Eye Tracking Communication Setup via Gaze Duration Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication methods require manual interactions such as selecting contacts or using voice assistants, which can be cumbersome and may not be accessible for individuals with disabilities or those who need to maintain hand use for work, and also pose risks of germ transmission.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing eye tracking systems to analyze gaze direction, allowing communication initiation by focusing on specific areas of a device for a threshold duration, eliminating the need for physical contact or voice commands, and enabling bidirectional communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual interactions (selecting contacts, voice commands) are used to establish communication, then communication can be established, but the process requires multiple manipulations and is not accessible for individuals with disabilities or those who need to maintain hand use for work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical interactions (touching buttons, typing) and voice commands with an optical detection system that tracks eye movements. The camera captures eye position and the system automatically determines gaze direction to identify selected contacts, eliminating the need for manual manipulation while reducing establishment time to a single sustained gaze action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting and tracking the user's gaze direction without requiring active input. The eye tracking system continuously monitors eye position and automatically identifies the area of interest, allowing the communication device to self-determine user intent without manual intervention or voice commands.
2Ease of operation
If manual contact with the device is required to establish communication, then communication can be initiated, but it poses risks of germ transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical contact with the device (touching screens, buttons) with non-contact optical detection. The camera-based eye tracking system detects gaze direction from a distance, allowing users to initiate communication without touching any surfaces, thereby eliminating germ transmission risks while maintaining full communication initiation capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If voice assistants are used to establish communication, then hands-free operation is achieved, but language and transcription requirements limit accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the language processing requirement entirely from the communication initiation process. Instead of requiring voice recognition, text-to-speech conversion, or natural language interpretation, the system uses purely optical eye movement detection to identify user intent, eliminating complex language processing while improving accessibility for users with speech or language impairments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables hands-free communication, reduces germ transmission risks, and allows for quick emergency contact establishment, optimizing response times and accessibility without language or transcription requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The most common eye trackers analyze images of the human eye as captured by a camera, often in infrared light
Data Source
AI summary
A method for setting up a communication intended for at least one terminal of at least one second user via analysis of eye movements of a first user. The method is implemented by a device for setting up a communication via analysis of the eye movements of the first user. The device possesses at least one camera, and at least one region of interest is associated, via an identification datum, with the at least one terminal of the at least one second user. The method includes: capturing eye movements with the camera; analysing the captured eye movements; evaluating a duration for which the analysis of the eye movements indicates that a gaze of the user remains directed towards the region of interest; and, when the evaluation indicates that this duration is longer than a threshold, transmitting at least one first message to the at least one terminal identified via the identification datum.