Method and apparatus for selecting information in multi-dimensional space

Abstract

Method and apparatus for selecting information in a multi-dimensional space are provided. The method includes the steps of sensing the motion of a user intending to select information, and determining whether the sensed motion is an effective motion intended for information selection and returning to the sensing step if it is determined that the motion is not the effective one. Accordingly, difficulty in setting a predetermined threshold to a single value can be overcome. In addition, even a very slight motion can be accurately detected without being influenced by gravity and offsets. Moreover, it can be accurately determined whether a user's two- or three-dimensional motion is an effective motion for selecting information and which motion unit among at least two motion units has generated the effective motion, so that a high correct recognition rate for information and high reliability can be achieved, and a user is allowed to easily select information.

1 . A method of selecting information in a multi-dimensional space, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) sensing the motion of a user for information selection;    (b) determining, using the amount of the sensed motion, whether the sensed motion is an effective motion of the intended information selection and returning to step (a) if it is determined that the motion is not the effective motion; and    (c) determining whether the amount of the sensed motion exceeds a predetermined amount after step (a) and going to step (b) if it is determined that the amount of the motion does not exceed the predetermined amount.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of converting the result of sensing from an analog form into a digital one after step (a) and going to step (b), wherein step (b) comprises determining whether the motion is the effective motion based on the result of conversion.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of (d) if it is determined that the motion is the effective motion in step (b), determining the information selected by the effective motion as effective information.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises visually sensing the motion.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the motion is a three-dimensional motion.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the motion is a two-dimensional motion.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information selection implies pointing the information.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information selection denotes inputting the information.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for selecting information in a multi-dimensional space, the apparatus comprising: 
 at least one motion unit moved by a user intending to select information;    at least one sensing unit for sensing the motion of the motion unit and outputting the result of sensing;    at least one effective signal detection unit for checking whether the motion of the motion unit is an effective motion intending to select the information based on the result of sensing and outputting the result of checking as an effective signal;    a motion amount detection unit for detecting the amount of the motion from the result of sensing; and    a first comparator for comparing the amount of the motion received from the motion amount detection unit with a predetermined amount and outputting the result of comparison,    wherein the effective signal detection unit checks whether the motion of the motion unit is the effective motion in response to the result of comparison performed the first comparator.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the sensing result from an analog form into a digital form and outputting the result of conversion to the effective signal detection unit, 
 wherein the effective signal detection unit checks whether the motion of the motion unit is the effective motion based on the result of conversion.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the analog-to-digital converter converts the result of sensing from the analog form into the digital form in response to the result of comparison performed by the first comparator.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an effective information determination unit for determining information selected by the motion as effective information in response to the effective signal received from the effective signal detection unit.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sensing unit visually senses the motion of the motion unit.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the motion unit is moved by the user in a three-dimensional space.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the motion unit is moved by the user in a two-dimensional space.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the selection of the information implies pointing the information.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the selection of the information denotes inputting the information.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the motion unit is attached to a predetermined body part of the user and moved by the user.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the user points the information by moving the motion unit.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the user determines input of the information by moving the motion unit.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined body part is at least one hand.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the motion corresponds to a third joint of a finger.