Providing Location and Spatial Data about the Physical Environment

Abstract

A method is provided for providing location and spatial data about the physical environment. The method includes: sensing a tag provided in the environment by a mobile device; receiving data from the tag at the mobile device, the data including location and spatial data relating to the physical environment of the tag; and representing the location and spatial data from the tag by the mobile device. In one embodiment, sensing a tag may include sensing a tag in the form of a machine-readable symbol; and receiving data from the tag receives data by processing an image of the machine-readable symbol by the mobile device. In another embodiment, sensing a tag includes sensing a tag in the form of a transmitter device; and receiving data from the tag receives data by receiving a signal by the mobile device.

1 . A method for providing location and spatial data about a physical environment, comprising:
 sensing a tag provided in the environment by a mobile device;   receiving data from the tag at the mobile device, the data including location and spatial data relating to the physical environment of the tag; and   representing the location and spatial data from the tag by the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein sensing the tag includes sensing the tag in a form of a machine-readable symbol; and receiving data from the tag receives data by processing an image of the machine-readable symbol by the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein sensing the tag in the form of a machine-readable symbol includes identifying the tag using video analytics. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein sensing the tag includes sensing the tag in a form of a transmitter device; and receiving data from the tag receives data by receiving a signal by the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the location data is in a form of Global Positioning System (GPS) data or Indoor Positioning System (IPS) data. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spatial data defines the dimensions of an object at the location. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 decoding data received from the tag to retrieve the location and spatial data.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining from the data received from the tag, the location of another tag.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein representing the location and spatial data from the tag by the mobile device includes representing the data by audio means. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein representing the location and spatial data from the tag by the mobile device includes representing the data by tactile means. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein representing the location and spatial data from the tag by the mobile device includes representing the data by augmented reality means. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 viewing a live video of a physical environment of a mobile device; and   wherein representing the location and spatial data from the tag by the mobile device includes representing the data by augmented realty over a view of the live video.