Feedback based user interface for motion controlled handheld devices

A method for controlling a handheld device comprising:

• generating a current image on a viewable surface of the handheld device;
• maintaining a gesture database comprising a plurality of gestures, each gesture defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device;
• detecting motion of the device within three dimensions;
• identifying components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface;
• tracking movement of the handheld device using the motion detection module;
• comparing the tracked movement against potential ones of the gestures;
• determining that the tracked movement does not indicate a unique one of the gestures;
• generating feedback reporting that the tracked movement does not indicate a unique one of the gestures using the user interface;
• determining that the tracked movement indicates a plurality of probable ones of the gestures;
• generating feedback using the user interface to report that the tracked movement indicates the probable gestures;
• and
• suggesting a simplified gesture set for selecting between the probable gestures.

Logic for controlling a handheld device, the logic embodied as a computer program stored on a computer readable medium and operable when executed to perform the steps of:

• generating a current image on a viewable surface of the handheld device;
• maintaining a gesture database comprising a plurality of gestures, each gesture defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device;
• detecting motion of the device within three dimensions;
• identifying components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface;
• tracking movement of the handheld device using the motion detection module;
• comparing the tracked movement against potential ones of the gestures;
• determining that the tracked movement does not indicate a unique one of the gestures;
• generating feedback reporting that the tracked movement does not indicate a unique one of the gestures using the user interface;
• determining that the tracked movement indicates a plurality of probable ones of the gestures;
• generating feedback using the user interface to report that the tracked movement indicates the probable gestures;
• and
• suggesting a simplified gesture set for selecting between the probable gestures.

A motion controlled handheld device comprising:

• means for generating a current image on a viewable surface of the handheld device;
• means for maintaining a gesture database comprising a plurality of gestures, each gesture defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device;
• means for detecting motion of the device within three dimensions;
• means for identifying components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface;
• means for tracking movement of the handheld device using the motion detection module;
• means for comparing the tracked movement against potential ones of the gestures;
• means for determining that the tracked movement does not indicate a unique one of the gestures;
• means for generating feedback reporting that the tracked movement does not indicate a unique one of the gestures using the user interface;
• means for determining that the tracked movement indicates a plurality of probable ones of the gestures;
• means for generating feedback using the user interface to report that the tracked movement indicates the probable gestures;
• and
• means for suggesting a simplified gesture set for selecting between the probable gestures.