Method and apparatus for providing configurability and customization of adaptive user-input filtration

• US 6,963,937 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael Anthony, Kamper, Robert Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Ilwoo
• Application Number:
  US09/213,660
• Time in Patent Office: 2,518 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/333, 345/334, 345/700, 345744-747, 345/156, 345/163, 345/167, 345/179, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/173, 345/184, 715/700, 715/707, 715744-747, 715/856, 715/865, 715/866, 710/62, 710/65, 710/72, 710/73
• US Class Current: 710/73
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A computer system provides a user with an ability to configure a filter, according to a user'"'"'s personal characteristics, for user-input data generated by an input device. It also provides a configurable, customizable, adaptive filter for individualizing user settings, parameters, or algorithms so that the system adapts to user-specific characteristics in order to minimize “errors” in the use of input devices. Moreover, the individual characteristics are portable with the user through the use of a customized adaptive input profile. The customized adaptive input profile may be stored on a network or within a smart card so that the customized parameters are accessible when the user requires the use of a particular client or workstation in a distributed data processing environment.

Claims

1. A method for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the method comprising:

receiving input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

filtering the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the adaptive input profile comprises a smoothing algorithm for smoothing discontinuities in the user'"'"'s manipulation of the hand manipulated pointer input device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hand manipulated pointer input device comprises one of a mouse, a stylus, a trackball, a joystick, a touchpad, and a virtual reality glove.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the filtering step comprises processing the input pointer data from a rough set of x-y coordinates to an improved set of x-y coordinates.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the filtering step, creating the adaptive input profile based on the user'"'"'s attempted manipulation of the hand manipulated pointer input device to generate a predefined figure thereby determining how the user'"'"'s manipulation ability differs from an average person'"'"'s manipulation ability.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the predefined figures comprises one of a circle, an ellipse, a square, and a line.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the adaptive input profile is stored on a smart card.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

learning the manipulation capabilities of the user from user attempts at manipulating the hand manipulated pointer input device; and

using the manipulation capabilities of the user to create the adaptive input profile.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the adaptive input profile in response to information determined from the received input pointer data.

3. A method for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the method comprising:

receiving input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

filtering the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data, wherein the adaptive input profile is used to compensate for mis-alignment of the hand manipulated pointer input device with a specified handedness when utilized by a user with an opposite handedness.

11. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

receiving instructions for receiving input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

filtering instructions for filtering the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein the adaptive input profile comprises a smoothing algorithm for smoothing discontinuities in the user'"'"'s manipulation of the hand manipulated pointer input device.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein the hand manipulated pointer input device comprises one of a mouse, a stylus, a trackball, a joystick, a touchpad, and a virtual reality glove.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein the filtering instructions comprises processing the input pointer data from a rough set of x-y coordinates to an improved set of x-y coordinates.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

creating instructions for creating the adaptive input profile based on the user'"'"'s attempted manipulation of the band manipulated pointer input device to generate a predefined figure thereby determining how the user'"'"'s manipulation ability differs from an average person'"'"'s manipulation ability.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the predefined figures comprises one of a circle, an ellipse, a square, and a line.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein the adaptive input profile is stored on a smart card.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

learning instructions for learning the manipulation capabilities of the user from user attempts at manipulating the hand manipulated pointer input device; and

using instructions for using the manipulation capabilities of the user to create the adaptive input profile.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

modifying instructions for modifying the adaptive input profile in response to information determined from the received input pointer data.

13. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

receiving instructions for receiving input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

filtering instructions for filtering the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data, wherein the adaptive input profile is used to compensate for mis-alignment of the hand manipulated pointer input device with a specified handedness when utilized by a user with an opposite handedness.

21. A system for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the system comprising:

receiving means for receiving input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

filtering means for filtering the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the adaptive input profile comprises a smoothing algorithm for smoothing discontinuities in the user'"'"'s manipulation of the hand manipulated pointer input device.

24. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the hand manipulated pointer input device comprises one of a mouse, a stylus, a trackball, a joystick, a touchpad, and a virtual reality glove.

25. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the filtering means comprises processing the input pointer data from a rough set of x-y coordinates to an improved set of x-y coordinates.

26. The system as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

creating means for creating the adaptive input profile based on the user'"'"'s attempted manipulation of the hand manipulated pointer input device to generate a predefined figure thereby determining how the user'"'"'s manipulation ability differs from an average person'"'"'s manipulation ability.

27. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the predefined figures comprises one of a circle, an ellipse, a square, and a line.

28. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the adaptive input profile is stored on a smart card.

29. The system as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

learning means for learning the manipulation capabilities of the user from user attempts at manipulating the hand manipulated pointer input device; and

using means for using the manipulation capabilities of the user to create the adaptive input profile.

30. The system as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

modifying means for modifying the adaptive input profile in response to information determined from the received input pointer data.

23. A system for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the system comprising:

receiving means for receiving input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

filtering means for filtering the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data, wherein the adaptive input profile is used to compensate for mis-alignment of the hand manipulated pointer input device with a specified handedness when utilized by a user with an opposite handedness.

31. A data processing system in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

a receiver which receives input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

a filter which filters the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data.

32. The data processing system as recited in claim 31, wherein the adaptive input profile comprises a smoothing algorithm for smoothing discontinuities in the user'"'"'s manipulation of the hand manipulated pointer input device.

34. The data processing system as recited in claim 31, wherein the hand manipulated pointer input device comprises one of a mouse, a stylus, a trackball, a joystick, a touchpad, and a virtual reality glove.

35. The data processing system as recited in claim 31, wherein the filter processes the input pointer data from a rough set of x-y coordinates to an improved set of x-y coordinates.

36. The data processing system as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

a profile creation unit which creates the adaptive input profile based on the user'"'"'s attempted manipulation of the hand manipulated pointer input device to generate a predefined figure thereby determining how the user'"'"'s manipulation ability differs from an average person'"'"'s manipulation ability.

37. The data processing system as recited in claim 36, wherein the predefined figures comprises one of a circle, an ellipse, a square, and a line.

38. The data processing system as recited in claim 31, wherein the adaptive input profile is stored on a smart card.

39. The data processing system as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

a learning unit which learns the manipulation capabilities of the user from user attempts at manipulating the hand manipulated pointer input device; and

a profile creation unit which uses the manipulation capabilities of the user to create the adaptive input profile.

40. The data processing system as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

a modifying unit which modifies the adaptive input profile in response to information determined from the received input pointer data.

33. A data processing system in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for processing input data from a user of a data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

a receiver which receives input pointer data generated by a hand manipulated pointer input device;

a filter which filters the input pointer data according to an adaptive input profile customized for the user to generate improved input pointer data, wherein pointer manipulation from the improved input pointer data more closely corresponds to the user'"'"'s intent than does the input pointer data, wherein the adaptive input profile is used to compensate for mis-alignment of the hand manipulated pointer input device with a specified handedness when utilized by a user with an opposite handedness.