Method and system for selecting a user interface for a wearable computing device

• US 8,184,070 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Taubman, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US13/177,152
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/169, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• 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 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/02 Flexible displays

Abstract

Example methods and systems for selecting a user interface for a wearable computing device are disclosed. An accelerometer system may determine a user activity of a user wearing a wearable computing device. Based on the user activity determined by the accelerometer system, the wearable computing device may select a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

an accelerometer system determining a user activity of a user wearing a wearable computing device;

based on the user activity determined by the accelerometer system, selecting a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity;

wherein, if the user activity comprises traveling upstairs, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a top of a display screen of the wearable computing device; and

wherein, if the user activity comprises traveling downstairs, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a bottom of a display screen of the wearable computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined user activity is selected from the group consisting of standing, sitting, walking, running, traveling upstairs, and traveling downstairs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a visual user-interface setting appropriate for the determined user activity and an audio user-interface setting appropriate for the determined user activity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user activity comprises running, and wherein the user interface comprises a display of running-related statistics of the user.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the user activity comprises running, and wherein the user interface comprises a display with a visual density that is appropriate for running.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the visual density that is appropriate for running comprises a visual density that is less dense that a visual density that is appropriate for walking or sitting.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the wearable computing device storing a user-interface profile, wherein the user-interface profile comprises a plurality of user-interface settings for a plurality of user activities, in which each user-interface setting is customized for a specific user activity; and

wherein selecting a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity comprises selecting from the user-interface profile at least one user-interface setting that is customized for the determined user activity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the accelerometer system detecting a change in the user activity of the user from the determined user activity to a second user activity different from the determined user activity; and

responsive to detecting the change in the user activity of the user, selecting a second user interface based on the second user activity such that the second user interface is appropriate for the second user activity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer system comprises an accelerometer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the accelerometer system further comprises at least one of a gyroscope and compass.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer system is part of the wearable computing device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer system is mounted on the user separate from the wearable computing device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

instructions for determining a user activity of a user wearing a wearable computing device;

instructions for, based on the determined user activity, selecting a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity;

wherein, if the user activity comprises traveling upstairs, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a top of a display screen of the wearable computing device; and

wherein, if the user activity comprises traveling downstairs, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a bottom of a display screen of the wearable computing device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for detecting a change in the user activity of the user from the determined user activity to a second user activity; and

instructions for, responsive to detecting the change in the user activity of the user, selecting a second user interface based on the second user activity such that the second user interface is appropriate for the determined second user activity.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the determined user activity is selected from the group consisting of sitting, walking, running, traveling upstairs, and traveling downstairs.

16. A wearable computing system comprising:

a head-mounted display, wherein the head-mounted display is configured to display computer-generated information in accordance with a user interface and to allow visual perception of the physical world;

an accelerometer system configured to determine a user activity of a user wearing the head-mounted display; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to, based on the user activity determined by the accelerometer system, select the user interface for the head-mounted display such that the selected user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity;

wherein, if the user activity comprises traveling upstairs, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a top of a display screen of the head mounted display; and

wherein, if the user activity comprises traveling downstairs, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a bottom of a display screen of the head mounted display.

17. The wearable computing system of claim 16, wherein the determined user activity is selected from the group consisting of sitting, walking, running, traveling upstairs, and traveling downstairs.

18. The wearable computing system of claim 16, wherein the accelerometer system is in the head-mounted display.

19. The wearable computing system of claim 16, wherein the accelerometer system is mounted on the user separate from the head-mounted display.

20. The wearable computing system of claim 16, wherein the accelerometer system comprises at least one of a gyroscope and compass.

21. A method comprising:

an accelerometer system determining a user activity of a user wearing a wearable computing device;

based on the user activity determined by the accelerometer system, selecting a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity;

wherein, if the user activity comprises elevating at an angle, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a top of a display screen of the wearable computing device; and

wherein, if the user activity comprises descending at an angle, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a bottom of a display screen of the wearable computing device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the determined user activity is selected from the group consisting of standing, sitting, walking, running, traveling upstairs, traveling downstairs, traveling uphill, and traveling downhill.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a visual user-interface setting appropriate for the determined user activity and an audio user-interface setting appropriate for the determined user activity.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the user activity comprises running, and wherein the user interface comprises a display of running-related statistics of the user.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the user activity comprises running, and wherein the user interface comprises a display with a visual density that is appropriate for running.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the visual density that is appropriate for running comprises a visual density that is less dense that a visual density that is appropriate for walking or sitting.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the wearable computing device storing a user-interface profile, wherein the user-interface profile comprises a plurality of user-interface settings for a plurality of user activities, in which each user-interface setting is customized for a specific user activity; and

wherein selecting a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity comprises selecting from the user-interface profile at least one user-interface setting that is customized for the determined user activity.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the accelerometer system detecting a change in the user activity of the user from the determined user activity to a second user activity different from the determined user activity; and

responsive to detecting the change in the user activity of the user, selecting a second user interface based on the second user activity such that the second user interface is appropriate for the second user activity.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the accelerometer system comprises an accelerometer.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the accelerometer system further comprises at least one of a gyroscope and compass.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the accelerometer system is part of the wearable computing device.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the accelerometer system is mounted on the user separate from the wearable computing device.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein elevating at an angle comprises elevating at an angle between 10 and 80 degrees, and wherein descending at an angle comprises descending at an angle between 10 and 80 degrees.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

instructions for determining a user activity of a user wearing a wearable computing device;

instructions for, based on the determined user activity, selecting a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity;

wherein, if the user activity comprises elevating at an angle, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a top of a display screen of the wearable computing device; and

wherein, if the user activity comprises descending at an angle, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a bottom of a display screen of the wearable computing device.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for detecting a change in the user activity of the user from the determined user activity to a second user activity; and

instructions for, responsive to detecting the change in the user activity of the user, selecting a second user interface based on the second user activity such that the second user interface is appropriate for the determined second user activity.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the determined user activity is selected from the group consisting of sitting, walking, running, traveling upstairs, traveling downstairs, traveling uphill, and traveling downhill.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein elevating at an angle comprises elevating at an angle between 10 and 80 degrees, and wherein descending at an angle comprises descending at an angle between 10 and 80 degrees.

38. A wearable computing system comprising:

a head-mounted display, wherein the head-mounted display is configured to display computer-generated information in accordance with a user interface and to allow visual perception of the physical world;

an accelerometer system configured to determine a user activity of a user wearing the head-mounted display; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to, based on the user activity determined by the accelerometer system, select the user interface for the head-mounted display such that the selected user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity;

wherein, if the user activity comprises elevating at an angle, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a top of a display screen of the head mounted display; and

wherein, if the user activity comprises descending at an angle, the selected user interface comprises a display interface area where the display interface area is, compared to a standard display interface area, shifted towards a bottom of a display screen of the head mounted display.

39. The wearable computing system of claim 38, wherein the determined user activity is selected from the group consisting of sitting, walking, running, traveling upstairs, traveling downstairs, traveling uphill, and traveling downhill.

40. The wearable computing system of claim 38, wherein the accelerometer system is in the head-mounted display.

41. The wearable computing system of claim 38, wherein the accelerometer system is mounted on the user separate from the head-mounted display.

42. The wearable computing system of claim 38, wherein the accelerometer system comprises at least one of a gyroscope and compass.