METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN EMOTION-BASED USER INTERFACE

• US 20100240416A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Knight, Paul Antony
• Granted Patent: US 9,386,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

An approach is provided for accessing services, applications, and content using an emotion-based user interface. Descriptors corresponding to an emotion of the user are presented to the user for selection. Selection of one of the descriptors initiates presentation of options (e.g., actions for accessing service, applications, or content available to a user device) associated with the descriptor.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least perform the following:

initiating presentation of a plurality of descriptors to a user, wherein each of the descriptors includes information corresponding to an emotion of the user;

initiating presentation of one or more options associated with a selected one of the descriptors; and

invoking an application corresponding to a selected one of the options.

2. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the options include accessing services, applications, content, or a combination thereof available to the user equipment.

3. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the services, applications, and content include games, media content, personal information management applications, messaging applications, social networking applications, location-aware applications, or a combination thereof.

4. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are caused to further perform:

determining which of the plurality of descriptors to present to the user by monitoring actions of the user on the user equipment.

5. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are caused to further perform:

initiating creation of a new descriptor and associated options or update of an existing one of the descriptor and the one or more associated options by either receiving input from the user or monitoring actions of the user on the user equipment.

6. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are caused to further perform:

initiating sharing of one or more of the descriptors and the one or more associated options within a community of users.

7. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are caused to further perform:

initiating downloading of one or more descriptors and associated options from a community of users, a server, or a third party server.

8. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that if executed cause the apparatus to at least:

initiate presentation of a plurality of descriptors to a user, wherein each of the descriptors includes information corresponding to an emotion of the user;

initiate presentation of one or more options associated with a selected one of the descriptors; and

invoke an application corresponding to a selected one of the options.

9. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the options include accessing services, applications, content, or a combination thereof available to the user equipment.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the services, applications, and content include games, media content, personal information management applications, messaging applications, social networking applications, location-aware applications, or a combination thereof.

11. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine which of the plurality of descriptors to present to the user by monitoring actions of the user on the user equipment.

12. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate creation of a new descriptor and associated options or update of an existing one of the descriptors and the one or more associated options by either receiving input from the user or monitoring actions of the user on the user equipment.

13. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate sharing of one or more of the descriptors and the one or more associated options within a community of users.

14. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate downloading of one or more descriptors and associated options from a community of users, a server, or a third party server.

15. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:

user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mobile phone is pre-loaded with one or more descriptors and associated actions.

17. A method comprising:

providing access for creating a community of users and for sharing one or more descriptors and associated options within the community.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein the options include accessing services, applications, or content available to the user equipment including games, media content, personal information management applications, messaging applications, social networking applications, location-aware applications, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that if executed cause the apparatus to at least:

receive an input, from a user, for creating or joining a community of users;

initiate creation of the community or addition of the user to the community based on the input; and

initiate sharing of one or more descriptors and associated options within the community.

20. An apparatus of claim 19, wherein the options include accessing services, applications, or content available to the user equipment including games, media content, messaging applications, social networking applications, location-aware applications, or a combination thereof.