Polar patch drift speed and direction have been investigated using oxygen 630 nm images recorded by an all-sky imager at Eureka (89° CGM), Canada over an extended period, January and December 1998. Statistical studies showed that (1) the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF, from the WIND satellite) B_z component linearly controls the patch speed when B_z is between −7.5 nT and 0 nT. The speed tends to saturate when B_z is less than −7.5nT due to nonlinear coupling between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. The average patch speed of 600 m/s is in agreement with results from earlier studies; (2) The IMF B_y or the IMF clock angle has a clear control of the patch drift direction as determined by the drift azimuth angle. When ∣B_y∣ is less than 7.5nT, the drift azimuth angle is linearly and positively correlated with B_y. For a large ∣B_y∣ (>7.5 nT), the positive correlation is replaced by a negative correlated linear relation and the azimuth angle tends to turn towards 180 degrees; that is, the patches drift in an antisunward direction. These IMF B_y effects can be qualitatively explained by the northern winter polar ionospheric convection models developed by Weimer [1995] and Hairston and Heelis [1990] . Results from our quantitative study on the IMF control of polar patch speed and drift direction provide constraints for the development of future polar ionospheric convection models.