Obstacle warning system and method
View Patent ↗As a user is interacting with a mobile device, the user is sometimes distracted from impending obstacles that may be approaching the user. The mobile device can detect an approaching obstacle and can determine that the user is also interacting with the mobile device. Upon detecting these two events, the user of the mobile device is notified of the approaching obstacle using various notification methods, such as displaying a message to the user or using an audible sound or message. The notification can also include interrupting an application on the mobile device, such as a video game, to display a message to the user of the approaching obstacle. The system and method also comprise a distributed architecture where detection of the approaching obstacle is accomplished external to the mobile device. For example, a detection module in an automobile or airplane can be used to detect approaching obstacles.
1. A method comprising:
detecting in a detection module, an impending obstacle approaching a user of a mobile device;
determining in an interaction module, that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device; and
responsive to detecting the impending obstacle and determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device, notifying by a notification system, the user of the mobile device of the impending obstacle,
wherein the detecting step is accomplished at least in part by high frequency echo location, sound recognition, or voice recognition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notifying step comprises: interrupting an application on the mobile device that the user is interacting with and notifying the user with one or more of the following: a text message, an audio message, an audible alarm, and a vibration.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection module is a system in a vehicle, the notification system and the interaction module are in the mobile device, the notifying step further comprises sending a message from the detection module to the notification system indicating the impending obstacle, and further comprising the step of registering, with a registration module, the mobile device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the registration step comprises registering a plurality of mobile devices, each with a user, wherein the message is sent to the plurality of mobile devices, and the notifying step further comprises notifying each user of the plurality of mobile devices.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step is accomplished by one or more cameras in the mobile device and the notification system is in the mobile device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interacting step is accomplished at least in part by sound recognition, or voice recognition.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected impending obstacle is either in front of the user of the mobile device, behind the user of the mobile device, or at a side of the user of the mobile device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following elements are external to the mobile device: a. the interaction module; b. the detection module; and c. the notification system.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interaction module, the detection module, and the notification system are all external to the mobile device.
10. A system comprising:
a detection module configured to detect an impending obstacle approaching a user of a mobile device;
an interaction module configured to determine that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device; and
a notification system configured to notify the user of the mobile device of the impending obstacle in response to detecting the impending obstacle and determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device,
wherein the detecting an impeding obstacle is accomplished at least in part by high frequency echo location, sound recognition, or voice recognition.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the notification system is further configured to interrupt an application on the mobile device that the user is interacting with and notify the user with one or more of the following: a text message, an audio message, an audible alarm, and a vibration.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detection module is a system in a vehicle, the notification system and the interaction module are in the mobile device, the detection module is further configured to send a message to the notification system indicating the impending obstacle, and further comprising a registration module configured to register the mobile device.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the registration module registers a plurality of mobile devices, each with a user, wherein the message is sent to the plurality of mobile devices, and the notifying step further comprises notifying each user of the plurality of mobile devices.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detection module comprises one or more cameras in the mobile device and the notification system is in the mobile device.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the interaction step is accomplished at least in part by sound recognition, or voice recognition.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detected impending obstacle is either in front of the user of the mobile device, behind the user of the mobile device, or at the side of the user of the mobile device.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the following elements are external to the mobile device: a. the interaction module; b. the detection module; and c. the notification system.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the interaction module, the detection module, and the notification system are all external to the mobile device.
19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that cause a processor to execute a method, the method comprising: instructions to detect an impending obstacle approaching a user of a mobile device; instructions to determine that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device; and responsive to detecting the impending obstacle and determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device, instructions to notify the user of the mobile device of the impending obstacle, wherein the detecting step is accomplished at least in part by high frequency echo location, sound recognition, or voice recognition.