Apparatus, methods, and computer program products providing context-dependent gesture recognition

• US 20090037849A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Immonen, Olli, Nurminen, Jukka K., Saarinen, Petteri J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,896,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

At least some exemplary embodiments of the invention enable the use of context-dependent gestures, for example, in order to assist in the automation of one or more tasks. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus senses a predefined gesture and, in conjunction with context information (e.g., location information), performs a predefined action in response to the gesture. As non-limiting examples, the gesture may involve movement of the apparatus (e.g., shaking, tapping) or movement relative to the apparatus (e.g., using a touch screen). In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method includes: obtaining context information for an apparatus, wherein the context information includes a predefined context; and in response to sensing a predefined movement associated with the predefined context, performing, by the apparatus, a predefined action, wherein the predefined movement includes a movement of or in relation to the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining context information for an apparatus, wherein the context information comprises a predefined context; and

in response to sensing a predefined movement associated with the predefined context, performing, by the apparatus, a predefined action, wherein the predefined movement comprises a movement of or in relation to the apparatus.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein obtaining the context information comprises determining a location of the apparatus.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein obtaining the context information comprises utilizing at least one sensor.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the predefined movement is sensed by utilizing at least one sensor.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the predefined action comprises at least one of:

placing a phone call, starting or stopping a clock, sending a predefined text message, taking a photograph, producing an audio output, receiving an audio input or recording an audio input.

6. A program storage device readable by an apparatus, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the apparatus for performing operations, said operations comprising:

obtaining context information for the apparatus, wherein the context information comprises a predefined context; and

in response to sensing a predefined movement associated with the predefined context, performing, by the apparatus, a predefined action, wherein the predefined movement comprises a movement of or in relation to the apparatus.

7. A program storage device as in claim 6, wherein obtaining the context information comprises determining a location of the apparatus.

8. A program storage device as in claim 6, wherein obtaining the context information comprises utilizing at least one sensor.

9. A program storage device as in claim 6, wherein the predefined movement is sensed by utilizing at least one sensor.

10. A program storage device as in claim 6, wherein the predefined action comprises at least one of:

placing a phone call, starting or stopping a clock, sending a predefined text message, taking a photograph, producing an audio output, receiving an audio input or recording an audio input.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a context-sensing component configured to obtain context information comprising a predefined context;

a movement-sensing component configured to sense movement of or in relation to the apparatus; and

a processor configured, in response to the movement-sensing component sensing a predefined movement associated with the predefined context, to perform a predefined action.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the context information comprises a location of the apparatus and the context-sensing component is configured to determine the location of the apparatus.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the context-sensing component comprises at least one sensor.

14. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the movement-sensing component comprises at least one sensor.

15. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile device.

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining context information comprising a predefined context;

means for sensing movement of or in relation to the apparatus; and

means for performing a predefined action in response to the MSC sensing a predefined movement associated with the predefined context.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the context information comprises a location of the apparatus and the means for obtaining context information comprises means for determining the location of the apparatus.

18. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the means for obtaining context information comprises at least one sensor.

19. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the means for sensing movement comprises at least one sensor.

20. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile device.