System and method for eyes-free interaction with a computing device through environmental awareness

• US 20060221051A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Flynt, David Wayne, Brooke, Timothy Lawrence, Chin, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,130,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A system and method for eyes-free interaction with a computing device through environmental awareness. A smart computing device includes non-environmental impact settings that indicate what type of user impact will be recognized as an input. The smart computing device monitors environmental conditions to distinguish a user impact from an environmental impact. Upon detecting a user impact, a command is generated to perform a function on an application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for eyes-free interaction with a computing device through environmental awareness, comprising:

monitoring environmental conditions;

distinguishing a non-environmental impact from the environmental conditions; and

in response to a non-environmental impact, executing a function.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a non-environmental impact setting, wherein the non-environmental impact setting includes at least one of:

a single tap impact, a double tap impact, a triple tap impact, a movement, an acceleration, or a touch.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the non-environmental impact settings include a plurality of non-environmental impact settings associated with a plurality of environmental conditions.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the environmental conditions further includes monitoring environmental impact patterns.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein distinguishing the non-environmental impact from the environmental conditions further includes detecting a variance in the environmental impact pattern.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising providing a non-environmental impact setting, wherein monitoring the environmental conditions further includes monitoring at least one of:

location, conductance, audio, light, altitude, or temperature.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the non-environmental impact setting is at least partially dependent on the environmental condition.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the function is associated with at least one application.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the function includes a plurality of functions and wherein each function is associated with at least one application.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions performing operations to identify a non-environmental impact through environmental awareness, the operations comprising:

providing user impact settings for triggering a function;

monitoring the environment to detect environmental patterns; and

triggering a function when a user impact is distinguished from the environmental patterns.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein monitoring the environment further includes determining a variance from the environmental impact patterns.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein monitoring the environment further includes detecting a user tap input.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein monitoring the environment further includes monitoring at least one of:

location, conductance, audio, light, altitude, or temperature.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the user impact settings are at least partially dependent on the environmental patterns.

15. A smart computing device for eyes-free interaction through environmental awareness, comprising:

an environmental awareness means for monitoring environmental conditions;

an interpreter means for distinguishing a non-environmental impact from environmental conditions; and

a generator means for generating a command when a non-environmental impact occurs.

16. The smart computing device of claim 15, wherein the smart computing device includes at least one of:

a telephone, cellular telephone, satellite telephone, pager, stationary computing device, mobile computing device, televising device, mobile audio device, watch device, stationary computing device, or mobile computing device.

17. The smart computing device of claim 15, wherein the environmental awareness means further includes an accelerometer means for detecting accelerations.

18. The smart computing device of claim 15, further comprising a setting means for providing non-environmental impact settings, wherein the setting means is at least partially dependent on the current environmental conditions.

19. The smart computing device of claim 15, wherein the environmental awareness means includes at least one of, a location sensor, a conductance sensor, an audio sensor, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, or an altitude sensor.

20. The smart computing device of claim 18, further comprising at least one application means for executing the command.