WO2008074340A1

WO2008074340A1 - Mobile apparatus with smell, biological or dna sensor and method for location and identification

Info

Publication number: WO2008074340A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/012173
Authority: WO
Inventors: Asta Karkkainen
Original assignee: Nokia Inc
Current assignee: Nokia Inc
Priority date: 2006-12-18
Filing date: 2006-12-18
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-18

Abstract

A mobile electronic apparatus (1) is provided with a smell sensor and/or a biological sensor and/or a DNA sensor (36). The mobile apparatus is configured to identify smells (4.1), smell tags, biological tags and/or DNA tags for finding or identifying objects that are provided with said tags.

Description

MOBILE APPARATUS WITH SMELL , BIOLOGICAL OR DNA SENSOR AND METHOD FOR LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mobile apparatuses that include a smell sensor, a biological sensor and/or a DNA 10 sensor and to methods in which an object is located or identified by using smell, biological material and/or DNA detection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

15

Presently, RFID tags are used for locating objects with a mobile apparatus, such as a mobile phone. The object to be located, such as particular goods or accessories are provided with an RFID tag and the mobile apparatus

20 detects the strength of the signal received from the RFID tag in order to assist the user in locating the object in question. However, not all parts can be provided with an RFID tag. Presently, holograms and other security labels are used to identify authentic accessories, such as

25 rechargeable batteries

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

On this background, it is an object of the present 30 invention to provide a mobile communication terminal that is capable of locating and/or identifying objects. This object is achieved by providing a mobile electronic apparatus comprising a sensor for detecting the content and/or determining the intensity of smells, a collection of stored smells, processor configured to determine if a smell detected by the sensor matches one of the stored smells for identifying the detected smell, a collection of actions associated with particular stored smells, wherein the processor also is configured to perform the action associated with the detected and identified smell.

Thus, the mobile apparatus can identify a smell and accordingly carry out a predetermined action, such as to alert the user.

The action associated with the detected smell may depend on the intensity of the smell that has been determined.

The collection of stored smells may include artificial smells that are essentially undetectable by humans.

The processor can be configured to signal the detected smell and/or detected intensity of the smell to a user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for locating or identifying objects with a mobile apparatus that is provided with a smell sensor and/or biological sensor, comprising providing the items to be located with a smell tag and/or a biological tag, associating a particular smell and/or a particular biological material with a given object or type of object, detecting the presence of a smell and/or of biological material with the smell or biological sensor in order to determine the location or the presence of a particular object or a particular type of object.

The biological material can be DNA and the biological tag can be a DNA tag. The method may further comprise comparing the connected smell and/or biological material and/or DNA material with a stored collection of smells and/or biological materials and/or DNA types, in order to determine the object or type of object associated with the detected smell and/or biological material and/or DNA material.

The method may also comprise associating a particular action with a particular smell and/or a particular logical material and/or a particular DNA material, and performing the particular action associated with a detected smell and/or biological material and/or DNA material on the mobile apparatus.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for locating an object or a type of object with a mobile apparatus that is provided with a smell sensor, comprising: determining the smell that is associated with the object or type of object that is to be located, detecting the presence and intensity of the determined smell with the smell sensor in the mobile apparatus, and signaling the detected intensity to a user of the mobile apparatus.

This method may further comprise providing a database or database of known and smells and associating information with the smells into the database.

The information associated with the smells may include actions to be performed when such smell has been detected, or when the intensity of such smell exceeds a threshold. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method of identifying authentic non-counterfeit accessories of a mobile electronic apparatus, comprising adding a smell tag and/or a DNA tag and/or a biological tag to the accessories, providing the mobile electronic apparatus with a smell sensor and/or DNA sensor and/or biological sensor and configuring the mobile electronic apparatus to accept operation with an accessory when the authenticity of the accessory concerned has been verified with the smell sensor and/or DNA sensor and/or biological sensor.

The mobile electronic apparatus may include a database of tag information associated with authentic accessories.

Preferably, the mobile electronic apparatus does not accept operation with an accessory when the authenticity of the accessory concerned cannot be established using the smell sensor and/or DNA sensor and/or biological sensor.

The mobile electronic apparatus may signal an alarm to a user when an attempt is made to operate the mobile electronic apparatus with a non-authentic or counterfeit accessory.

The accessory can be a rechargeable battery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an accessory of a mobile phone provided with a smell tag, biological material tag or a DNA tag.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mobile device having a biological sensor for sensing smell and/or biological material, the mobile device being configured for receiving or connecting to a replaceable or removable component or accessory having a biological tag or a smell tag, the mobile device having stored a digital representation of smells and/or biological materials associated with tags of the replaceable or removable component, wherein the mobile device is configured to be inoperative with a replaceable or removable component when the biological material or smell of the tag of the replaceable or removable component as sensed by the biological sensor does not correspond with a stored digital representation in the mobile device.

The mobile device may have stored therein a database comprising digital representations of smells and/or biological materials and information on the replaceable or removable component associated with a smell or biological material.

The replaceable component can be a battery, a memory card or a cover.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a replaceable or removable component for a mobile device or an accessory connectable to a mobile device with a biological sensor or a smell sensor, the component or accessory comprising a biological tag or smell tag, wherein the replaceable component or accessory is configured to be inoperative if the biological material of the tag or the smell of the smell tag does not correspond with a sensed value stored in the mobile device . The replaceable component can be a battery.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a system comprising a mobile device and a replaceable or removable component or accessory for the mobile device, the component or accessory having a biological tag or a smell tag and the mobile device having a biological sensor and/or a smell sensor, wherein the mobile device and/or the tag are configured to be inoperable if the reading of the sensor does not match a the expected sensor value associated with a smell or biological material stored in the mobile device.

The mobile device may comprise a database with sensor values for smells and/or biological materials that are associated with components or accessories that are considered suitable for operation with the mobile device.

Further objects, features, advantages and properties of the mobile apparatus and method according to the invention will become apparent from the detailed description .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a mobile apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the general architecture of apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an elevated view of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, the device and the method according to the invention in the form of a personal computer, PDA, mobile terminal or a mobile communication terminal in the form of a cellular/mobile phone will be described by the preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a mobile terminal according to the invention in the form of a mobile telephone by a front view. The mobile phone 1 comprises a user interface having a housing 2, a display 3, an on/off button (not shown) , a speaker 5 (only the opening is shown) , and a microphone 6 (not visible in Fig. 1) . The phone 1 according to the first preferred embodiment is adapted for communication via a cellular network, such as the GSM 900/1800 MHz network, but could just as well be adapted for use with a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a 3G network, or a TCP/IP-based network to cover a possible VoIP-network (e.g. via WLAN, WIMAX or similar) or a mix of VoIP and Cellular such as UMA (Universal Mobile Access) .

The keypad 7 has a first group of keys 8 as alphanumeric keys, by means of which the user can enter a telephone number, write a text message (SMS) , write a name (associated with the phone number), etc. Each of the twelve alphanumeric keys 8 is provided with a figure "0-9" or a sign "#" or "*", respectively. In alpha mode each key is associated with a number of letters and special signs used in the text editing.

The keypad 2 has additionally a second group of keys comprising two softkeys 9, two call handling keys (offhook key 11 and onhook key 12), and a 5-way navigation key 10 (up, down, left, right and center: select/activate). The function of the softkeys 9 depends on the state of the phone, and navigation in the menu is performed by using the navigation-key 10. The present function of the softkeys 9 is shown in separate fields (soft labels) in a dedicated area 4 of the display 3, just above the softkeys 9. The two call handling keys 11,12 are used for establishing a call or a conference call, terminating a call or rejecting an incoming call. This key layout is characteristic for e.g. the Nokia 6230i™ phone.

The navigation key 10 is a four- or five-way key which can be used for cursor movement, scrolling and selecting (five-way key) and is placed centrally on the front surface of the phone between the display 3 and the group of alphanumeric keys 7.

A releasable rear cover (not shown) gives access to the SIM card (not shown), and the battery pack 24 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the back of the phone that supplies electrical power for the electronic components of the mobile phone 1.

The mobile phone 1 has a flat display 3 that is typically made of an LCD with optional back lighting, such as a TFT matrix capable of displaying color images. A touch screen may be used instead of a conventional LCD display. Fig. 2 illustrates in block diagram form the general architecture of the mobile phone 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The processor 18 controls the operation of the terminal and has an integrated digital signal processor 17 and an integrated RAM 15. The processor 18 controls the communication with the cellular network via the transmitter/receiver circuit 19 and an internal antenna 20. A microphone 6 coupled to the processor 18 via voltage regulators 21 transforms the user's speech into analogue signals, the analogue signals formed thereby are A/D converted in an A/D converter (not shown) before the speech is encoded in the DSP 17 that is included in the processor 18. The encoded speech signal is transferred to the processor 18, which e.g. supports the GSM terminal software. The digital signal-processing unit 17 speech-decodes the signal, which is transferred from the processor 18 to the speaker 5 via a D/A converter (not shown) .

The voltage regulators 21 form the interface for the speaker 5, the microphone 6, the LED drivers 91 (for the LEDS backlighting the keypad 7 and the display 3) , the SIM card 22, battery 24, the bottom connector 27, the DC jack 31 (for connecting to the charger 33) and the audio amplifier 32 that drives the (hands-free) loudspeaker 25.

The processor 18 also forms the interface for some of the peripheral units of the device, including a (Flash) ROM memory 16, the graphical display 3, the keypad 7, the ringing tone selection unit 26, a smell/biological/DNA sensor 36, a music player 37 and a music reproduction unit 38. The music player 37 can be a multimedia player that can play media with another format than music, such as for example video data. The music player 37 is part of the software on the mobile phone and provides a user interface for selecting, playing, pausing, stopping, forwarding, rewinding, and handling songs. The handling of songs includes saving songs or albums, renaming songs or albums, adding or modifying attributes associated with songs, creating playlists, and sorting songs in accordance with attributes associated with the songs.

The music reproduction unit 38 is part of the software of the mobile phone and is operable to reproduce music data that is stored in one of the memories or recording media of the mobile phone 1. The music data can be digitized music, preferably in a compressed format, such as the MP3 format or instrumental data, such as ringing tones in the form of MIDI files. Any other known music data formats can be used in connection with the invention.

The reproduced music is routed to the earphones 35 when earphones are connected to the bottom connector 27 else, the reproduced music is routed to the loudspeaker 25. Depending on user settings, ringing tones may be routed to the loudspeaker 25 even if earphones 35 are connected to the bottom connector 27.

The smell/biological/DNA sensor 36 can detect one or more of the group of smell biological material and DNA. The sensor 36 can be a combined sensor or include different parts for detecting smell, biological material and DNA material. In the sensor 36 can be a nanometer level detection sensor. The signal from the sensor 36 is monitored by the processor 18 and compared with the signal profile associated with various smells, types of biological material and types of DNA. Also the intensity of the smell or presence of the biological material and/or DNA material is determined by the processor 18 from the signal from the sensor 36. Hereto, the processor 18 compares the received signal from the sensor 36 with signal profiles that are stored in a catalog or database in a memory of the mobile phone 1.

The catalog or database also stores actions to be performed in response to the detection of a particular smell, biological material or DNA type. Further, the catalog or database may store actions to be performed in response to a particular concentration or intensity of a particular smell, biological material or DNA type. The action to be taken in response to the determination or recognition of a particular smell, biological material or DNA type may also be user programmed via the user interface of the mobile phone 1.

In an embodiment, the processor 18 is configured to alert the user of the detection of a particular smell, biological material or DNA type. Further, the processor 18 can also be configured to alert the user of the concentration of a particular smell, biological material or DNA type exceeding a predetermined or user programmed threshold.

Fig. 3 illustrates a rechargeable battery 24 of the mobile phone with galvanic contacts 44 and a tag 50. The tag 50 can be a smell tag, a DNA tag or a biological tag. In operation, the processor 18 in mobile phone 1, is configured to verify that the biological or DNA material on the tag 50 corresponds to the entry in the catalog or database for a rechargeable battery in order to a determine the authenticity of the rechargeable battery 24. The same procedure can be applied to other accessories, such as headsets, replaceable covers, docking stations, etc. the processor 18 in the mobile phone is preferably configured to refuse operation with the accessory concerned when the biological or DNA material detected does not correspond to be entry in the catalog or database or when nothing is detected. The operation can also be carried out in essentially the same way of other components or accessories, such as a removable cover, a memory card or headset provided with a smell tag or biological tag.

In operation, a user can deploy the mobile phone 1 to locate a particular object. Via the user interface the user instructs the processor 18 to check if the smell, biological material or DNA material associated with the object or type of object that the user has indicated is present. If this is the case, the processor 18 will indicate via the user interface the intensity of the detected substance and thereby the user receives a signal that can be used to determine if he/she is moving towards the object (increasing intensity) or away from the object (decreasing intensity) . According to another embodiment the intensity of the smell is detected (density of the particles) , and the gradient of the density field is calculated by the processor 18. The processor is configured to use the gradient information to show the direction to go on the user interface (the audio visual User Interface) to show the user the location of the object to be located.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process according to an embodiment of the invention. In step 4.0 the user indicates which smell or which object is to be located or identified. If the user indicates an object, the processor will look up in the catalog or database which smell, biological material or DNA material is associated with the object or type of object concerned. In step 4.1 the processor 18 uses the signal from the smell sensor 36 to identify the detected smells, biological material or DNA material. In step 4.2 the processor 18 compares the detected smells, biological material or DNA material with the user indication and determines whether it in the smell, biological material or DNA material concerned has been detected. If the smell, biological material or DNA material concerned has been detected the processor 18 looks up in step 4.3 which action is associated with the detected smell and eventually with the detected smell intensity. In step 4.4 the processor performs the action associated with the detected smell, biological material or DNA material or the perspective intensity thereof.

In operation, the user may in an embodiment be looking for a particular fruit in a supermarket market with a particular degree of ripeness. Via the user interface the user will instruct the processor 18 to determine the presence of the smell associated with the fruit question, possibly at a particular degree of ripeness, and thereafter the processor 18 will compare the signal from the sensor 36 with the signal profile associated with the smell concerned by using a catalog or database with known smells that is stored in the mobile phone 1. In operation, particular objects or types of objects can be provided with smell tags with a smell that is substantially not detectable by humans, and the smell concerned is associated with the goods in question in a catalog or database stored in the mobile phone 1.

The invention has numerous advantages. Different embodiments or implementations may yield one or more of the following advantages. It should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list and there may be other advantages which are not described herein. One advantage of the invention is that it allows for identification and/or location of objects or type of objects that can not be provided with an RFID tag, barcode or the like. Another advantage of the invention is that it allows for assistance in locating objects via their smell.

The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality. The single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several means recited in the claims.

Although the present invention has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A mobile electronic apparatus comprising:

a sensor for detecting the content and/or determining the intensity of smells,

a collection of stored smells,

processor configured to determine if a smell detected by said sensor matches one of said stored smells for identifying the detected smell,

a collection of actions associated with particular stored smells,

wherein said processor also is configured to perform the action associated with the detected and identified smell.

2. A mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the action associated with the detected smells depends on the intensity of the smell that has been determined.

3. A mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said collection of stored smells includes artificial smells that are essentially undetectable by humans.

4. A mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to signal the detected smell and/or detected intensity of said smell to a user.

5. A method for locating or identifying objects with a mobile apparatus that is provided with a smell sensor and/or biological sensor, comprising:

providing the items to be located with a smell tag and/or a biological tag,

associating a particular smell, and/or a particular biological material with a given object or type of object,

detecting the presence of a smell and/or of biological material with the smell or biological sensor in order to determine the location or the presence of a particular object or a particular type of object.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the biological tag is a DNA tag.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising comparing the connected smell and/or biological material and/or DNA material with a stored collection of smells and/or biological materials and/or DNA types, in order to determine the object or type of object associated with the detected smell and/or biological material and/or DNA material .

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising associating a particular action with a particular smell and/or a particular logical material and/or a particular DNA material, and performing the particular action associated with a detected smell and/or biological material and/or DNA material on said mobile apparatus.

9. A method for locating an object or a type of object with a mobile apparatus that is provided with a smell sensor, comprising: determining the smell that is associated with the object or type of object that is to be located, detecting the presence and intensity of the determined smell with the smell sensor in the mobile apparatus, and signaling the detected intensity to a user of the mobile apparatus.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising providing a database or database of known and smells and associating information with said smells into the database .

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said information associated with said smells includes actions to be performed when such smell has been detected, or when the intensity of such smell exceeds a threshold.

12. A method of identifying authentic accessories of a mobile electronic apparatus, comprising adding a smell tag and/or a DNA tag and/or a biological tag to said accessories, providing said mobile electronic apparatus with a smell sensor and/or DNA sensor and/or biological sensor and configuring said mobile electronic apparatus to accept operation with an accessory when the authenticity of the accessory concerned has been verified with said smell sensor and/or DNA sensor and/or biological sensor.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said mobile electronic apparatus includes a database of tag information associated with authentic accessories.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said mobile electronic apparatus accepts operation only when the authenticity of the accessory concerned has been verified using said smell sensor and/or DNA sensor and/or biological sensor.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said mobile electronic apparatus signals an alarm to a user when an attempt is made to operate the mobile electronic apparatus with a non-authentic or counterfeit accessory.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said accessory is a rechargeable battery.

17. An accessory of a mobile phone provided with a smell tag, biological material tag or a DNA tag.

18. A mobile device having a biological sensor for sensing smell and/or biological material, said mobile device being configured for receiving or connecting to a replaceable or removable component or accessory having a biological tag or a smell tag, said mobile device having stored a digital representation of smells and/or biological materials associated with tags of said replaceable or removable component, wherein the mobile device is configured to be inoperative with a replaceable or removable component when the biological material or smell of the tag of the replaceable or removable component as sensed by the biological sensor does not correspond with a stored digital representation in the mobile device.

19. A mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the mobile device has stored therein a database comprising digital representations of smells and/or biological materials and information on the replaceable or removable component associated with a smell or biological material.

20. A mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the replaceable component is a battery, a memory card or a cover.

21. A replaceable or removable component for a mobile device or an accessory connectable to a mobile device with a biological sensor or a smell sensor, said component or accessory comprising a biological tag or smell tag, wherein the replaceable component or accessory is configured to be inoperative if the biological material of the tag or the smell of the smell tag does not correspond with a sensed value stored in the mobile device .

22. A replaceable component according to claim 21, wherein the replaceable component is a battery.

23. A system comprising a mobile device and a replaceable or removable component or accessory for said mobile device, said component or accessory having a biological tag or a smell tag and said mobile device having a biological sensor and/or a smell sensor, wherein said mobile device and/or said tag are configured to be inoperable if the reading of said sensor does not match a the expected sensor value associated with a smell or biological material stored in the mobile device.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said mobile device comprises a database with sensor values for smells and/or biological materials that are associated with components or accessories that are considered suitable for operation with the mobile device.