Apparatus and method for detecting a rocking movement of an electronic device and execute a function in response to the detected movement

• US 10,198,025 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lundin, Claes
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blair, Kile O
• Application Number:
  US13/807,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20130177177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,140 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 7/00 Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with one single controlled member; Details thereof controlling members G05G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the apparatus comprises: a housing comprising a convex portion configured to enable the apparatus to rock in response to an impulse provided by a user; and a processor configured to enable a function of the apparatus to be performed in response to the detection of the rocking of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising a convex portion configured to enable the apparatus to rock in response to an impulse provided by a user; and

a processor configured to enable a function of the apparatus to be performed in response to detection of the rocking of the apparatus wherein the apparatus may be arranged in a plurality of operational modes, wherein the apparatus has an unlocked mode in which a user input device is responsive to user actuation, and a locked mode in which the user input device is non-responsive to user actuation, wherein the processor is configured such that the function which is enabled is performed in response to rocking of the apparatus being detected, wherein the apparatus is in the locked mode before the impulse is provided by the user and the function is performed while the apparatus remains in the locked mode so that the user input device remains non-responsive to user actuation other than for a predetermined subset of inputs configured to control an operation being enabled on the apparatus with respect to the function.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a detector configured to detect the rocking of the apparatus.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rocking of the apparatus comprises the apparatus rolling at least one of backwards and forwards while the convex portion supports the apparatus.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one point of the convex portion remains in contact with an external surface when the apparatus is rocking.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the convex portion is configured to enable the apparatus to rest on a substantially horizontal surface in a stable equilibrium.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the convex portion of the apparatus is configured so that the apparatus returns to the stable equilibrium without any further input from the user after the impulse has been provided.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a rear face and the convex portion is provided on the rear face.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to enable a function to be performed in response to the detection of simultaneous rocking of the apparatus and an input event.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the input event comprises an incoming communication.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the function comprise at least one of disabling an audio output of the apparatus, the display of information on a display.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a tilt sensor.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user input device comprises a display.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein controlling the operation comprises switching or selecting one or more media items.

9. An apparatus as claimed in 8 wherein the input event is associated with the provision of an audio output or silencing an audio output.

15. A method comprising;

detecting rocking of an apparatus wherein the apparatus comprises a housing comprising a convex portion configured to enable the apparatus to rock in response to an impulse provided by a user;

enabling a function of the apparatus to be performed in response to detection of the rocking of the apparatus wherein the apparatus may be arranged in a plurality of operational modes, wherein the apparatus has an unlocked mode in which a user input device is responsive to user actuation, and a locked mode in which the user input device is non-responsive to user actuation; and

controlling the user input device such that the function which is enabled is performed in response to rocking of the apparatus being detected, wherein the apparatus is in the locked mode before the impulse is provided by the user and the function is performed while the apparatus remains in the locked mode so that the user input device remains non-responsive to user actuation other than for a predetermined subset of inputs configured to control an operation being enabled on the apparatus with respect to the function.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the rocking of the apparatus comprises the apparatus rolling at least one of backwards and forwards while the convex portion supports the apparatus.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein at least one point of the convex portion remains in contact with an external surface when the apparatus is rocking.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the convex portion is configured to enable the apparatus to rest on a substantially horizontal surface in a stable equilibrium.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the convex portion of the apparatus is configured so that the apparatus returns to the stable equilibrium without any further input from the user after the impulse has been provided.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, enable an apparatus at least to perform:

detecting rocking of an apparatus wherein the apparatus comprises a housing comprising a convex portion configured to enable the apparatus to rock in response to an impulse provided by a user;

enabling a function of the apparatus to be performed in response to detection of the rocking of the apparatus wherein the apparatus may be arranged in a plurality of operational modes, wherein the apparatus has an unlocked mode in which a user input device is responsive to user actuation, and a locked mode in which the user input device is non-responsive to user actuation; and

controlling the user input device such that the function which is enabled is performed in response to rocking of the apparatus being detected, wherein the apparatus is in the locked mode before the impulse is provided by the user and the function is performed while the apparatus remains in the locked mode so that the user input device remains non-responsive to user actuation other than for a predetermined subset of inputs configured to control an operation being enabled on the apparatus with respect to the function.

21. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

detect rocking of a device, wherein the device comprises a housing comprising a convex portion configured to enable the device to rock in response to an impulse provided by a user and a concave display on a concave front face;

enable a function to be performed in response to detection of the rocking of the device, wherein the apparatus is arranged in any one of a plurality of operational modes, wherein the apparatus has an unlocked mode in which a user input device is responsive to user actuation, and a locked mode in which the user input device is non-responsive to user actuation; and

control the user input device such that the function which is enabled is performed in response to rocking of the device being detected, wherein the apparatus is in the locked mode before the impulse is provided by the user and the function is performed while the apparatus remains in the locked mode so that the user input device remains non-responsive to user actuation other than for a predetermined subset of inputs configured to control an operation being enabled on the apparatus with respect to the function.