Method for adaptive interaction with a legacy software application

摘要

Methods are disclosed to support adaptive interaction with legacy software applications, without a need for rewriting those applications. The methods are for use with an interactive electronic system including a processor, a display, and an input device with user-manipulated controls. When the legacy application is executed, a supplemental software program, such as a plugin, is also executed and is utilized in order to identify currently relevant interactive features of the legacy application during execution. Functionality is dynamically assigned to the various user-manipulated controls based on the identified features. In one embodiment, detection of objects (particularly the user's hands) proximate to the input controls is also employed in determining the assignment of functionality and/or in displaying a visual representation to the user of the available interactive choices. In another embodiment, the user-manipulated input controls are dynamically and physically reconfigured under control of the processor based on the identified features.

主权项

1. A method for facilitating an interaction between an electronic system and a user in accordance with a legacy software application, the electronic system comprising a computing system and an input device, the computing system comprises of the legacy software application, a display, a processor, and one or more sensors for detecting a present object, and the input device comprises of a plurality of user-manipulated input controls, the method comprising:
executing the legacy application with the processor; executing a supplemental software program with the processor, to identify a plurality of interactive features for the legacy application; dynamically assigning functionality to the plurality of user-manipulated input controls based on the plurality of identified interactive features; displaying a visual depiction of the assigned functionality on the display of the computing system; receiving an input from the user via one or more of the user-manipulated input controls; processing the input at least partly by the supplemental software program; and providing a result of said processing to the legacy application wherein the functionality assigned to any given one of the plurality of user-manipulated input controls varies dynamically depending upon whether the one or more sensors detect an object proximate to the given one of the plurality of user-manipulated controls, wherein the plurality of identified interactive features includes at least one feature that does not correspond to an interactive feature provided by the legacy application, and wherein the supplemental software program is a plugin.