Abstract:
Described is a mobile computing arrangement having a sensor detecting first motion data of the arrangement and a memory to store second motion data, the second motion data including a threshold value. A comparison module compares the first motion data to the second motion data and an actuation module initiates an action for the arrangement when the first motion data exceeds the threshold value.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0001]     Businesses and individuals today rely on mobile computing products/arrangements (“MCPs”, e.g., bar code readers, PDAs, laptops, two-way pagers, mobile phones, digital cameras, mobile optical readers, vehicle radio computers (“VRCs”), etc.) in a multitude of situations ranging from basic everyday tasks to highly specialized procedures. As the virtues and benefits of utilizing MCPs continue to be realized across increasingly diverse industries, the features and capabilities of these products are expanding at a correspondingly rapid pace. In many industries, MCPs have gone from fashionable accessories to essential business components used by all levels of personnel.  
         [0002]     In some industries, MCPs may be mounted on a vehicle or other motion based system (e.g., forklifts, cars, trucks, pallet jacks, mail trucks, hand carts, etc.). Placement of the MCP upon such vehicles may provide a user with immediate access to relevant information, such as a delivery address and/or a list of awaiting tasks. Further, the user may communicate information (e.g., a delivery confirmation, a current status of a workload, a present location, etc.) to others via the MCP. Although the placement of the MCP may be convenient in a number of respects, it may also present a potential for accidents. For example, a user/driver may be compelled to look at a display of the MCP and thus become distracted. Distractions, especially while the vehicle is in motion, may result in accidents (e.g., collisions).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A mobile computing arrangement having a sensor detecting first motion data of the arrangement and a memory to store second motion data, the second motion data including a threshold value. A comparison module compares the first motion data to the second motion data and an actuation module initiates an action for the arrangement when the first motion data exceeds the threshold value.  
         [0004]     A method for detecting a motion of a mobile computing device, operating the mobile computing device in a first mode when the motion is less than a threshold value and operating the mobile computing device in a second mode when the motion is one of greater than and equal to the threshold value.  
         [0005]     A motion based system having a vehicle for imparting a motion and a mobile computing device coupled to the vehicle. The mobile computing device includes a sensor detecting first motion data corresponding to the motion of the vehicle, a memory to store second motion data, the second motion data including a threshold value, and a processor to compare the first motion data to the second motion data and initiate an action for the mobile computing device when the first motion data exceeds the threshold value. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of a mobile computing product/arrangement according to the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of a method for monitoring a mobile computing product/arrangement according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  shows another exemplary embodiment of a method for monitoring a mobile computing product/arrangement according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The present invention relates to an MCP which includes a sensor that monitors the MCP&#39;s motion. The sensor does not require an input from a motion based system, e.g., an axle sensor, a speedometer, etc. In particular, the sensor may measure the MCP&#39;s acceleration, velocity, angular velocity or vibration in any direction. These measurements may be contrasted with prerecorded movement patterns or predefined levels of acceptable and unacceptable movement. As will be described below, predetermined procedures may then be executed that may be useful in a wide range of applications, including but not limited to accident prevention and power management.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a motion based system  100 , such as a forklift. An MCP  110  may be placed in view of an operator of the system  100  (e.g., on a dashboard  170  adjacent to a steering column  160 ). The MCP  110  may be any type of computer or processor based mobile device (e.g., a bar code reader, a PDA, a laptop, a two-way pager, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a mobile optical reader). Since the MCP  110  is mobile, it may be capable of connecting to a wireless network, and may be sized to be integrated into the motion based system  100 . The MCP  110  may be battery powered or it may receive power from the motion based system  100 .  
         [0012]     The MCP  110  may include a display  115  and/or a keypad  120 . The display  115  may be used to output information to the operator and/or to receive input therefrom. For example, the display  115  may portray a map of a route to be taken, an address, and/or a list of instructions. Additionally, a touchpanel may be integrated with the display  115  to enable the operator to input information. According to the present invention, the display  115  may toggle between a first mode (e.g., illuminated) and a second mode (e.g., a black screen) as a function of movement of the MCP  110  as will be explained below.  
         [0013]     The operator, positioned in a seat  130 , may maneuver the motion based system  100  using footpedals  140 , gears  150 , and/or the steering column  160 . However, in the interest of safety, an operator should not use the MCP  110  while the motion based system  100  is moving. Thus, to prevent the operator from being distracted by the MCP  110  and to reduce a power usage of the MCP  110 , the display  115  may not be illuminated while the system  100  is in motion. According to the present invention, the display  115  may automatically turn off (e.g., go black, initiate power save mode, etc.) when the MCP  110  determines that the motion based system  100  is moving.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of an MCP  110  according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the MCP  110  may include a processor  210 , a sensor  220 , a non-removable memory  230 , and a removable memory  240 . The processor  210  is a central processing unit (“CPU”that executes instructions on measurements taken by the sensor  220  and performs procedures such as storing a result in memory, transmitting the result to remote devices, or performing a predetermined task as a function of the result (e.g., turning off the display  115 ). The non-removable memory  230  is any type of memory component integrated into the electronic architecture of the MCP  110  and may be temporary (e.g., random access memory, or RAM) or permanent (e.g., a hard-disk drive). The removable memory  240  may be any type of detachable memory component that may connect to the MCP  110  through an expansion interface (e.g., a FLASH interface, a USB interface, a firewire interface, etc.).  
         [0015]     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the sensor  220  is integrated into the MCP  110 . This sensor  220  may be a device coupled to an electronic architecture of the MCP  110  that dispatches data to a separate memory device, or it may be coupled to at least a portion of another device in the architecture. For instance, in the latter embodiment, the sensor  220  may be coupled to a memory arrangement in which event data (e.g., a first data of an event relating to the MCP  110  movement with values above a certain threshold) is stored. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the sensor  220  may be a separate external device that connects to the MCP  110  through an expansion slot (e.g., a sensor with a FLASH, USB, firewire or similar interface).  
         [0016]     The sensor  220  may be any type of measurement device capable of monitoring motion, and may be based on, for example, a G-shock sensor, a switch, an accelerometer, a strain gage, a piezo-electric sensor, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”) technologies, or combinations of the like. The motion may include, for example, a velocity value, an acceleration value, an angular velocity value, a mechanical vibration/shock value, etc. Although the sensor  220  may be of any size, the sensor  220  is preferably small enough so that any added weight and space occupied on the MCP  110  are negligible. Because the MCP  110  usually operates on batteries (e.g., its own battery or a battery utilized by the system  100 ), the sensor  220  should also have a low power consumption. As described above, the sensor  220  will detect motion for the MCP without an external input from the motion based system  100 .  
         [0017]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor  220  detects motion of the MCP  110  and generates first data. The first data is provided to the processor  210  which compares the first data to predetermined second data which includes a threshold value. For example, the second data may be a prerecorded acceleration of the MCP  110  by 0.5 m/s 2 , the detection of which may indicate the occurrence of an event (i.e., the system  100  is moving). Subsequently, based on the first data, a particular predetermined procedure is selected and executed (e.g., the display  115  and/or the MCP  110  is turned off). This embodiment will be described in greater detail below with respect to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0018]     Those of skill in the art will understand that the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with a general reference to translation motion (e.g., a forklift translates across a factory floor). However, other motion may be detected which indicate a different type of movement and/or action of the system  100 . For example, if the system  100  includes a forklift and the forks are being moved up and down, this may cause a specific vibratory movement for the system  100  which may be detected by the sensor  220 . Thus, the present invention is not limited to translation motion.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary method for monitoring motion of the system  100  by the MCP  110 . In the step  310 , the sensor  220  of the MCP  110  is activated. The sensor  220  may be activated manually by the operator, or it may be activated upon receipt of a wireless transmission from a remote location (i.e., initiation is controlled by a separate network entity). In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor  220  may be automatically activated each time the MCP  110  and/or the motion based system  100  is started and/or powered on. For example, the sensor  220  may remain activated even while the MCP  110  is in a power save mode.  
         [0020]     In step  320 , the sensor  220  determines whether motion is detected. The sensor  220  may measure the acceleration and/or the velocity of the MCP  110  and determine, based on the measurement, whether the system  100  is in motion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system  100  may only be considered moving if it exceeds a predetermined velocity or acceleration, and/or if it continues to move for a predetermined period of time. For example, the sensor  220  may only determine that the system  100  is moving if it accelerates at 0.5 m/s 2  for more than 1.5 seconds. Thus, merely bumping into the system  100  may not register as movement.  
         [0021]     In step  330 , if the sensor  220  does not detect any movement of the MCP  110  in step  320 , the MCP  110  may assume that the motion based system  100  is stationary, or that it is at least not moving as fast as a prerecorded threshold speed. Therefore, the MCP  110  remains in a first mode. The first mode represents a state of the MCP  110  where it is turned on and the display  115  is illuminated. Thus, an operator may use the MCP  110  when it is in the first mode.  
         [0022]     In step  340 , if the sensor  220  determines that the MCP  110  is moving in step  320 , the MCP  110  switches to the second mode. The second mode represents a state where the display  115  of the MCP  110  is turned off, or in a “stand by” mode. However, it may be preferable to merely turn off the display  115  (e.g., by turning off a backlight) to facilitate re-illumination of the display  115  when the motion based system  100  slows down or stops.  
         [0023]     It will be understood that the MCP  110  may enter the second mode due to other circumstances, which may or may not be defined by the user. For example, the MCP  110  may enter the second mode if there has been no user input for a predetermined amount of time. That is, the display  115  may turn off after a time in order to preserve a life of the display  115 , the backlight, and/or the battery.  
         [0024]     In step  350 , the sensor  220  may continue to monitor the motion of the MCP  110 . For example, in the embodiment where the second mode includes turning off the processor  210 , monitoring may not be continued after the MCP  110  has entered the second mode. Further, reactivation of the MCP  110  may require the operator to re-authenticate, or “log in.” However, in alternative embodiments the sensor system may continue monitoring, thus returning to step  320 . For example, in the embodiment where the second mode only includes powering down the display  115 , the sensor system may continue monitoring throughout a duration of the second mode. Thus, when the motion based system ceases moving, the MCP  110  may re-enter the first mode and the user may read the display  115 . In a further embodiment, where the MCP  110  remains in the first mode, the sensor system may continue monitoring until at least some motion is detected and thus the MCP  110  enters the second mode. In an even further embodiment, the sensor system may continue monitoring until the MCP  110  and/or the motion based system is manually turned off.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary method  400  for monitoring the MCP  110  according to the present invention. In the step  410 , certain distinct characteristics of events (e.g., the second data) are identified and programmed into the MCP  110 . The second data may include a specific threshold value and/or a threshold range of changes in the motion of the MCP  110 . The threshold value may correspond to the sensitivity of the sensor  220 . For example, it may be desired that very slow motion, or quick short motions (i.e., indicating that the motion based system was merely bumped) do not cross the threshold value which would trigger a predetermined procedure.  
         [0026]     The operator (e.g., the manufacturer, a system administrator or any other authorized person) may designate and/or modify the characteristics. For instance, the MCP  110  may be prepackaged by the manufacturer with static acceleration maximum values that are inaccessible or not editable by the user. Alternatively, the threshold may simply be dynamic default values adjustable to future specifications.  
         [0027]     In the step  420 , the MCP  110  is continuously monitored by the sensor  220  for changes in the motion/movements. Whenever the MCP  110  detects motion, the first data is generated. The sensor  220  may make no effort to differentiate between or prioritize motion values, returning all results to the processor  210  for processing.  
         [0028]     In the step  430 , the processor  210  compares the first data with the second data. If the characteristics of the first data match those of the second data, the processor  110  determines that an event has occurred (i.e., the MCP  110  is in motion). Thus, the method  400  continues to the step  450 , where the predetermined procedure is executed. The execution of the predetermined procedure may depend upon an application of the present invention. For example, the backlight of the MCP  110  may be turned off and/or the MCP  110  may be powered down.  
         [0029]     Other examples of predetermined procedures include storing the first data in one of memory devices  230 ,  240 , encrypting the first data so that it may be accessible only by an authorized user, transmitting the first data to a remote computer, issuing alerts as to the MCP  110 &#39;s status, etc. After the predetermined procedure has been successfully executed, the method  400  may resume again at the step  420  to monitor for new event occurrences.  
         [0030]     As previously mentioned, the predetermined procedure may vary depending on the specific application of the present invention. For example, in accident prevention, it may be desirable to alert the user through visible warning (e.g., on-screen precautionary displays, flashing LEDs) or audible sirens (e.g., using a speaker, headset, receiver) that the display  115  will turn off momentarily. Also, it may be desirable to notify the operator if important information is transmitted to the MCP  110  while it is in the second mode. For example, if the motion based system  100  is moving, and thus the display  115  is off, it may nonetheless be desired to communicate with the operator. Thus, a visible and/or audible alert may indicate that the operator should halt the vehicle in order to enable illumination of the display  115 , which would in turn enable receipt of the information.  
         [0031]     Although the exemplary applications of the present invention in foregoing description have primarily focused on accident prevention, the present invention may also be used in a variety of other settings. As described below, these settings include, for example, power management.  
         [0032]     The power management properties of MCPs have always been a primary focus of product design engineers. Due to their limited size and weight and their mobile nature, MCPs usually have limited power supplies (e.g., rechargeable or disposable battery packs). Developing MCPs that operate for long periods of time, without sacrificing mobility, is an ongoing design challenge. Designing a robust power management system that optimizes and conserves power is a critical element in addressing this challenge. An MCP  110  may have a backlight and a display, which consume a significant amount of power when turned on. According to the present invention, these devices may be turned off when the MCP  110  is in motion, thereby conserving power.  
         [0033]     The present invention has been described with reference to the above exemplary embodiments. One skilled in the art would understand that the present invention may also be successfully implemented if modified. Accordingly, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broadest spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings, accordingly, should be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.