Method and apparatus for communication between humans and devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A notification method for a cellular phone, comprising:
- embedding at least one camera and at least one processor in the cellular phone for sensing a user'"'"'s visual attention toward a display screen of the cellular phone;
using the at least one camera to capture at least one image of at least one of the user'"'"'s pupils;
using the at least one processor to process the at least one image from the camera to determine a glint near the at least one pupil;
using the at least one processor to determine an alignment of the glint relative to the at least one pupil and to determine whether or not the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the at least one camera based on said alignment, without calibration;
using the user'"'"'s visual attention directed toward the at least one camera as an indication that the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the display screen; and
managing when or how to present a notification or message initiated by the cellular phone based on whether the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the display screen of the cellular phone.
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Abstract
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user'"'"'s attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
96 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A notification method for a cellular phone, comprising:
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embedding at least one camera and at least one processor in the cellular phone for sensing a user'"'"'s visual attention toward a display screen of the cellular phone; using the at least one camera to capture at least one image of at least one of the user'"'"'s pupils; using the at least one processor to process the at least one image from the camera to determine a glint near the at least one pupil; using the at least one processor to determine an alignment of the glint relative to the at least one pupil and to determine whether or not the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the at least one camera based on said alignment, without calibration; using the user'"'"'s visual attention directed toward the at least one camera as an indication that the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the display screen; and managing when or how to present a notification or message initiated by the cellular phone based on whether the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the display screen of the cellular phone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cellular phone, comprising:
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at least one camera embedded in the cellular phone that captures at least one image of at least one of a user'"'"'s pupils; a display screen; and at least one processor; wherein the at least one processor processes the at least one image and determines a glint near the at least one pupil; wherein the at least one processor determines an alignment of the glint relative to the at least one pupil and determines whether or not the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the at least one camera based on said alignment, without calibration; wherein the user'"'"'s visual attention directed toward the at least one camera indicates that the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the display screen; and wherein the at least one processor manages when or how to present a notification or message initiated by the cellular phone based on whether the user'"'"'s visual attention is directed toward the display screen of the cellular phone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification