METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING A FATIGUE LEVEL OF AN OPERATOR

• US 20150206090A1
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABBYY Production LLC (ABBYY Software)
• Original Assignee: ABBYY Development LLC
• Inventors: Pakhchanyan, Aram Bengurovich, Korotkova, Elena Leonardovna
• Application Number:
  US14/508,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20150206090A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method for detecting a fatigue level of an operator includes monitoring an activity level of an operator in a first mode. The method also includes detecting a change in the activity level of the operator in the first mode. The method further includes switching to a second mode from the first mode, in response to detecting the change in the activity level of the operator.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a fatigue level of an operator, the method comprising:

monitoring an activity level of an operator in a first mode;

detecting a change in the activity level of the operator in the first mode; and

switching to a second mode from the first mode, in response to detecting the change in the activity level of the operator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the activity level further comprises:

monitoring a parameter of the activity level during a time period in the beginning of the operator'"'"'s work;

calculating a mean value of the parameter for the time period;

determining a threshold value based at least in part on the mean parameter value; and

comparing new values of the monitored parameter with the threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the activity level further comprises monitoring eye movement of the operator.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring the eye movement of the operator further comprises:

recording a length of gaze on fixed points during a time period;

calculating an average length of gaze for the time period; and

comparing the average length of gaze on fixed points to a threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the activity level further comprises tracking a frequency of keystrokes or touch inputs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change further comprises:

calculating a mean rate for a cursor;

recording a speed of the cursor controlled by the operator; and

comparing the speed of the cursor to the mean rate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change further comprises:

calculating a mean time for the cursor remaining still;

determining an amount of time the cursor remains still; and

comparing the amount of time the cursor remains still to the mean time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change further comprises recording a number of self-corrections made by the operator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change further comprises:

assigning a first task to the operator;

assigning a second task to a second operator; and

comparing the first task completed by the operator to the second task completed by the second operator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change further comprises

assigning a control task to the operator;

and

comparing the completed control task to a correct version of performing the control task.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein switching to the second mode comprises switching to a mode with easier tasks for the operator.

12. A system to detect a fatigue level of an operator, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store processor-executable instructions; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

monitor an activity level of an operator in a first mode;

detect a change in the activity level of the operator in the first mode; and

switch to a second mode from the first mode, in response to detecting the change in the activity level of the operator.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a camera.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor a parameter of the activity level during a time period in the beginning of the operator'"'"'s work;

calculate a mean value of the parameter for the time period;

determine a threshold value based at least in part on the mean parameter value; and

compare new values of the monitored parameter with the threshold value.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor eye movement of the first operator.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

record a length of gaze on fixed points during a time period;

calculate an average length of gaze for the time period; and

compare the average length of gaze on the fixed points to a threshold value.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to track a frequency of keystrokes or touch inputs.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate a mean rate for a cursor;

record a speed of the cursor controlled by the operator; and

compare the speed of the cursor to the mean rate.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate a mean time for the cursor remaining still;

determine an amount of time the cursor remains still; and

compare the amount of time the cursor remains still to the mean time.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to record a number of self-corrections made by the operator.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign a first task to the operator;

assign a second task to a second operator; and

compare the first task completed by the operator to the second task completed by the second operator.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign a control task to the first operator; and

compare the completed control task to a correct version of performing the control task.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to switch to a mode with easier tasks for the operator.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by a processor of a computing system, wherein the instructions comprise:

instructions to monitor an activity level of an operator in a first mode;

instructions to detect a change in the activity level of the operator in the first mode; and

instructions to switch to a second mode from the first mode, in response to detecting the change in the activity level of the operator.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising:

instructions to monitor a parameter of the activity level during a time period in the beginning of the operator'"'"'s work;

instructions to calculate a mean value of the parameter for the time period;

instructions to determine a threshold value based at least in part on the mean parameter value; and

instructions to compare new values of the monitored parameter with the threshold value.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions to monitor eye movement of the first operator.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, further comprising:

instructions to record a length of gaze on fixed points during a time period;

instructions to calculate an average length of gaze for the time period; and

instructions to compare the average length of gaze on fixed points to a threshold value.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions to track a frequency of keystrokes or touch inputs.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising:

instructions to calculate a mean rate for a cursor;

instructions to record a speed of the cursor controlled by the first operator; and

instructions to compare the speed of the cursor to the mean rate.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising:

instructions to calculate a mean time for the cursor remaining still;

instructions to determine an amount of time the cursor remains still; and

instructions to compare the amount of time the cursor remains still to the mean time.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions to record a number of self-corrections made by the operator.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising:

instructions to assign a first task to the operator;

instructions to assign a second task to a second operator; and

instructions to compare the first task completed by the operator to the second task completed by the second operator.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising:

instructions to assign a control task to the operator; and

instructions to compare the completed control task to a correct version of performing the control task.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions to switch to a mode with easier tasks for the operator.