for using movement of RF tags to trigger an action in a device. RF tags are small microcontroller devices typically utilized to store some identification data. A typical application is for user authentication to, e.g., gain access at entrance gates or doors. In a typical embodiment, the tag is built into a plastic card in the form of a credit card or other plastic shape that is easy to carry. The tag communicates with a tag reader using a built in antenna. The communication is often limited to an exchange of a serial number of the tag, but may also include writing and or reading of other data, e.g., user name, address, etc. In some applications, the tag may be powered by an electromagnetic field created by the tag reader. As the cost of tag based systems continues to go down, more and more consumer electronics-based applications are beginning to use RF tags. An example of such a use may include a retail store in which an RF tag is attached to each product. A user could move a product near an information screen (equipped with a tag reader) to obtain information about the product. The tag reader would identify the product by reading the tag, and then display the appropriate information. Thus, the user perceives that moving the product close to the screen initiates display of information on the screen about the product. Another example may include a digital camera having a tag and a separate picture viewer having tag reader. When the user brings the camera close to the viewer, the camera will automatically download the current picture to the viewer (e.g., using BLUETOOTH™ technology). When the camera is moved close to the viewer, the tag reader in the viewer causes a connection to be established with the camera, and transfers the current picture to the viewer. One of the current limitations of using tags and tag readers is that they can only interpret two spatial conditions, i.e., either the tag is within a certain proximity of the tag reader or it is not. Beyond these two spatial conditions, the tag reader cannot interpret any other actions or movements of the tag. Given the intuitiveness of initiating actions based on moving devices/objects relative to one another, a need exists for a more robust tag system in which the movement of devices/objects can cause more elaborate information to be communicated. The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems as well as others by providing a system and method of using tags to detect a direction and/or speed of movement of a first device relative to a second device. In a first aspect, the invention provides a radio frequency (RF) tag system for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having an RF tag capable of emitting a signal; and a second device having: a plurality of tag readers capable of receiving the signal; and a control system that initiates an action based on an order in which the signal was received by the plurality of tag readers. In a second aspect, the invention provides a radio frequency (RF) tag system for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having a pair of RF tags, each capable of emitting a unique signal; and a second device having a tag reader capable of receiving each unique signal, and a control system that initiates an action based on an order in which the signals were received by the tag reader. In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of using a radio frequency

(RF) tag system to initiate an action in a second device based on a direction of movement of a first device, comprising: emitting a signal from an RF tag within the first device; moving the first device relative to the second device; receiving the signal at a first tag reader in the second device; receiving the signal at a second tag reader in the second device; and initiating an action in the second device based on the order that the signal was received by the first and second tag reader. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of using a radio frequency

(RF) tag system to initiate an action in a second device based on a direction of movement of a first device, comprising: emitting a pair of unique signals from a pair of RF tags within the first device; moving the first device relative to the second device; receiving at a tag reader in the second device a first unique signal from one of the RF tags; receiving at the tag reader in the second device a second unique signal from the other RF tag; and initiating an action in the second device based on the order that the unique signals were received by the tag reader. In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a radio frequency (RF) tag system for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having an RF tag capable of emitting a signal; and a second device having: a pair of tag readers capable of receiving the signal; and a control system that initiates an action based on a time difference between when the signal was received by the pair of tag readers. In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a radio frequency (RF) tag system for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having a pair of RF tags, each capable of emitting a unique signal; and a second device having a tag reader capable of receiving each unique signal, and a control system that initiates an action based on a time difference between when the signals were received by the tag reader. These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 depicts an RF tag system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 depicts an alternate embodiment of an RF tag system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 depicts an RF tag system incorporated into a display system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 depicts a further embodiment of the RF tag system shown in Figure 1. Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 depict alternate embodiments for an RF tag system that detects a direction of movement of a first device relative to a second device. As described below, using multiple tags and/or tag readers, the second device will initiate some action that corresponds to the movement and/or speed of movement of the first device. Referring first to Figure 1, tag system 10 is shown that includes a first device (i.e., Device I) having a single RF tag 12, and a second device have multiple tag readers 14 (i.e., tag reader 1 and tag reader 2). Device I may for instance comprise a credit card or other hand held object that can be readily moved by an end-user. Device II may for instance comprise any type of consumer electronics device. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any one specific application, and could be utilized in any environment where user control of a device is required. As shown, when Device I is moved along directional arrow 11 past Device II, tag 12 emits a signal that is first received by tag reader 1, and is then received by tag reader 2. Conversely, if Device I were moved past Device II in the direction opposite of arrow 11, tag reader 2 would receive the signal of tag 12 before tag reader 1 receives the signal. In general, the order in which the tag readers 14 receive the signal is based on their spatial proximity to the tag 12, i.e., the closer tag reader receives the signal first. Thus, by determining the sequence in which the tag readers 14 receive the signal, a direction of movement of Device I relative to Device II can be ascertained. To facilitate the process, a control system 16 is used to determine the direction movement of Device I and initiate the appropriate action in response to the movement. Control system 16 includes a data analysis system 18 that is notified whenever signals are sensed by tag reader 1 and tag reader 2. Based on the order of notification, data analysis system 18 can readily determine the order or sequence in which the signal was received. For instance, if tag reader 1 senses the signal before tag reader 2 senses the signal, data analysis system 18 would generate the ordered sequence [tag reader 1 , tag reader 2]. This determination can be accomplished in any manner, e.g., by examining timing information 20 associated with the received signals, by examining the order in which information is placed into a cache, etc. Once the order is determined, an action initiator 22 can be used to cause one of a plurality of actions 24 to be taken. Action initiator 22 may for instance include a look-up table or algorithm that associates ordered sequences with actions to be initiated. For instance, the order sequence [tag reader 1, tag reader 2] might be interpreted by action initiator 22 to initiate Action 1. Alternatively, the ordered sequence [tag reader 2, tag reader 1] could be interpreted by action initiator 22 to initiate Action 2. Obviously, the resulting actions 24 initiated in response to moving Device I depends on the particular application and functions provided by Device II, and accordingly the invention is not limited to any particular movement or resulting actions. For instance, exemplary actions associated with a downward motion of Device I may include powering down Device II, causing Device II to download data, lowering the volume of Device II, etc. Exemplary actions associated with an upward motion may include powering up Device II, causing Device II to upload data, raising the volume of Device II, etc. Similarly, the tag readers 14 could be arranged side by side in Device II, such that a leftward motion results in changing to a next lower channel and a rightward motion results in changing to a next higher channel. Furthermore, although only shown with two tag readers 14, Device II could be equipped with additional tag readers to sense movement in any direction (e.g., up/down; left/right; backward/forward; diagonal; circular; etc.). Moreover, control system 16 could be configured to analyzed compound movements, such as a down and up motion, which could be captured as the ordered sequence [tag reader 1 , tag reader 2, tag reader 1]. In addition, data analysis system 18 may include a timing system 20 to analyze the speed of the movement of Device I by determining the time difference between when the signals arriving at tag reader 1 relative to tag reader 2. For instance, tag reader 1 may receive a signal from tag 12 at time Tl and tag reader 2 may receive a signal at time T2. Timing system 20 would capture the time information Tl, T2 and compute a time difference (T2-T1). Thus, the smaller the time difference, the faster the movement. Then, based on different predefined speed thresholds, action initiator 22 could initiate an action appropriate for the computed time difference (or speed). For example, a slow left -to-right motion, characterized by a time difference of 0.1 seconds or more, might cause a next frame in a video sequence to be displayed, whereas a fast left-to-right motion, characterized by a time difference of less than 0.1 seconds, might cause the last frame of the video sequence to be displayed. Thus, different combinations of spatial movements and speeds can be used to initiate actions. Alternatively, speed alone could initiate some action, e.g., any really quick movement may be interpreted to cause Device II to power up. Figure 2 depicts an alternate embodiment of a tag system 30 in which Device III includes multiple tags 32, and Device IV includes a single tag reader 34. In this case, each tag emits a unique signal, such as a serial number. In this embodiment, when Device III is moved along directional arrow 13 past Device IV, tag reader 34 senses the unique signal emitted by tag 2 before it senses the unique signal emitted by tag 1. Similar to the embodiment described above, the data is passed to control system 36, which includes a data analysis system 38 that analyzes the order the unique signals were received, and includes an action initiator 42 that initiates an action 44 associated with the order. Moreover, a timing system may be utilized to determine speed of the movement in a manner similar to that described above. Note that in addition to the embodiments described in Figures 1 and 2, it is possible to have a tag system in which a first device includes multiple tags and the second device includes multiple tag readers. Such a scenario could potentially provide additional benefits, such as the ability to better analyze the movements of the first device relative to the second device. It should also be noted that the tags and tag readers could be configured in their respective devices in any manner and at any location to achieve the desired result. For example, tag readers could be placed behind a television monitor to allow an end-user direct control over the display by moving a tag in front of the screen. Referring now to Figure 3, a display system 52 is shown that utilizes a tag system 50 to upload and download images between a memory stick 64 and a memory 60 of the display system 52. In this exemplary embodiment, display system 52 includes a display 62 for displaying image data (e.g., photographs or other digital information). Display system 52 also includes a pair of tag readers 56 and control system 58, similar to that described above in Figure 1. Furthermore, display system 52 includes a communication system 54 that may for example utilize BLUETOOTH™ technology to communicate wireless data. Memory stick 64 also includes a memory 66 for holding image data and a communication system 68 for communicating wireless data. Similar to the embodiment described above in Figure 1, memory stick 64 includes a tag 72 that can emit a signal, which can be sensed by both tag readers 56. In this example, when the memory stick 64 is move upward along directional arrow 74, the control system 58 interprets the movement as an upload condition, and initiates communication system 54 to: (1) establish a communication link with memory stick 64; and then (2) upload image data from the memory stick to the display system 52, where it can be displayed.

Alternatively, when the memory stick 64 is move downward along directional arrow 76, the control system 58 interprets the movement as a download condition, and initiates communication system 54 to: (1) establish a communication link with memory stick 64; and then (2) download image data from the display system 52 to the memory stick 64, where it can be stored in memory 66. Figure 4 depicts a further refinement to the embodiment shown in Figure i . In this embodiment 81, proximity movement along directional arrows 80 can be detected by setting different detection ranges 82, 84 for the two tag readers 14. In particular, each tag reader 14 includes a range setting 85 that dictates the detection range 82, 84 of the tag reader (i.e., how close the tag 12 needs to be to the tag reader before it is sensed). In the exemplary embodiment shown, tag reader 1 has a detection range 82 that is greater than the detection range 84 of tag reader 2. Therefore, tag reader 1 will sense movement of Device I toward Device II before tag reader 2 senses the movement. Thus, by determining the order in which the tag readers 14 sensed the tag 12, control system 16 can determine whether Device I is moving toward or away from Device II. It is understood that the systems, functions, mechanisms, methods, and modules described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. They may be implemented by any type of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. Alternatively, a specific use computer, containing specialized hardware for carrying out one or more of the functional tasks of the invention could be utilized. The present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods and functions described herein, and which - when loaded in a computer system - is able to carry out these methods and functions. Computer program, software program, program, program product, or software, in the present context mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Such modifications and variations that are apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) tag system (10) for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having an RF tag (12) capable of emitting a signal; and a second device having: a plurality of tag readers (14) capable of receiving the signal; and a control system (16) that initiates an action based on an order in which the signal was received by the plurality of tag readers (14).

2. The RF tag system (10) of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a plastic card.

3. The RF tag system (10) of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a data analysis system (18) that determines the order that the plurality of tag readers received the signal.

4. The RF tag system (10) of claim 1, wherein the order in which the signal was received indicates a direction of movement of the first device relative to the second device.

5. The RF tag system (10) of claim 4, wherein the initiated action corresponds to the direction of movement of the first device relative to the second device.

6. The RF tag system (10) of claim 5, wherein a downward direction of movement results in the initiated action selected from the group consisting of: downloading data, lowering a volume, and powering down the second device.

7. The RF tag system (10) of claim 5, wherein an upward direction of movement results in the initiated action selected from the group consisting of: uploading data, raising a volume, and powering up the second device.

8. The RF tag system (10) of claim 1, wherein: the first device comprises a memory stick having a first wireless communication system and a first memory; the second device comprises a display system having a second wireless communication system and a second memory; wherein a downward direction of movement of the first device results in data being downloaded to the memory stick; and wherein an upward direction of movement of the first device results in data being uploaded to the display system.

9. The RF tag system (10) of claim 1, wherein each tag reader includes a different range detection setting that determines a distance at which each tag reader will sense the RF tag, thereby allowing the control system to detect movement of the first device toward and away from the second device.

10. The RF tag system (10) of claim 1, wherein the action initiated by the control system is further based on a time difference between which the signal was received by two tag readers.

11. A radio frequency (RF) tag system (30) for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having a plurality of RF tags (32), each capable of emitting a unique signal; and a second device having a tag reader (34) capable of receiving each unique signal, and a control system (36) that initiates an action based on an order in which the signals were received by the tag reader.

12. The RF tag system (30) of claim 11, wherein the first device comprises a plastic card.

13. The RF tag system (30) of claim 11, wherein the control system includes a data analysis system that determines the order that the tag reader received the signals.

14. The RF tag system (30) of claim 11, wherein the order in which the signals were received indicates a direction of movement of the first device relative to the second device.

15. The RF tag system (30) of claim 14, wherein the initiated action corresponds to the direction of movement of the first device relative to the second device.

16. The RF tag system (30) of claim 15, wherein a downward direction of movement results in the initiated action selected from the group consisting of: downloading data, lowering a volume, and powering down the second device.

17. The RF tag system (30) of claim 15, wherein an upward direction of movement results in the initiated action selected from the group consisting of: uploading data, raising a volume, and powering up the second device.

18. The RF tag system (30) of claim 11, wherein: the first device comprises a memory stick having a first wireless communication system and a first memory; the second device comprises a display system having a second wireless communication system and a second memory; wherein a downward direction of movement of the first device results in data being downloaded to the memory stick; and wherein an upward direction of movement of the first device results in data being uploaded to the display system.

19. The RF tag system (30) of claim 11, wherein the action initiated by the control system is further based on a time difference between which the signal was received by the tag reader from two of the RF tags.

20. A method of using a radio frequency (RF) tag system to initiate an action in a second device based on a direction of movement of a first device, comprising: emitting a signal from an RF tag within the first device; moving the first device relative to the second device; receiving the signal at a first tag reader in the second device; receiving the signal at a second tag reader in the second device; and initiating an action in the second device based on the order that the signal was received by the first and second tag reader.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the order in which the signal was received indicates the direction of movement of the first device relative to the second device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein each tag reader includes a different range detection setting that dictates a distance at which each tag reader will sense the RF tag.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the initiated action is further based on a time difference between which the two tag readers received the signal.

24. A method of using a radio frequency (RF) tag system to initiate an action in a second device based on a direction of movement of a first device, comprising: emitting a pair of unique signals from a pair of RF tags within the first device; moving the first device relative to the second device; receiving at a tag reader in the second device a first unique signal from one of the RF tags; receiving at the tag reader in the second device a second unique signal from the other RF tag; and initiating an action in the second device based on the order that the unique signals were received by the tag reader.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the order in which the unique signals were received indicates the direction of movement of the first device relative to the second device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the initiated action is further based on a time difference between which the reader received the signal from the pair of RF tags.

27. A radio frequency (RF) tag system for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having an RF tag (12) capable of emitting a signal; and a second device having: a pair of tag readers (14) capable of receiving the signal; and a control system (36) that initiates an action based on a time difference between when the signal was received by the pair of tag readers.

28. A radio frequency (RF) tag system for initiating an action, comprising: a first device having a pair of RF tags (32), each capable of emitting a unique signal; and a second device having a tag reader (34) capable of receiving each unique signal, and a control system (36) that initiates an action based on a time difference between when the signals were received by the tag reader.