Facilitating Interaction between Users and their Environments Using a Headset having Input Mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016124707-A1
Application number	US-201514690422-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A headset is described herein for presenting audio information to the user as the user interacts with a space, e.g., as when a user navigates over a route within a space. The headset may include a set of input mechanisms for receiving commands from the user. The commands, in turn, invoke respective space-interaction-related functions to be performed by a space interaction (SI) module. The headset may operate with or without a separate user computing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for assisting a user in interacting with a space, comprising:
a headset for presenting audio information to the user as the user interacts with the space, the headset having at least:
a set of input mechanisms for receiving commands from the user,
the command invoking respective space-interaction-related functions to be performed by a space interaction module.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the headset uses a bone conducting mechanism to deliver the audio information to the user.

3 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one command instructs the space interaction module to start a listening mode, wherein, in the listening mode, the space interaction module receives instructions that are verbalized by the user.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one command instructs the space interaction module to stop delivering the audio information.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one command instructs the space interaction module to repeat one or more prior-delivered items of audio information.

6 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one command instructs the space interaction module to start an explore mode, wherein, in the explore mode, the space interaction module provides information regarding a set of items of interest that are associated with a subspace to which attention of the user is currently directed.

7 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one command instructs the space interaction module to start an orientation mode, wherein, in the orientation mode, the space interaction module provides information regarding a set of items of interest that are associated with an entire space around the user, at a current time.

8 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one command instructs the space interaction module to perform a more-information function, wherein the space interaction module performs the more-information function by providing additional information regarding a topic associated with a previously delivered items of interest.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one input mechanism can invoke plural functions depending on a manner in which a user interacts with the input mechanism.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the space interaction module is implemented by the headset.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the headset further includes one or more of:
a headset orientation determination mechanism for determining an orientation of the headset, to provide headset orientation information; a headset motion determination mechanism for determining a movement of the headset, to provide headset movement information; and/or a headset position determination mechanism for determining a position of the headset, to provide headset position information.

12 . The system of claim 11 ,
wherein the system further comprises at least one user computing device, the user computing device providing a display output mechanism for displaying information pertaining to interaction, by the user, with the space, wherein the user computing device implements at least part of functionality associated with the space interaction module, and wherein the headset includes a first communication mechanism for communicating with the user computing device, and the user computing device includes a second communication mechanism for communicating with the headset.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the user computing device is configured to perform processing based on the headset orientation information and/or the headset movement information and/or the headset position information to generate a result, and to forward the result to the headset.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the user computing device further includes:
a device orientation determination mechanism for determining an orientation of the user computing device, to provide device orientation information; a device motion determination mechanism for determining a movement of the user computing device, to provide device movement information; and/or a device position determination mechanism for determining a position of the user computing device, to provide device position information.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the headset is configured to perform functions based on the device orientation information and/or the device movement information and/or the device position information, as supplied by the user computing device, when counterpart information is not available from the headset.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least the headset and/or the user computing device is configured to receive information and/or to use functionality provided by an external computing device.

17 . A method, implemented by a system, for assisting a user in interacting with a space, comprising:
receiving an instruction based on actuation, by the user, of at least one input mechanism that is coupled to a headset; performing a function based on the instruction, to provide an output result; and based on the output result, delivering audio information, via the headset, which assists the user in interacting with the space.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said performing of the function entails performing the function using a space interaction module that is implemented, at least in part, by the headset.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said performing of the function entails performing the function using a space interaction module that is implemented, at least in part, by a separate user computing device which is communicatively coupled to the headset.

20 . A headset, comprising:
an audio output mechanism for presenting audio information that assists a user as the user interacts with a space; a set of input mechanisms for receiving commands from the user, the commands invoking respective space-interaction-related functions to be performed by a space interaction module, wherein at least one command instructs the space interaction module to start an explore mode, wherein, in the explore mode, the space interaction module provides information regarding a set of items of interest that are associated with a subspace to which attention of the user is currently directed, wherein at least one other command instructs the space interaction module to start an orientation mode, and wherein, in the orientation mode, the space interaction module provides information regarding a set of items of interest that are associated with an entire space around the user, at a current time.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Ermilov Andrei Stefan
• Cotier Bradley Neville
• Doroftei Catalin Nicolae
• Chaaban Hani Nabil
• Chudge Jarnail Singh
• Farmer Matthew Robin
• Parker Michael James Belfield
• Salandin Oscar James Francis
• Wilcox Robert John

Classifications

• G01S5/0295

  Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title

• G06F16/24575

  using context · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title