Computer User Interface System and Methods

Abstract

Systems and methods may provide user control of a computer system via one or more sensors. Also, systems and methods may provide automated response of a computer system to information acquired via one or more sensors. The sensor(s) may be configured to measure distance, depth proximity and/or presence. In particular, the sensor(s) may be configured to measure a relative location, distance, presence, movements and/or gestures of one or more users of the computer system. Thus, the systems and methods may provide a computer user interface based on measurements of distance, depth, proximity, presence and/or movements by one or more sensors. For example, various contexts and/or operations of the computer system, at the operating system level and/or the application level, may be controlled, automatically and/or at a user's direction, based on information acquired by the sensor(s).

1 . A computer system comprising:
 at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to gather information on a user within a vicinity of the computer system;   a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the user is within a predetermined distance from the computer system based on the information; and   a display screen, wherein the processor is configured to alter an appearance of information displayed on the display screen based on whether the user is within the predetermined distance from the computer system.   
     
     
         2 . The computer system defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one sensor comprises wireless communications circuitry and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect the user's wireless communication device with the wireless communications circuitry. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system defined in  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to enlarge the appearance of information displayed on the display screen in response to determining that the user is not within the predetermined distance from the computer system. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system defined in  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to remove at least some of the information from the display screen in response to determining that the user is not within the predetermined distance from the computer system. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system defined in  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to adjust a brightness of the display-screen based on whether the user is within the predetermined distance from the computer system. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system defined in  claim 1  further comprising an input device, wherein the computer system is operable in a first control mode and a second control mode, wherein the computer system is configured to receive user input via the input device in the first control mode, wherein the computer system is configured to receive user input via gesture detection in the second control mode, and wherein the processor is configured to transfer the computer system from the first control mode to the second control mode in response to determining that the user is not within the predetermined distance from the computer system. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system defined in  claim 6  wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors and wherein the plurality of sensor configured to detect a gesture from the user in the second control mode. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system defined in  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one operation based on the detected gesture and wherein the at least one operation is selected from the group consisting of: a scrolling operation, a selecting operation, and a zooming operation. 
     
     
         9 . A computer system, comprising:
 at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect when a single user is present and when multiple users are present; and   a processor, wherein the processor is configured to place the computer system in a private mode in response to the at least one sensor detecting that the single user is present and is configured to place the computer system in a public mode in response to the at least one sensor detecting that the multiple users are present.   
     
     
         10 . The computer system defined in  claim 9  wherein private content is displayed on the display screen during the private mode. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system defined in  claim 10  wherein the private content is not displayed on the display screen during the public mode. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system defined in  claim 11  wherein the processor is configured to disable an active application in response to the at least one sensor detecting that the multiple users are present. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system defined in  claim 9  wherein the at least one sensor is configured to determine when no users are present, wherein the processor is configured to place the computer in a non-use mode in response to the at least one sensor determining that no users are present, and wherein the non-use mode is selected from the group consisting of: a sleep mode, a hibernate mode, and a user logged out mode. 
     
     
         14 . A computer system, comprising:
 a display screen;   at least one sensor configured to receive user input from a user in a first user input mode and configured to gather proximity information from the user;   an input device coupled to the display screen, wherein the input device is configured to receive user input from the user in a second user input mode; and   a processor configured to switch the computer system between the first user input mode and the second user input mode based on the proximity information gathered by the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The computer system defined in  claim 14  wherein the input device comprises a mouse. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system defined in  claim 14  wherein the at least one sensor is selected from group consisting of: a light sensor, a vibration sensor, and an infrared sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system defined in  claim 14  wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors and wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to detect gestures from the user in the first user input mode. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system defined in  claim 14  wherein the at least one sensor is located in the display screen. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system defined in  claim 14  wherein the at least one sensor is located in the user input device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system defined in  claim 14  wherein the at least one sensor is separate from the display screen and is configured to communicate wirelessly with the processor.