METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOW POWER GESTURE RECOGNITION FOR WAKING UP MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20140368423A1
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: BRENCKLE, Wayne, SCHUSTER, Glenn
• Application Number:
  US13/919,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368423A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel solution which leverages peripheral resources used during the performance of system wake events to detect the presence of gesture input provided by a user during power saving operations (e.g., sleep modes). During the occurrence of a system wake event, embodiments of the present invention utilize proximity detection capabilities of the mobile device to determine if a user is within a detectable distance of the device to provide possible gesture input. When a positive detection comes in, embodiments of the present invention may use the light intensity (e.g., brightness level) measuring capabilities of the mobile device to further determine whether the user is attempting to engage the device to provide gesture input or if the device was unintentionally engaged. Once determinations are made that a user is waiting to engage the gesture recognition capabilities of the mobile device, embodiments of the present invention rapidly activate the gesture recognition engine (e.g., gesture sensor) and may coincidentally notify the user (e.g., using LED notification) that the device is ready to accept gesture input from the user.

Claims

1. A method of gesture recognition, said method comprising:

detecting a system wake event performed using a first portion of a computer system within a mobile device while a second portion of said computer system is within a low power state;

powering up said second portion of said computer system responsive to said system wake event and using said second portion for detecting performance of a gesture input command provided by a user; and

executing a gesture-activated process responsive to said gesture input command.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said second portion of said computer system comprises:

a proximity sensor;

a light sensor; and

a gesture sensor.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said powering up a second portion further comprises removing said second portion of said computer system from said low power state.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said detecting performance further comprises:

detecting proximity of a user'"'"'s hand relative to said computer system; and

responsive to detecting proximity of a user'"'"'s hand, powering up a gesture sensor to sense said gesture input command.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said detecting performance further comprises:

gathering brightness level data relative to said computer system; and

responsive to a prescribed brightness level data, powering up a gesture sensor to sense said gesture input command.

6. The method as described in claim 4, wherein said powering up said gesture sensor further comprises prompting said user for said gesture input command using a visual notification.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said system wake event corresponds to a periodic signal paging operation performed by said mobile device.

8. A system for gesture recognition, said system comprising:

a gesture recognition module operable to detect performance of a gesture input command, wherein said gesture recognition module is operable to execute a gesture-activated process responsive to said gesture input command;

a gesture sensor operable to capture said gesture input command provided by a user; and

a controller operable to detect a system wake event performed within a computer system of a mobile device, wherein said controller is operable to power up said gesture recognition module responsive to said system wake event and power up said gesture sensor responsive to said system wake event and a detection of a user'"'"'s hand in proximity to said gesture sensor.

9. The system as described in claim 8, wherein said controller is further operable to power up a proximity sensor responsive to said system wake event to detect said proximity of said hand relative to said computer system for said gesture recognition module.

10. The method as described in claim 8, wherein said controller is further operable to power up a light sensor responsive to said system wake event to gather brightness level data relative to said computer system for said gesture recognition module.

11. The method as described in claim 9, wherein said gesture recognition module is further operable to prompt said user for said gesture input command using visual notification responsive to said gesture sensor being powered up.

12. The method as described in claim 8, wherein said gesture recognition module is further operable to recognize said gesture-activated process responsive to said gesture input command.

13. The method as described in claim 8, wherein said system wake event corresponds to a periodic signal paging operation performed by said mobile device.

14. A method of gesture recognition, said method comprising:

detecting a system wake event performed using a first portion of a computer system within a mobile device while a gesture sensor is in a reduced power state;

powering up a gesture sensor responsive to said system wake event and detecting performance of a gesture input command provided by a user; and

executing a gesture-activated process responsive to said gesture input command.

15. The method as described in claim 14, wherein said powering up a gesture sensor further comprises:

powering up a proximity sensor to detect proximity of a hand relative to said computer system; and

powering up said gesture sensor responsive to a detection that said hand was in proximity to said computer system.

16. The method as described in claim 14, wherein said powering up a gesture sensor further comprises:

powering up a light sensor to gather brightness level data relative to said computer system; and

powering up said gesture sensor responsive to detection of a prescribed brightness level data.

17. The method as described in claim 14, wherein said detecting performance further comprises prompting said user for said gesture input command using a visual notification.

18. The method as described in claim 15, wherein said detecting performance further comprises prompting said user for said gesture input command using a visual notification.

19. The method as described in claim 14, wherein said executing further comprises recognizing said gesture-activated process to be associated with said gesture input command.

20. The method as described in claim 14, wherein said system wake event corresponds with a periodic signal paging operation performed by said mobile device.