Abstract: A user communication device retrieves shape information from active labels and performs an image based search on the shape files to find locally available acceptable replacement parts. The user communication device may use only the shape files from the active label, or the user communication device may use a combination of images from both the active label and images generated by a user to search for an acceptable replacement part for a faulty system. Using the active label system, the user communication device directly pings replacement parts at local retailers independently of the computer networks operated by the retailers. The user communication device receives back data from replacement parts and provides the user with a list of locally available parts.

Abstract: In a virtual or augmented reality system, a module with multiple contact points may provide haptic output associated with a virtual object being held or manipulated by a user's hand. A drone-like airborne device may keep such a module hovering close to the user and provide just-in-time contact and other types of haptic feedback when needed. The user experiences virtual objects with a head-mounted display and such a module that delivers multidimensional haptic feedback, including but not limited to, contact, surface stiffness, surface texture, and thermal properties of the virtual object that is in contact with the user's hand and fingers. The propellers on the drone device provide full six-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) force and torque feedback to the user via such a module attached to the airborne system. In some implementation, the user wears a wrist band that docks with such a module via magnets on both the wrist band and the module.

Abstract: A method of defining input to an image-based search engine includes displaying and image on a screen and detecting at least three points touched by a user on the image. An object in the image is identified having the at least three points as vertices. The identified object is inputted to an image-based search engine. Portions of the image not included within the object are excluded from the input to the image-based search engine.

Abstract: A method of providing an input to an image-based search engine, including enabling a user to view an image of an object on a display screen of an electronic device. A plurality of templates are provided to the user. A selection of one of the templates is received from the user. The selected template is presented on the display screen in association with the image of the object on a display screen. The user is enabled to adjust a viewpoint of the image of the object on the display screen to match a viewpoint of the selected template. An image of the object is captured from the adjusted viewpoint. The captured image is transmitted to, and received by, the image-based search engine. The search engine is used to identify in a database image data best representing the captured image.

Abstract: A user communication device retrieves shape information from active labels and performs an image based search on the shape files to find locally available acceptable replacement parts. The user communication device may use only the shape files from the active label, or the user communication device may use a combination of images from both the active label and images generated by a user to search for an acceptable replacement part for a faulty system. Using the active label system, the user communication device directly pings replacement parts at local retailers independently of the computer networks operated by the retailers. The user communication device receives back data from replacement parts and provides the user with a list of locally available parts. In another variation of the invention, the user communication device uses the shape files to find three dimensional model files from manufacturers that can be utilized to create replacement parts for the faulty system.

Abstract: A method of searching a database of component parts includes capturing a plurality of images of an object. The capturing is performed by use of a camera of a mobile electronic device. The images are captured from at least two different angles. The captured images are submitted as a group into a search engine. The database of component parts is searched by use of the search engine. A result of the searching is dependent upon each of the captured images in the group.

Abstract: A method of providing a searchable parts database includes collecting component part data from a plurality of users to form a component part database. An exclusive group is formed including a subset of the users. User members of the exclusive group are provided with access to the component part data contributed to the database by other user members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the component part data contributed to the database by the user members of the exclusive group. The user members in the exclusive group are enabled to provide images of desired component parts and to search the component part database based upon the images of desired component parts.

Abstract: A method of defining input to an image-based search engine includes displaying and image on a screen and detecting at least three points touched by a user on the image. An object in the image is identified having the at least three points as vertices. The identified object is inputted to an image-based search engine. Portions of the image not included within the object are excluded from the input to the image-based search engine.

Abstract: A method of visually clustering a database of component parts includes indexing a set of image data associated with the component parts, and storing the indexed image data in the database. The indexed image data is clustered dependent upon a visual criterion.

Abstract: A method of providing a searchable parts database includes collecting component part data from a plurality of users to form a component part database. An exclusive group is formed including a subset of the users. User members of the exclusive group are provided with access to the component part data contributed to the database by other user members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the component part data contributed to the database by the user members of the exclusive group. The user members in the exclusive group are enabled to provide images of desired component parts and to search the component part database based upon the images of desired component parts.

Abstract: A method of receiving input image data for an image search engine includes providing a two-dimensional input image on a display screen, enabling a user to rotate the input image on the display screen about an axis that is non-perpendicular to a plane of the input image, and enabling the user to electronically draw modifications on the rotated input image.

Abstract: A method of receiving input image data for an image search engine includes providing a two-dimensional input image on a display screen, enabling a user to rotate the input image on the display screen about an axis that is non-perpendicular to a plane of the input image, and enabling the user to electronically draw modifications on the rotated input image.

Abstract: A method of receiving input image data for an image search engine includes providing a two-dimensional input image on a display screen, enabling a user to rotate the input image on the display screen about an axis that is non-perpendicular to a plane of the input image, and enabling the user to electronically draw modifications on the rotated input image.

Abstract: A method of providing a searchable parts database includes collecting component part data from a plurality of users to form a component part database. An exclusive group is formed including a subset of the users. User members of the exclusive group are provided with access to the component part data contributed to the database by other user members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the component part data contributed to the database by the user members of the exclusive group. The user members in the exclusive group are enabled to provide images of desired component parts and to search the component part database based upon the images of desired component parts.

Abstract: The method and program for indexing shapes contained on a digital page for storage in a database for subsequent searching and retrieval includes an indexing routine for generating the database of indexed shapes by removing extraneous information on the digital page, and orienting the shapes in a predetermined orientation for storage in the shape database, and a querying routine for identifying indexed shapes that are similar or identical to a search shape by extracting the search shape from a digital page using the indexing routine and comparing the extracted shape to the indexed shapes in the database.