Method and Apparatus for Communication Between Humans and Devices
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Accused Products
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.
51 Citations
77 Claims
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1-44. -44. (canceled)
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45. Apparatus for communication between a user and a device, comprising:
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a hardware sensor in or on the device that senses attention of the user specifically toward the device; and a processor that processes a signal from the hardware sensor and outputs to the device a measure or index of the user'"'"'s attention toward the device; and wherein operation of the device is modulated on the basis of the measure or index of the user'"'"'s attention toward the device; wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device and provides a notification and/or information and/or communication to the user based on the user'"'"'s attention toward the device. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. Apparatus for communication between a user and a network of devices, comprising:
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a hardware sensor in or on each device of the network of devices, each hardware sensor sensing attention of a user specifically toward its respective device; and a processor that processes signals from the hardware sensors and outputs a measure or index of the user'"'"'s attention toward the devices; wherein operation of one or more of the devices is modulated on the basis of the measure or index of the user'"'"'s attention toward the devices; wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by at least one of the devices and provides a notification and/or information and/or communication to the user based on the user'"'"'s attention toward the devices. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. Apparatus for communication between users and devices, comprising:
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a first hardware sensor in or on a first device of a network of devices, the first hardware sensor sensing a first user'"'"'s attention specifically toward the first device; a second hardware sensor in or on a second device of a network of devices, the second hardware sensor sensing a second user'"'"'s attention specifically toward the second device; a first proxy associated with the first device, the first proxy communicating to the first user the second user'"'"'s attention toward the second device; a second proxy associated with the second device, the second proxy communicating to the second user the first user'"'"'s attention toward the first device; a processor that processes signals from the first and second hardware sensors and relays to the network a measure or index of the first and second users'"'"' attention toward the respective first and second devices; wherein communication between the first and second devices is modulated on the basis of the measure or index of the first and second users'"'"' attention toward their respective devices and provides a notification to the first and second users. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification