Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120313854 | ADAPTABLE INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE - The present invention relates to an adaptable input/output device. One embodiment of a hardware device for facilitating an interaction between a computing system and a user, the hardware device includes an adaptable surface for supporting the interaction, where the adaptable surface is dynamically deformable under a control of the computing system, and one or more sensors, in communication with the computing system, for detecting a physical presence that is not in direct contact with the adaptable surface. The computing system is configured to cause a deformation of the adaptable surface in response to the physical presence. | 12-13-2012 |
20120313857 | ADAPTABLE INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE - The present invention relates to an adaptable input/output device. One embodiment of a hardware device for facilitating an interaction between a computing system and a user includes: an interaction surface for supporting the interaction, a single actuator capable of driving a first region of the interaction surface, and a first selective clamping mechanism capable of restricting movement of one or more second regions of the interaction surface that partly intersect the first region, wherein a displacement of one or more desired portions of the interaction surface is dynamically controllable. | 12-13-2012 |
20130215005 | METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE INTERACTION WITH A LEGACY SOFTWARE APPLICATION - Methods are disclosed to support adaptive interaction with legacy software applications, without a need for rewriting those applications. The methods are for use with an interactive electronic system including a processor, a display, and an input device with user-manipulated controls. When the legacy application is executed, a supplemental software program, such as a plugin, is also executed and is utilized in order to identify currently relevant interactive features of the legacy application during execution. Functionality is dynamically assigned to the various user-manipulated controls based on the identified features. In one embodiment, detection of objects (particularly the user's hands) proximate to the input controls is also employed in determining the assignment of functionality and/or in displaying a visual representation to the user of the available interactive choices. In another embodiment, the user-manipulated input controls are dynamically and physically reconfigured under control of the processor based on the identified features. | 08-22-2013 |
20130215038 | ADAPTABLE ACTUATED INPUT DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED PROXIMITY DETECTION - A hardware input device is disclosed in which at least two modes of manual user input can be provided within the same surface area of the device, including actuating or pressing multiple keys or buttons etc. as well as touch and/or gesturing by the user. A disclosed embodiment has actuated keys/buttons with associated sensors for detecting actuation; a second set of sensors for detecting proximity e.g. of a user's extremities is co-located on the input device. In one embodiment, infrared sensors for proximity detection are integrated with the traditional plastic keys/buttons of a computer keyboard or other personal electronics device. In some embodiments, the elevation of actuated input elements can be controlled by a processor, so that the physical configuration of keys/buttons available to the user can be dynamically reconfigured under program control. Methods are disclosed for using the input device to facilitate a heads-up style of interaction. | 08-22-2013 |
20130307764 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR ADAPTING THE PRESENTATION OF USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS BASED ON A CONTEXTUAL USER MODEL - A method, apparatus, and system for adapting the presentation of user interface elements based on a contextual user model includes using passive interaction data, such as gaze-tracking inputs and/or certain proximity inputs, to determine an aspect of the user's current interaction context (e.g., the user's current focus of attention or current hand position). User interface elements may be changed or relocated based on the user's current interaction context. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311411 | Device, Method and System for Monitoring, Predicting, and Accelerating Interactions with a Computing Device - A device, method and system for monitoring, predicting, and accelerating interactions with a computing device includes determining a current interaction context at a computing device based on interactions occurring at the computing device, predicting a number of potential subsequent interactions, speculatively executing at least some of the potential subsequent interactions, and presenting interactive representations of the speculatively-executed interactions at the computing device. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311508 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING CROSS-APPLICATION SEARCHING AND RETRIEVAL OF CONTENT USING A CONTEXTUAL USER MODEL - A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating cross-application searching and retrieval of computer-stored content using a contextual user model includes using passive and/or active interaction data to formulate a user-specific search query. In some embodiments, inferences relating to the user's current interaction context may be used to automatically retrieve relevant information for the user. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311924 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR MODELING PASSIVE AND ACTIVE USER INTERACTIONS WITH A COMPUTER SYSTEM - A method, apparatus, and system for modeling user interactions with a computer system associates semantic descriptions of passive and active user interactions, which are meaningful at a user level, with application events and user interaction data as a user interacts with one or multiple software applications with a computing device, and uses those associations to build and maintain a user-specific contextual model. In some embodiments, the contextual models of multiple users are leveraged to form one or more collective contextual user models. Such models are useful in many different applications. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311925 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR MODELING INTERACTIONS OF A GROUP OF USERS WITH A COMPUTING SYSTEM - A method, apparatus, and system for modeling interactions of a group of users with a computing system includes monitoring passive and active interaction data of multiple users and discovering common interests among the users based on the interaction data. Collective contextual user models may be dynamically formed based on the common interests. Such models have many useful applications that can benefit the group or the individual members of the group. | 11-21-2013 |
20140052680 | Method, System and Device for Inferring a Mobile User's Current Context and Proactively Providing Assistance - A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context. | 02-20-2014 |
20140052681 | Method, System and Device for Inferring a Mobile User's Current Context and Proactively Providing Assistance - A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context. | 02-20-2014 |