Computerized interactor systems and methods for providing same

• US 7,545,359 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Inventors: Cohen, Jonathan R., Johnson, Bonnie M., Stifelman, Lisa J., Wallters, Scott C., Hindus, Debby, Verplank, William L., Singer, Andrew J., Withgott, M. Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US11/061,789
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-169, 345173-179, 178 1801- 1807, 178 1901- 1906
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

A computerized interactor system uses physical, three-dimensional objects as metaphors for input of user intent to a computer system. When one or more interactors are engaged with a detection field, the detection field reads an identifier associated with the object and communicates the identifier to a computer system. The computer system determines the meaning of the interactor based upon its identifier and upon a semantic context in which the computer system is operating. The interactors can be used to control other systems, such as audio systems, or it can be used as intuitive inputs into a computer system for such purposes as marking events in a temporal flow. The interactors, as a minimum, communicate their identity, but may also be more sophisticated in that they can communicate additional processed or unprocessed data, i.e. they can include their own data processors. The detection field can be one-dimensional or multi-dimensional, and typically has different semantic meanings associated with different parts of the detection field.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a computerized system comprising the steps of:

providing a detection space;

placing a physical and identifiable member having a semantic meaning independent of said member within said detection space, said semantic meaning being dependent upon an identity of a user who placed said member within said detection space;

determining said semantic meaning of said member within a given semantic context; and

controlling a computerized system in response to said semantic meaning of said identifiable member.

2. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining said semantic meaning of said member comprises determining a selected position of said member in said detection space.

3. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining said semantic meaning of said member comprises determining an identification of said member.

4. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining said semantic meaning of said member comprises determining a temporal relationship of said member placed in said detection space.

5. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining said semantic meaning of said member comprises:

determining a selected position of said member in said detection space;

determining an identification of said member; and

determining a temporal relationship of said member placed in said detection space.

6. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 1 comprising placing a plurality of physical and identifiable members within said detection space and determining the semantic meanings of said plurality of members.

7. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a network of coupled workstations each having access to said detection space such that a user may place at least one said member within said detection space.

8. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of controlling a computerized system comprises creating a control input indicative of said semantic meaning of said member, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of providing an application system coupled to said computerized system and controlling said application system by means of said control input.

9. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 8 wherein said application system is a videotape application system means for marking events in a videotape.

10. A method for controlling a computerized system as recited in claim 8 wherein said application system is an audio application system means for providing audio sounds dependent upon a plurality of members placed in said detection space.

11. A system for marking events occurring in a recorded media comprising:

a display system for displaying a recording, said system providing an event timing information concerning events occurring in said recording, said system responsive to at least control media events, bind events, and mark temporal flow events;

a plurality of event markers, each of which is provided with an event marker identifier;

an event field receptive to said event markers and operative to provide said event marker identifier in an event marker time; and

a processor coupled to said display system to receive said event timing information and said event marker identifier, and operative to mark an event based upon said event timing information, said event marker time, and said event marker identifier.

12. A system for marking events occurring in a recorded media as recited in claim 11 wherein said plurality of event markers are operable by a plurality of users for making said plurality of event markers removably received by said event field.

13. A system for marking events occurring in a recorded media as recited in claim 11 wherein said plurality of event markers each comprise at least one distinct visual feature for metaphorically representing said event marker identifier.

14. A system for marking events occurring in a recorded media as recited in claim 11 wherein said plurality of event markers each comprising identification circuitry and wherein said event field comprises internal circuitry adapted for connection with said identification circuitry of said plurality of event markers.

15. A system for marking events occurring in a recorded media as recited in claim 14 wherein said event field comprises a plurality of positions at which said event markers may be selectively manually removably placed in order to at least temporarily connect said identification circuitry of said event markers with said internal circuitry of said event field.

16. A computer program product for controlling a computerized system, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

providing a detection space;

placing a physical and identifiable member having a semantic meaning independent of said member within said detection space, said semantic meaning being dependent upon an identity of a user who placed said member within said detection space;

determining said semantic meaning of said member within a given semantic context; and

controlling a computerized system in response to said semantic meaning of said identifiable member.

17. A computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein said application system is a videotape application system means for marking events in a videotape.

18. A method for marking events occurring in a recorded media comprising:

displaying a recording;

ascertaining an event timing information concerning events occurring in said recording;

receiving an event marker identifier in an event marker time, wherein the event marker includes an event marker identifier;

and marking an event based upon said event timing information, said event marker time, and said event marker identifier.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said events occurring in said recording are at least one of control media events, bind events, and mark temporal flow events.

20. A computer program product for marking events occurring in a recorded media, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

displaying a recording;

ascertaining an event timing information concerning events occurring in said recording;

receiving an event marker identifier in an event marker time, wherein the event marker includes an event marker identifier;

and marking an event based upon said event timing information, said event marker time, and said event marker identifier.