Patent ID: 8213686

Claim:
A method comprising: accessing, by at least one processor, images captured from an image sensor positioned on a handheld device; identifying, by the at least one processor, a first stationary feature that is present in the images captured from the image sensor on the handheld device; identifying, by the at least one processor, a second stationary feature that is present in the images captured from the image sensor on the handheld device, the second stationary feature being different than and spaced apart from the first stationary feature; determining, by the at least one processor, a description of motion of the handheld device in a depth direction based on changes in distance between the first stationary feature and the second stationary feature within the captured images, the depth direction being a direction of movement toward and away from the first stationary feature and the second stationary feature; and determining, by the at least one processor, user input for an application based on the determined description of motion of the handheld device in the depth direction.