Gaze Detection Using Standard Cameras for Secure Content Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gaze tracking systems are complex and require specialized equipment, making them inaccessible for everyday user applications and security functionalities that rely on accurate gaze detection and contextual data analysis.

Innovation Solution

A gaze detection and application system that uses commercially available camera and display devices to determine gaze points, contexts, and securely display sensitive contents, employing a simple calibration process and machine learning models for data analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If specialized equipment is used for gaze tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses commercially available camera devices to capture images of the display screen and user's eye, creating a simplified copy of the gaze tracking function without requiring specialized expensive equipment. The camera captures both the display content and eye position simultaneously, resolving the contradiction by achieving adequate measurement precision through a much simpler device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical gaze tracking systems with a software-based image processing approach. By capturing images with a standard camera and using coordinate mapping algorithms to determine gaze position from eye image analysis, the system achieves functional equivalence without mechanical complexity, resolving the contradiction between precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If specialized equipment is used for gaze tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze detection accuracyVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses commercially available camera devices to capture images of the display screen and user's eye, creating a simplified copy of the gaze tracking function without requiring specialized expensive equipment. The camera captures both the display content and eye position simultaneously, resolving the contradiction by achieving adequate measurement precision through a much simpler device configuration that is accessible to everyday users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system includes automated calibration functionality where the user simply views calibration points displayed on the screen and the system automatically adjusts parameters to optimize gaze detection accuracy for that specific user and device configuration. This self-calibrating approach eliminates the need for complex manual setup procedures, making the system easy to operate while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If complex systems are used for gaze tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze detection accuracyVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system includes automated calibration functionality where the user simply views calibration points displayed on the screen and the system automatically adjusts parameters to optimize gaze detection accuracy for that specific user and device configuration. This self-calibrating approach eliminates the need for complex manual setup procedures, reducing setup time while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a calibration process that is performed once during initial setup, where the system captures images at known display locations to establish coordinate mappings. These pre-computed mappings are then reused for all subsequent gaze tracking operations, eliminating the need for repeated calibration and significantly reducing time loss while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If commercially available devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidgaze detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses commercially available camera devices to capture images of the display screen and user's eye, creating a simplified copy of the gaze tracking function without requiring specialized expensive equipment. The camera captures both the display content and eye position simultaneously, resolving the contradiction by achieving adequate measurement precision through a much simpler device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical gaze tracking systems with a software-based image processing approach. By capturing images with a standard camera and using coordinate mapping algorithms to determine gaze position from eye image analysis, the system achieves functional equivalence without mechanical complexity, resolving the contradiction between precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

5Measurement precision

If more computational resources are allocated, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze detection accuracyVSAvoidcomputational energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for gaze detection from the captured images - specifically identifying key features like the pupil center and corneal reflection points. By processing only these critical features rather than analyzing the entire image data set, the system maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing computational energy requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a calibration process that is performed once during initial setup, where the system captures images at known display locations to establish coordinate mappings. These pre-computed mappings are then reused for all subsequent gaze tracking operations, eliminating the need for repeated calibration and significantly reducing time loss while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12242580B1Gaze detection and application
Publication Date: 2025.03.04 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
  • US12242580B1 patent drawing
  • US12242580B1 patent drawing
  • US12242580B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A gaze detection and application system can determine gaze points for user gazes, determine the contexts of gaze points, and customize contents on display devices, such as by making them visible. The gaze detection and application system can use camera devices to determine a display point (the “gaze point”) corresponding to where a user is currently gazing at in real-time on a display device. In some implementations, the gaze detection and application system can determine whether the gaze point is in proximity to sensitive contents hidden on the display device. The gaze detection and application system can identify subjects within a camera frame and can determine whether the identified subjects are permitted to access the sensitive contents. If the subjects are permitted, then the gaze detection and application system can make the sensitive contents visible on the display device.