System and Method for Sensory Based Media Control
An apparatus for sensory based media control is provided. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media device having a controller element to receive from a media controller a first instruction to select an object in accordance with a physical handling of the media controller, and a second instruction to control the identified object or perform a search on the object in accordance with touchless finger movements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
1 . A method for touchless searching, the method comprising the steps of:
recognizing touchless finger signs responsive to a request for acquiring touchless control of at least a portion of an application; and
controlling at least the portion of the application in accordance with the touchless finger signs.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is activated in response to a selection of an object in the application, or a positioning of a cursor over an object in the application.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application is at least one among a web site, a gaming application, a programming guide, a computer program, a word processing program, an email application, a media control panel, a file management program, and an electronic programming guide.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising computer instructions for scrolling a list in accordance with a first touchless finger sign and selecting an item in a list in accordance with a second touchless finger sign.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising computer instructions for searching for a media in the application using a recognized finger sign responsive to recognizing the finger sign.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising computer instructions for
selecting an object;
copying the object responsive to detecting a first touchless finger sign;
identifying an insertion point for the object; and
pasting the object at the insertion point responsive to detecting a second touchless finger sign.
7 . A media controller comprising
a tracking unit to detect a physical movement of the media controller and identify a component in an application;
a sensing unit to detect touchless finger movements associated with the media controller; and
a controller to control the component in the application in accordance with the touchless finger movements.
8 . The media controller of claim 7 , where
the tracking component moves a cursor in accordance with a physical handling of the media controller; and
the touchless sensing unit controls an action of the cursor in accordance with the touchless finger movements.
9 . The media controller of claim 7 , wherein the tracking component is an optical system, an opto-electric system, an acceleration detection system, a laser system, a track ball, a stick, or a touch-pad.
10 . The media controller of claim 7 , wherein the touchless sensing unit projects a touchless sensing space that is within a range of movement of an index finger when a user physically handles the media controller, and detects touchless finger signs for controlling a component action.
11 . The media controller of claim 7 , wherein the action is at least one among a touchless scrolling, a touchless selection, and a touchless finger signing of an alphabetic or numeric character.
12 . A media controller, comprising:
a sensing unit to capture touchless finger signs; and
a controller to recognize the touchless finger signs and control at least a portion of an application in accordance with the touchless finger signs.
13 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the media controller is a mouse, a remote control, a mobile device, or a game control.
14 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the controller controls a scrolling of a list in the application, a selection of an item in the list, a media control in the application, an object in the application, or a search operation in accordance with touchless finger signs.
15 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the application includes a list and the controller accesses items in the list in accordance with finger signs responsive to a selection of the list, wherein the list is at least one among a song list, an email list, a picture list, a message list, a contact list, a product list, a list of directories, and an address list.
16 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the application includes a media control panel and the controller adjusts at least one media control in accordance with the touchless finger signs responsive to a selection of the at least one media control.
17 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the finger sign is at least one among an alpha-numeric character, a clockwise circular movement, a counter-clockwise circular movement, an up/down movement, and a left/right movement.
18 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the controller recognizes a letter and scrolls through the list to items having a portion of a text description corresponding to the letter.
19 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the controller searches through a list in the application, changes channels, or adjusts a media control, in accordance with the touchless finger signs.
20 . The media controller of claim 12 , wherein the controller detects a movement of the media controller, selects an object in accordance with the movement, recognize at least one finger sign after the movement stops, and searches for a media in accordance with the at least one finger sign.