US6437758B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for eyetrack—mediated downloading
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
•
Filing: 1996-06-25
•
Granted: 2002-08-20
•
Expires: 2016-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to use gaze-tracking devices to determine an area of a display screen of most interest to a user and if that area of interest has a bandwidth allocation of increasing that allocation. Thus, the data transfers of interest to the user receive a larger bandwidth allocation than the data transfers that do not interest the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Jakob Nielsen
- 👤 Bruce Tognazzini
- 👤 Robert Glass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011; G06F3/013; H; H04; H04L; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/75; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A computer controlled method for altering bandwidth allocation when downloading information to a computer for display to a user; said computer having a display device, a network interface to a network, a gaze-tracking device, and a bandwidth allocation mechanism; said gaze-tracking device determining a gaze position on said display device; said computer controlled method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying an area of interest to said user on said display device using said gaze position; (b) determining an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and (c) increasing said existing bandwidth allocation to said area of interest.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer controlled method for altering bandwidth allocation when downloading information to a computer for display to a user; said computer having a display device, a network interface to a network, a gaze-tracking device, and a bandwidth allocation mechanism; said gaze-tracking device determining a gaze position on said display device; said computer controlled method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying an area of interest to said user on said display device using said gaze position; (b) determining an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and (c) increasing said existing bandwidth allocation to said area of interest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises the steps of: (a1) receiving said gaze position from said gaze-tracking device; (a2) establishing an intersection between said gaze position and a view on said display device; and (a3) determining said area of interest from said view.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer controlled method of claim 2 wherein said view contains text and step (a3) comprises the steps of: (a3.1) locating a large data entity view near said view; and (a3.2) designating said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer controlled method of claim 2 wherein said view contains text and wherein (a3) comprises the steps of: (a3.1) determining a linkage from said view to a large data entity view; and (a3.2) designating said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer controlled method of claim 2 wherein said view contains a partially downloaded still image and step (a3) comprises the step of designating said view as said area of interest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer controlled method of claim 2 wherein said view contains at least one frame of a moving image and step (a3) comprises the step of designating said view as said area of interest.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer controlled method of claim 6 further comprising: initiating playback of said moving image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
An information access apparatus configured to access information; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a network interface to provide access to a network, a display device, a gaze-tracking device, and a bandwidth allocation mechanism; said gaze-tracking device for determining a gaze position on said display device; said information access apparatus comprising: an identification mechanism configured to identify an area of interest on said display device using said gaze position; a determination mechanism configured to determine an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and a increase bandwidth mechanism configured to increase said existing bandwidth allocation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
An information access apparatus configured to access information; said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a network interface to provide access to a network, a display device, a gaze-tracking device, and a bandwidth allocation mechanism; said gaze-tracking device for determining a gaze position on said display device; said information access apparatus comprising: an identification mechanism configured to identify an area of interest on said display device using said gaze position; a determination mechanism configured to determine an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and a increase bandwidth mechanism configured to increase said existing bandwidth allocation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The information access apparatus of claim 8 wherein said identification mechanism comprises: a gaze reception mechanism configured to receive said gaze position from said gaze-tracking device; an intersection establishment mechanism configured to establish an intersection between said gaze position and a view on said display device; and an interest determination mechanism configured to determine said area of interest from said view.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The information access apparatus of claim 9 wherein said view contains text and said interest determination mechanism comprises: a large data entity view location mechanism configured to locate a large data entity view near said view; and an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The information access apparatus of claim 9 wherein said view contains text and said interest determination mechanism comprises: a linkage determination mechanism configured to locate a linkage to a large data entity view from said view; and an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The information access apparatus of claim 9 wherein said view contains a partially downloaded still image and said interest determination mechanism further comprises an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said view as said area of interest.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The information access apparatus of claim 9 wherein said view contains at least one frame of a moving image and said interest determination mechanism comprises an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said view as said area of interest.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The information access apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a playback initiation mechanism configured to initiate playback of said moving image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
An information access system configured to access information; system having a network interface to provide access to a network, a display device, a gaze-tracking device for determining a gaze position on said display device and a bandwidth allocation mechanism; said information access system comprising: an identification mechanism configured to identify an area of interest on said display device; a determination mechanism configured to determine an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and an increase bandwidth mechanism configured to increase said existing bandwidth allocation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
An information access system configured to access information; system having a network interface to provide access to a network, a display device, a gaze-tracking device for determining a gaze position on said display device and a bandwidth allocation mechanism; said information access system comprising: an identification mechanism configured to identify an area of interest on said display device; a determination mechanism configured to determine an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and an increase bandwidth mechanism configured to increase said existing bandwidth allocation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The information access system of claim 15 wherein said identification mechanism comprises: a gaze reception mechanism configured to receive said gaze position from said gaze-tracking device; an intersection establishment mechanism configured to establish an intersection between said gaze position and a view on said display device; and an interest determination mechanism configured to determine said area of interest from said view.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The information access system of claim 16 wherein said view contains text and said interest determination mechanism comprises: a large data entity view location mechanism configured to locate a large data entity view near said view; and an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The information access system of claim 16 wherein said view contains text and said interest determination mechanism further comprises: a linkage determination mechanism configured to locate a linkage to a large data entity view from said view; and an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The information access system of claim 16 wherein said view contains a partially downloaded still image and said interest determination mechanism further comprises an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said view as said area of interest.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The information access system of claim 16 wherein said view contains at least one frame of a moving image and said interest determination mechanism further comprises an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said view as said area of interest.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The information access system of claim 20 further comprising a playback initiation mechanism configured to initiate playback of said moving image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product comprising: (a) a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to access information; said computer readable code comprising: (b) computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an identification mechanism configured to identify an area of interest on a display device using said gaze position; computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a determination mechanism configured to determine an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an increase bandwidth mechanism configured to increase said existing bandwidth allocation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product comprising: (a) a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to access information; said computer readable code comprising: (b) computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an identification mechanism configured to identify an area of interest on a display device using said gaze position; computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a determination mechanism configured to determine an existing bandwidth allocation directed to said area of interest; and computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an increase bandwidth mechanism configured to increase said existing bandwidth allocation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
94 words
The computer program product of claim 22 wherein said identification mechanism comprises: computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a gaze reception mechanism configured to receive said gaze position from said gaze-tracking device; computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an intersection establishment mechanism configured to establish an intersection between said gaze position and a view on said display device; and computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an interest determination mechanism configured to determine said area of interest from said view.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said view contains text and said interest determination mechanism comprises: computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a large data entity view location mechanism configured to locate a large data entity view near said view; and computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said view contains text and said interest determination mechanism comprises: computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a linkage determination mechanism configured to locate a linkage to a large data entity view from said view; and computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said large data entity view as said area of interest.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said view contains a partially downloaded still image and said interest determination mechanism comprises computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said view as said area of interest.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said view contains at least one frame of a moving image and said interest determination mechanism further comprises computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an area of interest designation mechanism configured to designate said view as said area of interest.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a playback initiation mechanism configured to initiate playback of said moving image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4028725A
Cited
US4513317A
Cited
US4946271A
Cited
US5317689A
Cited
US4790028A
Cited
US4984179A
Cited
US4878046A
Cited
US5027110A
Cited
JPH02179081A
Cited
US5537132A
Cited
JPH0467093A
Cited
JPH0493887A
Cited
EP0502643A2
Cited
US5467104A
Cited
US5422653A
Cited
US5682525A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-19 | 2006-02-18 | 2006-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-19 | 2010-02-18 | 2010-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-19 | 2014-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |