Patent ID: 7236156

Claim:
A handheld, pointing device comprising: a first rotational sensor for determining rotation of said pointing device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith; a second rotational sensor for determining rotation of said pointing device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith; an accelerometer for determining an acceleration of said pointing device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith; and a processing unit for receiving said first and second rotational outputs and said acceleration output and for: (a) establishing, during a training period, a plurality of hand tremor classes each of which is associated with a user by processing training data derived from at least one of said first and second rotational outputs and said acceleration output while said user is holding said pointing device without intentional movement; and (b) determining, subsequent to said training period, an identity of a current user of said pointing device by comparing data derived from at least one of a current first rotational output, a current second rotational output and a current acceleration output to said plurality of hand tremor classes established during said training period.