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

• US 8,896,529 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US12/221,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,308 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-166, 345173-179, 715856-865
• US Class Current: 345/158
• 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. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

obtain context information for the apparatus, wherein the context information comprises a location, setting or environment within which the apparatus is currently disposed, wherein the context information comprises a predefined context, wherein obtaining the context information for the apparatus does not include sensing movement or orientation of the apparatus; and

in response to sensing a predefined movement associated with the predefined context, perform at least one predefined action, wherein the predefined movement comprises a movement of or in relation to the apparatus.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein obtaining the context information comprises at least one of determining a location of the apparatus and utilizing at least one sensor.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile phone.

4. A method comprising:

obtaining context information for an apparatus, wherein the context information comprises a location, setting or environment within which the apparatus is currently disposed, wherein the context information comprises a predefined context, wherein obtaining the context information for the apparatus does not include sensing movement or orientation of the apparatus; and

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

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein obtaining the context information comprises determining a location of the apparatus.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein obtaining the context information comprises utilizing at least one sensor.

7. A method as in claim 4, wherein the at least one predefined action comprises at least one of:

starting or stopping a clock on the apparatus, sending a predefined text message from the apparatus, taking a photograph with the apparatus, receiving an audio input at the apparatus, or recording an audio input by the apparatus.

16. A method as in claim 4, wherein obtaining the context information comprises at least one of:

determining that the apparatus is in a particular cradle or receptacle, utilizing a global positioning system, using a wireless network to determine device location, using a wireless network to triangulate device location, and using cell location within a wireless network.

17. A method as in claim 4, wherein obtaining the context information comprises using at least one of:

a thermal sensor, a resonance sensor, a magnetic sensor, a magnetic induction sensor, a radio frequency identification component, a Bluetooth®

component, and a short range wireless component.

18. A method as in claim 4, wherein obtaining the context information comprises utilizing a connection.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the connection comprises:

a serial port connection, a parallel port connection, a small computer system interface connection, a universal serial bus connection, or a firewire connection.

20. A method as in claim 4, wherein obtaining the context information comprises utilizing a component to which the apparatus is currently connected, wherein the component comprises a network element, an access node, a base station, an access point, a Node B, a router, a wireless access point, or a wireless router.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program of instructions executable by an apparatus for performing operations, said operations comprising:

obtaining context information for the apparatus, wherein the context information comprises a location, setting or environment within which the apparatus is currently disposed, wherein the context information comprises a predefined context, wherein obtaining the context information for the apparatus does not include sensing movement or orientation of the apparatus; and

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

9. A computer-readable medium as in claim 8, wherein obtaining the context information comprises determining a location of the apparatus.

10. A computer-readable medium as in claim 8, wherein obtaining the context information comprises utilizing at least one sensor.

11. A computer-readable medium as in claim 8, wherein the predefined action comprises at least one of:

starting or stopping a clock on the apparatus, sending a predefined text message from the apparatus, taking a photograph with the apparatus, receiving an audio input at the apparatus, or recording an audio input by the apparatus.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a context-sensing component configured to obtain context information comprising a predefined context, wherein the context information comprises a location, setting or environment within which the apparatus is currently disposed, wherein obtaining the context information for the apparatus does not include sensing movement or orientation of the apparatus;

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 at least one predefined action.

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

14. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the context-sensing component comprises at least one sensor.

15. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile device.