Method and Program of Controlling Electronic Device, Electronic Device and Subsriber Equipment

• US 20090243790A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tikkanen, Pauli, Puolitaival, Seppo
• Granted Patent: US 9,152,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing

Abstract

Controlling the scaling of a user perceivable output quantity of an electronic device having a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user can be performed as a function of a rotational movement of characteristics of a user detected by the sensor. Alternatively, controlling can be performed as a function of time spent for the detection of the characteristics of a user.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic device having a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user, the method comprising

detecting rotational movement of the characteristics of a user around a normal of a surface of a sensor detecting characteristics of a user;

and

controlling scaling of a user perceivable output quantity of the electronic device as a function of the rotational movement detected by the sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising performing detecting rotational movement of the characteristics of a user by detecting rotational movement of a fingerprint of a user around the normal of the surface of the sensor.

12. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising detecting a context in the electronic device, and selecting the user perceivable output quantity to be controlled according to the context.

2. A method of controlling an electronic device having a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user, the method further comprising

receiving characteristics of a user by a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user;

determining a length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user; and

controlling scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the electronic device as a function of the time for receiving the characteristics of the user.

4. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising receiving, in an electronic device, an input code determining the type of control of a user perceivable quantity of the electronic device;

controlling scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the electronic device additionally according to the input code.

5. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising receiving, in the electronic device, the input code via at least one input key configured to be pressed by the user.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising determining the type of control by an activation of either of a pair of input keys of the electronic device, a first input key activating one kind of control of the user perceiveable output quantity and a second input key activating a different kind of control of the user perceivable output quantity.

7. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising determining the type of control by an input key of the electronic device, one kind of control of the user perceivable output quantity being active without pressing the input key and a different kind of control of the user perceivable output quantity being activated by pressing the key.

8. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising determining the type of control as strengthening or weakening at least one of the following:

a user perceivable acoustic quantity, a user perceivable visual quantity, a user perceivable tactile quantity.

9. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising receiving by the sensor for detecting characteristics of the user an activation signal for performing controlling the user perceivable output quantity, the sensor for detecting characteristics of the user being configured to be tapped by the user for activation.

10. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising performing determining the length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user by determining a length of time skin is kept on the sensor, the sensor detecting a relief of skin as the characteristics of a user.

11. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising performing receiving characteristics of a user by receiving a fingerprint of a user by a fingerprint sensor;

and

performing controlling scaling of the user perceivable output quantity as a function of the time for receiving the fingerprint.

34. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting a context in the electronic device, and selecting the user perceivable output quantity to be controlled according to the context.

13. An electronic device including

a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user,

at least one component configured to output a user perceivable output quantity,

a controller configured to receive detection information from the sensor and to control the at least one component, wherein

the sensor is configured to detect rotational movement of the characteristics of a user around a normal of a surface of the sensor;

and

the controller is configured to control scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the at least one component as a function of the rotational movement detected by the sensor.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a fingerprint sensor configured to detect rotational movement of a fingerprint of a user around the normal of the surface of the sensor.

24. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is configured to

detect a context in the electronic device;

and

select the user perceivable output quantity to be controlled according to the context.

14. An electronic device including

a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user,

at least one component configured to output a user perceivable output quantity,

a controller configured to receive detection information from the sensor and to control the at least one component, wherein

the controller is configured to

determine a length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user by the sensor;

and

control scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the component as a function of the time for receiving the characteristics of a user.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is configured to receive an input code determining the type of control of the user perceivable quantity;

the controller is additionally configured to control the user perceivable output quantity of the at least one component according to the input code.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the electronic device includes at least one input key for receiving the input code, the key being configured to be pressed by the user.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the electronic device includes a pair of input keys for determining the type of control by an activation of either of the input keys, a first input key is configured to activate one kind of control of the user perceivable output quantity and a second input key is configured to activate a different kind of control of the user perceivable output quantity.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the electronic device includes an input key for determining the type of control, the input key is configured to activate one kind of control of the user perceivable output quantity and a different kind of control of the user perceivable output quantity is active without pressing the input key.

20. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the electronic device is configured to determine the type of control as strengthening or weakening at least one of the following:

a user perceivable acoustic quantity, a user perceivable visual quantity, a user perceivable tactile quantity.

21. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the electronic device includes a switch for receiving an activation signal for performing controlling the user perceivable output quantity, the sensor for detecting characteristics of the user being configured to be tapped by the user for activation.

22. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to perform determining the length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user by determining a length of time skin is kept on the sensor, the sensor detecting a relief of skin as the characteristics of a user.

23. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to receive a fingerprint of a user;

and

the controller is configured to perform controlling scaling of the user perceivable output quantity as a function of the time for receiving the fingerprint.

35. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is configured to

detect a context in the electronic device;

and

select the user perceivable output quantity to be controlled according to the context.

25. Subscriber equipment of a radio system including

a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user,

at least one component configured to output a user perceivable output quantity,

a controller configured to receive detection information from the sensor and to control the at least one component, and

the sensor is configured to detect rotational movement of the characteristics of a user around a normal of a surface of the sensor;

and

the controller is configured to control scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the at least one component as a function of the rotational movement detected by the sensor.

26. Subscriber equipment of a radio system including

a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user,

at least one component configured to output a user perceivable output quantity,

a controller configured to receive detection information from the sensor and to control the at least one component, and

the controller is configured to determine a length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user by the sensor;

and

control scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the component as a function of the time for receiving the characteristics of a user.

27. An electronic device including

sensing means for detecting characteristics of a user,

at least one output means for outputting a user perceivable output quantity,

controlling means for receiving detection information from the sensor and for controlling the at least one output means, and

the sensing means is configured to detect rotational movement of the characteristics of a user around a normal of a surface of the sensor;

and

the controlling means is configured to control scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the at least one component as a function of the rotational movement detected by the sensor.

28. An electronic device including

sensing means for detecting characteristics of a user,

at least one output means for outputting a user perceivable output quantity,

controlling means for receiving detection information from the sensor and for controlling the at least one output means, and

the controlling means is configured to determine a length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user by the sensor;

and

control scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the component as a function of the time for receiving the characteristics of a user.

29. A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for controlling an electronic device having a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user, the process comprising

detecting rotational movement of the characteristics of a user around a normal of a surface of a sensor detecting characteristics of a user;

and

controlling scaling of a user perceivable output quantity of the electronic device as a function of the rotational movement detected by the sensor.

37. The computer program product of claim 29, the product comprising a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, or a computer readable compressed software package.

30. A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for controlling an electronic device having a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user, the process comprising

receiving characteristics of a user by a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user;

determining a length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user; and

controlling scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the electronic device as a function of the time for receiving the characteristics of a user.

38. The computer program product of claim 30, the product comprising a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, or a computer readable compressed software package.

31. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for controlling an electronic device having a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user, the process comprising

detecting rotational movement of the characteristics of a user around a normal of a surface of a sensor detecting characteristics of a user;

and

controlling scaling of a user perceivable output quantity of the electronic device as a function of the rotational movement detected by the sensor.

36. The computer program distribution medium of claim 31, the distribution medium comprising a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, or a computer readable compressed software package.

32. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for controlling an electronic device having a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user, the process comprising

receiving characteristics of a user by a sensor for detecting characteristics of a user;

determining a length of time for receiving the characteristics of a user; and

controlling scaling of the user perceivable output quantity of the electronic device as a function of the time for receiving the characteristics of a user.

33. The computer program distribution medium of claim 32, the distribution medium comprising a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, or a computer readable compressed software package.