1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to odor management, and more specifically, to odor source release based on odor detection and user preference information.
2. Description of Related Art
The sense of smell can vary from person to person based on genetics and other naturally occurring factors that affect the olfactory system. As a result, some people can be more or less sensitive to particular odors as compared to other people. Odors to which people are sensitive may be controlled by various techniques. For example, an unpleasant odor may be masked or treated by dispensing a constant deodorizing chemical volume. In many cases, the dispensed chemical volume may be either insufficient or too much depending on the nearby person. Accordingly, there is a need for improved techniques for controlling unpleasant odors.
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for odor release based on odor detection and user preference information. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving user preference information associated with an odor. The method also includes detecting the odor. Further, the method includes releasing one or more odor sources based on the user preference information in response to detecting the odor.
According to another aspect, a method includes receiving user preference information of first and second users and associated with one or more odors. The method also includes detecting the one or more odors. Further, the method includes determining release levels of a plurality of odor sources based on the detected one or more odors and the user preference information of the first and second users. The method also includes releasing the odor sources based on the determined release levels in response to detecting the one or more odors.
As described herein, there are various embodiments and aspects of the present invention. Particularly, disclosed herein are systems and methods for odor source release based on odor detection and user preference information.
As referred to herein, the term “gas” may be broadly defined to include pure gases and gas mixtures, including solid and liquid particles entrained therein.
As referred to herein, the term “air” should be broadly construed. It can include a scientific definition of “air” and/or other pure gases and gas mixtures and all solid, liquid and gaseous substances entrained therein.
As referred to herein, the term “odor detector” can be a device that has been calibrated or otherwise has learned through, for example, computer-based learning algorithms and/or programs, how to properly detect and identify a specific target odor. Odor detectors can include, for example, technologies such as ion mobility spectrometry, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography, many or all of which individually or in combination are capable of detecting one or more target odors.
As referred to herein, the term “computing device” should be broadly construed. It can include any type of device capable of presenting a media item to a user. For example, the computing device may be an e-book reader configured to present an e-book to a user. In an example, a computing device may be a mobile device such as, for example, but not limited to, a smart phone, a cell phone, a pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA, e.g., with GPRS NIC), a mobile computer with a smart phone client, or the like. In another example, a computing device can also include any type of conventional computer, for example, a desktop computer or a laptop computer. A typical computing device is a wireless data access-enabled device (e.g., an iPHONE® smart phone, a BLACKBERRY® smart phone, a NEXUS ONE™ smart phone, an iPAD® device, or the like) that is capable of sending and receiving data in a wireless manner using protocols like the Internet Protocol, or IP, and the wireless application protocol, or WAP. This allows users to access information via wireless devices, such as smart phones, mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, communicators, and the like. Wireless data access is supported by many wireless networks, including, but not limited to, CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, ReFLEX, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, Mobitex, EDGE and other 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE technologies, and it operates with many handheld device operating systems, such as PalmOS, EPOC, Windows CE, FLEXOS, OS/9, JavaOS, iOS and Android. Typically, these devices use graphical displays and can access the Internet (or other communications network) on so-called mini- or micro-browsers, which are web browsers with small file sizes that can accommodate the reduced memory constraints of wireless networks. In a representative embodiment, the mobile device is a cellular telephone or smart phone that operates over GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), which is a data technology for GSM networks. In addition to a conventional voice communication, a given mobile device can communicate with another such device via many different types of message transfer techniques, including SMS (short message service), enhanced SMS (EMS), multi-media message (MMS), email WAP, paging, or other known or later-developed wireless data formats. Although many of the examples provided herein are implemented on a mobile device, the examples may similarly be implemented on any suitable computing device, such as a laptop or desktop computer.
As referred to herein, a “user interface” is generally a system by which users interact with a computing device. An interface can include an input for allowing users to manipulate a computing device, and can include an output for allowing the system to present information (e.g., e-book content) and/or data, indicate the effects of the user's manipulation, etc. An example of an interface on a computing device includes a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to interact with programs in more ways than typing. A GUI typically can offer display objects, and visual indicators, as opposed to text-based interfaces, typed command labels or text navigation to represent information and actions available to a user. For example, an interface can be a display window or display object, which is selectable by a user of a mobile device for interaction. The display object can be displayed on a display screen of a computing device and can be selected by and interacted with by a user using the interface. In an example, the display of the computing device can be a touch screen, which can display the display icon. The user can depress the area of the display screen at which the display icon is displayed for selecting the display icon. In another example, the user can use any other suitable interface of a computing device, such as a keypad, to select the display icon or display object.
The computing device 106 may include an odor release manager 108, a user interface 110, and a database 112. The computing device 106 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or the like. Further, the computing device 106 may include one or more suitable input/output (I/O) interfaces (not shown) for electrically communicating with the odor detector 102 and an odor release device 114. The computing device 106 may receive electrical signals from the odor detector 102 that are representative of concentrations of target odors within air surrounding the odor detector 102. Data representative of the detected concentrations of the target odors may be suitably stored in the database 112. Further, the stored data may be timestamped to indicate the detected odor concentrations over time.
The odor release manager 108 may be configured to receive data indicative of the detected odor concentrations. Further, the odor release manager 108 may receive user preference information associated with one or more of the odors. For example, the user preference information may be stored in the database 112 and may indicate a sensitivity of a user to odors. The database 112 may store user preference information for multiple users. A user may enter his or her user preference information by use of the user interface 110. The odor release manager 108 may control the odor release device 114 to release one or more odor sources from within chambers 1 116, 2 118, and/or 3 120. Chamber 116, 118, and 120 may each include a different odor source, such as a deodorizing chemical for neutralizing and/or masking the odor. For example, the odor release manager 108 may generate an electrical signal for controlling the odor release device 114 to open one or more of the chambers 116, 118, and 120. The electrical signal may be communicated to the odor release device 114 for opening one or more of the chambers at varying degrees based on the detected odor 104 and the user preference information. Released odor source may flow into an airflow chamber 122.
Referring to
The method of
The method of
Referring to
The method of
The method of
The method of
The method of
Referring to
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the odor detector 102 may detect one or more odors 104. The user interface 110 may indicate a multiple odor types. Multiple users may enter their respective user preference information for indicating sensitivity to the odor types.
The method of
The method of
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the odor release manager 108 may learn preferences to a user and generate a user profile of the user. The user profile may be stored in the database 112. For example, the odor release manager 108 may store user control of the odor release levels in response to detection of odor(s). This may be considered a feedback of user response to odors. In this way, the odor release manager 108 can learn a user's preference and adjust odor release levels in accordance with those preferences.
In accordance with embodiments, the odor release manager 108 may receive odor measurements from the odor detector 102. The odor detector 102 may evaluate the odor type, amount of odor, and stored user sensitivity levels to determine a volume of deodorizing chemicals that may be needed for dispense by the odor release device 114. Calculation of the deodorizing chemical volume may be based on the following formula:
DoV=(Oca*Ds)*S
wherein DoV represents deodorant source output volume, Oca represents a percentage (%) of odorous chemical in the air, Ds represents a standard deodorizer constant (this may vary depending on the type of odor), and S represents a user sensitivity multiplier.
The value of S may be variable and may be dependent on the number of times a user provides input to the output control processor that they are sensitive to the odor. S may be generic and apply to all odor types, or be associated with specific odors, whereby individual sensitivity records can be maintained and adjusted by the user for varying types of odors. These types of odors may be presented to the user in terms such as, but not limited to, “musky,” “putrid” (e.g., egg), “pungent” (e.g., vinegar), floral, and the like. When a user detects an unpleasant odor of such types, the user may provide input to the user interface 110. A feedback from the output environment to the odor detector 102 may be implemented if the odor of deodorizing chemicals starts to irritate the user. Referring to
In an example scenario, there may be a number of user sensitivity multipliers (e.g., S1, S2, S3, etc.) based on the number of users in the output environment. For example, the primary user, Jane, may be sensitive to pungent odors, but not musky odors. Jane may provide feedback to the odor release manager 108 about this via the user interface 110. Another user, Joe, may enter the environment and notice a musky odor that Jane does not care about. Joe may interact with the user interface to indicate his sensitivity to the musky odor. In response, an odor source may be released to mask or eliminate the musky odor.
It is noted that systems disclosed herein may be deployed in any suitable environment. For example, the system 100 may be used in a vehicle (e.g., automobile), rooms in a building, or a single room.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.
Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium (including, but not limited to, non-transitory computer readable storage media). A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter situation scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
This is a continuation application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/046,289, filed Oct. 4, 2013 and titled ODOR SOURCE RELEASE BASED ON ODOR DETECTION AND USER PREFERENCE INFORMATION, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 14046289 | Oct 2013 | US |
Child | 14047375 | US |