Patent ID: 6304674
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A method adapted for use in a system for recognizing user specified gestures, the method comprising steps of:a) initiating a training mode of the system;b) specifying a gesture class to which a first single gesture belongs, a gesture class comprising at least one subclass of gestures;c) inputting the first gesture to the system;d) training a first sample Hidden Markov Model (HMM) on the first gesture, the first sample HMM being classified in the at least one subclass that belongs to the specified gesture class;e) inputting a subsequent gesture to the system, the subsequent gesture belonging to the specified gesture class;f) training a subsequent sample HMM on the subsequent gesture;g) comparing the subsequent sample HMM to a threshold HMM to determine therebetween a first distance;h) comparing the subsequent sample HMM to one of an HMM and HMMs of the at least one subclass belonging to the specified gesture class to determine therebetween one of a second distance and second distances;i) selecting a single HMM of the one of HMM and HMMs of the at least one subclass corresponding to a shortest second distance;j) merging the subsequent sample HMM with the selected single HMM if the first distance is greater than the second distance whereby the selected single HMM is modified;k) creating a new subclass, comprising the subsequent sample HMM, if the first distance is less than the shortest second distance; and,l) performing steps e) through k) for subsequent gestures belonging to the specified gesture class that are input to the system.