How Devices Predict Your Next Move Using Gestures and History
A patent for a smart interface that tracks your physical gestures and past habits to predict what you want to do next, showing custom options on a screen to save you time.
Original patent title: “USRE46310E1 - Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system”
A patent for a smart interface that tracks your physical gestures and past habits to predict what you want to do next, showing custom options on a screen to save you time. Granted to Blanding Hovenweep LLC in 2017 with 72 claims and 34 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a control system that combines two types of user data to predict actions. First, it tracks path-dependent inputs, which are physical motion gestures that change over time, such as a swipe or hand wave. Second, it tracks path-independent inputs, which are static choices or settings. A controller processes these inputs alongside stored historical data of the user's past activities. It then calculates the most likely action the user wants to perform and displays a tailored sequence of programming options on a screen. For example, if a user performs a specific hand gesture while a certain TV show is broadcasting, the system recognizes the gesture, recalls the user's past viewing habits at that hour, and automatically displays a prompt to record the show.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that respond to physical gestures with fixed, hardcoded actions instead of predicting the user's intent based on past behavior history.
- Does not cover interfaces that rely solely on static button presses or text inputs without tracking any time-dependent motion gestures.
- Does not cover predictive systems that execute actions silently in the background without presenting a sequence of selectable programming options on a display.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Instead of treating gestures as simple, static commands, the system analyzes the path and timing of a motion gesture in tandem with the user's historical context to guess their intent before they finish the action.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Smart TV interfaces that suggest channels or apps based on viewing history and remote control movements
Automotive infotainment systems that predict navigation destinations or media choices based on gesture controls and daily driving habits
Smart home hubs that adjust lighting or temperature when detecting specific user movement patterns at certain times of day
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is a foundational document in the evolution of smart user interfaces, bridging the gap between physical remotes and modern gesture-controlled smart homes. Its broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → on combining gesture recognition with predictive user history have made it a significant point of reference in patent litigationlitigationA lawsuit over patent infringement. Litigated patents often signal commercial importance.Read more → and licensing discussions involving smart TVs, streaming devices, and automotive infotainment systems.
Filed
February 13, 2009
Granted
February 14, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies developing advanced automotive infotainment systems, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, rely heavily on gesture control combined with predictive user profiles. Similarly, smart TV and streaming platform developers like Roku, Samsung, and LG continue to refine gesture-based remote controls that adapt to user habits.
Market impact
This patent and its parent applications influenced the design of interactive media systems, pushing the industry away from static menus toward dynamic, predictive interfaces. It has been cited in numerous patent filings by major consumer electronics companies and has been a key asset in licensing portfolios targeting smart device interfaces.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a control system that combines two types of user data to predict actions. First, it tracks path-dependent inputs, which are physical motion gestures that change over time, such as a swipe or hand wave. Second, it tracks path-independent inputs, which are static choices or settings. A controller processes these inputs alongside stored historical data of the user's past activities. It then calculates the most likely action the user wants to perform and displays a tailored sequence of programming options on a screen. For example, if a user performs a specific hand gesture while a certain TV show is broadcasting, the system recognizes the gesture, recalls the user's past viewing habits at that hour, and automatically displays a prompt to record the show.
The clever bit
Instead of treating gestures as simple, static commands, the system analyzes the path and timing of a motion gesture in tandem with the user's historical context to guess their intent before they finish the action.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that respond to physical gestures with fixed, hardcoded actions instead of predicting the user's intent based on past behavior history.
- Does not cover interfaces that rely solely on static button presses or text inputs without tracking any time-dependent motion gestures.
- Does not cover predictive systems that execute actions silently in the background without presenting a sequence of selectable programming options on a display.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
31/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$115K – $369K
Midpoint $230K · 2.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
72 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Hoffberg, S. M., & Hoffberg-Borghesani, L. I. (2017). How Devices Predict Your Next Move Using Gestures and History (U.S. Patent No. RE46,310). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE46310/google-drive
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Devices Predict Your Next Move Using Gestures and History cover?
A patent for a smart interface that tracks your physical gestures and past habits to predict what you want to do next, showing custom options on a screen to save you time.
Who owns patent US RE46310?
Blanding Hovenweep LLC owns this patent, granted in 2017.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 14, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US RE46310 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 34 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is a foundational document in the evolution of smart user interfaces, bridging the gap between physical remotes and modern gesture-controlled smart homes. Its broad claims on combining gesture recognition with predictive user history have made it a significant point of reference in patent litigation and licensing discussions involving smart TVs, streaming devices, and automotive infotainment systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that respond to physical gestures with fixed, hardcoded actions instead of predicting the user's intent based on past behavior history.
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