EYE TRACKING FOR AUTOMATICALLY UPDATING DOCUMENT STATUS

• US 20150261292A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Conzola, Vincent Charles, Schantz, Daniel Jordan
• Granted Patent: US 9,829,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

An embodiment provides a method, including: receiving data relating to a focus of user gaze; associating, using a processor, the focus of user gaze with at least one predetermined area within a document displayed in a display device; and responsive to the associating, automatically updating a document status based on the focus of user gaze. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data relating to a focus of user gaze;

associating, using a processor, the focus of user gaze with at least one predetermined area within a document displayed in a display device; and

responsive to said associating, automatically updating a document status based on the focus of user gaze.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating a document status comprises marking the document as read.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the document is selected from the group of documents consisting of an email, an SMS text message, an instant message, and an electronically presented user agreement.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the focus of user gaze with at least one additional predetermined area within the document prior to automatically updating a document status based on the focus of user gaze.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the focus of user gaze is associated with the at least one predetermined area within the document for at least a predetermined time prior to automatically updating a document status based on the focus of user gaze.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication that the focus of user gaze must be associated with the at least one predetermined area within the document prior to updating the document status.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication is a visual indication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating a document status comprises activating a user interface option allowing a user to mark the document as read.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a display device;

a sensor;

a processor operatively coupled to the sensor and the display device; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

receive data relating to a focus of user gaze;

associate the focus of user gaze with at least one predetermined area within a document displayed in the display device; and

responsive to said association, automatically update a document status based on the focus of user gaze.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein to automatically update a document status comprises marking the document as read.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the document is selected from the group of documents consisting of an email, an SMS text message, an instant message, and an electronically presented user agreement.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to associate the focus of user gaze with at least one additional predetermined area within the document prior to automatically updating a document status based on the focus of user gaze.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to determine that the focus of user gaze is associated with the at least one predetermined area within the document for at least a predetermined time prior to automatically updating a document status based on the focus of user gaze.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

provide an indication that the focus of user gaze must be associated with the at least one predetermined area within the document prior to updating the document status.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the indication is a visual indication.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein to automatically update a document status comprises activating a user interface option allowing a user to mark the document as read.

17. A product, comprising:

a storage device having code stored therewith, the code being executable by a processor and comprising;

code that receives data relating to a focus of user gaze;

code that associates the focus of user gaze with at least one predetermined area within a document displayed in a display device; and

code that, responsive to said association, automatically updates a document status based on the focus of user gaze.

18. The product of claim 17, wherein to automatically update a document status comprises marking the document as read.

19. The product of claim 17, wherein the document is selected from the group of documents consisting of an email, an SMS text message, an instant message, and an electronically presented user agreement.

20. The product of claim 17, wherein the code further comprises code that determines the focus of user gaze is associated with the at least one predetermined area within the document for at least a predetermined time prior to automatically updating a document status based on the focus of user gaze.