METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING VASTU IN A PORTABLE
COMPUTING DEVICE
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to determining vastu in a portable computing device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Often, a property buyer would like to buy a property which is vastu compliant. The vastu compliancy of a property is derived from Vastu Shastra. Vastu Shastra is the science of arranging man-made environments in alignment with forces of nature. The forces of nature include five basic elements namely earth, water, air, fire, and space. According to the Vastu Shastra, each of these elements is associated with a particular direction, for example, water in the northeast, fire in the southeast, earth in the southwest, air in the northwest and space in the center. By balancing these elements in their proper proportions, vastu of a particular property can be determined.
[0003] In existing scenario, a customer who is interested in buying or renting a property needs to seek advice from a vastu consultant. Consulting with a vastu consultant can be both time consuming and expensive for the customer. Further, the vastu consultant sometimes may not come out with an efficient vastu design for the property.
[0004] Often, the customer may desire to buy a property in a remote location. Furthermore, the customer may want to know vastu of the desired property prior to seeing the property.
[0005] In light of the foregoing discussion, there is a need for an efficient technique to determine vastu in a portable computing device.

SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for determining vastu in a portable computing device.
[0007] In one embodiment, a method for determining vastu in a portable computing
device includes receiving location information by the portable computing device. The method includes analyzing the location information based on a predefined database. Further, the method includes determining vastu based on the location information.
[0008[ In one embodiment, a portable computing device for determining vastu includes a vastu auditing application. The vastu auditing application includes a direction sensing unit for determining the location information. The vastu auditing application also includes a processor for analyzing the location information based on a predefined database. Further, the portable computing device includes a display unit for displaying a vastu compliancy score.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system for determining vastu, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0011[ FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable computing device for determining vastu, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0012[ FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining vastu in a portable computing device, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining vastu in a portable computing device, in accordance with another embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a vastu auditing application, in accordance with one embodiment,
[0015] FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of determining vastu using vastu auditing application, in accordance with one embodiment; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of vastu auditing application design, in accordance with one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for determining vastu in a portable computing device.
]0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment 100, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented. The environment 100 includes one or more portable computing devices, for example, a portable computing device 105 and a portable computing device N 105n connected to a service provider 115 through a network 110. The portable computing device 105 includes a vastu auditing application for determining vastu of a desired property. Examples of the portable computing device 105 include, but are not limited to a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a laptop.
[0019] In one embodiment, the portable computing device 105 includes a direction sensing unit for determining location information of the desired property. An example of the direction sensing unit is an electronic compass. In one embodiment, the electronic compass can be present within the portable computing device 105. In another embodiment, the electronic compass can be present external to the portable computing device 105. In some embodiments, the portable computing device 105 receives the location information using a global positioning system (GPS).
[0020] The vastu auditing application receives Ae location information from the
direction sensing unit. The location information includes the alignment of the desired

property, for example, whether the desired property is aligned to north direction, south direction, east direction, west direction, north-east direction, north-west direction, south¬east direction, and south-west direction. In one embodiment, the location information can be determined from the entrance of the desired property. In another embodiment, the location information can be determined from a reference point within the desired property. Examples of the desired property include, but are not limited to a house, an apartment and a plot. The house, the apartment, and the plot can be for sale or for rent. Further, based on the received location information, the vastu auditing application determines the vastu of the desired property.
[0021] In one embodiment, Ae location information can be received by the portable computing device 105 from an external hardware electronic compass through a Universal serial bus (USB) interface.
[0022] In another embodiment, the location information can be received by the portable computing device 105 from an external hardware electronic compass through a Bluetooth interface.
[0023] In yet another embodiment, the location information can be transmitted from one vastu auditing application enabled portable computing device 105 to another vastu auditing application enabled portable computing device 105.
[0024] In still another embodiment, the portable computing device 105 receives location information through the network 110. The portable computing device 105 receives pre-generated layout information of the desired property from a property developer through the network 110. Examples of the network 110 include, but are not limited to a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), internet, a Small Area Network (SAN) and a Personal area network (PAN). The portable computing device 105 then analyzes the location information. Further, the portable computing device 105 determines vastu for the desired property.

[0025] In some embodiments, the vastu auditing application can be activated from a menu in the portable computing device 105. In other embodiments, the vastu auditmg application can be activated automatically upon receiving pre-generated layout information.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system for determining vastu, in accordance with one embodiment. The system includes the portable computing device 105. The portable computing device 105 includes a vastu auditing application 205. The vastu auditing application 205 includes a direction sensing unit 210, a predefined database 215, and a processor 220.
[0027] The direction sensing unit 210 determines location information. The location information includes information pertaining to the alignment of a desired property. For example the alignment of the desired property can be towards north direction, south direction, east direction, west direction, norfli-east direction, north-west direction, south¬east direction, and south-west direction. In one example, the direction sensing unit 210 includes an electronic compass for determining location information. In another example, the direction sensing unit 210 receives location information from an external electronic compass. In one embodiment, the direction sensing unit 210 receives pre-generated layout information through the network 110. In some other embodiments, the direction sensing unit 210 receives location information using the GPS.
[0028] The predefined database 215 includes predefined location information. The predefined location information includes vastu details of a location. For example, the location can be a bedroom in a house. Then the predefined location information can include the vastu details of the bedroom, for example, if the bedroom is in north direction then the bedroom is vastu compliant.
[0029] The processor 220 analyzes the location information determined by tfie direction sensing unit 210. Further, the processor 220 analyzes the determined location information based on the predefined location information in the predefined database 215.

The processor 220 then determines the vastu based on the analysis of the location information. Further, the processor 220 determines a vastu compliancy score. The processor 220 is coupled with a bus 225 for processing information. The information processed by the processor 220 includes the location information. In one embodiment, the processor 220 can include a vastu logic algorithm. The vastu logic algorithm includes one or more instructions for analyzing the location information and determining the vastu based on the location information.
[0030] The portable computing device 105 includes a memory 230, coupled to the bus 225 for storing information required by the processor 220. The information stored in the memory 230 can be the location information. An example of the memory 230 includes but is not limited to a Random Access Memory (RAM).
[0031] The portable computing device 105 includes a storage unit 235 coupled to the bus 225 for storing information required by the processor 220. In one embodiment, the storage unit 235 stores pre-generated layout information. Examples of the storage unit 235 include but are not limited to magnetic disk, hard disk, and optical disk.
[0032] The portable computing device 105 includes a cursor control 240. In some embodiments, the cursor control 240, for example a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, or cursor direction keys for communicating information to the processor 220 and for controlling cursor movement on a display unit 250 can also be present. The portable computing device 105 includes an input device 245. The input device 245 includes various keys, coupled to the bus 225 for communicating information to the processor 220. The information communicated to Ae processor 220 can be the location information. The information can be communicated to the processor 220 from a machine-readable medium. The term machine-readable medium can be defined as a medium providing data to a machine to enable the machine to perform a specific function. The machine-readable medium can be a storage media The storage media can be the memory 230. All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into the machine.

[0033] Examples of the machine readable medium includes, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, optical disk, punchcards, papertape, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, and a FLASH-EPROM.
[0034] The machine readable medium can also include online links, download links, and installation links providing the information to the processor 220.
[0035] The portable computing device 105 also includes the display unit 250 coupled via the bus 225 to the vastu auditing application 205. An example of the display unit 250 includes, but is not limited to a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD). The display unit 250 is used for displaying the vastu determined using the vastu auditing application 205 on the portable computing device 105. The vastu auditing application 205 is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 6.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the portable computing device 105 for determining vastu, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0037] The portable computing device 105 includes Ae vastu auditing application 205. The vastu auditing application 205 includes the direction sensing unit 210, the predefined database 215, and the processor 220.
[0038] The portable computing device 105 also includes the display unit 250. The display unit 250 is used to activate the vastu auditing application 205. The vastu auditing application 205 can be activated fi"om a menu on the display unit 250.
[0039] The direction sensing unit 210 determines location information. The location information includes information pertaining to the alignment of a desired property. In one example, the direction sensing unit 210 includes an electronic compass for determining location information. In anofter example, Ae direction sensing unit 210 receives location information from an external electronic compass. In one embodiment, the direction sensing unit 210 receives pre-generated layout information through the network 110. In

some other embodiments, the direction sensing unit 210 receives location information using the GPS.
[0040] The predefined database 215 includes predefined location information. The predefined location information includes vastu details of a location. For example, the location can be a bedroom in a house. Then the predefined location information includes the vastu details of the bedroom, for example, if the bedroom is in north direction then the bedroom is vastu compliant.
[0041] The processor 220 analyzes the location information determined by the direction sensing unit 210. Further, the processor 220 analyzes tiie determined location information based on the predefined location information in the predefined database 215. The processor 220 then determines the vastu based on the analysis of the location information. Further, the processor 220 determines the vastu by determining a vastu compliancy score.
[0042] The display unit 250 is also used to display a vastu compliancy score of a desired property. The vastu compliancy score is further explained in FIG 7.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a meAod for determining vastu in the portable computing device 105, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0044] At step 405, the meAod starts.
[0045[ At step 410, location information is received by the portable computing device 105.
[0046] At step 415, the location information is analyzed based on the predefined database 215.

[0047] At step 420, vastu is determined by the portable computing device 105 based on the location information.
[0048] The method stops at step 425. The method described herein has been explained in great detail in conjunction with FIG 5.
[0049[ FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining vastu in the portable computing device, in accordance with another embodiment.
[0050[ At step 505, the method starts.
[0051] At step 510, location information is received by the portable computing device 105. The portable computing device 105 includes the vastu auditing application 205 for determining vastu. The location information is received from the direction sensing unit 210 of the portable computing device 105.
[0052] The location information includes information pertaining to the alignment of a desired property. For example the alignment can be towards north direction, south direction, east direction, west direction, north-east direction, nortii-west direction, south¬east direction, and south-west direction.
[0053] The location information is received by one or more of a text query based input, a graphical user interface based input, a voice and compass based input, and a pre-generated layout based input.
[0054] The location information can be received automatically by the graphical user interface based layout creation input from the direction sensing unit 210 of the portable computing device 105. The direction sensing unit 210 indicates the location information and then a layout is automatically generated for the location information in the portable computing device 105.

[0055] The location information can be received by the voice and compass based layout creation input. The portable computing device 105 can include a speech recognition module for recognizing the location information uttered by the user and then the layout is generated for the location information in Ae portable computing device 105. The location information can also be received from the pre-generated layout data file stored in the storage unit 235 of the portable computing device 105.
[0056] At step 515, the location information is analyzed based on the predefined database 215. The location information is received from the direction sensing unit 210 of the portable computing device 105. The location information is then analyzed by comparing with the predefined location information stored in accordance to vastu shastra in the predefined database 215. The location information is stored in Ae memory 230.
[0057] At step 520, vastu is determined by the portable computing device 105 based on the location information. The vastu is determined by the processor 220 in the portable computing device 105. The processor 220 analyzes the location information determined by the direction sensing unit 210. Further, the processor 220 analyzes the determined location information based on the predefined location information in the predefined database 215. The processor 220 then determines the vastu based on the analysis of the location information. Fxirther, the processor 220 determines a vastu compliancy score.
[0058] At step 525, a vastu compliancy score is determined for a property by the vastu auditing ^plication 205 of the portable computing device 105.
[0059] At step 530, the vastu compliancy score is displayed on the portable computing device 105. The display unit 250 diqslays the vastu compliancy score on the portable computing device 105. The vastu compliancy score informs the vastu compliancy degree of the property to the user.
[0060] The method stops at step 535.

[0061] In one example, the user may wish to determine vastu for a house using the portable computing device 105. Typically, the house includes one or more rooms in one or more floors. The user inputs the alignment of each of the rooms in the vastu auditing application 205. The user then determines the vastu of the house using the vastu auditing application 205.
[0062] In another example, the user determines vastu for each of the rooms in the house. For example, the user can determine vastu for bedroom. The user enables the vastu auditing application 205 in the portable computing device 105. After enabling the vastu auditing application 205, the direction sensing unit 210 determines the location information for the bedroom. The location information indicates the alignment of the bedroom to a particular direction, for example, towards north direction. The location information is then analyzed based on the location information stored in the predefined database 215. The vastu compliancy score is then calculated and displayed to the user based on the analysis of the location information with the predefined database 215. For example, the vastu compliancy score determined for the location information of the bedroom can be 60 percent. The vastu compliancy score Aen indicates Aat the bedroom is 60 percent compliant according to vastu shastra.
[0063] In another example, the user determines vastu of one room based on the alignment of another room. For example, the kitchen in the house m^ be aligned in the north-east direction based on the alignment of the bedroom. Similarly, the user may also determine vastu of dining room, pooja room, storage room, living room, guest room, staircase, portico, study room, car shed, lift and bathroom.
[0064] Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the user determines vastu of objects positioned inside the room. For example, the user may determine the vastu of the mirror positioned within the bedroom.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the vastu auditing application 205, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

[0066] The vastu auditing application 205 receives location information from a user as input using a vastu multi nnodular input (MMI) module 605. The vastu MMl module 605 is a user interface in the portable computing device 105. The vastu MMI module 605 includes multiple input units for receiving inputs from the user. The input units are text query based input unit 605a, graphical user interface (GUI) based layout input unit 605b, a voice and compass assisted layout input unit 605c, and a pre-generated layout file input unit 605d.
[0067] The text query based input unit 605a receives the location information from the user manually. For example, the query can be "where is the kitchen located?" The user responds to the query manually by entering the location information.
[0068[ The GUI based layout input unit 605b receives the location information from the direction sensing unit 210. The location information from the direction sensing unit 210 is graphically mapped into a layout in the vastu auditing application 205.
[0069] The voice and compass assisted layout input unit 605c receives the location information from the user using voice mode. The vastu auditing application 205 can include a speech recognition module for recognizing the location information uttered by the user. Further, the layout is generated based on Ae voice input. [0070] The pre-generated layout file input unit 605d receives the location information from a pre-generated layout data file.
[0071] In some embodiments, one or more input units can be used in combination by the user to provide inputs to the vastu auditing application 205.
[0072] The location information received is then sent to a vastu logic algorithm 610 for auditing. The vastu logic algorithm 610 can be present in the processor 220. The vastu logic algorithm 610 receives the location information and analyzes Ae location information by consulting with the predefined database 215. The predefined database 215

includes predefined location information. Further, by using the vastu logic/algorithm 610 a compliancy score result can be determined. Further, the compliancy score result can be sent to the vastu MM 605 for displaying to tfie user.
[0073J FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of determining vastu using the vastu auditing application 205, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0074] Consider an example, a user wishes to determine vastu for a particular property from the portable computing device 105. The user is provided an option "create layouf'705 for creating a layout for the location information received. The enabling of "create layout "705 option results in creating the layout based on location information received from the direction sensing unit 210 of the portable computing device 105. The user is also provided an option "Check" 710 for determining vastu compliancy score for the property.
[0075] The user determines a vastu compliancy score for the location information received by enabling the option "Check" 710 in the portable computing device 105. The vastu compliancy score determined is then displayed to the user in the portable computing device 105. A dialog box appears with the "Resulf 715 displaying the vastu compliancy score. The vastu compliancy score gives the vastu compliancy degree of the property to the user.
[0076] In one embodiment, a property developer will give out a l^out plan of a property to the service provider 115. The user of the portable computing device 105 wiio wishes to determine a vastu receives fte layout plan from the service provider 115 on request. The portable computing device 105 thai determines a vastu compliancy score by comparing the location information of the layout plan with the pre-generated layout data file using the vastu auditing application 205. The service provider 115 can generate revenue by providing the layout plan of the property to the user.
[0077] FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of vastu auditing ^plication design, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0078] The vastu auditing application design in the portable computing device 105 includes a vastu auditing application layer, a platform layer, a compass driver layer and a hardware electronic compass layer. The vastu auditing ^plication layer is the topmost layer in the vastu auditing application design. The vastu auditing application layer includes a vastu application layout analyser and a vastu application user audit test result. The platform layer includes a plurality of drivers, chipsets and application programming interfaces (APIs). The compass driver layer includes software drivers to control a hardware electronic compass. The hardware electronic compass is the physical later and includes the hardware electronic compass.
[0079] Various embodiments of the invention provide a vastu auditing ^plication tool. A property buyer can determine the vastu of a property before buying the property. The property buyer can also determine vastu of a remotely located property by using pre-generated layout information provided by a properly owner or a property builder. Further, by using the vastu auditing application tool, the property buyer can avoid the time and expenses required for consulting a vastu advisor or a consultant. Since Ae vastu auditing application tool is present in a mobile phone, it is readily accessible to the property buyer. Furthermore, the vastu auditing ^plication tool is quite handy and easy to use.
[0080] In the preceding specification, the presrait invoition and its advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing ft^om Ae scope of the present invention, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present invention, rather than in restrictive SM^se. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

CLAIMS

1. A method for determining vastu in a portable computing device, the method
comprising.
receiving location information by the portable computing device; analyzing the location information based on a predefined database; and determining vastu based on the location information.
2. The method of claiml, wherein the receiving comprises:
receiving the location information by one or more of a text query, a graphical user interface based input, a voice and compass based input, and a pre-generated layout based input.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises: receiving the location information using an electronic compass.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises: determining a vastu compliancy score for a property.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying a vastu compliancy score on the portable computing device.
6. A portable computing device for determining vastu, the portable computing device
comprising:
a vastu auditing application comprising:
a direction sensing unit for determining location information;
a processor for analyzing the location information based on a predefined
database; and a display unit for displaying a vastu compliancy score.

7. The portable computing device of claim 6, wherein the portable computing device
is one of a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant.
8. The portable computing device of claim 6, wherein the predefined database
comprises predefined location information.
9. The portable computing device of claim 6 further comprising:
a storage unit for storing pre-generated layout data files.
10. A system for performing a method, the method as described herein and in
accompanying figures.
11. A method of determining vastu in a portable computing device, the portable
computing device as described herein and in accompanying figures.