US5850211A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Eyetrack-driven scrolling
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-26
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Granted: 1998-12-15
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Expires: 2016-06-26
Abstract
Abstract Scrolling of page oriented or continuous information is initiated or controlled based on where a viewer's eyes are looking as detected by an eyetracker. Scrolling rate can be gradually changed based on how far down a screen of text a reader has read, so that a reader will not run out of text. Selection of objects to scroll is also accomplished using the eyetracker. Page and scroll objects can be defined on the display and activated by a user's gaze. A change of background color may be used to make a user aware that a page change is imminent.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Tognazzini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011; G06F3/013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for controlling information on a display, comprising: a. a computer; b. a display connected to said computer; c. an eyetracker connected to said computer for detecting a location on said display at which a user's eyes are looking; and d. a controller to change information content on said display as a function of said location in which said information content on said display is changed by scrolling at a rate which is a function of a relationship between said location and a reference position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for controlling information on a display, comprising: a. a computer; b. a display connected to said computer; c. an eyetracker connected to said computer for detecting a location on said display at which a user's eyes are looking; and d. a controller to change information content on said display as a function of said location in which said information content on said display is changed by scrolling at a rate which is a function of a relationship between said location and a reference position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said function is a linear function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said function is an exponential function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said function is a discontinuous function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus of claim 4 in which transitions between regions of said discontinuous function are smoothed so that changes in rate of scrolling occur without substantial distraction to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for controlling information on a display, comprising: a. a computer; b. a display connected to said computer; c. an eyetracker connected to said computer for detecting a location on said display at which a user's eyes are looking; and d. a controller to change information content on said display as a function of said location in which said information content on said display is changed by paging in response to a user's gaze.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for controlling information on a display, comprising: a. a computer; b. a display connected to said computer; c. an eyetracker connected to said computer for detecting a location on said display at which a user's eyes are looking; and d. a controller to change information content on said display as a function of said location in which said information content on said display is changed by paging in response to a user's gaze.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus of claim 6 in which paging is initiated by a user looking at a particular area of the screen for a particular duration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus of claim 6 in which scrolling within a page is accomplished by looking at an area of the screen for a particular duration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus of claim 6 in which changing the information content on said display is initiated by looking at an icon for a predetermined duration.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and b. providing an element for performing the step of scrolling information content on said display as a function of said location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and b. providing an element for performing the step of scrolling information content on said display as a function of said location.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, b. providing an element for performing the step of selecting a text object based on said location, and providing an element for performing the step of scrolling information content displayed in said text object as a function of said location.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, b. providing an element for performing the step of selecting a text object based on said location, and providing an element for performing the step of scrolling information content displayed in said text object as a function of said location.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, b. providing an element for performing the step of selecting a text object based on said location, and providing an element for performing the step of deselecting said text object when a user's eyes leave said text object for a certain amount of time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, b. providing an element for performing the step of selecting a text object based on said location, and providing an element for performing the step of deselecting said text object when a user's eyes leave said text object for a certain amount of time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and b. providing an element for performing the step of changing a display color as the user's eye's approach a page boundary.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and b. providing an element for performing the step of changing a display color as the user's eye's approach a page boundary.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
58 words
A system for displaying information, comprising: a. a network; and b. a plurality of computers connected to said network, at least one of said computers having an eyetracker and configured for detecting a location on a display at which a user's eyes are looking and for scrolling information content on said display as a function of said location.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
58 words
A system for displaying information, comprising: a. a network; and b. a plurality of computers connected to said network, at least one of said computers having an eyetracker and configured for detecting a location on a display at which a user's eyes are looking and for scrolling information content on said display as a function of said location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program product for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and for scrolling information content on said display as a function of said location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program product for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and for scrolling information content on said display as a function of said location.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program product for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and for changing a display color as the user's eye's approach a page boundary.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program product for controlling information on a display of a computer having an eyetracker, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for identifying a location on said display to which a user's eyes are directed, and for changing a display color as the user's eye's approach a page boundary.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4513317A
Cited
US5367315A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |