Patent ID: 8917905

Claim:
A method for controlling an object space having an associated object space environment, comprising the steps of: defining a target set of coordinates within the object space to define an area of interest within the object space by the steps of: directing a light source with a predetermined target designating image to a designated target location within the object space by a user to superimpose the target designating image onto the object space, capturing an image of the object space including the superimposed target designating image, capturing from the image of the object space the superimposed target designating image directed to the designated target location by the light source, and determining the target set of coordinates of the captured superimposed target designating image relative to the captured image of the object space; recognizing the presence of a predetermined object in the object space by the steps of: capturing an image of the predetermined object, and detecting the presence of the predetermined object within the object space using the captured image of the predetermined object; determining a coordinate location of the recognized predetermined object in the object space; determining a spatial relationship between the recognized predetermined object and the target set of coordinates; comparing the determined spatial relationship with predetermined spatial relationship criteria; and if the determined spatial relationship falls within the predetermined spatial relationship criteria, modifying the object space environment.