Methods and systems for tactile code interpretation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9916770-B2
Application number	US-201414542182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2014
Priority date	Nov 18, 2013
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems ( 100 ) for tactile code interpretation are described herein. In an embodiment, a tactile code interpretation system ( 100 ) includes a tactile code device ( 102 ) having a plurality of tactile units ( 106 ). Each of the plurality of tactile units ( 106 ) includes a tactile code ( 108 ) for representing a notation and a corresponding acoustic code ( 110 ). The acoustic code ( 110 ) encodes information pertaining to a plurality of data blocks. The plurality of data bocks includes a start block corresponding to a start pattern, an end block corresponding to an end pattern, and one or more information blocks corresponding to information pertaining to the tactile code ( 108 ). Further, the acoustic code ( 110 ), when swiped, generates a unique sound wave to facilitate semantic interpretation of the corresponding tactile code ( 108 ).

First claim

We claim:

1. A tactile code interpretation system comprising a tactile code device, wherein the tactile code device comprises:
a plurality of tactile units, each of the tactile units having marked thereon:
a tactile code for representing a notation; and
a corresponding acoustic code engraved on the tactile unit, wherein the acoustic code comprises encoding information pertaining to a plurality of data blocks, wherein the corresponding acoustic code, when swiped, generates a unique sound wave to facilitate semantic interpretation of the tactile code, and wherein the plurality of data blocks comprise:
a start block corresponding to a start pattern;
an end block corresponding to an end pattern; and
one or more information blocks corresponding to information pertaining to the tactile code; and

a computing device to process the unique sound wave for determining the semantic interpretation of the notation represented by the corresponding tactile code, wherein the computing device comprises:
a processor;
a code reformation module, executable by the processor, to
obtain a binary data stream corresponding to the unique sound wave; and group bits in the binary data stream into a plurality of data segments to reform data encoded by the acoustic code, wherein each data segment corresponds to a data block encoded by the acoustic code, and wherein the binary data stream is grouped based on code reformation data, the code reformation data including a length of each data block, predetermined start pattern and predetermined end pattern by:
identifying a direction in which the acoustic code is swiped, based on the predetermined start pattern and the predetermined end pattern;
shifting one or more bits in the binary data stream within a data segment, based on a position of the predetermined start pattern and the predetermined end pattern in the binary data stream;
segregating, based on the length of each data block, bits in the binary data stream to group the bits into the plurality of data segments; and
calibrating for a speed of the swipe, based on spacing of individual peaks corresponding to codes within the start pattern stored in the code reformation data; and

an analysis module, executable by the processor, to
gather the one or more information blocks from the reformed data; determine the notation represented by the corresponding tactile code based on the one or more data blocks and content data, wherein the content data includes data pertaining to notations represented by a plurality of tactile codes; and
provide a trigger to generate an aural feedback corresponding to the notation.

2. The tactile code interpretation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tactile code is at least one of a code, a notation, a symbol, and a graphic used in tactile writing systems.

3. The tactile code interpretation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more information blocks comprise:
a discipline block corresponding to discipline;
a classification block corresponding to classification; and
a plurality of data payload blocks corresponding to data payload,
wherein the discipline block indicates a field to which the tactile code relates to and the classification block and the plurality of data payload blocks indicate specific information pertaining to the notation represented by the tactile code.

4. The tactile code interpretation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tactile code interpretation system further comprises an auxiliary unit including one or more of:
a swiping unit to swipe the acoustic code;
a device interface to couple the tactile code device to a computing device; and
a first transducer to provide the unique sound wave to the computing device.

5. The tactile code interpretation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tactile code interpretation system further comprises a base, wherein the plurality of the tactile units are removably attached to the base, fixedly attached to the base, or movably attached to the base.

6. The tactile code interpretation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tactile code device is a fob like structure including a plurality of polyhedron blocks, wherein the plurality of the polyhedron blocks combine to form a tactile surface of the fob like structure, the tactile surface functioning as a tactile unit.

7. The tactile code interpretation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tactile code device comprises:
at least two gears;
an actuator to actuate the at least two gears; and
a conveyor belt unit adapted to be driven by the at least two gears, the conveyor belt unit comprising,
an upper plate adapted to receive the plurality of tactile units, wherein a top surface of each of the tactile units includes the tactile code and a bottom surface of each of the tactile units includes the corresponding acoustic code;
a lower plate including at least one pin to automatically swipe the acoustic code provided on the bottom surface of the tactile unit; and
a conveyor belt adapted to be driven by the gears to impart motion to the lower plate, when triggered by the actuator.

8. A computer implemented method for providing a semantic interpretation of a notation represented by a tactile code provided on a tactile unit, from among a plurality of tactile units of a tactile code device, the method comprising:
obtaining a binary data stream corresponding to a sound wave using digital signal processing techniques, the sound wave being generated, when an acoustic code provided on the tactile unit is swiped, wherein the acoustic code encodes information corresponding to a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks including a start block, an end block, and one or more information blocks;
grouping by at least one computer processor bits in the binary data stream into a plurality of data segments to reform data encoded by the acoustic code, each data segment corresponding to a data block, from a plurality of data blocks, wherein the binary data stream is grouped based on code reformation data, the code reformation data including a length of each data block, predetermined start pattern and predetermined end pattern by:
identifying a direction in which the acoustic code is swiped, based on the predetermined start pattern and the predetermined end pattern;
shifting one or more bits in the binary data stream within a data segment, based on a position of the predetermined start pattern and the predetermined end pattern in the binary data stream;
segregating, based on the length of each data block, bits in the binary data stream to group the bits into the plurality of data segments; and
calibrating for a speed of the swipe, based on spacing of individual peaks corresponding to codes within the start pattern stored in the code reformation data;

analyzing by at least one computer processor the plurality of data segments to determine the semantic interpretation of the notation, based on content data, wherein the content data includes data pertaining to notations represented by a plurality of tactile codes; and
providing a trigger to generate an aural feedback providing the semantic interpretation of the notation, based on the analyzing.

9. The computer implemented method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the analyzing further comprises:
determining, from the reformed data, a composite key including one or more data segments corresponding to the one or more information blocks; and
obtaining information regarding the notation represented by the tactile code from the content data, based on the composite key.

10. The computer implemented method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises receiving inputs corresponding to configuration att

Assignees

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Inventors

• Bose Sneha
• Garg Shalin
• Thomas Annie

Classifications

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G09B21/007 Primary

  using both tactile and audible presentation of the information · CPC title