System and Method for Sensory Based Media Control

• US 20080284726A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Navisense
• Original Assignee: Navisense
• Inventors: Boillot, Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/120,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

An apparatus for sensory based media control is provided. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media device having a controller element to receive from a media controller a first instruction to select an object in accordance with a physical handling of the media controller, and a second instruction to control the identified object or perform a search on the object in accordance with touchless finger movements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for touchless searching, the method comprising the steps of:

recognizing touchless finger signs responsive to a request for acquiring touchless control of at least a portion of an application; and

controlling at least the portion of the application in accordance with the touchless finger signs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is activated in response to a selection of an object in the application, or a positioning of a cursor over an object in the application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is at least one among a web site, a gaming application, a programming guide, a computer program, a word processing program, an email application, a media control panel, a file management program, and an electronic programming guide.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for scrolling a list in accordance with a first touchless finger sign and selecting an item in a list in accordance with a second touchless finger sign.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for searching for a media in the application using a recognized finger sign responsive to recognizing the finger sign.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for

selecting an object;

copying the object responsive to detecting a first touchless finger sign;

identifying an insertion point for the object; and

pasting the object at the insertion point responsive to detecting a second touchless finger sign.

7. A media controller comprising

a tracking unit to detect a physical movement of the media controller and identify a component in an application;

a sensing unit to detect touchless finger movements associated with the media controller; and

a controller to control the component in the application in accordance with the touchless finger movements.

8. The media controller of claim 7, where

the tracking component moves a cursor in accordance with a physical handling of the media controller;

and

the touchless sensing unit controls an action of the cursor in accordance with the touchless finger movements.

9. The media controller of claim 7, wherein the tracking component is an optical system, an opto-electric system, an acceleration detection system, a laser system, a track ball, a stick, or a touch-pad.

10. The media controller of claim 7, wherein the touchless sensing unit projects a touchless sensing space that is within a range of movement of an index finger when a user physically handles the media controller, and detects touchless finger signs for controlling a component action.

11. The media controller of claim 7, wherein the action is at least one among a touchless scrolling, a touchless selection, and a touchless finger signing of an alphabetic or numeric character.

12. A media controller, comprising:

a sensing unit to capture touchless finger signs; and

a controller to recognize the touchless finger signs and control at least a portion of an application in accordance with the touchless finger signs.

13. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the media controller is a mouse, a remote control, a mobile device, or a game control.

14. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the controller controls a scrolling of a list in the application, a selection of an item in the list, a media control in the application, an object in the application, or a search operation in accordance with touchless finger signs.

15. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the application includes a list and the controller accesses items in the list in accordance with finger signs responsive to a selection of the list, wherein the list is at least one among a song list, an email list, a picture list, a message list, a contact list, a product list, a list of directories, and an address list.

16. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the application includes a media control panel and the controller adjusts at least one media control in accordance with the touchless finger signs responsive to a selection of the at least one media control.

17. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the finger sign is at least one among an alpha-numeric character, a clockwise circular movement, a counter-clockwise circular movement, an up/down movement, and a left/right movement.

18. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the controller recognizes a letter and scrolls through the list to items having a portion of a text description corresponding to the letter.

19. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the controller searches through a list in the application, changes channels, or adjusts a media control, in accordance with the touchless finger signs.

20. The media controller of claim 12, wherein the controller detects a movement of the media controller, selects an object in accordance with the movement, recognize at least one finger sign after the movement stops, and searches for a media in accordance with the at least one finger sign.