Method and Apparatus for Communication Between Humans and Devices

• US 20130231938A1
• Filed: 04/19/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Queen's University At Kingston
• Original Assignee: Queen's University At Kingston
• Inventors: Vertegaal, Roel, Shell, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/02 Electric testing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units

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.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. An apparatus for controlling operation of a device, comprising:

at least one sensor coupled to the device that outputs a sensor signal;

a processor that processes the sensor signal and produces a user state signal that is indicative of user attention toward a screen of the device;

wherein the apparatus uses the user state signal as a basis for controlling operation of the device, the controlling operation including determining whether to output information to the user;

wherein the information is visual information, audible information, or visual and audible information; and

wherein the outputting information is initiated by the device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the outputting information includes the device soliciting user input.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, including outputting the visual information on the screen of the device.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the user state signal is based on user head or face orientation.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the outputting information includes the device soliciting user input.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the user state signal is based on user body presence.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the outputting information includes the device soliciting user input.

54. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the user state signal is based on user activity.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the outputting information includes the device soliciting user input.

57. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the user state signal is based on user body orientation.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the outputting information includes the device soliciting user input.

60. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

61. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the sensor is electronically coupled to the device.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the sensor is wirelessly coupled to the device.

63. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the sensor is physically coupled to the device.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the sensor is attached to or embedded in the screen.

65. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a cellular telephone, a telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an electronic device, a machine, and an appliance.

66. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the device comprises furniture.

67. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising the user communicating with the device using a keyboard.

68. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising the user communicating with the device using manual interactions.

69. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising the device using speech recognition responsive to user communication.

70. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the screen is a video screen.

71. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the screen is a computer screen.

72. An apparatus for controlling operation of a device, comprising:

at least one sensor coupled to the device that outputs a sensor signal;

a processor that processes the sensor signal and produces a user state signal that is indicative of user attention toward a screen of the device;

wherein the apparatus uses the user state signal as a basis for controlling operation of the device, the controlling operation including determining whether to output information to the user;

wherein the information is visual information, audible information, or visual and audible information; and

wherein the controlling operation comprises notifying the user when the user state signal indicates that the user attention toward the screen is at least at a selected level.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein notifying the user comprises using a less interruptive notification and progressing to a more interruptive notification.

74. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the outputting information is initiated by the device.