Patent Publication Number: US-2011074540-A1

Title: Control system and method for interface of electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a control system and a control method for interfaces of an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     At present, a desktop picture of an electronic device, such as a computer, is fixed until a user inputs instructions to change it, which is inconvenient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a control system for interfaces of an electronic device. 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  are flowcharts of an embodiment of a control method for interfaces of an electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a control system  100  for controlling interfaces of an electronic device  200 , such as a computer, is disclosed. The electronic device  200  includes a display device  300 . An exemplary embodiment of the control system  100  includes a detecting module  110 , an image capture module  120 , an identifying module  130 , a storage module  140 , a timing module  150 , and a control module  160 . In one embodiment, the detecting module  110  is an infrared face detecting apparatus. The image capture module  120  is a camera. 
     The timing module  150  records time according to a timing signal. The storage module  140  stores human face images, facial expression images, desktop pictures, and special media files. The special media files may include, for example, image files, music files etc. The detecting module  110  detects whether a face of a user is within a determined range. If the face of the user is not within the determined range, the detecting module  110  outputs a first timing signal to the timing module  150  for recording the time. When time of the first timing signal reaches a preset time, the detecting module  110  further detects whether the face of the user is within the determined range. If the face of the user is now within the determined range, the detecting module  110  outputs an image signal to the image capture module  120  for capturing a face image of the user, and sends the face image to the identifying module  130 . The identifying module  130  compares the received face image of the user with the stored human face images in the storage module  140 , to identify the age of the user, and outputs an identifying result to the control module  160 . The control module  160  reads a corresponding desktop picture from the storage module  140  according to the identify result to be displayed on the display device  300 . 
     The image capture module  120  also captures an expression image of the user and sends the expression image to the identifying module  130 , and outputs a second timing signal to the timing module  150  for recording time. The identifying module  130  compares the received expression image of the user with the stored facial expression image in the storage module  140 , to identify the expression of the user, and outputs a control signal to the control module  160 , to read a corresponding special media file from the storage module  140 . When time of the second timing signal reaches a preset time, the control module  160  stops execution of the special media file. If the detecting module  110  detects the face of the user is still within the determined range, the image capture module  120  captures an expression image of the user again and sends the expression image to the identifying module  130 . The control module  160  reads a corresponding special media file from the storage module  140  according to the expression image of the user. 
     In use, when the detecting module  110  detects the face of the user is within the determined range, the identifying module  130  compares the received face image from the image capture module  120  with the stored human face images in the storage module  140 . If the user is, for example, a child, the control module  160  reads a desktop picture for children, such as a desktop picture of a cartoon character, from the storage module  140  to be displayed on the display device  300 . If the user is old, such as a senior citizen, the control module  160  reads a desktop picture for seniors, such as a simple form and character magnified desktop picture, from the storage module  140  to be displayed on the display device  300 . At the same time, the image capture module  120  captures the expression image of the user and sends the expression image to the identifying module  130 , and outputs the second timing signal to the timing module  150  for recording time. When the expression of the user is depressed, the control module  160  reads a special media file from the storage module  140 , for example, play soft music to relax the user. When time of the second timing signal reaches a preset time, the control module  160  stops playing the music. If the face of the user is still within the determined range, the image capture module  130  captures an expression image of the user again and sends the expression image to the identifying module  130 . When the expression of the user is, for example, glad, the control module  160  reads a special media file from the storage module  140 , for example, a favorite pet performing a trick to keep the user glad. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , an exemplary embodiment of a control method for interfaces of an electronic device includes the following steps. 
     In step S 1 , start up the control system  100  for interfaces of the electronic device. 
     In step S 2 , the detecting module  110  detects whether the face of the user is within a determined range, if the face of the user is not within the determined range, the procedure goes to step S 3 , if the face of the user is within the determined range, the procedure goes to step S 4 . 
     In step S 3 , the detecting module  110  outputs a first timing signal to the timing module  150  for recording time, when time of the first timing signal reaches a preset time, the procedure goes to step S 2 . 
     In step S 4 , the image capture module  120  captures a face image of the user and outputs the face image to the identifying module  130 . 
     In step S 5 , the identifying module  130  compares the received face image with the stored human face images in the storage module  140 , to identify the age of the user, and outputs an identifying result to the control module  160 . 
     In step S 6 , the control module  160  reads a corresponding desktop picture from the storage module  140  according to the identifying result to be displayed on the display device  300 . 
     In step S 7 , the image capture module  120  captures an expression image of the user and outputs the expression image to the identifying module  130 , and outputs a second timing signal to the timing module  150  for recording time. 
     In step S 8 , the identifying module  130  compares the received expression image with the stored facial expression images in the storage module  140 , to identify the expression of the user. 
     In step S 9 , the control module  160  reads and displays a corresponding special media file from the storage module  140  according to the expression of the user. 
     In step S 10 , the detecting module  110  detects whether the face of the user is still within the determined range, if the face of the user is still within the determined range, the procedure goes back to step S 7 , if the face of the user is not within the determined range, the procedure goes back to step S 3 . 
     The control system  100  can identify the age of the user and display a corresponding desktop picture on the display device  300  according to the age of the user through the identifying module  130 . The identifying module  130  outputs a control signal to the control module  160 , to read a corresponding special media file according to the facial expression of the user from the image capture module  120 . The control system  100  can automatically replace desktop pictures according to different users. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternately embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.