Actionable-object controller and data-entry device for touchscreen-based electronics

Abstract

Various systems, methods and apparatus are described, such as for engaging a touchscreen user interface. A first example includes a multi-function transceiver device having comprehensive and scalable mapping capabilities for use in a control environment. A second example includes a or the multi-function transceiver device being further equipped to perform specialized functions, such as Internet-based information-kiosk-type function(s). A third example includes a or the multi-function transceiver device, which may be Internet-connected, capable of being wirelessly and remotely controlled by a user via an app (e.g., via a teleoperation comprising a tablet, smartphone or mobile device (having said app)). A fourth example includes an apparatus performing one or a series of mechanical gestures (mechanical touch-induced control operations—such as single-touch, multi-touch, etc.) on a display screen and/or a user interface (UI). A fifth example includes technology that can turn any surface into touch-enabled controls for (wirelessly) controlling UIs, apps, etc. These are just some examples (as non-limiting embodiments).

I claim: 
     
         1 . A controller configuration for controlling one or more soft inputs on a capacitive touchscreen device, comprising:
 i) a controller positioned on a user's body and having at least a portion embedded with a capacitive touch-sensitive surface comprising a grid or lines of conductive threads, used to form conductive paths in a fabric construction or a nano-technology fabric construction, coupled to a sensing circuitry and configured such that it is responsive to manipulation by a touch applied thereto for making one or more control inputs; and   ii) a transceiver or a wireless intermediary device comprising: a processor; a battery; and/or the sensing circuitry;   wherein the control inputs are operably coupled with the intermediary device;   wherein the intermediary device is operably coupled with the touchscreen device;   wherein upon receiving the made control inputs, the intermediary device: converts the made control inputs to mapping actions effective to control the corresponding soft inputs; and wirelessly outputs to the touchscreen device the mapping actions effective to control the soft inputs, optionally with the help of a mobile app; and   wherein the conductive threads can thereby control the soft inputs from a distance.   
     
     
         2 . The controller configuration of  claim 1 , comprising one or more of the following:
 the touch-sensitive surface further comprising at least one of one or more: conductive polymers, polyanilines, conductive gels, conductive liquids, conductive wires, conductively coated or conductively treated materials, conductive foams, conductive fabrics having the electrically conductive threads, conductive filaments, conductive fibers, and conductive parts;   wherein the capacitive touchscreen device comprises a: notebook computer; netbook; monitor; television; smartphone; tablet; or wearable;   wherein the soft inputs are provided via a user interface;   wherein the controller is detachably positioned;   wherein the controller comprises a non-conductive thread portion and the conductive-thread portion;   wherein the transceiver device includes one or more wireless interfaces;   wherein the touch includes one or more of: touches; multi-touches; gestures; and multi-gestures;   wherein the fabric comprises a haptic fabric comprising a haptic actuator configured to provide a haptic feedback to the user in response to the touch inputs;   one or more force feedback servomechanisms; and   one or more force feedback actuators.   
     
     
         3 . The controller configuration of  claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive surface is constructed by forming an array of the conductive threads or strands, or of an insulated or shielded conductive thread, such that it is sensitive to one or more of: a location of a finger by sensing a change in capacitance; a pressure of the finger; a size of the finger; and a movement of the finger. 
     
     
         4 . The controller configuration of  claim 1 , wherein the controller and the transceiver are at least one of:
 wearable or part of a wearable; part of a wearable fabric comprising the plurality of conductive threads comprised of conductive fibers; portable; and unitary.   
     
     
         5 . A control system for controlling a user interface on a capacitive touchscreen device, comprising:
 a transceiver device(s) is operably coupled to one or more user made inputs;   the transceiver device is operably coupled to the touchscreen device;   wherein each of the operable couplings occur wirelessly;   wherein upon receiving the one or more user made inputs, the transceiver device is configured to: convert the one or more user made inputs to mapping actions effective to control the user interface of the touchscreen device; and output, over the wireless link with the touchscreen device, the mapping actions effective to control the user interface;   wherein the user interface comprises an internet-based and/or a mobile-app-based graphical user interface;   wherein the transceiver device is positioned at a first distance from the touchscreen device; and   wherein the user interface is controlled by the user inputs made at a second distance from the touchscreen device; and   wherein the transceiver device is further configured such that one or more of its transceiver device functions are controllable by a teloperation device comprising: a tablet, smartphone or mobile device and teloperation app.   
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more user made inputs comprise:
 one or more controllers having a touch-sensitive surface comprising a manipulable conductive material configured to respond to touch using a coupled sensing circuitry and used for controlling the user interface at the second distance from the touchscreen device.   
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more user made inputs comprise at least one of any of the following:
 conductive modalities, non-conductive modalities, nano-conductive modalities, nano-technology modalities, RFID modalities, NFC modalities, wave modalities, microwave modalities, radio modalities, radar modalities, infrared modalities, acoustic signals, acoustic inputs, kiosk-type inputs and outputs, respectively; vibration modalities, vibration-couplings, haptic modalities, pressure-based inputs, buttons, and serviceably interrupted conductive paths.   
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of: the one or more user made inputs are communicatively coupled to the transceiver device; the user made inputs are separately used to control a game; the transceiver device is portable; the transceiver device is configured to receive sensory inputs comprising an acoustic input and/or to provide acoustic sensory output to the user; the transceiver device is configured to manage and process Internet-based information-kiosk-type inputs and media control inputs for output to the user; a mobile device processor is wirelessly linked to the transceiver device; the user interface includes app-based control; and
 the user interface includes at least soft-touch controls comprising one or more of: functions of an/or the app, buttons, keys, icons or other graphical-representation control elements.   
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the transceiver device is an intermediary device configured to: receive data from the user making the input(s); and, using the radio/wireless communication interface, process and output respective data to the user via one or more available user interfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the transceiver device is configured to obtain the Internet access and further configured to control an Internet-based information-kiosk-type function enabling a method of providing an information response to the user requesting information, the method comprising:
 receiving a command from the user of the transceiver device;   analyzing the command;   generating, based on the analyzed command and information obtained from an internet source comprising the Internet access and the Internet-based information-kiosk-type function, the information response corresponding to the command; and   outputting the information response to the user corresponding to the command.   
     
     
         11 . A portable smart control device, comprising:
 a capability of the smart control device for performing an Internet-based information-kiosk-type function(s);   a housing;   one or more of: a keypad or plurality of keys configured to receive tactile input; an input interface configured to receive acoustic input; and a touch-sensitive surface that is integrated into the housing of the device and configured to receive gesture input;   one or more communication interfaces comprising a wireless transceiver configured to communicate over a wireless link shared with one or more electronic devices at least including either one or both of a portable touchscreen device and a stationary touchscreen device;   a processor configured to: convert the gesture input, the acoustic input, or the tactile input to mapping actions effective to control a user interface of the one or more electronic devices; and output, over the wireless link, the mapping actions effective to control the user interface of the one or more electronic devices; and   the smart control device is further configured such that one or more of its functions are controllable via teloperation comprising a tablet, smartphone or mobile device app(s).   
     
     
         12 . The smart control device of  claim 11 , further configured to enable a method of providing an information response to a user requesting information, the method comprising:
 receiving a command from the user of the smart control device;   analyzing the command;   generating, based on the analyzed command and information obtained from an internet source based on the capability, the information response corresponding to the command; and   outputting the information response to the user corresponding to the command.   
     
     
         13 . The smart control device of  claim 12 , wherein: the command is detected as the acoustic input of acoustic signals, and in addition to receiving the acoustic input signals from the command, the smart control device is further configured to output acoustic signals, or for providing sensory output to the user, namely for the outputting of the information response to the user for user consumption. 
     
     
         14 . The smart control device of  claim 13 , wherein the smart device is further configured to at least one of: play games upon receiving the acoustic input command(s) from the user; execute one or more media content applications to play media content as audio, music, video, or multimedia upon receiving the acoustic input command(s) from the user; and operably couple to at least one additional smart device.