Method of providing a user interface

Abstract

A method of providing a user interface for controlling a system includes observing a presence of a body or body part of a user in a certain environment of a device. At least a perceptible part of the user interface is made available to the user in association with a particular functionality for interacting with the system controlled by the user interface in dependence on a rate of displacement of the body or body part of the user observed in the certain environment.

1 . A method of providing a user interface for controlling a system, including the acts of:
 observing a presence of a body or body part of a user in an environment of a device;   making a perceptible part of the user interface available to the user in association with a particular functionality for interacting with the system controlled by the user interface based on a location at which the body or body part of the user is observed to be present in the environment and a rate of displacement of the body or body part of the user observed in the environment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of hiding remaining parts of the user interface, the remaining parts being parts other than the perceptible part made available to the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of providing on the user interface a selected control associated with a selected action based on an approach speed of the body or the body part of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the acts of:
 providing on the user interface a first control associated with a first action when an approach speed of the body or the body part of the user is greater than a threshold value; and   providing on the user interface a second control associated with a second action different from the first action when an approach speed of the body or the body part of the user is less than or equal to the threshold value.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of changing a state of availability of at least an element of the user interface in response to a change in the rate of displacement of the body or body part of the user observed in the environment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of adjusting at least part of a configuration of the user interface at a rate dependent on the rate of displacement of the body or body part of the user observed in the environment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a device for providing a visible output, and wherein the method further comprises the act of providing a signal to configure the visible output to the device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the act of detecting at least one of presence at and approach to a part of the device providing a visible output, wherein the part corresponds to an element of the visible output. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the act of adjusting a state of visibility of at least an element of the visible output associated with a particular functionality at a rate determined by the rate of displacement of the body or body part of the user observed in the environment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the act of gradually transitioning the user interface to full visibility. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the observing act observes the presence of the body or the body part of the user indirectly by determining a presence of a tag held or warn by the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rate of displacement of the body or the body part of the user is speed of approach of the body or the body part of the user towards the device, wherein the making act provides on the user interface a first control associated with a first action; and wherein the method further comprises the act of fading the first control at a rate that depends from the speed of approach of the body or the body part of the user towards the device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the observing act is performed continuously to detect presence, distance and direction of movement of the body or the body part of the user within a predetermined periphery of the device. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a signal processing component configured to process at least one signal from an observation component for observing a presence of a body or body part of a user in an environment of a device; and   a control component configured to make a perceptible part of a user interface available to the user in association with a particular functionality for interacting with the system controlled by the user interface based on a location at which the body or body part of the user is observed to be present in the environment and a rate of displacement of the body or body part of the user observed in the environment.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control component is further configured to hide remaining parts of the user interface, the remaining parts being parts other than the perceptible part made available to the use. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control component is further configured to provide on the user interface a selected control associated with a selected action based on an approach speed of the body or the body part of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control component is further configured to:
 provide on the user interface a first control associated with a first action when an approach speed of the body or the body part of the user is greater than a threshold value; and   provide on the user interface a second control associated with a second action different from the first action when an approach speed of the body or the body part of the user is less than or equal to the threshold value.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control component is further configured to observe the presence of the body or the body part of the user indirectly by determining a presence of a tag held or warn by the user. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the rate of displacement of the body or the body part of the user is speed of approach of the body or the body part of the user towards the device, and wherein the control component is further configured to provide on the user interface a first control associated with a first action and to fade the first control at a rate that depends from the speed of approach of the body or the body part of the user towards the device. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to perform the acts of:
 observing a presence of a body or body part of a user in an environment of a device;   making a perceptible part of the user interface available to the user in association with a particular functionality for interacting with the system controlled by the user interface based on a location at which the body or body part of the user is observed to be present in the environment and a rate of displacement of the body or body part of the user observed in the environment.