Method and system for automated monitoring of a display

• US 20060007396A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Clement, Thomas J., Pearce, Jerry W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects for automated monitoring of a display are described. The aspects include utilizing gaze tracking with a display to monitor attention to information on the display. Additionally, a level of alarm is escalated for the updated information when the attention by the system operator is not detected within a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method for automated monitoring of a display, the method comprising:

utilizing gaze tracking to monitor attention to information on the display; and

escalating a level of alarm for the information when the attention is not detected within a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein utilizing gaze tracking further comprises determining a gaze point and comparing the gaze point to a recognition area for the information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein when the gaze point does not lie within the recognition area during the predetermined time period, the step of escalating occurs.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein when the gaze point does lie within the recognition area during the predetermined time period, the method further comprises determining whether a sufficient time period has elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein when a sufficient time period has elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area, the method further comprises normalizing the display of the information.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein when a sufficient time period has not elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area, the step of escalating occurs.

7. A system for automated monitoring of a display, the system comprising:

a display;

gaze tracking apparatus; and

a processing system coupled to the display and the gaze tracking apparatus, the processing system utilizing gaze tracking data from the gaze tracking apparatus to monitor attention to information on the display, and escalating a level of alarm for the information when the attention is not detected within a predetermined time period.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the processing system further determines a gaze point and compares the gaze point to a recognition area for the updated information.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein when the gaze point does not lie within the recognition area during the predetermined time period, the processing system escalates the level of alarm.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein when the gaze point does lie within the recognition area during the predetermined time period, the processing system further determines whether a sufficient time period has elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein when a sufficient time period has elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area, the processing system normalizes the display of the updated information.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein when a sufficient time period has not elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area, the processing system escalates the level of attention.

13. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for automated monitoring of a display, the program instructions comprising:

utilizing gaze tracking to monitor attention to information on the display; and

escalating a level of alarm for the information when the attention is not detected within a predetermined time period.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein utilizing gaze tracking further comprises determining a gaze point and comparing the gaze point to a recognition area for the information.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein when the gaze point does not lie within the recognition area during the predetermined time period, the step of escalating occurs.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein when the gaze point does lie within the recognition area during the predetermined time period, the program instructions further comprise determining whether a sufficient time period has elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein when a sufficient time period has elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area, the program instructions further comprise normalizing the display of the information.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein when a sufficient time period has not elapsed with the gaze point within the recognition area, the step of escalating occurs.