Methods and devices for identifying users based on tremor

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses hand tremor as an input. One or more sensors within the handheld device detect a user's hand tremor and identify the user based on the detected tremor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying a user of a handheld device comprising the steps of:
 detecting a hand tremor associated with a user holding said handheld device; and   identifying said user based on said detected hand tremor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 selectively turning on a system associated with said handheld device on based upon said step of identifying.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 restricting access to a system associated with said handheld device based upon an identity of said user.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said system is a media system and said step of restricting access further comprises the step of:
 selectively permitting said user to access a media item based upon said identifying step.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 determining an identity of said user by comparing a set of detected tremor features with a plurality of stored tremor classes.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said detected tremor features and said plurality of stored tremor classes are associated with frequency domain data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said detected tremor features and said plurality of stored tremor classes are associated with time domain data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein if a match does not occur between said detected tremor features and said plurality of stored tremor classes, then said detected tremor features are used to establish a new user identity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein if a match does not occur between said tremor features and said plurality of stored tremor classes, then said user is assigned a default set of system access permissions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 retrieving preference settings associated with said user in response to said identifying step.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium, capable of storing program instructions which, when executed perform the steps of:
 detecting a hand tremor associated with a user holding said handheld device; and   identifying said user based on said detected hand tremor.