Gaze-Based Region of Interest Detection in Virtual Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional market research techniques for determining customer interest in virtual environments are labor-intensive, prone to inaccuracies, and intrusive, lacking privacy and customer friendliness due to manual data recording and limited employee capacity.

Innovation Solution

A method and system using a head-mounted device and computing device to map RGB textures with alpha channels, modifying color and alpha values based on user viewing direction and gaze duration to generate images that determine regions of interest in virtual environments, providing an efficient and user-friendly solution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual data recording by employees is used, then customer movement data can be collected, but the process becomes labor-intensive and prone to inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of customer movement dataVSAvoidmanual recording process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical recording by employees with an automated electronic tracking system using head-mounted devices, sensors, and computing hardware to capture and process customer movement data, eliminating human error and labor-intensive processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service data collection where customers wear head-mounted devices that automatically track their own movements, viewing direction, and gaze duration without requiring external observers, making the data collection process autonomous and accurate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If employees record customer movements manually, then some customer data can be captured, but the coverage is limited to specific locations due to finite employee numbers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer movement data collection efficiencyVSAvoidcoverage area of data collection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The head-mounted device serves multiple functions simultaneously - tracking customer position, determining viewing direction, measuring gaze duration, and capturing movement patterns - enabling comprehensive data collection across the entire environment with a single device rather than requiring multiple observers in different locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If surveys and shopping diaries are used, then customer travel patterns can be recorded, but customer privacy is compromised and customer experience is interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer travel pattern informationVSAvoidimpact on customer privacy and experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces intrusive manual surveys and shopping diaries with automated electronic tracking through head-mounted devices that objectively capture customer behavior data without requiring customer participation or awareness, thereby preserving privacy and avoiding interference with the customer experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10269134B2Method and system for determining a region of interest of a user in a virtual environment

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 DARVIS INC

AI summary

A method of determining a region of interest of a user in a virtual environment. The method includes providing at least one first image associated with the virtual environment on a virtual pattern and mapping an RGB texture including an alpha channel on the virtual pattern, wherein the RGB texture comprises a plurality of color channels. Furthermore, the method includes modifying color values of one or more pixels of a first color channel along a change in viewing direction of the user, and of one or more pixels of a second color channel based on a gaze duration along the change in viewing direction of the user. Moreover, the method includes generating an at least one second image based on the modified alpha value of the one or more pixels of the second color channel for determining the region of interest of the user in the virtual environment.