User interface selection based on user context

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10007335-B2
Application number	US-201514967399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2015
Priority date	Dec 14, 2015
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

Technologies are generally described to provide alternate user interfaces based on user context. In some examples, a user interface system may measure a user characteristic associated with a particular user interface type. The user interface system may then determine whether the measured user characteristic is suitable for use as a user interface input, for example by comparison with a baseline user characteristic. Upon determination that the measured user characteristic is suitable, the user interface system may use the measured user characteristic for user interface purposes. On the other hand, upon determination that the measured user characteristic is not suitable, the user interface system may use a different user interface type to attempt to receive user inputs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to activate alternative user interfaces based on user context, the method comprising:
measuring a user characteristic using a sensor;
determining a difference between the measured user characteristic and a baseline characteristic;
generating a user interface conclusion based on the determined difference;
activating a first user interface in response to determining that the user interface conclusion is normal; and
activating a second user interface in response to determining that the generated user interface conclusion is abnormal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user characteristic includes at least one of foot pressure, weight distribution, and a gait.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user interface includes a hand-based interface, and wherein the second user interface includes at least one of a voice-based interface and a foot-based interface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the user interface conclusion comprises generating the user interface conclusion based on the determined difference and an arm sensor measurement.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting the baseline characteristic prior to measuring the user characteristic.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the user interface conclusion comprises generating the user interface conclusion based on the determined difference and at least one of a location, a user preference, and a nearby device identifier.

7. A user interface system, comprising:
a sensor configured to measure a user characteristic;
a first user interface configured to receive user input of a first type;
a second user interface configured to receive user input of a second type; and
a controller coupled to the sensor, the first user interface, and the second user interface, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a user characteristic measurement from the sensor,
determine a difference between the user characteristic measurement and a baseline characteristic; and
based on the determined difference;
use the first user interface, to receive the user input of the first type, in response to a determination that the determined difference is less than a particular threshold; and
use the second user interface, to receive the user input of the second type in response to a determination that the determined difference is greater than the particular threshold.

8. The user interface system of claim 7 , wherein:
the sensor includes a plantar sensor; and
the user characteristic includes at least one of foot pressure, weight distribution, and a gait.

9. The user interface system of claim 7 , wherein the first user interface includes a hand-based interface, and wherein the second user interface includes at least one of a voice-based interface and a foot-based interface.

10. The user interface system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the difference based on at least one environmental parameter.

11. The user interface system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one environmental parameter includes at least one of a location, a user preference, and a nearby device identifier.

12. The user interface system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the baseline characteristic prior to the user characteristic measurement being received.

13. A user interface selection system, comprising:
a memory configured to store user characteristic baseline data;
a user context analysis module coupled to the memory and configured to:
receive a user characteristic measurement, wherein the user characteristic measurement is measured by a sensor;
determine a difference between the user characteristic measurement and the user characteristic baseline data; and
generate a user interface conclusion based on the determined difference; and

a user interface selection module coupled to the user context analysis module, wherein the user interface selection module is configured to:
receive the user interface conclusion; and
in response to a determination that the user interface conclusion is abnormal, at least one of:
ignore a first user input received from a first user interface; and
respond to a second user input received from a second user interface.

14. The user interface selection system of claim 3 , wherein the user characteristic measurement is associated with at least one of foot pressure, weight distribution, and a gait.

15. The user interface selection system of claim 13 , wherein the first user interface includes a hand-based interface, and wherein the second user interface includes at least one of a voice-based interface and a foot-based interface.

16. The user interface selection system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface selection module is further configured to, in response to a determination that the user interface conclusion is normal, respond to the first user input received from the first user interface.

17. The user interface selection system of claim 13 , wherein the user context analysis module is configured to generate the user interface conclusion based on at least one of an arm sensor measurement, a location, a user preference, and a nearby device identifier.

18. A user interface system, comprising:
a sensor configured to measure a user characteristic;
a first user interface configured to receive user input of a first type;
a second user interface configured to receive user input of a second type;
an arm sensor configured to provide an arm sensor measurement; and
a controller coupled to the sensor, the first user interface, and the second user interface, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a user characteristic measurement from the sensor;
determine, based on the arm sensor measurement, a difference between the user characteristic measurement and a baseline characteristic; and
based on the determined difference, use one of the first user interface and the second user interface to receive user input.

Assignees

• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Lee Hyoung-Gon

Classifications

• G06F2203/0381

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• G06F3/011 Primary

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title

• G06F3/167

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