METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR OPERATING A PORTABLE DEVICE BASED ON AN ACCELEROMETER

• US 20100191356A1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Leiba, Aaron, Williams, Richard C., Chang, Ray L., Gerbarg, Louis G., Falkenburg, David R., Wehrenberg, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,921,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is determined whether a portable device is moving using an accelerometer. It is determined a moving pattern of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer. A media content is selected based on the moving pattern of the portable device. The selected media content is played via the portable device. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a portable device is moving using an accelerometer;

determining a moving pattern of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer;

selecting a media content based on the moving pattern of the portable device; and

playing the selected media content via the portable device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a moving pattern comprises:

determining a repetitive rate of movement of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer; and

playing the media content based on the determined repetitive rate of the movement.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising adjusting a rhythm of the media content to relatively match the repetitive rate of the movement.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising selecting and playing media content that has a tempo relatively matched with the repetitive rate of the movement.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting and playing media content that has characteristics relatively matched with the moving pattern of the portable device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising associating a type of media content with one or more predetermined moving patterns prior to selecting and playing, such that media content can be selected based on the moving pattern detected by the accelerometer subsequently.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device is one of a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a cellular phone, a personal communicator, and a media player.

8. A machine-readable storage medium having instruction stored therein, which when executed, cause a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

determining whether a portable device is moving using an accelerometer;

determining a moving pattern of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer;

selecting a media content based on the moving pattern of the portable device; and

playing the selected media content via the portable device.

9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein determining a moving pattern comprises:

determining a repetitive rate of movement of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer; and

playing the media content based on the determined repetitive rate of the movement.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises adjusting a rhythm of the media content to relatively match the repetitive rate of the movement.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises selecting and playing media content that has a tempo relatively matched with the repetitive rate of the movement.

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises selecting and playing media content that has characteristics relatively matched with the moving pattern of the portable device.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises associating a type of media content with one or more predetermined moving patterns prior to selecting and playing, such that media content can be selected based on the moving pattern detected by the accelerometer subsequently.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the portable device is one of a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a cellular phone, a personal communicator, and a media player.

15. A portable device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing executable instructions, which when executed from the memory, cause the processor to perform operations, including

determining whether a portable device is moving using an accelerometer,

determining a moving pattern of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer,

selecting a media content based on the moving pattern of the portable device, and

playing the selected media content via the portable device.

16. The portable device of claim 15, wherein in determining a moving pattern the processor is configured to

determine a repetitive rate of movement of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer, and

play the media content based on the determined repetitive rate of the movement.

17. The portable device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured further to adjust a rhythm of the media content to relatively match the repetitive rate of the movement.

18. The portable device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured further to select and play media content that has a tempo relatively matched with the repetitive rate of the movement.

19. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured further to select and play media content that has characteristics relatively matched with the moving pattern of the portable device.

20. The portable device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured further to associate a type of media content with one or more predetermined moving patterns prior to selecting and playing, such that media content can be selected based on the moving pattern detected by the accelerometer subsequently.

21. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the portable device is one of a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a cellular phone, a personal communicator, and a media player.