Anatomical gestures detection system using radio signals

• US 9,235,241 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2012
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Newham, Adam E., Julian, David Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tzeng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US13/561,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,262 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• 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: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

A system for detecting anatomical gestures based on the interpretation of radio signal transmissions. A user may place wireless devices on his/her head and wrist(s) that communicate through short-range radio signals. The wireless devices may collect information regarding signal exchanges which may be analyzed by a computing device to determine positional information about the user'"'"'s hands. The computing device may compile the positional information into sequences and evaluate the sequences against predefined patterns of movement data. The computing device may interpret recognized movements as computer input commands. In an embodiment, multiple wireless devices may be placed on the user'"'"'s wrists to enable multi-touch input commands. In an embodiment, data from motion sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, may be combined with movement data based on radio signal information.

Claims

1. A method for detecting user hand movements and interpreting such movements as a computer input, comprising:

positioning a wireless sensor device near a user'"'"'s hand;

positioning a first and a second wireless ranging device on the user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

conducting calibration operations that record distances and one or more calculated angles in memory while a user performs prescribed physical movements;

determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and each wireless ranging device through wireless signal ranging techniques;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

executing the correlated computer input command in a computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device; and

using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining directional information from one or more of a magnetometer, an accelerometer and a gyroscope contained within at least one of the wireless ranging devices; and

using the determined directional information when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances, determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle, collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time, comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance, and correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture is accomplished in a computing device selected from one of the wireless sensor device, either wireless ranging device, a wireless mobile device carried by a user, and a separate computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a second wireless sensor device near the user'"'"'s other hand, wherein:

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time comprises collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of both wireless sensor devices over a period of time; and

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of both wireless sensor devices over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning a third wireless ranging device on a user such that it is displaced from the axis between the first and second wireless ranging devices; and

determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and the third wireless ranging device through wireless signal ranging techniques,

wherein comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device and the determined distance between the wireless sensor device and the third wireless ranging device over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless ranging devices are located on one of a headset, a pair of glasses, a helmet, a hard hat, a belt, and a pair of earpiece devices.

8. A method for detecting user hand movements and interpreting such movements as a computer input, comprising:

positioning a wireless sensor device near a user'"'"'s hand;

positioning a first and a second wireless ranging device on the user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and each wireless ranging device through wireless signal ranging techniques;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

executing the correlated computer input command in a computing device;

wherein determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and each wireless ranging device through wireless signal ranging techniques comprises measuring the distances using wireless ranging transmissions between Peanut®

transceivers.

9. A method for detecting user hand movements and interpreting such movements as a computer input, comprising:

positioning a wireless sensor device near a user'"'"'s hand;

positioning a first and a second wireless ranging device on the user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and each wireless ranging device through wireless signal ranging techniques;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture;

executing the correlated computer input command in a computing device;

receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device;

using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

estimating bounding areas of the user'"'"'s anatomical range of motion; and

calculating skeletal orientations using inverse kinematic analysis based on the estimated bounding areas, the received motion sensor data, and the determined estimated position of the wireless sensor device.

10. A computing device, comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

recording distances and one or more calculated angles in memory while a user performs prescribed physical movements during calibration operations;

determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques, wherein the first and second wireless ranging devices are worn on a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

executing the correlated computer input command.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device; and

using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining directional information using data from one of a magnetometer, an accelerometer or a gyroscope contained within at least one of the wireless ranging devices; and

using the determined directional information when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the computing device is one of the wireless sensor device, either wireless ranging device, a wireless mobile device carried by a user, and a separate computing device.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time comprises collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of two wireless sensor devices over a period of time;

and

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of both wireless sensor devices over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and a third wireless ranging device through wireless signal ranging techniques, wherein the third wireless ranging device is configured to be worn by a user in a position displaced from the axis between the first and second wireless ranging devices; and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device and the determined distance between the wireless sensor device and the third wireless ranging device over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

16. A computing device, comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques, wherein the first and second wireless ranging devices are worn on a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

executing the correlated computer input command;

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device comprises;

measuring the distances using data obtained from wireless ranging transmissions between Peanut®

transceivers.

17. A computing device, comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques, wherein the first and second wireless ranging devices are worn on a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture;

executing the correlated computer input command;

receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device;

using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

estimating bounding areas of the user'"'"'s anatomical range of motion; and

calculating skeletal orientations using inverse kinematic analysis based on the estimated bounding areas, the received motion sensor data, and the determined estimated position of the wireless sensor device.

18. A computing device, comprising:

means for recording distances and one or more calculated angles in memory while a user performs prescribed physical movements during calibration operations;

means for determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques when the first and second wireless ranging devices are positioned a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

means for calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

means for determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

means for collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

means for comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

means for correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

means for executing the correlated computer input command.

19. The computing device of claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device; and

means for using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

20. The computing device of claim 18, further comprising:

means for determining directional information using data from one of a magnetometer, an accelerometer or a gyroscope contained within at least one of the wireless ranging devices; and

means for using the determined directional information when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

21. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the computing device is one of the wireless sensor device, either wireless ranging device, a wireless mobile device carried by a user, and a separate computing device.

22. The computing device of claim 18, wherein:

means for collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time comprises means for collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of two wireless sensor devices over a period of time; and

means for comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises means for comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of both wireless sensor devices over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

23. The computing device of claim 18, further comprising:

means for determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and a third wireless ranging device that is perpendicularly displaced from the axis between the first and second wireless ranging devices through wireless signal ranging techniques,

wherein means for comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises means for comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device and the determined distance between the wireless sensor device and the third wireless ranging device over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

24. A computing device, comprising:

means for determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques when the first and second wireless ranging devices are positioned a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

means for calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

means for determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

means for collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

means for comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

means for correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

means for executing the correlated computer input command;

wherein means for determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques comprises;

means for measuring the distances using data obtained from wireless ranging transmissions between Peanut®

transceivers.

25. A computing device, comprising:

means for determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques when the first and second wireless ranging devices are positioned a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

means for calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

means for determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

means for collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

means for comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

means for correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture;

means for executing the correlated computer input command;

means for receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device;

means for using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

means for estimating bounding areas of the user'"'"'s anatomical range of motion; and

means for calculating skeletal orientations using inverse kinematic analysis based on the estimated bounding areas, the received motion sensor data, and the determined estimated position of the wireless sensor device.

26. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations for detecting user hand movements and interpreting such movements as a computer input, the operations comprising:

recording distances and one or more calculated angles in memory while the user performs prescribed physical movements during calibration operations;

determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques when the first and second wireless ranging devices are positioned on a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

executing the correlated computer input command.

27. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device; and

using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

28. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining directional information using data from one of a magnetometer, an accelerometer or a gyroscope contained within at least one of the wireless ranging devices; and

using the determined directional information when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

29. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that:

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time comprises collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of two wireless sensor devices over a period of time; and

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of both wireless sensor devices over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

30. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and a third wireless ranging device that is perpendicularly displaced from the axis between the first and second wireless ranging devices through wireless signal ranging techniques,

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device and the determined distance between the wireless sensor device and the third wireless ranging device over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

31. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations for detecting user hand movements and interpreting such movements as a computer input, the operations comprising:

determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques when the first and second wireless ranging devices are positioned on a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

executing the correlated computer input command;

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques comprises;

measuring the distances using data obtained from wireless ranging transmissions between Peanut®

transceivers.

32. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations for detecting user hand movements and interpreting such movements as a computer input, the operations comprising:

determining a distance between a wireless sensor device and each of a first and a second wireless ranging device using data derived from wireless signal ranging techniques when the first and second wireless ranging devices are positioned on a user'"'"'s body a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the determined distances and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture;

executing the correlated computer input command;

receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device;

using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

estimating bounding areas of the user'"'"'s anatomical range of motion; and

calculating skeletal orientations using inverse kinematic analysis based on the estimated bounding areas, the received motion sensor data, and the determined estimated position of the wireless sensor device.

33. A system, comprising:

a computing device;

a wireless sensor device;

a first wireless ranging device; and

a second wireless ranging device,

wherein the computing device comprises;

a memory;

a transceiver configured to communicate with at least on of the wireless sensor device and the first and second wireless ranging devices; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

recording determined distances and one or more calculated angles in memory while the user performs prescribed physical movements during calibration operations;

receiving distance information via short-range radio signals from the first and second wireless ranging devices;

calculating an angle between the wireless sensor device and the wireless ranging devices based on distance information;

determining an estimated position of the wireless sensor device relative to the wireless ranging devices based on the received distance information and calculated angle;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time;

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance;

correlating a computer input command to a recognized gesture; and

executing the correlated computer input command, wherein the wireless sensor device comprises;

a transceiver configured to communicate with the first and second wireless ranging devices using short-range radio signals; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

exchanging short-range radio signals between each of the first and second wireless ranging devices to enable determining separation distances using wireless signal ranging techniques, wherein the wireless sensor device is configured to be worn by a user,

wherein the first and second wireless ranging devices each comprise;

a transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless sensor device using short-range radio signals; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

determining to the wireless sensor device using wireless signal ranging techniques; and

sending the distance information via short-range radio signals to the computing device, and

wherein the first and second wireless ranging devices are configured to be worn by the user a fixed distance apart such that the two wireless ranging devices form an axis relative to a portion of the user'"'"'s body.

34. The system of claim 33,

wherein the wireless sensor device further comprises one or more motion sensors selected from accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometer, and a compass,

wherein the wireless sensor device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising transmitting motion sensor data to the computing device, and

wherein the computing device is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving motion sensor data from the wireless sensor device; and

using the received motion sensor data when comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the computing device is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

estimating bounding areas of the user'"'"'s anatomical range of motion; and

calculating skeletal orientations using inverse kinematic analysis based on the estimated bounding areas, the received motion sensor data, and the determined estimated position of the wireless sensor device.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein:

the wireless sensor device transceiver is a Peanut®

transceiver;

the first and second wireless ranging device are Peanut®

transceivers; and

the first and second wireless ranging device processors are configured with processor- executable instructions to perform operations such that determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and the first wireless ranging device based on wireless signal ranging techniques comprises measuring the distance to the wireless sensor device using data obtained from wireless ranging transmissions between the Peanut®

transceivers.

37. The system of claim 33,

wherein the wireless sensor device further comprises one or more motion sensors selected from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and a magnetometer,

wherein the wireless sensor device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising transmitting motion sensor data to the computing device, and

wherein the computing device is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining directional information from received sensor data; and

using the determined directional information when comparing the

collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the computing device is one of the wireless sensor device, the first wireless ranging device, the second wireless ranging device, a wireless mobile device carried by the user, and a separate computing device.

39. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a second wireless sensor device, comprising;

a transceiver configured to communicate using short-range radio signals; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

exchanging short-range radio signals between the first wireless ranging device and the second wireless sensor device; and

exchanging short-range radio signals between the second wireless ranging device and the second wireless sensor device,

wherein the computing device is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that;

collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time comprises collecting a sequence of determined estimated positions of both wireless sensor devices over a period of time; and

comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of both wireless sensor devices over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

40. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a third wireless ranging device, comprising;

a transceiver configured to communicate using short-range radio signals; and

a processor coupled to transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

exchanging short-range radio signals between the third wireless ranging device and the wireless sensor device;

determining a distance between the wireless sensor device and the third wireless ranging device based on wireless signal ranging techniques; and

transmitting the distance information to the computing device,

wherein the third wireless ranging device is configured to be worn by a user in a position displaced from the axis between the first and second wireless ranging devices,

wherein the wireless sensor device is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising exchanging short-range radio signals between the third wireless ranging device and the wireless sensor device, and wherein the computing device is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device over a period of time to a database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance comprises comparing the collected sequence of determined estimated positions of the wireless sensor device and the determined distance between the wireless sensor device and the third wireless ranging device over a period of time to the database of gesture movement patterns to determine if there is a match within a predefined tolerance.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the first and second wireless ranging devices are positioned on one of a headset, a pair of glasses, a helmet, a hard hat, a belt, and earpiece devices.