Patent Description:
Data processing apparatuses having a small form-factor are become increasingly popular. For example, wearable devices such as wireless earphones, earbuds and smartwatches are now relatively common. Other examples include apparatuses associated with the so-called Internet-of-Things (IoT. ) The small form-factor of such apparatuses means that it can be difficult to control different types of functionality in the same way that, for example, larger touch screen devices can offer.

For example, a Bluetooth earbud may only have sufficient surface area for a single physical control button. This limits the different types of functionality that might be applicable to the earbud. The user may have to resort to their associated media player to manually select or control different applications and the different types of functionality on the different applications, which is cumbersome.

<CIT> describes a mechanism for utilizing multiple reconfigurable hover sensing arrays to detect the 3D location of an object with respect to a capacitive panel is disclosed. The multiple reconfigurable hover sensing arrays may change size and shape by integrating multiple capacitive sensor electrodes. The distance to an object relative to the capacitive panel may be determined by applying a distance formula to capacitive signals detected by the reconfigurable hover sensing arrays. In addition, a user interaction interface that may change the shape of the identifier of the interface corresponding to the detected 3D movement of the object is also disclosed.

<CIT> describes an interactive video window display system. A projector projects a visual image. A screen displays the visual image, wherein the projector projects the visual image onto a back side of the screen for presentation to a user on a front side of the screen, and wherein the screen is adjacent to a window. An illuminator illuminates an object on a front side of the window. A camera detects interaction of an illuminated object with the visual image, wherein the screen is at least partially transparent to light detectable by the camera, allowing the camera to detect the illuminated object through the screen. A computer system directs the projector to change the visual image in response to the interaction. The projector, the camera, the illuminator, and the computer system are located on the same side of the window.

<CIT> describes a computing device that may include a video input interface and video output interface to allow insertion into a video system. The device may be configured to perform passthrough operation on the incoming video, allowing the incoming signal to appear at the output interface. When overlay video operations are desired, the device may resize the incoming video, generate one or more additional overlays, and generate a modified version of the incoming video signal, where the modified version contains the one or more additional overlays along with (if desired) the original video. The device may have data network connections, and can thereby serve as an easy way, for example, to upgrade an existing video system with network and/or interactive features.

<CIT> describes a system that includes a sensor configured to detect a gesture and transmit an associated sensor signal. The gesture includes a first position at a distance from a surface and a second position contacting the surface. The system also includes a processor in communication with the sensor and configured to: receive the sensor signal from the sensor, and determine one or more haptic effects based at least in part on the sensor signal. The one or more haptic effects are configured to provide substantially continuous haptic feedback throughout the gesture. The processor is also configured to generate one or more haptic signals based at least in part on the one or more haptic effects, and transmit the one or more haptic signals. The system includes a haptic output device for receiving the one or more haptic signals and outputting the one or more haptic effects.

A first aspect provides an apparatus, comprising: means for receiving data indicative of a detected user gesture at a location which is remote from a data processing terminal; means for identifying a first application from a plurality of applications based on the distance of the detected user gesture being within a first distance range from the data processing terminal, wherein the plurality of applications are associated with different distance ranges from the data processing terminal; and means for causing performance of one of a plurality of functions of the first application based on the user gesture, wherein in the event that a predetermined gesture moves from the first distance range, into a different distance range, a data transfer function is performed between the associated applications.

The apparatus may further comprise: means for detecting another remote user gesture at a distance within a second range from the data processing terminal; means for identifying a second application, different from the first application, based on the distance being within the second range; and means for causing performance of one of a plurality of functions of the second application based on the user gesture.

The different distance ranges may be substantially non-overlapping.

The means for causing performance of the one of said plurality of functions may be arranged to identify a type of the detected user gesture and determine which of a plurality of predetermined functions associated with the identified application correspond to said identified gesture type, which determined function is then caused to be performed.

In the event that a predetermined gesture corresponds to a sharing function, a data transfer function may be performed between the associated application and an application associated with another data processing terminal in proximity.

The association between different ones of the plurality of applications and the different distance ranges may be updated dynamically. The association may be dynamically updated by assigning to a predetermined one of the different distance ranges the most frequently and/or recently used application. The predetermined one of the different distance ranges may be that which is closest to the data processing terminal.

The apparatus may be a data processing terminal. For example, the apparatus may be a wearable data processing terminal. The apparatus may comprises one of an earphone, headphones and watch. For example, where the apparatus is an earphone or headphone, they may be further configured to issue an audio notification to confirm the function and/or related parameters of the function.

The means for causing performance of the function may be arranged to issue a corresponding instruction to a further data terminal to which the wearable data processing terminal is proximate.

The means for detecting the user gesture may be by means of capacitive sensing using one or more capacitive sensors of the data processing terminal. An array of sensors may be used in some cases.

Another aspect provides a method comprising: receiving data indicative of a detected user gesture at a location which is remote from a data processing terminal; identifying a first application from a plurality of applications based on the distance of the detected user gesture being within a first distance range from the data processing terminal, wherein the plurality of applications are associated with different distance ranges from the data processing terminal; and causing performance of one of a plurality of functions of the first application based on the user gesture, wherein in the event that a predetermined gesture moves from the first distance range into a different distance range, a data transfer function is performed between the associated applications.

Another aspect provides a computer-readable medium comprising computer program code stored thereon, the computer readable medium and computer program code being configured to, when run on at least one processor: to receive data indicative of a detected user gesture at a location which is remote from a data processing terminal; to identify a first application from a plurality of applications based on the distance of the detected user gesture being within a first distance range from the data processing terminal, wherein the plurality of applications are associated with different distance ranges from the data processing terminal; and to cause performance of one of a plurality of functions of the first application based on the user gesture, wherein in the event that a predetermined gesture moves from the first distance range into a different distance range, a data transfer function is performed between the associated applications.

Embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Embodiments herein relate to methods and systems for gesture control of a data processing apparatus or terminal, which may be a wearable data processing terminal or indeed any other type of data processing terminal, which typically but not exclusively will be portable and/or wireless.

For example, embodiments may relate to methods and systems for gesture control of a wearable data processing terminal such as one or more of earphones, earbuds, headphones or other forms of wearable audio terminal comprising a speaker for placement adjacent one or more user's ears. For example, an embodiment described later on relates to a wireless earbud which may communicate with an associated other terminal such as a media player, smartphone or tablet computer. The method of communication may be wireless, e.g. using Bluetooth or a similar wireless protocol.

For example, in other embodiments, the wearable data processing terminal may be a limb-worn device such as a smartwatch or similar. Similarly, the smartwatch may be in communication with an associated other terminal such as a media player, smartphone or tablet computer. The method of communication may be wireless, e.g. using Bluetooth or a similar wireless protocol.

The use and popularity of such wearable data processing terminals continues to grow. They provide a convenient manner of accessing one or more applications, and functionality associated with such applications, particularly if the user is travelling or involved in physical activity, for example.

Such applications may comprise one or more of a music or another audio-playing application, a health monitoring application, a voice call application, a text or multimedia communications application, a speech-recognition application, a podcast application and so on.

For the avoidance of doubt, an application in the context of this disclosure comprises any computer program or computer program type providing a distinct group of functions, such as a music application, a health monitoring application, a voice telephony application, a text or multimedia messaging application, a speech-recognition application, a podcasting application, etc. The term may therefore be considered broader than referring to a specific software application. For example, in some embodiments, there may be two distinct software applications providing music, but they may have common music playing functionality such as enable, disable, play, pause, stop, rewind, forward, next track, previous track, volume up, volume down etc..

In some embodiments, the wearable apparatus may comprise a processor and memory providing one or more applications, such as those mentioned above. In other embodiments, the wearable apparatus may communicate wirelessly with another data processing apparatus, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, which provides the aforementioned applications and functionality, the output from which is relayed back to the wearable apparatus. In this case, the wearable apparatus is in signal communication with the other data processing apparatus.

A problem with certain data processing terminals, particularly but not exclusively wearable terminals, is that they have a small form factor. This limits how users may interact with the data processing terminal or another data processing apparatus with which it is in signal communication. For example, there may be limited space for buttons or switches to be able to input commands for the various types of functions that may be associated with the different applications. It is generally not practicable to have touch screens on such data processing terminals due to their size and the additional expense.

Furthermore, it is difficult to switch between different applications. For example, a user listening to music may wish to interact with a health monitoring application to measure heart rate at a current time. This ordinarily requires the user to get out their mobile phone or tablet computer, close or minimise to background the music application and open the health monitoring application manually.

The use of voice commands for interaction with such data processing terminals is disadvantageous due to background noise and interference, and its potential to disturb others.

Accordingly, embodiments herein relate to the detection and interpretation of physical user gestures made remotely from the data processing terminal; that is gestures which do not touch the data processing terminal.

Such gestures may be detected using capacitive coupling, which is a known technology. In some embodiments, a single capacitive sensor may be provided in or on the data processing terminal. In other embodiments, an array comprised of a plurality of capacitive sensors may be provided, for determining more accurately the spatial location of user gestures relative to the data processing terminal.

In overview, embodiments involve assigning or associating applications to respective distance ranges relative to the data processing terminal. Typically, the distance ranges are non-overlapping, so that a first range (e.g. that nearest to the data processing terminal) is associated with a first application and another range (e.g. beyond the first range) is associated with a different application. In some embodiments, the ranges may overlap, as will be briefly mentioned later on.

Particular gestures made within said ranges are further associated with corresponding functionality for those applications, and hence a distinction can be made between a first gesture made in the first range, a second gesture made in the first range, a first gesture made in a second range and a second gesture made in the second range, and so on. This means that the user can control multiple different applications with multiple different functions based on what gesture they make and where, relative to the data processing terminal. Further, the user does not necessarily need to manually switch between different applications. The methods and systems provide a more intuitive way of interacting with applications.

In some embodiments, the associations between distance ranges and applications are predefined, which can be factory set, or performed by the user and/or updated by the user.

The associations may be fixed or they may change dynamically.

For example, the associations may be updated dynamically so that a particular application which has been used most recently is associated with a particular distance range, for example that which is closest to the data processing terminal. In other embodiments, the particular application which has been used most frequently, for example over a predetermined time range, may be associated with the particular distance range. Other rules may be applied.

In some embodiments, where the data processing terminal emits audio, for example if it is an earbud or a set of headphones, a detected gesture may cause audio confirmation of the associated function currently selected, e.g. "playing audio" or "monitoring heart rate. " In some embodiments, a confirmation of which range an expected gesture is within may be provided. For example, if a user's hand is within a second range, then prior to detecting any particular gesture, an audio confirmation of the application may be produced, e.g. "music player. " This prevents accidental control of the incorrect application, which may be particularly useful if dynamic updating is used.

Referring to <FIG>, for example, a wireless earbud <NUM> is shown comprising a body <NUM> and a flexible tip <NUM> for insertion into a human ear. The body <NUM> comprises a system to be explained below, including a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for communication with an associated media player, smartphone or tablet computer. The transceiver may be a Bluetooth transceiver, for example. The earbud <NUM> further comprises within the body <NUM> a capacitive sensor <NUM> which forms part of the system for sensing user gestures in proximity to the sensor; it will be appreciated that the sensor will produce a signal indicative of the distance of the user gesture from the sensor, and hence the earbud, and also a gesture type.

For example, the gesture type may be a tap gesture, comprising a sharp movement of the finger in mid-air. Another gesture type may be a swiping gesture, comprising of a smooth movement in mid-air. A distinction may be made between horizontal and vertical swipes. Other gesture types may comprise one or more of flicking, arcuate, circular or pointing gestures, for example. The use of different numbers of fingers or other parts of the body may relate to other gestures, which may be distinguished from one another. For example a tap gesture made with two fingers may be distinguished over a tap gesture made with one finger.

More accurate gesture recognition may be achieved using multiple capacitive sensors, which may be arranged in an array within or on the earbud <NUM>. These permit a more volumetric sensing of distance and gesture type.

In the shown example, a user's hand <NUM> is represented in proximity to the earbud <NUM>, but remote therefrom. The user's hand <NUM> represents a gesture.

In accordance with embodiments herein, the detected distance from the earbud <NUM> determines which application the gesture relates to, based on one or more distance ranges (hereafter "ranges. ") A first range is indicated by reference numeral <NUM>, defining a first zone which may be omnidirectional around the earbud <NUM>, or it may be segmented around the earbud. A second, non-overlapping range is indicated by reference numeral <NUM>, defining a second, non-overlapping zone which may be omnidirectional around the earbud <NUM>, or it may be segmented. The gesture <NUM> is shown in the first range <NUM>, and hence the system of the earbud <NUM> will identify that this gesture relates to a first application. The type of gesture will determine what function is controlled. A gesture made in the second range <NUM> will be identified as relating to another application and, again, the type of gesture will determine what function is controlled of the other application.

A third range <NUM> is shown merely to indicate that any number of zones may be provided, at least within a distance that can be reliably sensed by the capacitive sensor <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the sensor <NUM> senses gestures made in a limited volumetric space, i.e. not omnidirectional. For example, the sensor <NUM> may be configured to only sense gestures made within a predetermined cone-shaped volume extending outwards from the body <NUM> and away from the tip <NUM>. Alternatively, the sensor <NUM> may be configured to only sense gestures substantially along a particular axis or segmented region of the surrounding area. For example, it may be undesirable to sense the region directly beneath the earbud <NUM> where the user's body will be.

<FIG> shows another embodiment which is a smartwatch <NUM>. The smartwatch <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM> in which the system of the embodiments is housed, and may comprise a crown <NUM> which houses a capacitive sensor. In some embodiments, the crown <NUM> may be omitted in which case the sensor is housed within the main body <NUM>. In a manner similar to the <FIG> embodiment, capacitive sensing is employed to detect gestures made within two or more respective zones <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to determine an application which the gesture relates to, and to determine the function performed by the gesture. Here, a form of virtual crown may be provided which enables setting of, for example, the time, date, and a stopwatch, by means of detecting gestures in the different zones. For example, a twisting gesture made in the first zone <NUM> may represent adjusting the time using a time application, a twisting gesture made in the second zone <NUM> may represent adjusting the date using a date application, and a tap gesture made in the third zone may represent starting a timer using a stopwatch application, and so on.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of components of either of the earbud <NUM> or the smartwatch <NUM> shown in <FIG> respectively. For ease of explanation, we will assume that the components are those in the earbud <NUM>, but it will be appreciated that the following is applicable to the smartwatch <NUM>.

The earbud <NUM> may have a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM> closely coupled to the processor and comprised of a RAM <NUM> and ROM <NUM>, an audio output <NUM>, and a network interface <NUM>. In the case of the smartwatch <NUM>, a display and one or more hardware keys may be used, for example in place of the audio output <NUM>. The earbud <NUM> may comprise one or more network interfaces <NUM> for connection to a network, e.g. using Bluetooth or similar.

The memory <NUM> may comprise a non-volatile memory, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The ROM <NUM> of the memory <NUM> stores, amongst other things, an operating system <NUM> and may store software applications <NUM>. The RAM <NUM> of the memory <NUM> may be used by the processor <NUM> for the temporary storage of data. The operating system <NUM> may contain code which, when executed by the processor ware components of the earbud <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may take any suitable form. For instance, it may be a microcontroller, plural microcontrollers, a processor, or plural processors and it may comprise processor circuitry.

In some embodiments, the earbud <NUM> may also be associated with external software applications. These may be applications stored on a remote device <NUM> and may run partly or exclusively on the remote device. These applications may be termed, in some cases, cloud-hosted applications. The earbud <NUM> may be in communication with the remote device <NUM> in order to utilize the software application stored there.

For example, the earbud <NUM> may issue a signal to the remote device <NUM> which corresponds to a particular function of the application stored thereon. For example, a gesture indicative of a volume up or down may cause the earbud <NUM> to issue a signal corresponding to the relevant volume up or down function to the remote device <NUM>. The remote device <NUM> is configured to decode or interpret the signal and perform the volume up or down function locally. The resulting audio may then be relayed to the earbud <NUM> at the appropriate volume. In other situations, for example in controlling some non-audio functionality, such as opening a health application on the remote device <NUM>, no relaying is necessary.

<FIG> shows example functional elements of a data processing terminal <NUM> according to some embodiments. The data processing terminal <NUM> may for example be the earbud <NUM> or the smartwatch <NUM> shown in <FIG> respectively.

The data processing terminal <NUM> comprises a capacitive proximity sensor <NUM>, a proximity controller <NUM>, a mapping database <NUM>, an interaction layer <NUM>, and an application stack <NUM> comprising a plurality of applications, e.g. two or more of a music playing application, a health monitoring application, a voice call application, a text or multimedia communications application, a speech-recognition application, a podcast application and so on.

These elements may be provided by software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof. For example, the proximity controller <NUM> and interaction layer <NUM> may comprise a software application <NUM>, stored on the memory <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Reference numeral <NUM> indicates the presence of a user's hand remote from the data processing terminal <NUM>, which in use may be selectively positioned within one of three spatial zones R1, R2 and R3 represented by respective distance ranges.

The capacitive proximity sensor <NUM> may be any suitable sensor as mentioned above.

The proximity controller <NUM> may be configured to control assignment or association of three applications in the application stack <NUM> to the respective spatial zones R1, R2 and R3. These assignments are stored, and potentially updated from time-to-time, in the mapping database <NUM> which is shown schematically in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the mapping database <NUM> may comprise, or represent in any suitable form, an assignment table storing, for each range, a respective application. In the shown example, the nearest range which is set to be between <NUM> - <NUM> from the data processing terminal <NUM> is labelled R1, the next range which is set to be between <NUM> - <NUM> from the data processing terminal is labelled R2 and the next range which is set to be between <NUM> - <NUM> from the data processing terminal is labelled R3. R1 is assigned to a music application, R2 to a voice call (i.e. telephony) application, and R3 to a health application.

For each application, a plurality of gestures and their corresponding function for the application are also stored.

For example, for the music application, the gestures "tap", "vertical swipe" and "horizontal swipe" are assigned to "enable/play/pause", "volume up/down" and "next/previous track" respectively.

For example, for the voice calls application, the gestures "tap", "vertical swipe" and "horizontal swipe" are assigned to "enable/answer/end call", "volume up/down" and "next/previous contact" respectively.

For example, for the health application, the gestures "tap", "vertical swipe" and "horizontal swipe" are assigned to "enable/disable", "activity selector" and "date selector" respectively.

It will be appreciated that a greater or fewer number of applications, gestures and/or functions may be represented in the mapping database <NUM>. It will also be appreciated that different gestures may be represented. For example, a gesture for determining a battery level of the data processing terminal may be provided.

The assignments shown in <FIG> may be factory set. The assignments may be fixed or may be updated. For example, the data processing terminal <NUM> may be provided with associated setup software either on a disc or downloadable from a website or even stored on the memory <NUM> for plug and play operation. The setup software may permit a user to make the assignments and/or manually update them. As will be discussed later on, the assignments may update dynamically over time. The ranges may also be adjusted by user control or dynamically, for example based on environmental factors.

Returning to <FIG>, the interaction layer <NUM> operates responsive to detecting an object, e.g. the user's hand <NUM>, within proximate range and within one of the ranges R1, R2 or R3. The interaction layer <NUM> queries the mapping database <NUM> to identify the application assigned to this range and the gesture. In the shown example, the second range R2 is identified and hence a voice call application is identified. This identification by the interaction layer <NUM> causes performance of the function associated with the gesture for the voice calls application (App2) in the application stack <NUM>, e.g. answering a call responsive to a tap gesture.

In a subsequent stage, for example, the user may make an upwards swipe gesture in the same range R2. Responsive to this, the interaction layer <NUM> will cause an increase in volume of the voice call.

In a subsequent stage, for example, whilst the call is ongoing, the user may move their hand into the third range R3. This may result in an audio confirmation (e.g. if the data processing terminal <NUM> is an audio device) by playing an audio clip such as "health" to notify the user of said fact. The user may then make a tap gesture in the third range R3. Responsive to this, the interaction layer <NUM> will cause enablement of the health application without interrupting the voice call. In a subsequent stage, for example, the user may make a vertical swipe in the third range R3, and the interaction layer <NUM> will scroll through different activity types which may, in the case of an audio device, be briefly notified as an audio confirmation, e.g. "walking.

Thus, applications that are hidden or disabled may be enabled without physical interaction.

In some embodiments, certain application functions may not be permitted, or may be modified, dependent on what function is currently running. For example, a gesture for playing a music track may not be permitted if a call is ongoing. Alternatively, the function may be modified dependent on the ongoing function, for example by readying the music track for playing as soon as the call is dropped.

In some embodiments, the correlation between ranges and application and/or gestures and functions may be stored elsewhere other than the mapping database <NUM>. For example, the correlations may be stored in a separate database, on the interaction layer, or in a remote data terminal or server. The <FIG> arrangement is merely illustrative.

In some embodiments, one or more of the functional modules shown in the data processing terminal <NUM> (other than the capacitive sensor <NUM>) may be provided in a separate data processing terminal such as a smartphone or tablet computer. In this respect, the separate data processing terminal may receive the sensing signal from the capacitive sensor <NUM> and perform the steps to be outlined below, although for ease of explanation we will assume in the following that they are performed in the data processing terminal <NUM> itself.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating example processing operations that may be performed by the data processing terminal <NUM>. Certain operations may be omitted or replaced with others.

A first operation <NUM> comprises receiving data indicative of a detected user gesture at a first location which is remote from a data processing terminal <NUM>.

Another operation <NUM> comprises identifying an application based on distance of the detected user gesture being within a particular range.

Another operation <NUM> comprises causing performance of one of a plurality of functions of the identified application based on the user gesture.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating example processing operations that may be performed by the data processing terminal <NUM> in another embodiment.

A first operation <NUM> comprises receiving data indicative of a detected user gesture spanning two distance ranges.

A second operation <NUM> comprises identifying two applications based on the two ranges.

A third operation <NUM> comprises causing a data transfer from one of the applications to the other applications.

In this embodiment, a predetermined gesture that spans two, or potentially more, distance ranges may be interpreted to cause data sharing between the two corresponding applications, where available.

For example, <FIG> shows the <FIG> earbud <NUM> having the two ranges <NUM>, <NUM> and a user gesture <NUM> that starts in the first (closest) range and moves to the second range in a sideways swiping motion. The particular 'share' gesture may correspond to a share, copy or move function of the particular application. The particular 'share' gesture may require a particular start gesture and a particular end gesture, to prevent the share function being applied to unintended applications in outer ranges.

For example, the first application associated with the first range <NUM> may be a music application and the second application associated with the second range <NUM> may be voice calls application. In this respect, the share gesture may cause a currently playing or selected music track in the first application being shared with the second application so that the music track is used as the ringtone for the second application.

In another example, the first application may be a multimedia application and the second application may be a text messaging application. The sharing gesture may cause a currently selected multimedia entity being entered into a text message.

In another example, the first application may be a network setup application and the second application may be an application requiring network settings, e.g. proxy settings. The sharing gesture may cause sharing of the network settings between the two applications.

Numerous other examples may be envisaged, for example simple file transfers between applications.

In this situation, the share gesture may be associated with a share, copy or move function of the first application and a share, paste or download function of the second application.

A second operation <NUM> comprises identifying an application based on the distance of the detected user gesture being within a particular range.

A third operation <NUM> comprises identifying the user gesture as being a neighbourhood sharing function.

A fourth operation <NUM> comprises causing sharing of data between the identified application and another device in proximity; The other device may be paired with the current device, but this is not essential.

In this embodiment, a predetermined gesture that is indicative of neighbourhood sharing may permit data to be shared between different but proximate devices which are not otherwise physically connected. The predetermined gesture may comprise a start gesture and an end gesture.

For example, <FIG> shows the <FIG> earbud <NUM> and a second earbud 10A, which may belong to a different person. The dotted lines <NUM>, <NUM> indicate the range of their respective first ranges, in this example. A user gesture <NUM> that starts in the first range <NUM> of the first earbud <NUM> and ends in that <NUM> of the second earbud 10A may cause inter-device sharing such that, for example, a music track being played or selected on the first earbud is transferred to the second earbud 10A. In this case, the neighbourhood sharing gesture may be associated with a share, copy or move function of the first earbud function and a share, paste or download function of the second earbud function.

In some embodiments, the different distance ranges may partially overlap, although this may require the functional gestures of one corresponding application to be distinct from those of the other corresponding application, in order that a gesture made in the overlapping zone is not incorrectly interpreted.

As mentioned previously, although embodiments mainly assume that the detection, identification and function causing stages occur in the wearable apparatus, they could be performed in an associated other apparatus such as a smartphone or tablet computer which receives the data indicative of the gesture from the wearable apparatus, and relays the result of the performed function back to the wearable apparatus, such as by changing a music track or increasing the volume.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>), comprising:
means for receiving (<NUM>) data indicative of a detected user gesture at a location which is remote from a data processing terminal;
means for identifying (<NUM>) a first application from a plurality of applications based on the distance of the detected user gesture being within a first distance range from the data processing terminal, wherein the plurality of applications are associated with different distance ranges (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) from the data processing terminal; and
means for causing performance (<NUM>) of one of a plurality of functions of the first application based on the user gesture, wherein in the event that a predetermined gesture moves from the first distance range (<NUM>), into a different distance range (<NUM>), a data transfer function is performed between the associated applications.