Patent ID: 8788977
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: G01C,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of providing input to a virtual keyboard displayed on a portable computing device, comprising: obtaining a first image using an imaging element of the portable computing device, the first image including a facial feature of a user of the portable computing device; obtaining a second image using the imaging element, the second image including the facial feature of the user of the portable computing device; analyzing the obtained first image and second image, with the portable computing device, to determine a change in the position of the facial feature of the user with respect to the portable computing device; using the determined change, of the position of the facial feature with respect to the portable computing device, as input to perform a selection of one of a plurality of alphanumeric characters of the virtual keyboard, the selection corresponding to a position of a cursor configured to move in at least two degrees of freedom with respect to the virtual keyboard; altering information displayed within a graphical user interface including the virtual keyboard based at least in part on the determined change; in response to the selection, reducing a movement capability of the cursor with respect to the virtual keyboard by one degree of freedom such that the cursor is limited to being positioned with respect to a subset of the plurality of alphanumeric characters of the virtual keyboard corresponding to the reduced movement capability, the information displayed within the graphical user interface excluding a representation of either or both of the obtained first and second images; determining a subsequent change of the position of the facial feature with respect to the portable computing device, wherein the subsequent change, of the position of the facial feature with respect to the portable computing device, corresponds to the one degree of freedom by which the movement capability of the cursor is reduced; preventing use of data for the subsequent change, corresponding to the one degree of freedom, as input for performing a second selection using the cursor while the movement capability of the cursor is reduced; determining an additional change of the position of the facial feature with respect to the portable computing device after the selection is performed, wherein the additional change, of the position of the facial feature with respect to the portable computing device, is outside the one degree of freedom by which the movement capability of the cursor is reduced; and utilizing data for the additional change as input for performing the second selection using the cursor while the movement capability of the cursor is reduced by the one degree of freedom.