Method and system for connection handover from telepresence robot to mobile office

{
  "publication_number": "US12047833B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method and system for connection handover from telepresence robot to mobile office",
  "abstract": "A telepresence robot is provided including a controller. The controller is programmed to, after establishing a remote connection with a remote user, monitor movement of a tracked individual, detect when the tracked individual has entered an office space, and upon determination that the tracked individual has entered the office space, identify the office space and transfer a connection with the remote user from the telepresence robot to a device in the office space.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A telepresence robot comprising a controller programmed to: after establishing a remote connection between the telepresence robot and a remote user, monitor movement of a tracked individual; cause the telepresence robot to follow the tracked individual based on the movement of the tracked individual; detect when the tracked individual has entered an office space; and upon determination that the tracked individual has entered the office space: scan an identification associated with the office space; look up information associated with the office space in a database on the associated identification; and terminate the connection between the telepresence robot and the remote user and establish a new connection between the remote user and a hardware device associated with the office space based on the information associated with the office space.",
    "2. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the device establishes a video conference between the remote user and the hardware device associated with the office space.",
    "3. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to: receive audio and video from the remote user; cause the telepresence robot to output the audio received from the remote user from a speaker; and cause the telepresence robot to display the video received from the remote user on a display, screen.",
    "4. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to: receive video captured by a camera; receive audio captured by a microphone; and transfer the received audio and the received video to the remote user.",
    "5. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to: receive motion control commands from the remote user; and cause the telepresence robot to move based on the motion control commands received from the remote user.",
    "6. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to autonomously control movement of the telepresence robot based on the movement of the tracked individual.",
    "7. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the identification associated with the office space comprises a QR code.",
    "8. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to receive a request from the remote user to monitor the tracked individual.",
    "9. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to: after the tracked individual has entered the office space, detect when the tracked individual has exited the office space; and upon determination that the tracked individual has exited the office space, terminate the connection between the remote user and the hardware device associated with the office space and establish a new connection between the telepresence robot and the remote user.",
    "10. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to: monitor movements of a plurality of tracked individuals; detect when one or more of the tracked individuals have entered the office space; and upon determination that one or more of the tracked individuals have entered the office space, terminate the connection between the telepresence robot and the remote user and establish a new connection between transfer the remote user and the hardware device associated with the office space.",
    "11. A method comprising: after establishing a remote connection between a telepresence robot and a remote user, monitoring movement of a tracked individual; causing the telepresence robot to follow the tracked individual based on the movement of the tracked individual; detecting when the tracked individual has entered an office space; and upon determination that the tracked individual has entered the office space: scanning an identification associated with the office space; looking up information associated with the office space in a database on the associated identification; and terminating the connection between the telepresence robot and the remote user and establishing a new connection between the remote user and a hardware device associated with the office space based on the information associated with the office space.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving audio and video from the remote user; causing the telepresence robot to output the audio received from the remote user from a speaker; and causing the telepresence robot to display the video received from the remote user on a display screen.",
    "13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving video captured by a camera; receiving audio captured by a microphone; and transferring the received audio and the received video to the remote user.",
    "14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving motion control commands from the remote user; and causing the telepresence robot to move based on the motion control commands received from the remote user.",
    "15. The method of claim 11, further comprising autonomously controlling movement of the telepresence robot based on the movement of the tracked individual.",
    "16. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a request from the remote user to monitor the tracked individual.",
    "17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: after the tracked individual has entered the office space, detecting when the tracked individual has exited the office space; and upon determination that the tracked individual has exited the office space, terminating the connection between the remote user and the hardware device and establishing a new connection between the telepresence robot and the remote user.",
    "18. The telepresence robot of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the office space comprises an IP address."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present specification relates to remote communication and more particularly to a method and system for connection handover from telepresence robot to mobile office.\n\nVideo conferencing may allow employees, colleagues, friends, family, and other people who are located at physically distant locations from each other to communicate virtually through audio and video presentation. Thus, video conferencing may allow for face-to-face interactions without the need for people to be physically present in the same location. However, video conferencing typically requires participants to remain in a fixed location during a video conference. Telepresence robots allow for users to have a physical presence in a remote location. In particular, a telepresence robot may move around the remote location and allow the remote user to interact with people physically located in the remote location via the telepresence robot. Both video conferencing and telepresence robots have advantages and disadvantages for remote communication. Accordingly, a need exists for a system that integrates video conferencing and telepresence robots.\n\nIn an embodiment, a telepresence robot may include a controller. The controller may be programmed to; after establishing a remote connection with a remote user, monitor movement of a tracked individual, detect when the tracked individual has entered an office space, and upon determination that the tracked individual has entered the office space, identify the office space and transfer a connection with the remote user from the telepresence robot to a device in the office space.",
  "cpc": [
    "G05B 19/4155",
    "B25J 9/1689",
    "G05B 2219/40411",
    "G05B 2219/50391",
    "G06K 7/10722",
    "G06K 7/1417",
    "H04L 65/1094",
    "H04L 65/403",
    "H04W 36/32",
    "H04W 36/322",
    "H04W 4/029"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G05B 19/4155",
    "G06K 7/10",
    "G06K 7/14",
    "H04L 65/403",
    "H04W 36/32"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TOYOTA ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "NAGASHIMA SATOSHI",
    "DALY JOHN F",
    "LOMBARD ADRIAN",
    "LI PAUL",
    "VEKARIA KRUTI",
    "ONDA YASUSHI",
    "ONDA KAYA"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-02-25",
  "publication_date": "2024-07-23",
  "grant_date": "2024-07-23",
  "priority_date": "2022-02-25",
  "application_number": "US-202217681249-A",
  "family_id": "87761413",
  "citations": [
    "US10320900B2",
    "US10726633B2",
    "US2013035790A1",
    "US2017358201A1",
    "US2019146518A1",
    "US2020019167A1",
    "US2021402600A1",
    "US2022288778A1",
    "US2022345971A1",
    "US9533411B2",
    "US9955318B1",
    "WO2008106088A2"
  ]
}