Pointing device and cursor for use in intelligent computing environments

Abstract

A system and process for directing a laser beam within a space is presented. The system includes a pointing device which periodically outputs orientation data indicative of the direction it is pointing and a cursor device which projects a laser beam. The orientation data is used to compute the direction the pointing device is pointing in terms of yaw and pitch angles. The laser beam is directed to locations in the space relative to the amount of movement of the pointing device. In an absolute mode, the pointed device and the laser beam of the cursor device are pointed at the same location in the space, whereas in a relative mode, the pointing device does not point at the same location as the laser beam. The position of the laser can be used to select a variety of hardware devices known to be in a room for future control actions.

1 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for directing a laser beam within a space to act as a cursor or laser pointer, said computer-executable instructions comprising: 
 receiving movement control commands generated by a movement control device each of which specifies the direction the laser beam is to be pointed, and    directing a laser beam generated by a cursor device to move about the space as specified by the movement control commands, wherein the laser beam movement varies between a fast motion mode and a slow motion mode depending on the current speed of the laser beam.    
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction for directing a laser beam, comprises sub-instructions for: 
 (a) initially operating in the fast motion mode wherein the movement control commands are averaged over a first shorter prescribed period of time;    (b) periodically determining if the average speed of the laser beam has fallen below a prescribed slow speed threshold;    (c) whenever it is determined that the average speed of the laser beam has fallen below the prescribed slow speed threshold, switching from the fast motion mode to the slow motion mode wherein the movement control commands are averaged over a second longer prescribed period of time;    (d) periodically determining if the average speed of the laser beam goes above a prescribed fast speed threshold;    (e) whenever it is determined that the average speed of the laser beam goes above the prescribed fast speed threshold, switching from the slow motion mode to the fast motion mode;    (f) repeating actions (b) through (e) for as long as the laser beam is directed to act as a cursor.    
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the fast speed threshold is set much higher than the slower speed threshold to prevent frequent shifts in the speed modes.  
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the movement control commands are averaged over approximately 2.5 seconds in the slow motion mode.  
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the movement control commands are averaged over approximately 0.3 seconds in the fast motion mode.  
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the prescribed fast speed threshold is set at approximately 0.5 radians per second.  
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the prescribed slow speed threshold is set at approximately 0.05 radians per second.  
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction for receiving movement control commands generated by a movement control device, comprises a sub-module for receiving movement control commands generated by at least one of (i) a computer mouse, (ii) a trackball device, and (iii) a gamepad device.  
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction for receiving movement control commands generated by a movement control device, comprises a sub-module for receiving movement control commands generated by a pointing device in the form of periodically output orientation data indicative of the direction it is pointing, and wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a further instruction for computing the direction the pointing device is pointing from the received orientation data, and wherein the instruction for directing a laser beam generated by a cursor device to move about the space as specified by the movement control commands comprises a sub-instruction for directing the laser beam to a location in the space based on the direction the pointing device is pointing.