Patent Abstract:
A supplemental surface area allows gesture recognition on outer surfaces of mobile devices. Inputs may be made without visual observance of display devices. Gesture control on outer surfaces permits socially acceptable, inconspicuous interactions without overt manipulation.

Full Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its attachments contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Touch sensors are common in electronic displays. Many mobile smartphones and tablet computers, for example, have a touch screen for making inputs. A user&#39;s finger touches a display, and a touch sensor detects the input. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features, aspects, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are simplified schematics illustrating an environment in which exemplary embodiments may be implemented; 
         FIG. 3  is a more detailed block diagram illustrating the operating environment, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIGS. 4-5  are schematics illustrating a gesture detector, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIGS. 6-7  are circuit schematics illustrating a piezoelectric transducer, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIGS. 8-11  are more schematics illustrating the gesture detector, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIGS. 12-14  are schematics illustrating a learning mode of operation, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded component view of an electronic device, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic illustrating contactless, three-dimensional gestures, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 17-19  are schematics illustrating output sampling, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIGS. 20A and 20B  are schematics illustrating a protective case, according to exemplary embodiments; and 
         FIGS. 21-22  are schematics illustrating other operating environments for additional aspects of the exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the exemplary embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). 
     Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating the exemplary embodiments. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first device could be termed a second device, and, similarly, a second device could be termed a first device without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are simplified schematics illustrating an environment in which exemplary embodiments may be implemented.  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an electronic device  20  that accepts touches, swipes, and other physical gestures as inputs. The electronic device  20 , for simplicity, is illustrated as a mobile smartphone  22 , but the electronic device  20  may be any processor-controlled device (as later paragraphs will explain). Regardless,  FIG. 1  illustrates a front side  24  of the electronic device  20 , with body  26  housing the components within the electronic device  20 . A display device  28 , for example, displays icons, messages, and other content to a user of the electronic device  20 . The display device  28  interfaces with a processor  30 . The processor  30  executes instructions that are stored in a memory  32 . The electronic device  20  may also include a touch sensor  34 . The touch sensor  34  is conventionally installed on or above a front face of the display device  28 . The touch sensor  34  detects the user&#39;s physical inputs above the display device  28 . The display device  28  generates visual output in response to instructions from the processor  30 , and the touch sensor  34  generates an output in response to the user&#39;s physical inputs, as is known. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a backside  40  of the electronic device  20 . Here the body  26  includes a gesture detector  42 . The gesture detector  42  detects physical gestures that are made on an outer surface  44  of the body  26 . The user may make gestures on the outer surface  44  of the body  26 , and the processor  30  interprets those gestures to control the electronic device  20 . The user&#39;s fingers, for example, may contact the body  26  and make a swiping motion on the outer surface  44 . The processor  30  interprets the swiping motion to execute some command, such as transitioning to a different display screen, answering a call, capturing a photo, or any other action. The user may also tap the outer surface  44  of the body  26  to select icons, web pages, or other options displayed on the display device (illustrated as reference numeral  28  in  FIG. 1 ). Indeed, the user may associate any gesture to any action, as later paragraphs will explain. 
     Exemplary embodiments thus greatly increase input area. Conventional electronic devices limit gesture detection to the display device  28  (i.e., the touch sensor  34  above the display device  28 , as  FIG. 1  illustrated). Exemplary embodiments, instead, recognize inputs over any portion of the body  26 . The user&#39;s fingers may draw shapes across the body  26  of the electronic device  20 , and those shapes may be recognized and executed. Exemplary embodiments thus permit inputs without having to visually observe the display device  28 . The user may make gesture inputs without observing the display device  28  and, indeed, without holding the electronic device  20  in the hand. For example, when the smartphone  22  is carried in a pocket, the user may still make gesture inputs, without removing the smartphone  22 . The gesture detector  42  recognizes simple taps and swipes, more complex geometric shapes, and even alphanumeric characters. Because the electronic device  20  need not be held, exemplary embodiments permit socially acceptable interactions in situations without overtly holding and manipulating the display device  28 . Exemplary embodiments thus permit inconspicuous interaction in a variety of environments, using the entire body  26  as an input surface. 
       FIG. 3  is a more detailed block diagram illustrating the operating environment, according to exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 3  illustrates the electronic device  20 , the processor  30 , and the memory  32 . The processor  30  may be a microprocessor (“μP”), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other component that executes a gesture algorithm  50  stored in the memory  32 . The gesture algorithm  50  includes instructions, code, and/or programs that cause the processor  30  to interpret any gesture input sensed by the gesture detector  42 . When the user draws and/or taps a gesture on the outer surface of the body (illustrated, respectively, as reference numerals  44  and  26  in  FIGS. 1-2 ), the gesture detector  42  generates an output signal  52 . The processor  30  receives the output signal  52  and queries a database  54  of gestures.  FIG. 3  illustrates the database  54  of gestures as a table  56  that is locally stored in the memory  32  of the electronic device  20 . The database  54  of gestures, however, may be remotely stored and queried from any location in a communications network. Regardless, the database  54  of gestures maps, associates, or relates different output signals  52  to their corresponding commands  58 . The processor  30  compares the output signal  52  to the entries stored in the database  54  of gestures. Should a match be found, the processor  30  retrieves the corresponding command  58 . The processor  30  then executes the command  58  in response to the output signal  52 , which is generated by the gesture detector  42  in response to the user&#39;s gesture input. 
       FIG. 4  is another schematic illustrating the gesture detector  42 , according to exemplary embodiments. While the gesture detector  42  may be any device, the gesture detector  42  is preferably a piezoelectric transducer  70 . The gesture detector  42  may thus utilize the piezoelectric effect to respond to vibration  72  sensed in, on, or around the body  26 . As the user draws and/or taps the gesture  74  on the outer surface  44  of the body  26 , vibration waves travel through or along the outer surface  44  of the body  26 . The piezoelectric transducer  70  senses the vibration  72 . The piezoelectric effect causes piezoelectric transducer  70  to generate the output signal (illustrated as reference numeral  52  in  FIG. 3 ), in response to the vibration  72 . Exemplary embodiments then execute the corresponding command (illustrated as reference numeral  58  in  FIG. 3 ), as earlier paragraphs explained. 
     The gesture detector  42  may even respond to sound waves. As the gesture detector  42  may utilize the piezoelectric effect, the gesture detector  42  may sense the vibration  72  due to both mechanical waves and acoustic waves. As those of ordinary skill in the art understand, the vibration  72  may be generated by sound waves propagating along the body  26  and/or incident on the piezoelectric transducer  70 . Sound waves may thus also excite the piezoelectric transducer  70 . So, whether the user taps, draws, or even speaks, the gesture detector  42  may respond by generating the output signal  52 . Indeed, the piezoelectric transducer  70  may respond to the vibration  72  caused by the user&#39;s physical and audible inputs. The gesture detector  42  may thus generate the output signal  52  in response to any mechanical and/or acoustic wave. 
       FIG. 5  is another schematic illustrating the gesture detector  42 , according to exemplary embodiments. Here the gesture detector  42  may respond to electrical charges  80  on or in the body  26  of the electronic device  20 . As the user draws the gesture  74  on surface  44  of the body  26 , electrical charges  80  may build on or within the body  26 .  FIG. 5  grossly enlarges the electrical charges  80  for clarity of illustration. Regardless, the electrical charges  80  may cause an electric field  82 , which may also excite the piezoelectric transducer  70 . So, the gesture detector  42  may also generate the output signal (illustrated as reference numeral  52  in  FIG. 3 ) in response to the electric field  82 . The gesture detector  42  may thus also respond to the electric charges  80  induced on the body  26 . 
       FIGS. 6-7  are modeling circuit schematics illustrating the piezoelectric transducer  70 , according to exemplary embodiments. Because the gesture detector  42  may utilize the piezoelectric effect, the gesture detector  42  may sense mechanical waves, acoustic waves, and the electrical charge (illustrated as reference numeral  80  in  FIG. 5 ). The piezoelectric transducer  70  responds by generating the output signal  52 . The output signal  52  may be voltage or charge, depending on construction of the piezoelectric transducer  70 .  FIG. 6 , for example, is a circuit schematic illustrating the piezoelectric transducer  70  modeled as a charge source with a shunt capacitor and resistor.  FIG. 7  illustrates the piezoelectric transducer  70  modeled as a voltage source with a series capacitor and resistor. The output voltage may vary from microvolts to hundreds of Volts, so some signal conditioning (e.g., analog-to-digital conversion and amplification) may be needed. 
       FIGS. 8-11  are more schematics illustrating the gesture detector  42 , according to exemplary embodiments. Because the gesture detector  42  responds to physical gestures, the gesture detector  42  may be installed at any position or location on or in the body  26 .  FIG. 8 , for example, illustrates the gesture detector  42  mounted to a central region  90  on the backside  40  of the electronic device  20 . As the backside  40  may present a large, supplemental gesture surface area  92  for inputting gestures, the gesture detector  42  may be disposed in or near the central region  90  to detect the vibration  72 .  FIG. 9 , though, illustrates the gesture detector  42  disposed in or near an end region  94  on the backside  40  of the electronic device  20 . The end region  94  may be preferred in some situations, such as when the body  26  includes an access door  96  to a battery compartment. A discontinuous gap  98  around the access door  96  may attenuate transmission of waves or conduction of charge, thus reducing or nullifying the output signal  52  produced by the gesture detector  42 . A designer may thus prefer to locate the gesture detector  42  in some region of the body  26  that adequately propagates waves or conducts charge. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate frontal orientations.  FIG. 10  illustrates the gesture detector  42  disposed on or proximate the front side  24  of the electronic device  20 . Even though the electronic device  20  may have the conventional touch sensor  34  detecting inputs above the display device  28 , any portion of the front side  24  of the body  26  may also be used for gesture inputs.  FIG. 11 , likewise, illustrates the gesture detector  42  located in a corner region of the body  26 . The gesture detector  42  may thus be installed at any location of the body  26  to detect the vibration  72  caused by gesture inputs. 
       FIGS. 12-14  are schematics illustrating a learning mode  100  of operation, according to exemplary embodiments. Wherever the gesture detector  42  is located, here the user trains the electronic device  20  to recognize particular gestures drawn on the body  26 . When the user wishes to store a gesture for later recognition, the user may first put the electronic device  20  into the learning mode  100  of operation.  FIG. 12 , for example, illustrates a graphical user interface or screen that is displayed during the learning mode  100  of operation. The user may be prompted  102  to draw a gesture somewhere on the body  26 , such as the supplemental gesture surface area (illustrated as reference numeral  92  in  FIG. 8 ). After the user inputs the desired gesture, the user may confirm completion  104  of the gesture. 
       FIG. 13  again illustrates the backside  40  of the electronic device  20 . Here the outer surface  44  of the backside  40  of the electronic device  20  is the supplemental gesture surface area  92 . The user performs any two-dimensional or even three-dimensional movement. As the gesture is drawn, the vibration  72  propagates through the body  26  as mechanical and/or acoustical waves. The gesture detector  42  senses the vibration  72  and generates the output signal  52 . The gesture detector  42  may also sense and respond to the electrical charges (as explained with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 ). The gesture algorithm  50  causes the electronic device  20  to read and store the output signal  52  in the memory  32 . Once the gesture is complete, the user selects the completion icon  104 , as  FIG. 12  illustrates. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a menu  110  of the commands  58 . The menu  110  is stored and retrieved from the memory (illustrated as reference numeral  32  in  FIG. 13 ). The menu  110  is processed for display by the display device  28 . Once the user confirms completion of the gesture, the user may then associate one of the commands  58  to the gesture. The menu  110  thus contains a selection of different commands  58  from which the user may choose.  FIG. 14  only illustrates a few popular commands  58 , but the menu  110  may be a much fuller listing. The user touches or selects the command  58  that she wishes to associate to the gesture (e.g., the output signal  52 ). Once the user makes her selection, the processor (illustrated as reference numeral  30  in  FIG. 13 ) adds a new entry to the database  54  of gestures. The database  54  of gestures is thus updated to associate the output signal  52  to the command  58  selected from the menu  110 . The user may thus continue drawing different gestures, and associating different commands, to populate the database  54  of gestures. 
     The database  54  of gestures may also be prepopulated. When the user purchases the electronic device  20 , a manufacturer or retailer may preload the database  54  of gestures. Gestures may be predefined to invoke or call commands, functions, or any other action. The user may then learn the predefined gestures, such as by viewing training tutorials. The user may also download entries or updates to the database  54  of gestures. A server, accessible from the Internet, may store predefined associations that are downloaded and stored to the memory  32 . 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded component view of the electronic device  20 , according to exemplary embodiments. The electronic device  20  is illustrated as the popular IPHONE® manufactured by Apple, Inc. The body  26  may have multiple parts or components, such as a bottom portion  120  mating with a central portion  122 . The display device  28  and the touch sensor  34  are illustrated as an assembled module that covers the central portion  122 . The body  26  houses a circuit board  124  having the processor  30 , the memory  32 , and many other components. A battery  126  provides electrical power.  FIG. 15  illustrates the gesture detector  42  integrated into the assembly, proximate the bottom portion  120  of the body  26 . This location may be advantageous for sensing vibration caused by gestures drawn on the outer surface  44 . The gesture detector  42  may have an interface to the circuit board  124 , such as a metallic strip or contact pad that conducts signals to/from the circuit board  124 . The interface may also be a physical cable that plugs into a socket in the circuit board  124 . Whatever the interface, the gesture detector  42  senses the vibration and/or the electrical charge (referred to above, and illustrated, as reference numerals  72  and  80 ) caused by gesture inputs on the body  26 . The gesture detector  42  produces the output signal (referred to above, and illustrated, as reference numeral  52 ) in response to the vibration  72 . The processor  30  analyzes the output signal  52  and executes the corresponding command  58 , as earlier paragraphs explained. 
     The body  26  may have any design and construction. The body  26 , for example, may have a two-piece clamshell design with mating upper and lower halves. The body  26 , however, may have any number of mating components that protect the internal circuit board  124 . The body  26  may have a rectangular access opening through which the display device  28  and the touch sensor  34  insert or protrude. The body  26 , in other words, may have an inner rectangular edge or wall that frames the display device  28  and/or the touch sensor  34 . The body  26  may be made of any material, such as metal, plastic, or wood. 
     Exemplary embodiments thus transform the backside  40 . Conventional smartphones fail to utilize the backside  40  for gesture inputs. Exemplary embodiments, in contradistinction, transform the outer surface  44  of the backside  40  into the supplemental surface area for gesture detection. Whatever the shape or size of the outer surface  44  of the body  26 , gestures may be input to execute the corresponding command  58 , as earlier paragraphs explained. While the gesture detector  42  may be disposed anywhere within the electronic device  20 , the gesture detector  42  is preferable proximate the supplemental gesture surface area. While the gesture detector  42  may be adhered to the outer surface  44  of the body  26 , the gesture detector  42  may be preferably adhered to an inner surface of the bottom portion  120  of the body  26  for added protection from physical damage. A glue or adhesive may simply and quickly adhere the gesture detector  42  to the body  26 . While any adhesive compound may be used, the adhesive may be chosen to minimize attenuation as the vibration  72  travels through the adhesive. However, the gesture detector  42  may alternatively be mechanically adhered, such as by fastener or weld. The gesture detector  42  may be soldered or welded to the body  26 , especially when the body  26  is constructed of aluminum, magnesium, stainless steel, or any other metal. The gesture detector  42  may be soldered, TIG welded, or MIG welded to the body  26 . Indeed, the body  26 , and the supplemental gesture surface area  92 , may be constructed of plastic, metal, wood, and/or any other material. 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic illustrating contactless, three-dimensional gestures, according to exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 16  again illustrates the user&#39;s fingers performing some gesture  74 . Here, though, the user&#39;s fingers need not contact the body  26 . That is, the user may make the three-dimensional gesture  74  in the vicinity of the gesture detector  42 . The three-dimensional gesture  74  may have motions or movements that do not come into contact with the body  26  of the electrical device  20 . When the user&#39;s fingers perform the gesture  74 , the gesture movements may cause air molecules to vibrate. The gesture detector  42  senses the vibrating air molecules and generates its output signal  52 . Moreover, the user&#39;s contactless gesture movements may also induce the electrical charges  80  in the air to build on the body  26 , thus also causing the gesture detector  42  to produce the output signal  52  (as explained with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 ). Exemplary embodiments may thus respond to both two-dimensional gestures drawn on the body  26  and to three-dimensional gestures having contactless movements. 
       FIG. 17-19  are schematics illustrating output sampling, according to exemplary embodiments. Whatever gesture the user performs, the gesture detector (illustrated as reference numeral  42  in  FIG. 16 ) generates the output signal  52 . The output signal  52  may be voltage or charge (current), depending on the circuit design (as explained with reference to  FIGS. 4-7 ). Regardless, the output signal  52  may have too much data for fast processing. For example,  FIG. 17  illustrates a graph of the output signal  52  for an exemplary gesture having a one second (1 sec.) duration. The output signal  52  is illustrated as being biased about a biasing voltage V B  (illustrated as reference numeral  130 ). Even though the gesture is only one second in duration, the output signal  52  may still contain too much data for quick processing. The processor  30 , in other words, may require more time that desired to process the output signal  52 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrates sampling of the output signal  52 . Exemplary embodiments may sample the output signal  52  to produce discrete data points  132  according to some sampling rate  134 . For mathematical simplicity, the sampling rate  134  is assumed to be 0.2 seconds, which may be adequate for human gestures. So, when the user performs the gesture having the one second duration, the output signal  52  may be sampled every 0.2 seconds to yield five (5) data points  132 . 
       FIG. 19  again illustrates the database  54  of gestures. Because the output signal  52  may be sampled, the database  54  of gestures need only store the discrete data points  132  sampled from the output signal  52 .  FIG. 19  thus illustrates each sampled output signal  52  as a collection or set of the discrete data points  132  for each output signal  52 . When the database  54  of gestures is queried, exemplary embodiments need only match the sampled values and not an entire, continuous voltage, charge, or current signal. The burden on the processor  30  is thus reduced, yielding a quicker response to the user&#39;s gesture input. 
       FIGS. 20A and 20B  are schematics illustrating a protective case  200 , according to exemplary embodiments. As many readers understand, many users of smartphones, tablet computers, and other mobile devices purchase the protective case  200 . The protective case  200  protects the electronic device  20  (such as the smartphone  22 ) from damage. However, the protective case  200  may also deaden or insulate the backside  40  from the user&#39;s gesture inputs. 
       FIG. 20A  thus illustrates the gesture detector  42 . Because the protective case  200  may limit access to the backside  40  of the electronic device  20 , the gesture detector  42  may be added to the protective case  200 .  FIG. 20A , for example, illustrates the gesture detector  42  adhered to an inner surface  202  of the protective case  200 . The user may thus make gestures on or near the protective case  200 , and the gesture detector  42  may still sense vibration and electrical charge (as explained above). The gesture detector  42  may still have the interface to the circuit board of the electronic device  20 , again such as a metallic contact or socket. 
     Exemplary embodiments may be applied to the automotive environment. An interior of a car or truck, for example, has many surfaces for mounting the gesture detector  42 . A center console, for example, may have a dedicated gesture surface for sensing the driver&#39;s gesture inputs. One or more of the piezoelectric transducers  70  may be affixed, mounted, or integrated into the gesture surface for sensing touch and other gesture-based inputs. An armrest and/or a steering wheel may also have an integrated gesture surface for sensing gesture inputs. As the driver (or passenger) gestures on or near the gesture surface, the piezoelectric transducer  70  senses the vibration  72  or the electric charge  80 , as earlier paragraphs explained. Because the piezoelectric transducer  70  senses vibration and electrical charge, the gesture detector  42  may be integrated into any surface of any material. 
     Exemplary embodiments may also be applied to jewelry and other adornment. As wearable devices become common, jewelry will evolve as a computing platform. An article of jewelry, for example, may be instrumented with the piezoelectric transducer  70 , thus enabling inputs across a surface of the jewelry. Moreover, as the piezoelectric transducer  70  may be small and adhesively adhered, exemplary embodiments may be applied or retrofitted to heirloom pieces and other existing jewelry, thus transforming older adornment to modern, digital usage. 
       FIG. 21  is a schematic illustrating still more exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 21  is a generic block diagram illustrating the gesture algorithm  50  operating within a processor-controlled device  300 . As the above paragraphs explained, the gesture algorithm  50  may operate in any processor-controlled device  300 .  FIG. 21 , then, illustrates the gesture algorithm  50  stored in a memory subsystem of the processor-controlled device  300 . One or more processors communicate with the memory subsystem and execute the gesture algorithm  50 . Because the processor-controlled device  300  illustrated in  FIG. 21  is well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, no detailed explanation is needed. 
       FIG. 22  depicts other possible operating environments for additional aspects of the exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 22  illustrates the gesture algorithm  50  operating within various other devices  400 .  FIG. 22 , for example, illustrates that the gesture algorithm  50  may entirely or partially operate within a set-top box (“STB”) ( 402 ), a personal/digital video recorder (PVR/DVR)  404 , a Global Positioning System (GPS) device  408 , an interactive television  410 , a tablet computer  412 , or any computer system, communications device, or processor-controlled device utilizing the processor  50  and/or a digital signal processor (DP/DSP)  414 . The device  400  may also include watches, radios, vehicle electronics, clocks, printers, gateways, mobile/implantable medical devices, and other apparatuses and systems. Because the architecture and operating principles of the various devices  400  are well known, the hardware and software componentry of the various devices  400  are not further shown and described. 
     Exemplary embodiments may be physically embodied on or in a computer-readable storage medium. This computer-readable medium may include CD-ROM, DVD, tape, cassette, floppy disk, memory card, and large-capacity disks. This computer-readable medium, or media, could be distributed to end-subscribers, licensees, and assignees. These types of computer-readable media, and other types not mention here but considered within the scope of the exemplary embodiments. A computer program product comprises processor-executable instructions for detecting gestures, as explained above. 
     While the exemplary embodiments have been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the exemplary embodiments are not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6