System and Method for Converting Input from Alternate Input Devices

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering alternate user input between an alternate input device and an output device, the output device configured to receive input from a conventional input device, the output device not configured to receive input from the alternate input device, the apparatus including an input interconversion processor that receives the alternate user input from the alternate input device, a processing pipeline that converts the alternate user input to a conventional user input of a type normally received by the output device from the conventional input device, and an output port that transmits the conventional user input.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for enabling a user to an output system where at least one aspect of the output system is desired to be controlled by a given user action via a given plurality of input devices and is not otherwise configured to be controlled by the user action via the plurality of input devices, the apparatus comprising:
 a. one or more wired or wireless input ports configured to receive input device signals conveying data pertaining to user actions from the plurality of input devices;   b. a first interconversion logic configured convert the input device signals to converted input device signals having a data format compatible with a modular, reconfigurable signal processing pipeline;   c. the modular, reconfigurable signal processing pipeline configurable via the configuration API to apply transformations and routing to the one or more normalized route one or more of the converted input device signals and generating one or more normalized output through at least one API-selected first signal transformation to create one or more transformed signals, then route the one or more transformed signals to one or more API-selected aspects of the output system, thus creating one or more pre-output signals, wherein:   d. a second interconversion logic configured to de-normalize the one or more de-normalized transformed output convert the one or more pre-output signals to one or more output signals having a data format suitable to control the one or more API-selected aspects of the output system;   e. one or more wired or wireless output ports configured to transmit the one or more output signals to the output system;   f. a configuration API; and   g. a user interface for interacting with the configuration API.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the user is undergoing therapy or rehabilitation, and wherein the desired user action is an action that would be beneficial for the user to perform for the purposes of therapy or rehabilitation. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the plurality of input devices comprises one or more of a mouse, a keyboard, a game controller, a foot pedal, a VR gesture controller, a custom-designed gesture controller, a sip-and-puff device, a wheelchair joystick, a microphone, a mobile device, a stretch band, a pressure mat, a passive resistance exercise device, and a force-assistive resistance exercise device. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the output system comprises one or more of a personal computer, a mobile device, a game console, a media player, a remote-controlled toy, a set-top box, a light bulb, a door lock, a car alarm, a home appliance, and a personal assistant. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the output system comprises one or more of an application running on a personal computer, a phone, and a tablet. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein an aspect being controlled of the output system comprises one or more of XY movement of a mouse cursor, navigation of a phone or tablet, navigation of a video game character, navigation of a remote controlled vehicle, menu navigation on a set-top box, on or off state on a home appliance, and navigation within a mobile device application. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein one or more supplementary user actions are configured for enhanced control of the output system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the supplementary user actions are button presses on a game controller. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein one or more supplementary actions are configured for a second user, such as a therapist, assistant, caretaker, or family member of the first user, for secondary control of the output system. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein one or more signals originating from the second user's activity are configured to override one or more signals originating from the first user's activity. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein one or more signals originating from the second user's activity are configured to combine with one or more signals originating from the first user's activity according to a specified combination function. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the second user's actions induces haptic feedback in one or more devices being used by the first user. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the first user's actions induces haptic feedback in one or more devices being used by the second user. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the system is periodically reconfigured to adjust the difficulty of controlling the output system via the desired user action. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the difficulty adjustments are performed via the user interface. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the difficulty adjustments are generated from feedback from the output system. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the difficulty adjustments are generated from progress along a therapy or rehabilitation regimen. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the user interface includes user-specific data pertaining to a therapy or rehabilitation regimen. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the input devices, output system, system configuration and therapy or rehabilitation regimen details are stored in a persistent data storage format. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein user activity and system state is captured and stored in a persistent data storage format.