Smart display apparatus and control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10528817-B2
Application number	US-201715839091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2017
Priority date	Dec 12, 2017
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A computer-implemented method executed by a processor for reducing exposure of a plurality of objects to environmental conditions by employing a smart room tracking system is presented. The computer-implemented method includes counting a number of individuals within a space including the plurality of objects via one or more image capture devices and determining whether each individual makes direct eye contact with any of the plurality of objects by evaluating orientation, posture, and eye movement of each individual. The computer-implemented method further includes shielding, via an object viewing controller, an object of the plurality of objects from view when no direct eye contact is determined and making an object of the plurality of objects viewable, via the object viewing controller, when direct eye contact is determined.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method executed by a processor for reducing exposure of a plurality of objects to environmental conditions by employing a smart room tracking system, the method comprising:
counting a number of individuals within a space including the plurality of objects via one or more image capture devices;
determining whether each individual makes direct eye contact with any of the plurality of objects by evaluating orientation, posture, and eye movement of each individual;
shielding, via an object viewing controller, an object of the plurality of objects from view when no direct eye contact is determined;
making an object of the plurality of objects viewable, via the object viewing controller, when direct eye contact is determined; and
determining a total number of objects of the plurality of objects viewed by each individual and a time duration for viewing the total number of objects.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning an access or privilege status to each individual, the access or privilege status employed to influence viewability status of each of the plurality of objects.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning viewability rules to each of the plurality of objects.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising evaluating each object of the plurality of objects for total exposure time during a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising limiting viewability of one or more of the plurality of objects based on whether the total exposure time has been exceeded.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a customized viewability profile for each individual and comparing customized viewability profiles of individuals to determine at least objects of strong or weak interest.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising predicting future objects to be viewed by an individual of the plurality of individuals based on current viewing patterns of the individual, predicting a time at which the individual views the future objects, and communicating predictions to at least object viewing controllers controlling the plurality of objects.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting and preventing unauthorized duplication or recording of the plurality of objects by each individual.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving feedback from each individual based on select objects of the plurality of objects viewed.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preventing viewing of objectionable objects of the plurality of objects based on at least group preferences indicated upon entry into the space.

11. A smart room tracking system for reducing exposure of a plurality of objects to environmental conditions, the system comprising:
one or more image capture devices for counting a number of individuals within a space including the plurality of objects;
a tracking device for determining whether each individual makes direct eye contact with any of the plurality of objects by evaluating orientation, posture, and eye movement of each individual; and
an object viewing controller for shielding an object of the plurality of objects from view when no direct eye contact is determined and making an object of the plurality of objects viewable when direct eye contact is determined,
wherein a determination is made as to a total number of objects of the plurality of objects viewed by each individual and a time duration for viewing the total number of objects.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein an access or privilege status is assigned to each individual, the access or privilege status employed to influence viewability status of each of the plurality of objects.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein viewability rules are assigned to each of the plurality of objects.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein each object of the plurality of objects is evaluated for total exposure time during a predetermined period of time.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein viewability of one or more of the plurality of objects is limited based on whether the total exposure time has been exceeded.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein a customized viewability profile is created for each individual and wherein customized viewability profiles of individuals are compared to determine at least objects of strong or weak interest.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein future objects to be viewed by an individual of the plurality of individuals is predicted based on current viewing patterns of the individual, a time at which the individual views the future objects is predicted, and predictions are communicated to at least object viewing controllers controlling the plurality of objects.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein unauthorized duplication or recording of the plurality of objects by each individual is detected and prevented.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein feedback is received from each individual based on select objects of the plurality of objects viewed.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for reducing exposure of a plurality of objects to environmental conditions by employing a smart room tracking system, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:
counting a number of individuals within a space including the plurality of objects via one or more image capture devices;
determining whether each individual makes direct eye contact with any of the plurality of objects by evaluating orientation, posture, and eye movement of each individual;
shielding, via an object viewing controller, an object of the plurality of objects from view when no direct eye contact is determined;
making an object of the plurality of objects viewable, via the object viewing controller, when direct eye contact is determined; and
determining a total number of objects of the plurality of objects viewed by each individual and a time duration for viewing the total number of objects.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Bergendahl Marc A
• Penny Christopher J
• Demarest James J
• Waskiewicz Christopher
• Wynne Jean
• Fry Jonathan

Classifications

• H04W4/70

  Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] · CPC title

• B60J3/04

  adjustable in transparency · CPC title

• E06B2009/2464

  featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels · CPC title

• H04W4/38

  for collecting sensor information · CPC title

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title