Wearable input device

• US 9,564,046 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Breedvelt-Schouten, Ilse M., Jenkins, Jana H., Kusnitz, Jeffrey A., Lentz, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US14/329,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20160012716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.22, 341/176
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 3/017 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: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A method and/or computer program product receives inputs from a wearable input device. A communication session is established between a wearable input device and a receiving hardware device. The receiving hardware device receives an input from the wearable input device that is generated in response to a conformational change to a shape of the wearable input device, wherein the conformational change is applied to a random section of the wearable input device. The receiving hardware device thereafter initiates a responsive action that is associated with the input from the wearable input device, wherein the responsive action occurs within the receiving hardware device.

Claims

1. A method of receiving inputs from a wearable input device, the method comprising:

establishing, by one or more processors, a communication session between a wearable input device and a receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, an elongation signal from the wearable input device indicating a conformational change to a shape of a random section of the wearable input device that is caused by a user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the elongation signal, an actuator changing an on/off setting on a power switch within the receiving hardware device and one or more processors within the receiving hardware device unlocking a display screen on the receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a first offset pinching signal from the wearable input device, wherein the first offset pinching signal indicates a conformational change to the shape of the wearable input device that is caused by the user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device offset from center in order to cause a simultaneous narrowing of a first section and widening of a second section of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the first offset pinching signal, one or more processors within the receiving hardware device causing a video being displayed on the display screen on the receiving hardware device to fast forward;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a second offset pinching signal from the wearable input device, wherein the second offset pinching signal indicates a conformational change to the shape of the wearable input device that is caused by the user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device offset from center in order to cause a simultaneous narrowing of a third section and widening of a fourth section of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the second offset pinching signal, one or more processors within the receiving hardware device causing the video to play backwards on the display screen;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, an expansion signal from the wearable input device caused by a user'"'"'s fingers, wherein the expansion signal indicates an expansion of the wearable input device caused by the user splaying the user'"'"'s fingers within the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the expansion signal, enlarging an image on the display screen on the receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a pinching signal from the wearable input device indicating the user pinching an outer surface and an inner surface of a single side of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the pinching signal, increasing a count in a hardware counter device in the receiving hardware device;

in response to the computer receiving the pinching signal, pausing a particular program that is running on the receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a rolling signal indicating a rolling movement of the wearable input device, wherein the rolling movement is a rotation movement caused by the user rotating the wearable input device by a lateral squeezing force by the user against opposing sides of the wearable input device, wherein the lateral squeezing force elongates the shape of the wearable input device, wherein the lateral squeezing force causes the wearable input device to roll across a user'"'"'s fingers in a rolling movement;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the rolling movement, adjusting a volume level for a speaker on the receiving hardware device, a lighting level of video content being displayed on the display screen on the receiving hardware device, and a scrolling motion of content being displayed on the display screen;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the rolling movement, actuating a servo/motor for moving a latch assembly in a door, wherein the servo/motor is attached to a spindle that, when rotated, causes the latch assembly within the door to open/close by the servo/motor being actuated to move the latch assembly, thus opening or closing the door;

authenticating, by one or more processors, the wearable input device as being authorized to provide inputs to a receiving hardware device by matching a user identifier within the wearable input device with an authorized user name, wherein the user identifier identifies a user of the wearable input device; and

authenticating, by one or more processors, the wearable input device as being authorized to provide inputs to a receiving hardware device by matching a universally unique identifier (UUID) within the wearable input device with an authorized input device name, wherein the UUID identifies a particular input device.

2. A computer program product for receiving inputs from a wearable input device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

establishing a communication session between the wearable input device and a receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, an elongation signal from the wearable input device indicating a conformational change to a shape of a random section of the wearable input device that is caused by a user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the elongation signal, causing an actuator to change an on/off setting on a power switch within a receiving hardware device and the receiving hardware device to unlock a display screen on the receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a first offset pinching signal from the wearable input device, wherein the first offset pinching signal indicates a conformational change to the shape of the wearable input device that is caused by the user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device offset from center in order to cause a simultaneous narrowing of a first section and widening of a second section of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the first offset pinching signal, the receiving hardware device causing a video being displayed on the display screen on the receiving hardware device to fast forward;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a second offset pinching signal from the wearable input device, wherein the second offset pinching signal indicates a conformational change to the shape of the wearable input device that is caused by the user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device offset from center in order to cause a simultaneous narrowing of a third section and widening of a fourth section of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the second offset pinching signal, receiving hardware device causing the video to play backwards on the display screen;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, an expansion signal from the wearable input device caused by a user'"'"'s fingers, wherein the expansion signal indicates an expansion of the wearable input device caused by the user splaying the user'"'"'s fingers within the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the expansion signal, enlarging an image on the display screen on the receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a pinching signal from the wearable input device indicating the user pinching an outer surface and an inner surface of a single side of the wearable input device;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the pinching signal, increasing a count in a hardware counter device in the receiving hardware device;

in response to the computer receiving the pinching signal, pausing a particular program that is running on the receiving hardware device;

receiving, by the receiving hardware device, a rolling signal indicating a rolling movement of the wearable input device, wherein the rolling movement is a rotation movement caused by the user rotating the wearable input device by a lateral squeezing force by the user against opposing sides of the wearable input device, wherein the lateral squeezing force elongates the shape of the wearable input device, wherein the lateral squeezing force causes the wearable input device to roll across a user'"'"'s fingers in a rolling movement;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the rolling movement, adjusting a volume level for a speaker on the receiving hardware device, a lighting level of video content being displayed on the display screen on the receiving hardware device, and a scrolling motion of content being displayed on the display screen;

in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the rolling movement, actuating a servo/motor for moving a latch assembly in a door, wherein the servo/motor is attached to a spindle that, when rotated, causes the latch assembly within the door to open/close by the servo/motor being actuated to move the latch assembly, thus opening or closing the door;

authenticating the wearable input device as being authorized to provide inputs to a receiving hardware device by matching a user identifier within the wearable input device with an authorized user name, wherein the user identifier identifies a user of the wearable input device; and

authenticating the wearable input device as being authorized to provide inputs to a receiving hardware device by matching a universally unique identifier (UUID) within the wearable input device with an authorized input device name, wherein the UUID identifies a particular input device.

3. A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to establish a communication session between the wearable input device and a receiving hardware device;

program instructions to receive, by the receiving hardware device, an elongation signal from the wearable input device indicating a conformational change to a shape of a random section of the wearable input device that is caused by a user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device;

program instructions to, in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the elongation signal, cause an actuator to change an on/off setting on a power switch within a receiving hardware device and the receiving hardware device to unlock a display screen on the receiving hardware device;

program instructions to receive, by the receiving hardware device, a first offset pinching signal from the wearable input device, wherein the first offset pinching signal indicates a conformational change to the shape of the wearable input device that is caused by the user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device offset from center in order to cause a simultaneous narrowing of a first section and widening of a second section of the wearable input device;

program instructions to, in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the first offset pinching signal, cause a video being displayed on the display screen on the receiving hardware device to fast forward;

program instructions to receive, by the receiving hardware device, a second offset pinching signal from the wearable input device, wherein the second offset pinching signal indicates a conformational change to the shape of the wearable input device that is caused by the user squeezing opposing sides of the wearable input device offset from center in order to cause a simultaneous narrowing of a third section and widening of a fourth section of the wearable input device;

program instructions to, in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the second offset pinching signal, cause the video to play backwards on the display screen;

program instructions to receive, by the receiving hardware device, an expansion signal from the wearable input device caused by a user'"'"'s fingers, wherein the expansion signal indicates an expansion of the wearable input device caused by the user splaying the user'"'"'s fingers within the wearable input device;

program instructions to, in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the expansion signal, enlarge an image on the display screen on the receiving hardware device;

program instructions to receive, by the receiving hardware device, a pinching signal from the wearable input device indicating the user pinching an outer surface and an inner surface of a single side of the wearable input device;

program instructions to, in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the pinching signal, increase a count in a hardware counter device in the receiving hardware device;

program instructions to, in response to the computer receiving the pinching signal, pause a particular program that is running on the receiving hardware device;

program instructions to receive, by the receiving hardware device, a rolling signal indicating a rolling movement of the wearable input device, wherein the rolling movement is a rotation movement caused by the user rotating the wearable input device by a lateral squeezing force by the user against opposing sides of the wearable input device, wherein the lateral squeezing force elongates the shape of the wearable input device, wherein the lateral squeezing force causes the wearable input device to roll across a user'"'"'s fingers in a rolling movement;

program instructions to, in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the rolling movement, adjust a volume level for a speaker on the receiving hardware device, a lighting level of video content being displayed on the display screen on the receiving hardware device, and a scrolling motion of content being displayed on the display screen;

program instructions to, in response to the receiving hardware device receiving the rolling movement, actuate a servo/motor for moving a latch assembly in a door, wherein the servo/motor is attached to a spindle that, when rotated, causes the latch assembly within the door to open/close by the servo/motor being actuated to move the latch assembly, thus opening or closing the door;

program instructions to authenticate the wearable input device as being authorized to provide inputs to a receiving hardware device by matching a user identifier within the wearable input device with an authorized user name, wherein the user identifier identifies a user of the wearable input device; and

program instructions to authenticate the wearable input device as being authorized to provide inputs to a receiving hardware device by matching a universally unique identifier (UUID) within the wearable input device with an authorized input device name, wherein the UUID identifies a particular input device.