Apparatus to create, save and format text documents using gaze control and method associated based on the optimized positioning of cursor

• US 8,205,165 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SR Labs S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: SR Labs S.R.L.
• Inventors: Dal Lago, Gianluca
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US12/922,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20110022950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/201, 715/202, 715/205, 715/209, 715/210, 715/231, 715/234, 715/253, 715/254, 715/256, 715/700, 715/760, 715/762, 715/764, 715/765, 715/768, 715/784, 715/785, 715/786, 715/830, 715/856, 345/14, 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/594, 345/661, 345/684, 351/41, 351/42, 351/200, 351/202, 351/203, 351/205, 351/206, 351/209, 351/211, 351/222, 351/223
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

The method and the apparatus object of present invention refers to a system and A method that create, save and format text documents using a device with gaze control and a system of quick positioning of the cursor. The present invention provides a faster interaction and requires a minimum effort with respect to the state of the art interfaces.

Claims

1. A method for the text documents processing based on optimized positioning of cursor, to be performed by means of electronic processing of data and information provided with means for visualization of data comprising an eye tracker device, said method comprising the following steps:

a) displaying a user interface on suitable means of visualization associated to said means of electronic processing of data and information, said user interface is configured to allow the user to interact with said eye tracker device associated to said electronic processor;

b) calculating user gaze coordinates, as raw data, from said eye tracking device, and representing the user gaze coordinates, along the two Cartesian axis, obtained with the frequency typical of said eye tracking device;

c) filtering raw data related to said user gaze coordinates so that the raw data related to said user gaze coordinates is more stable and suitable to provide information about user fixations, that is the number of user gaze around a certain area;

d) sending the filtered data coming from step c) to a set action module;

e) processing, by an events management module, an incoming event through mapping between itself and an application reply, so that every event/action is associated to a corresponding action on the user interface that involves a change of data and in case a change of user interface itself;

f) sending, by the events management module, information to a states management module;

g) processing, by the states management module, the information and updating its internal state on the basis of received information;

h) requiring, by an interface management module, the data for the updating to the states management module and producing a suitable user interface;

i) putting the interface management module on wait of input data;

j) repeating steps from b) through i);

characterized in that said step h) comprises;

requesting, by the interface management module, data for the updating to the states management module and producing a semitransparent window, related to a fixation area, that moves on the text following the user gaze, and a set of buttons, into the lateral bar, that can be selected, each of them corresponding to the words included into the fixation area,

receiving, by the events management module, in input the event related to the selection of word chosen among the buttons into the lateral bar, determining the reply of the application and sends such information to the states management module, the states management module processes such information and updates its own state, and

requesting, by the interface management module, data for the updating to the states management module and producing a coloured bar placed at the beginning or at the end of the chosen word.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step h) further comprises the following steps:

receiving, by the events management module, in input the event related to the selection of button “

Select”

from lateral bar, determining the reaction of the application and sends such information to the states management module,

processing, by the states management module, such information and updating its own state,

requesting, by the interface management module, the data for the updating to the states management module and putting itself on wait for further events,

receiving, by the events management module, in input the event related to the selection of the chosen word among the buttons selectable in the lateral bar, determining the reaction of the application and sends such information to the states management module,

processing, by the states management module, such information and updating its own state, and

requesting, by the interface management module, data for updating to the states management module and colours the text comprised between the two words as feedback of the selection made.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprises:

performing an action chosen among group comprising;

erasing, insertion, formatting words or text portions.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprises:

performing an action chosen among group comprising;

erasing, insertion, formatting words or text portions.