A system includes a 3D sensor panel for detecting a plurality of 3D positions corresponding to a finger movement and a controller. The controller determines that the plurality of 3D positions contain a gesture cycle by comparing a first set of positions in the plurality of 3D positions that includes at least two non-adjacent positions in the plurality of 3D positions and, upon determining that the first set of positions in the plurality of 3D positions match, determining that the plurality of positions contain the gesture cycle. the controller determines a direction of the gesture cycle based on a second set of positions in the plurality of 3D positions, where the direction is relative to the 3D sensor panel, and creates a gesture cycle record for the gesture cycle, the gesture cycle record comprising the plurality of 3D positions and the direction.