Graphical interface for a remote presence system

Abstract

A robot system that includes a robot and a remote station. The remote station may be a personal computer coupled to the robot through a broadband network. A user at the remote station may receive both video and audio from a camera and microphone of the robot, respectively. The remote station may include a display user interface that has a variety of viewable fields and selectable buttons.

1 . A robot system, comprising: 
 a mobile robot that has a camera that captures an image; and, a remote station that is coupled to said robot, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays the image and provides a first graphical input that can be selected to vary the image.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile robot can be controlled from said remote station.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first graphical input can be selected to view a still picture image.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first graphical input is a slide bar that can be selected to view a plurality of still picture images.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a still picture image provided by said mobile robot camera can be stored at said remote station by selecting said first graphical input.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein selecting said first graphical input can initiate a storage of a video segment of said image.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile robot includes a battery and said display user interface depicts how much energy is left in said battery.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a base station that is coupled to said remote station and wirelessly coupled to said mobile robot, said display user interface depicts a signal strength of a signal transmitted between said base station and said mobile robot.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of the image.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein mobile robot includes a microphone and said remote station includes a speaker, said display user interface including a second graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone.  
   
   
       11 . A method for operating robot system, comprising: 
 moving a mobile robot that has a camera that captures an image;    transmitting the image to a remote station; and,    displaying a display user interface at the remote station, the display user interface displays an image and provides a first graphical input that can be selected to vary the image.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein movement of the mobile robot is controlled by the remote station.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to display a still picture image.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first graphical input is a slide bar, and further comprising selecting said slide bar to view a plurality of still picture images.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to store a still picture image provided by the mobile robot camera.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting said first graphical input to initiate a storage of a video segment of said image.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile robot includes a battery and the display user interface depicts how much energy is left in the battery.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting a signal between the mobile robot and a base station that is coupled to the remote station and wirelessly coupled to said mobile robot, and displaying a signal strength of a signal on the display user interface.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting a second graphical input displayed by the display user interface to vary a characteristic of the image.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile robot includes a microphone and the remote station includes a speaker, and further comprising selecting a second graphical input to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone.  
   
   
       21 . A robot system, comprising: 
 a mobile robot;    a base station that transmits a wireless signal to said mobile robot; and,    a remote station that is coupled to said mobile robot through said base station, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays a signal strength of the wireless signal.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said display user interface displays an image and a first graphical input that can be selected to vary the image.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the image is provided by a camera of said mobile robot.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first graphical input can be selected to view a still picture image.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first graphical input is a slide bar that can be selected to view a plurality of still picture images.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a still picture image provided by said mobile robot camera can be stored at said remote station by selecting said first graphical input.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein selecting said first graphical input can initiate a storage of a video segment of said image.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said mobile robot includes a battery and said display user interface depicts how much energy is left in said battery.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said display user interface includes a second graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of the image.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein mobile robot includes a microphone and said remote station includes a speaker, said display user interface includes a graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone.  
   
   
       31 . A method for operating a robot system, comprising: 
 transmitting a wireless signal from a base station to a mobile robot;    moving the mobile robot; and,    displaying a display user interface at a remote station that is coupled to the base station, the display user interface displays a signal strength of the wireless signal.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the display user interface displays an image and a first graphical input that can be selected to vary the image.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to display a still picture image.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first graphical input is a slide bar and further comprising selecting the slide bar to view a plurality of still picture images.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to store a still picture image provided by the mobile robot camera.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising selecting said first graphical input to initiate a storage of a video segment of the image.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein movement of the mobile robot is controlled by the remote station.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the mobile robot includes a battery and the display user interface depicts an amount of energy within the battery.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting a second graphical input displayed by the graphical user interface to vary a characteristic of the image.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the mobile robot includes a microphone and the remote station includes a speaker, and further comprising selecting a graphical input to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone.  
   
   
       41 . A robot system, comprising: 
 a mobile robot that contains a battery; and,    a remote station that is coupled to said mobile robot, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays an amount of energy within said battery.    
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein said display user interface displays an image and a first graphical input that can be selected to vary the image.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said image is provided by a camera of said mobile robot.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said first graphical input can be selected to view a still picture image.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said first graphical input is a slide bar that can be selected to view a plurality of still picture images.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein a still picture image provided by said mobile robot camera can be stored at said remote station by selecting said first graphical input.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein selecting said first graphical input can initiate a storage of a video segment of said image.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said display user interface includes a second graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of the image.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein mobile robot includes a microphone and said remote station includes a speaker, said display user interface including a graphical input that can be selected to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone.  
   
   
       50 . A method for operating a robot system, comprising: 
 moving a mobile robot that has a battery; and,    presenting a display user interface at a remote station, the display user interface displays an amount of energy within the battery.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the display user interface displays an image and a first graphical input selected to vary the image.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to display a still picture image.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the first graphical input is a slide bar and further comprising selecting the slide bar to view a plurality of still picture images.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising selecting the first graphical input to store a still picture image provided by the mobile robot camera.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising selecting said first graphical input to initiate a storage of a video segment of said image.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein movement of the mobile robot is controlled by the remote station.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising selecting a graphical input displayed by the display user interface to vary a characteristic of the image.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the mobile robot includes a microphone and the remote station includes a speaker, and further comprising selecting a second graphical input to vary a characteristic of sound provided by said microphone.  
   
   
       59 . A robot system, comprising: 
 a mobile robot with a sensor that provides an indication of when said robot is in proximity to an object; and,    a remote station that is coupled to said mobile robot, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays a graphical representation of when said sensor provides said indication.    
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein said display user interface displays an image provided by said mobile robot.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein said display user interface displays a graphical feature that indicates a direction of movement of said mobile robot.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein said display user interface displays a graphical input that can be selected to transmit an image to said mobile robot.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein said mobile robot includes a screen that displays an image and a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein said display user interface includes a graphical input that can be selected to select a mobile robot from a plurality of mobile robots.  
   
   
       66 . A method for operating a robot system, comprising: 
 moving a mobile robot with a sensor that provides an indication of when the mobile robot is in proximity to an object; and,    presenting a display user interface at a remote station, the display user interface displays a graphical representation of when the sensor provides the indication.    
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the display user interface displays an image.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising displaying a graphical feature that indicates a direction of movement of the mobile robot.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising selecting a graphical input to transmit an image to the mobile robot.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising annotating the image.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising selecting a graphical input to select a mobile robot from a plurality of mobile robots.  
   
   
       72 . A robot system, comprising: 
 a mobile robot; and,    a remote station that is coupled to said mobile robot, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays a graphical feature that indicates a direction of movement of said mobile robot.    
   
   
       73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein said display user interface displays an image provided by said mobile robot.  
   
   
       74 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein said display user interface displays a graphical input that can be selected to transmit an image to said mobile robot.  
   
   
       75 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       76 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein said mobile robot includes a screen that displays an image and a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       77 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein said display user interface includes a graphical input that can be selected to select a mobile robot from a plurality of mobile robots.  
   
   
       78 . A method for operating a robot system, comprising: 
 moving a mobile robot; and,    presenting a display user interface at a remote station, the display user interface displays a graphical feature that indicates a direction of movement of the mobile robot.    
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the display user interface displays an image.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising selecting a graphical input to transmit an image to the mobile robot.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 79 , further comprising annotating the image.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising selecting a graphical input to select a mobile robot from a plurality of mobile robots.  
   
   
       83 . A robot system, comprising: 
 a mobile robot that has a screen; and,    a remote station that is coupled to said mobile robot, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays a graphical input that can be selected to transmit an image to said mobile robot.    
   
   
       84 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein said display user interface displays an image provided by said mobile robot.  
   
   
       85 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       86 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein said robot screen displays the image and a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       87 . The system of  claim 82 , wherein said display user interface includes a graphical input that can be selected to select a mobile robot from a plurality of mobile robots.  
   
   
       88 . A method for operating a robot system, comprising: 
 moving a mobile robot that has a screen; and,    presenting a display user interface at a remote station, the display user interface displays a graphical input that can be selected to transmit an image to the mobile robot.    
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the display user interface displays an image.  
   
   
       90 . The method of  claim 88 , further comprising annotating the image.  
   
   
       91 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the image is displayed by a robot screen and a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       92 . The method of  claim 88 , further comprising selecting a graphical input to select a robot from a plurality of robots.  
   
   
       93 . A robot system, comprising: 
 a plurality of mobile robots; and,    a remote station that is coupled to at least one of said mobile robots, said remote station includes a display user interface that displays a graphical input that can be selected to select one of said mobile robots.    
   
   
       94 . The system of  claim 93 , wherein said display user interface displays an image provided by said mobile robot.  
   
   
       95 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       96 . The system of  claim 93 , wherein said mobile robot includes a screen that displays an image and a user can annotate the image.  
   
   
       97 . A method for operating a robot system, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of mobile robots; and,    presenting a display user interface at a remote station, the display user interface displays a graphical input that can be selected to select one of the mobile robots.    
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the display user interface displays an image.  
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 97 , further comprising annotating the image.  
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the image is displayed by a robot screen and a user can annotate the image.