Systems and methods for providing audio to a user based on gaze input

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016132289-A1
Application number	US-201514982844-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 29, 2015
Priority date	Aug 23, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for providing audio to a user is disclosed. The method may include determining, with an eye tracking device, a gaze point of a user on a display. The method may also include causing, with a computer system, an audio device to produce audio to the user, where content of the audio may be based at least in part on the gaze point of the user on the display.

First claim

1 . A system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display, the system comprising:
an eye tracking device for at least determining a gaze point of a user on a display; a processor for at least:
causing audio to be produced to the user, wherein content of the audio is based at least in part on the gaze point of the user on the display;
determining a head position of the user or a change in head position of the user; and
causing a change in the content of the audio produced to the user based at least in part on the head position of the user or the change in head position of the user.

2 . The system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wearable device, wherein the wearable device is configured to be worn by the user and comprises:
the eye tracking device; and
the display.

3 . The system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 2 , further comprising:
an audio device for producing audio to the user.

4 . The system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 3 , wherein the wearable device further comprises:
the audio device.

5 . The system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further for at least:
determining how many sound channels are produced by the audio device; and wherein causing the change in the content of the audio produced to the user is further based at least in part on the number of sound channels produced by the audio device.

6 . The system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 5 , wherein the sound channels comprise:
real sound channels or simulated sound channels.

7 . The system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 1 , wherein the head position of the usercomprises at least one selection from a group consisting of:
position of the user's head; tilt of the user's head; and orientation of the user's head.

8 . The system for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 1 , wherein determining the head position of the user or the change in head position of the user comprises
determining a position and/or orientation of the user's eyes, or a change in the position and/or orientation of the user's eyes.

9 . A method for providing audio to a user gazing at a display, the method comprising:
determining a gaze point of a user on a display; causing audio to be produced to the user, wherein content of the audio is based at least in part on the gaze point of the user on the display; determining a head position of the user or a change in head position of the user; and causing a change in the content of the audio produced to the user based at least in part on the head position of the user or the change in head position of the user.

10 . The method for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 9 , further comprising:
producing audio to the user.

11 . The method for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 9 , wherein:
the method further comprises determining how many sound channels are produced by the audio device; and wherein causing the change in the content of the audio produced to the user is further based at least in part on the number of sound channels produced by the audio device.

12 . The method for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 11 , wherein the sound channels comprise:
real sound channels or simulated sound channels.

13 . The method for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 9 , wherein the head position of the usercomprises at least one selection from a group consisting of:
position of the user's head; tilt of the user's head; and orientation of the user's head.

14 . The method for providing audio to a user gazing at a display of claim 9 , wherein determining the head position of the user or the change in head position of the user comprises
determining a position and/or orientation of the user's eyes, or a change in the position and/or orientation of the user's eyes.

15 . A non-transitory machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon for providing audio to a user gazing at a display, the instructions executable by one or more processors for at least:
determining a gaze point of a user on a display; causing audio to be produced to the user, wherein content of the audio is based at least in part on the gaze point of the user on the display; determining a head position of the user or a change in head position of the user; and causing a change in the content of the audio produced to the user based at least in part on the head position of the user or the change in head position of the user.

16 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable for at least:
producing audio to the user.

17 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
The instructions are further executable for at least determining how many sound channels are produced by the audio device; and wherein causing the change in the content of the audio produced to the user is further based at least in part on the number of sound channels produced by the audio device.

18 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the sound channels comprise:
real sound channels or simulated sound channels.

19 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the head position of the usercomprises at least one selection from a group consisting of:
position of the user's head; tilt of the user's head; and orientation of the user's head.

20 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the head position of the user or the change in head position of the user comprises
determining a position and/or orientation of the user's eyes, or a change in the position and/or orientation of the user's eyes.

Assignees

• Tobii Ab

Inventors

• Vennström Anders
• Lindh Fredrik

Classifications

• H04S7/308

  Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection · CPC title

• G06F3/013

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

• G06F3/165 Primary

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• H04S7/307 Primary

  Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control (H04S7/301 takes precedence) · CPC title