PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20130215250A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: PASQUERO, Jerome, WALKER, David Ryan, FYKE, Steven Henry
• Application Number:
  US13/398,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20130215250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/78
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015

Abstract

A portable electronic device and method for controlling a media device is provided. The portable electronic includes a camera, a processor in communication with the camera, and an input device in communication with the processor. The processor is for receiving data from the camera and for analyzing the data to detect a condition and the processor is configured to operate in a non-command state or in a command state. The method involves receiving data from a camera, analyzing the data from the camera to detect a condition, receiving input and transmitting a command to the media.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device for controlling a media device, the portable electronic device comprising:

a camera;

a processor in communication with the camera, the processor for receiving data from the camera and for analyzing the data to detect a condition, the processor configured to operate in a non-command state when the condition is absent and in a command state when the condition is present;

an input device in communication with the processor, the input device configured to receive input corresponding to a command for the media device; and

an interface in communication with the processor, the interface configured to transmit the command to the media device when the processor is operating in the command state.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the data to detect data corresponding to attention directed at the portable electronic device.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the data corresponding to attention comprises eye contact with the camera.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the data to detect the eye contact using an eye-tracking algorithm.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device includes the camera.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the camera is configured to receive input representing a gesture.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the gesture comprises a finger movement.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a microphone.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the microphone is configured to receive input comprising a voice instruction.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor configured to determine if the portable electronic device and the media device are within an operating distance.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store media content for transmitting to the media device.

12. A method for controlling a media device using a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving data from a camera;

analyzing the data from the camera to detect a condition;

receiving input corresponding to a command for the media device; and

transmitting the command to the media device when the condition is present.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein analyzing comprises detecting data corresponding to attention directed at the portable electronic device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the input corresponding to a command comprises receiving the input from the camera.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving input representing a gesture.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the gesture comprises a finger movement.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the input corresponding to a command comprises receiving the input from a microphone.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining whether the portable electronic device is within an operating distance from the media device.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting media content from the portable electronic device to the media device.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with codes, the codes for directing a processor to:

receive data from a camera;

analyze the data from the camera to detect a condition;

receive input corresponding to a command for the media device; and

transmit the command to the media device when the condition is present.