IP Library Granted Patent US 10,310,596
Granted Patent B2
US 10,310,596 · App. 15/845,098 · Granted Jun 4, 2019

Augmented reality to facilitate accessibility

Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman (Silver Spring, MD); Diwesh Pandey (Bangalore, IN); John P. Perrino (Hedgesville, WV); Todd R. Whitman (Bethany, CT)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
G06F3/011G05B15/02G06F3/1423G06T11/60G09G5/02H04W76/10H05B37/0245G09G2354/00G09G2370/06G09G2370/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,310,596
App. No.
15/845,098
Granted
Jun 4, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A determination can be made as to whether a user of an augmented reality device is within a threshold distance from a configurable physical apparatus. Responsive to determining that the user is within the threshold distance from the configurable physical apparatus, a communication link can be established between the augmented reality device and a controller of the configurable physical apparatus. The augmented reality device can initiate the controller of the configurable physical apparatus to change the configurable physical apparatus from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the second configuration facilitates accessibility of the configurable physical apparatus to the user.

Claims (30)

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a user of a first augmented reality device is within a threshold distance from a configurable physical apparatus;

responsive to determining that the user is within the threshold distance from the configurable physical apparatus, establishing a communication link between the first augmented reality device and a controller of the configurable physical apparatus, wherein a second augmented reality device is within the threshold distance from the configurable physical apparatus;

coordinating, by the first augmented reality device, with the second augmented reality device by exchanging at least one message between the first augmented reality device and the second augmented reality device;

based on the at least one message, at least the first augmented reality device determining that the first augmented reality device has priority over the second augmented reality device for control of the configurable physical apparatus; and

responsive to determining that the first augmented reality device has priority for control of the configurable physical apparatus, initiating, by the first augmented reality device, the controller of the configurable physical apparatus to change the configurable physical apparatus from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the second configuration facilitates accessibility of the configurable physical apparatus to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the configurable physical apparatus comprises a hand rail; and

changing the configurable physical apparatus from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises moving the hand rail from a first height to a second height.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the configurable physical apparatus comprises a shelf; and

changing the configurable physical apparatus from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises moving the shelf from a first height to a second height.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the configurable physical apparatus comprises a sign; and

changing the configurable physical apparatus from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises changing a color of at least one portion of the sign from a first color to a second color.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the configurable physical apparatus comprises a lamp; and

changing the configurable physical apparatus from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises changing a color of the lamp from a first color to a second color.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the configurable physical apparatus comprises a plurality of lamps: and

changing the configurable physical apparatus from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises controlling the plurality of lamps to illuminate a path for the user to travel from a first location to at least a second location.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the configurable physical apparatus comprises at least one display configured to emit light: and

changing the configurable physical apparatus from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises selectively controlling the display to change an illuminated color scheme visually depicting colors or textures of the configurable physical apparatus.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing an electronic health record of the user; and

automatically determining the second configuration based on the electronic health record of the user.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing user profile of the user; and

automatically determining the second configuration based on the user profile of the user.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: KYNDRYL, INC.
Reel/Frame 057885/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2017
From: BAUGHMAN, AARON K.; PANDEY, DIWESH; PERRINO, JOHN P.; WHITMAN, TODD R.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044421/0429 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15605064 · May 25, 2017
Related Publication 20180341322A1 · Nov 29, 2018