Gesture based user interface

Abstract

A gesture based user interface includes a movement monitor configured to monitor a user's hand and to provide a signal based on movements of the hand. A processor is configured to provide at least one interface state in which a cursor is confined to movement within a single dimension region responsive to the signal from the movement monitor, and to actuate different commands responsive to the signal from the movement monitor and the location of the cursor in the single dimension region.

1 . A gesture based user interface, comprising:
 a movement monitor configured to monitor a user's hand and to provide a signal based on movements of the hand;   a display; and   a processor configured to move a cursor responsive to the signal from the movement monitor, within a predetermined region on the display, formed of a plurality of sub-regions associated with respective control commands, and to provide the commands to a controlled application responsively to the movements of the hand,   wherein the sub-regions include at least one quick-access sub-region, for which the processor provides the command associated with the sub-region responsively to entrance of the cursor into the quick-access sub-region without additional user hand movements, and at least one regular sub-region, for which the processor provides the command associated with the sub-region responsively to identifying a predetermined hand gesture while the cursor is in the sub-region.   
     
     
         2 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined region comprises a single-dimensional region. 
     
     
         3 . The user interface of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined region comprises a horizontal bar. 
     
     
         4 . The user interface of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to define two quick-access sub-regions, one on each end of the single-dimensional region. 
     
     
         5 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined region is a convex region. 
     
     
         6 . The user interface of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined region does not include gaps between the sub-regions associated with respective control commands. 
     
     
         7 . The user interface of  claim 5 , wherein the first sub-regions are on the edges of the region. 
     
     
         8 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to ignore downward components of movements of the hand. 
     
     
         9 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the quick-access sub-regions are located within the predetermined region such that downward movements do not lead to a quick-access sub-region. 
     
     
         10 . A gesture based user interface, comprising:
 a movement monitor configured to monitor a user's hand and to provide a signal based on movements of the hand;   a display; and   a processor configured to move a cursor responsive to the signal from the movement monitor, within a predetermined region on the display, formed of a plurality of sub-regions associated with respective control commands, and to provide the commands to a controlled application responsively to the movements of the hand,   wherein the processor is configured to ignore downward movements in controlling the cursor.   
     
     
         11 . The user interface of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to entirely ignore downward movements. 
     
     
         12 . A method of receiving user input, comprising:
 identifying movements of the hand of a user;   moving a cursor within a predetermined region, formed of a plurality of sub-regions associated with respective control commands, by a processor, responsive to the identified movements; and   actuating a control command associated with a sub-region in which the cursor is located,   wherein the sub-regions include at least one quick-access sub-region for which the associated command is actuated responsive to entrance of the cursor into the quick-access sub-region without requiring additional user hand movements and at least one regular sub-region, for which the associated command is actuated responsive to identifying a predetermined hand gesture while the cursor is in the sub-region.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined hand gesture comprises an upward gesture. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving the cursor within the predetermined region comprises moving along a single-dimensional region. 
     
     
         15 . A computer software product, comprising a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to:
 identify movements of a user;   move a cursor within a predetermined region, formed of a plurality of sub-regions associated with respective control commands, responsive to the identified movements; and   actuate a control command associated with a sub-region in which the cursor is located,   wherein the sub-regions include at least one quick-access sub-region for which the associated command is actuated responsive to entrance of the cursor into the quick-access sub-region without requiring additional user hand movements and at least one regular sub-region, for which the associated command is actuated responsive to identifying a predetermined hand gesture while the cursor is in the sub-region.   
     
     
         16 . A gesture based user interface, comprising:
 a movement monitor configured to monitor a user's hand and to provide a signal based on movements of the hand;   a display; and   a processor configured to provide at least one interface state in which a cursor is confined to movement within a single dimension region responsive to the signal from the movement monitor, and to actuate different commands responsive to the signal from the movement monitor and the location of the cursor in the single dimension region.   
     
     
         17 . The user interface of  claim 16 , wherein the single-dimensional region comprises a horizontal bar in which the cursor is confined only to right and left movements. 
     
     
         18 . The user interface of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to allow the cursor to exit the single-dimensional region from a predetermined sub-region of the single-dimensional region. 
     
     
         19 . The user interface of  claim 16 , wherein the single-dimensional region covers less than 10% of the display. 
     
     
         20 . The user interface of  claim 16 , wherein the single-dimensional region comprises a plurality of adjacent sub-regions associated with different values of a single parameter.