Pressure-based input method for user devices

• US 9,996,190 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, James W., Shaw, Venson, Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TITCOMB, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US15/380,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20170097729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 715762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to a pressure-based input method for user devices. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a user device can receive an output from a pressure sensor. The output can include parameters associated with a pressure applied to the pressure sensor by a user. The user device can analyze the output to determine a command to be executed by the user device. The user device can execute the command.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

launching, by a user device comprising a processor, a custom pressure profile creation application;

prompting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a user to select a first option to create a new custom pressure profile or a second option to modify an existing custom pressure profile;

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, selection of the first option or the second option;

in response to receiving selection of the first option,

presenting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a pressure sensor selection interface through which the user can select at least one sensor from a plurality of available sensors from which to utilize pressure output,

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors,

presenting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a pressure sensor definition interface through which the user can provide a pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors,

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors, and

creating, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the new custom pressure profile comprising the pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors;

in response to receiving selection of the second option,

loading, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the existing custom pressure profile, and

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a modification to the existing custom pressure profile;

receiving, by the user device, an output from a pressure sensor that is attached to a surface separate from any surface of the user device, wherein the output comprises parameters associated with a pressure applied by the user to the surface;

analyzing, by a pressure analysis module executed by the processor of the user device, the output to determine whether the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user matches a pressure profile associated with a command;

in response to determining that the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing, by the pressure analysis module, the user device to execute the command, and executing, by the processor of the user device, the command; and

in response to determining that the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user do not match the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing the user device to take no action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure profile associated with the command comprises a default pressure profile provided by an operating system of the user device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, by the user device, a command settings interface;

receiving, via the command settings interface, an input to assign the pressure profile to the command; and

assigning, by the user device, the pressure profile to the command.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the command settings interface is part of an operating system executing on the user device, and wherein the command is associated with an operation of the operating system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the command settings interface is part of an application executing on the user device, and wherein the command is associated with an operation of the application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the user device, a further output from a further pressure sensor, wherein the further output comprises further parameters associated with a further pressure applied by the further pressure sensor by the user to the surface;

analyzing, by the pressure analysis module executed by the processor of the user device, the further output to determine whether the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command;

in response to determining that the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing, by the pressure analysis module, the user device to execute the command, and executing, by the processor of the user device, the command; and

in response to determining that the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user do not match the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing the user device to take no action.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the parameters and the further parameters represent, at least in part, a sequence of application of the pressure and the further pressure.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the parameters and the further parameters represent, at least in part, a pattern of application of the pressure and the further pressure.

9. A user device comprising:

a processor; and

memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

launching a custom pressure profile creation application,

prompting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a user to select a first option to create a new custom pressure profile or a second option to modify an existing custom pressure profile,

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, selection of the first option or the second option,

in response to receiving selection of the first option,

presenting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a pressure sensor selection interface through which the user can select at least one sensor from a plurality of available sensors from which to utilize pressure output,

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors,

presenting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a pressure sensor definition interface through which the user can provide a pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors,

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors, and

creating, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the new custom pressure profile comprising the pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors;

in response to receiving selection of the second option,

loading, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the existing custom pressure profile, and

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a modification to the existing custom pressure profile,

receiving an output from a pressure sensor that is attached to a surface separate from any surface of the user device, wherein the output comprises parameters associated with a pressure applied by a user to the surface,

analyzing, by a pressure analysis module, the output to determine whether the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user matches a pressure profile associated with a command,

in response to determining that the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing, by the pressure analysis module, the user device to execute the command, and executing the command; and

in response to determining that the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user do not match the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing the user device to take no action.

10. The user device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

presenting a command settings interface;

receiving an input to assign the pressure profile to the command; and

assigning the pressure profile to the command.

11. The user device of claim 10, wherein the command settings interface is part of an operating system executing on the user device, and wherein the command is associated with an operation of the operating system.

12. The user device of claim 10, wherein the command settings interface is part of an application executing on the user device, and wherein the command is associated with an operation of the application.

13. The user device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a further output from a further pressure sensor, wherein the further output comprises further parameters associated with a further pressure applied by the further pressure sensor by the user to the surface;

analyzing, by the pressure analysis module executed by the processor of the user device, the further output to determine whether the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command;

in response to determining that the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing, by the pressure analysis module, the user device to execute the command, and executing, by the processor of the user device, the command; and

in response to determining that the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user do not match the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing the user device to take no action.

14. The user device of claim 13, wherein the parameters and the further parameters represent, at least in part, a sequence of application of the pressure and the further pressure.

15. The user device of claim 13, wherein the parameters and the further parameters represent, at least in part, a pattern of application of the pressure and the further pressure.

16. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of a user device, cause the user device to perform operations comprising:

launching a custom pressure profile creation application;

prompting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a user to select a first option to create a new custom pressure profile or a second option to modify an existing custom pressure profile;

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, selection of the first option or the second option;

in response to receiving selection of the first option,

presenting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a pressure sensor selection interface through which the user can select at least one sensor from a plurality of available sensors from which to utilize pressure output,

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors,

presenting, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a pressure sensor definition interface through which the user can provide a pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors,

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors, and

creating, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the new custom pressure profile comprising the pressure definition for each sensor in the selection of the at least one sensor from the plurality of available sensors;

in response to receiving selection of the second option,

loading, by the custom pressure profile creation application, the existing custom pressure profile, and

receiving, by the custom pressure profile creation application, a modification to the existing custom pressure profile;

receiving an output from a pressure sensor that is attached to a surface separate from any surface of the user device, wherein the output comprises parameters associated with a pressure applied by a user to the surface;

analyzing, by a pressure analysis module, the output to determine whether the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user matches a pressure profile associated with a command;

in response to determining that the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing, by the pressure analysis module, the user device to execute the command, and executing the command; and

in response to determining that the parameters associated with the pressure applied by the user do not match the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing the user device to take no action.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

presenting a command settings interface;

receiving an input to assign the pressure profile to the command; and

assigning the pressure profile to the command.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein the command settings interface is part of an operating system, and the command is associated with an operation of the operating system;

or wherein the command settings interface is part of an application, and the command is associated with an operation of the application.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a further output from a further pressure sensor, wherein the further output comprises further parameters associated with a further pressure applied by the further pressure sensor by the user to the surface;

analyzing, by the pressure analysis module executed by the processor of the user device, the further output to determine whether the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command;

in response to determining that the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user matches the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing, by the pressure analysis module, the user device to execute the command, and executing, by the processor of the user device, the command; and

in response to determining that the further parameters associated with the further pressure applied by the user do not match the pressure profile associated with the command, instructing the user device to take no action.

20. The user device of claim 19, wherein the parameters and the further parameters represent, at least in part, a sequence of application of the pressure and the further pressure or a pattern of application of the pressure and the further pressure.