Computer based pen system and method for automatically cancelling unwanted gestures and preventing anomalous signals as inputs to such system

• US 5,570,113 A
• Filed: 06/29/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Zetts, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOCKETT, KUNIKI
• Application Number:
  US08/267,731
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 395/275, 395/375, 395/775, 345/146, 345/173, 345/179, 345/156, 345/157, 382/13, 235/375, 364/700
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/36 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

A method and system for a pen-based computer system allow a user to automatically cancel a gesture in progress under several different conditions and terminate the operation of the system in a gesture recognition motion. In a first condition, a gesture cancel timeout period is stored in a memory of the system. The cancel timeout period is definitive of holding the input device in a motionless condition. When the timeout period is exceeded, a software application program recognize the excessive time period, terminates the operation of the system in gesture recognition mode. In another condition, a motion area is defined in the program for the input device. When the gesture executed by the input device exceeds the pre-defined motion area, the application program recognizes the excessive motion and terminates the operation of the system in the gesture recognition mode. In another condition, each input device is identified and stored in memory. When a gesture is being performed and a change in input devices occurs, the program recognizes the difference in the identifications of the input devices and terminates the operation of the system in a gesture recognition mode. The system also automatically terminates the gesture mode of operation when anomalous signals, such as hand trembling or false or unwanted gestures are inputted to the system.

Claims

1. A method for registering and operating an input device in a pen-based computer system for entering a gesture into the system, the system having a memory, a processor including proximity and gesture cancel timer devices and a display coupled to a system bus, the method comprising the steps of:

a. placing the system in a gesture mode;

b. determining the input device type and storing an identification of the device type in the memory for the gesture stroke, if the system is not in a gesture mode, and performing the following steps;

b1. establishing an alterable motion zone definitive of movement for each input device type;

b2. establishing a gesture cancel time period for a user;

b3. dividing the gesture time period by a utility factor;

b4. saving the the result of step b3 as a gesture cancel reset time for the gesture cancel timer device;

c. canceling the proximity timer for a second or greater numbered gesture stroke, if the system is in a gesture mode, and performing the following steps;

c1. determining the input device type;

c2. comparing the device types for present and past gesture strokes;

c3. canceling the gesture if the device types are different for present and past gestures strokes;

d. incrementing a stroke count if the device types are the same for the present and past gestures strokes and performing the following steps;

d1. comparing the gesture stroke count to a preselected maximum count;

d2. cancelling the gesture if the stroke count exceeds the maximum count;

(d3)e1. recording coordinates in the display as the final gesture position, if the stroke does not exceed the maximum count, and performing the following steps;

(d4)e2. time stamping the final gesture position;

(d5)e3. initiating a gesture cancel timer, and

(d6)e4. canceling the gesture when the gesture cancel timer exceeds a preselected time period.

2. A method for registering a new point from an input device for a gesture entered into a pen-based computer system, the system having a memory, a processor including proximity and gesture cancel timer devices and a display coupled to a system bus, the method comprising the steps of:

a. incrementing a point counter for the new point;

b. comparing the point counter to a maximum and canceling the gesture if the maximum is exceeded;

c. comparing successive new points in a gesture for movement compared to an alterable motion zone defining an input device, if the point count is less than the maximum count;

d. scheduling a gesture cancel timer resets, if the movement is greater than a maximum and performing the following steps;

d1. recording the position of the input device;

d2. recording a time stamp for the last point in the gesture;

e. subtracting the time of last timer start from the time stamp of current point in step d2 or if the movement in step d is less than the maximum movement;

f. comparing the results of step e to a gesture cancel time period and cancelling the gesture if the period is greater than the gesture cancel timer period or performing the following steps if the time period is less than the gesture cancel timer period;

f1. determining if the resullts of step f is greater than a gesture cancel timer reset time and ending the method if the result is less than the gesture cancel timer reset time or performing the following steps if the result is greater than the reset time;

f2. determining whether a timer reset has been scheduled per step d;

f3. subtracting the time stamp of the current point from the time stamp of the last motion point;

f4. subtracting the results of step f3 from the gesture cancel timer period;

f5. restarting a gesture cancel timer using the results of step f4;

f6. recording the time stamp as the last gesture timer restart time whereby the system automatically cancels unwanted gestures and prevents anomalous signals as inputs to the system.

3. A computer product for registering an input device operable by a user and executable on a pen-based computer system to enter a gesture into the system, the system having a memory, a processors, gesture cancel timer and a display coupled to a system bus comprising:

a. program code stored in the memory and defining an alterable gesture mode for the computer system;

b. means for establishing in the system an alterable motion zone for any input device used by a user;

c. means for detection of the input device from a defined motion zone assigned to the device;

c. means for detection of cessation of motion of the input device; and

d. means for cancelling the gesture when the gesture cancel timer means exceeds a preselected time period or the input device for the gesture is different from the input device that started the gesture.

4. The computer product of claim 3 wherein the area of the motion zone defines the movement of an input device and can be set by the user.

5. The computer product of claim 3 wherein the gesture cancel timer means can be set by the user.

6. A computer product for registering an input device operable by a user and executable on a pen-based computer system to enter a gesture into the system, the system having a memory, a processor, a gesture cancel timer, a point counter, a stroke counter and a display coupled to a system bus comprising:

a. program code stored in the memory for preventing anomalous inputs to the system;

b. means for detection of an excessive number of strokes in a multi stroke gesture;

c. means for detection of an excessive number of coordinates in the display accompanying a gesture;

d. means for detection of a change in the input device used by a user in making the gesture; and

e. means for cancelling the gesture in the event that any or all of the means in elements b, c and d are activated.

7. A pen-based computer system for registering an input device to enter gestures into the system, the system having a memory, a processor, a gesture cancel timer, a proximity timer a point counter, a stroke counter and a display coupled to a system bus

a. program code stored in the memory for recognizing and translating a gesture onto the display;

b. means for canceling an input of the gesture after non use of the input device for a preselected time period or the gesture has a motion which exceeds a motion configuration defined and stored in the memory;

c. means for counting the number of strokes in the gesture and canceling the gesture if the number of strokes exceeds a maximum number;

d. means for counting the number of points in gesture and canceling the gesture if the number of points exceeds a maximum number; and

e. means for canceling a gesture as an input if different input devices are used to enter the gesture into the system whereby the system automatically cancels unwanted gestures and prevents anomalous signals as inputs to the system.

8. A computer based pen system having a memory, a processor, and a display coupled to a system bus for operating an input device to enter a gesture into the system comprising:

a. program code stored in the memory for preventing anomalous input to the system;

b. means for detection of an excessive number of strokes in a multi stroke gesture;

c. means for detection of an excessive number of coordinates in the display for the gesture entered into the system;

d. means for detection of a change in the input device used by a user in entering the gesture into the system; and

e. means for cancelling the gesture entered into the system in the event that any or all of the means in elements b, c and d are activated;

whereby the system automatically cancels unwanted gestures and prevents anomalous signals as inputs to the system.