Patent ID: 7921364

Claim:
A method for controlling a computer user interface with sound, the method comprising: defining ranges of audio frequencies; associating each range with a respective user interface command; receiving as input from a user a sound characterized by a spectrum of frequencies and energies; identifying the sound as a command to move a user interface pointer, based at least partially upon the spectrum of frequencies and energies, the defined ranges of audio frequencies, and the user interface commands associated with the defined ranges; and executing the command to move the user interface pointer, wherein executing the command to move the user interface pointer comprises: identifying a frequency value of a frequency of the spectrum of frequencies and energies having a greatest energy; identifying an energy value of the frequency of the spectrum of frequencies and energies having the greatest energy; determining, using a one-to-one correlation between the energy value and speed of motion of the user interface pointer, a value representative of a speed of motion of the user interface pointer; determining, using a one-to-one correlation between the frequency value and angle of motion of the user interface pointer, a value representative of an angle of motion of the user interface pointer, from at least three possible angles of motion of the user interface pointer; and moving the user interface pointer in dependence upon the determined value representative of a speed of motion of the user interface pointer and the determined value representative of an angle of motion of the user interface pointer.