Terminal Mode Switching via Eye-Tracking Motion Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing terminal devices with camera-equipped eye-tracking functions face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption between active and sleep modes, as they lack a nuanced approach to transition between these modes based on user activity, leading to suboptimal power management and user convenience.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize eye-tracking technology to transition a terminal between active, standby, and inactive modes by detecting specific motion patterns, allowing the camera to acquire motion information in active and standby modes, and enabling seamless mode switching without manual input, thereby optimizing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the terminal uses traditional binary mode switching (active/sleep) based on simple key manipulation, then the device complexity is low, but the power management efficiency is insufficient and user convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower management efficiencyVSAvoidmode switching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sleep mode is segmented into two distinct states: standby mode (first sleep mode) and inactive mode (second sleep mode). This segmentation allows the terminal to achieve finer-grained power management by transitioning to different sleep depths based on eye-tracking detection results, thereby improving power management efficiency without requiring complex multi-mode architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses eye-tracking detection to automatically determine user presence and intent, enabling the terminal to autonomously transition between active, standby, and inactive modes without requiring manual user input. This self-service mechanism improves power management efficiency while keeping the interaction model simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the terminal continuously monitors user activity using eye-tracking in active mode, then the user convenience is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs eye-tracking detection periodically rather than continuously, specifically at predetermined time points during active mode. This periodic detection approach maintains user convenience by capturing user presence when needed, while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal performs eye-tracking detection in advance at predetermined time points to determine whether the user is present before transitioning to sleep modes. This preliminary action ensures that power management decisions are made based on up-to-date user presence information, maintaining user convenience while optimizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the terminal transitions directly from active mode to inactive mode, then the power consumption is reduced, but the user convenience is reduced due to loss of eye-tracking-based wake-up capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The transition path from active mode is segmented into two options: direct transition to inactive mode for power saving, or transition to standby mode first to preserve eye-tracking wake-up capability. This segmentation allows the system to optimize between power consumption and user convenience based on specific scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standby mode acts as an intermediary state between active mode and inactive mode. By introducing this intermediate state, the system can maintain eye-tracking detection capability during the transition, allowing users to wake up the device through eye movement before entering the deeper inactive sleep mode, thus preserving user convenience while still achieving significant power savings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3036599B1Mode switching method and apparatus of terminal
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3036599B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3036599B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3036599B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A mode switching method and apparatus of a terminal including a camera for acquiring motion information of a user and a plurality of operation modes for power management is provided. The mode switching method includes transitioning, when a motion of a first pattern is detected by the camera, the terminal from an active mode to a standby mode, transitioning, when a motion of a second pattern is detected by the camera, the terminal from the standby mode to an inactive mode, and transitioning, when a first mode switching input is detected in the inactive mode, from the inactive mode to the active mode, wherein the camera acquires the motion information of the user in at least one of the active mode and the standby mode.