Providing an alternative human interface
First Claim
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1. A small form factor electronic device, comprising:
- a processor;
an interface engine in communication with the processor; and
a sensor coupled to the processor arranged to;
detect at least one environmental factor, andpass an indication of the detected environmental factor to the processor, wherein the processor and the interface engine cooperate to;
determine that an environment of the electronic device has changed based on the indication of the detected environmental factor,identify an updated human interface in response to determining that the environment has changed,determine that a level of interactivity corresponding to the updated human interface is at least greater than a threshold level of interactivity, andcause the small form factor electronic device to present the updated human interface only if the level of interactivity corresponding to the updated human interface is at least greater than the threshold level of interactivity.
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Abstract
Providing an alternative human interface for an electronic device when a current human interface is made ineffective by at least an environmental factor is described herein. By ineffective it is meant that the current human interface cannot maintain a minimum level of interactivity between a user and the electronic device in the current or anticipated environment. In addition to maintaining at least a threshold level of interactivity, the configuration of the alternative human interface can take into consideration other factors such as an expected operating state of the electronic device affected by the choice of alternative human interface.
14 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A small form factor electronic device, comprising:
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a processor; an interface engine in communication with the processor; and a sensor coupled to the processor arranged to; detect at least one environmental factor, and pass an indication of the detected environmental factor to the processor, wherein the processor and the interface engine cooperate to; determine that an environment of the electronic device has changed based on the indication of the detected environmental factor, identify an updated human interface in response to determining that the environment has changed, determine that a level of interactivity corresponding to the updated human interface is at least greater than a threshold level of interactivity, and cause the small form factor electronic device to present the updated human interface only if the level of interactivity corresponding to the updated human interface is at least greater than the threshold level of interactivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method performed by a processor and an interface engine in an electronic device, the processor in communication with a sensor, comprising:
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detecting at least one environmental factor by the sensor; passing an indication of the detected environmental factor to the processor; determining that an environment of the electronic device is changed from a current environment by the processor based upon the indication received from the sensor based on the indication of the detected environmental factor, identifying an updated human interface only when the environment is changed in response to determining that the environment has changed; determining that a level of interactivity provided by the electronic device is greater than a pre-determined level of interactivity and a value of an operating state of the electronic device is greater than a threshold value; and causing the electronic device to replace the current human interface with the updated human interface upon determining that the level of interactivity provided by the electronic device is greater than the pre-determined level of interactivity and the value of the operating state of the electronic device is greater than the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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an electronic device; a multi-mode human interface (MMHI) engine associated with the electronic device; and a sensor in communication with the MMHI engine arranged to; detect at least one environmental factor, and pass an indication of the detected environmental factor to the MMHI engine, wherein the MMHI engine determines that the environment of the electronic device has changed based on the indication of the environmental factor received from the sensor identifies an updated MMHI in response to determining that the environment has changed, determines that a level of interactivity between a user and the electronic device in the changed environment is at least maintained when compared to a pre-determined level of interactivity, and presents the updated MMHI in response to determining the level of interactivity between the user and the electronic device in the changed environment is at least maintained when compared to the pre-determined level of interactivity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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presenting a first human interface by an electronic device, the first human interface used to facilitate control of operations carried out by the electronic device in a first environment, the first human interface providing a first level of interactivity in the first environment; detecting a change in an environment of the electronic device from the first environment to a second environment; identifying a second human interface in accordance with the second environment; determining that a level of interactivity provided by the second human interface in the second environment is at least equal to the first level of interactivity provided by the first human interface in the first environment; and presenting the second human interface by the electronic device in response to determining that the level of interactivity provided by the second human interface in the second environment is at least equal to the first level of interactivity provided by the first human interface in the first environment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer program executed by a processor in an electronic device in communication with a sensor, to perform operations comprising:
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presenting a current human interface by the electronic device; detecting at least one environmental factor by the sensor; passing an indication of the detected environmental factor to the processor; identifying an updated human interface when it is determined that the environment of the electronic device is changed; presenting the updated human interface in place of the current human interface only if a level of interactivity between a user and the electronic device is greater than a pre-determined level of interactivity and a level of an operating state of the electronic device is greater than a level corresponding to a pre-determined operating state. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification