IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,996,221
Granted Patent B2
US 9,996,221 · App. 14/556,668 · Granted Jun 12, 2018

Systems and methods for look-initiated communication

Inventors: Brian Adams Ballard (Herndon, VA); James Leighton Athey (Washington, DC); Edward Robert English (Falls Church, VA); Todd Richard Reily (Stoneham, MA); Harold Ronald Villanueva Tagunicar (Falls Church, VA); Michael Anthony Sciscenti (Ashburn, VA)
Assignee: Upskill, Inc.
G06F3/0482A45C11/00G02B27/0093G02B27/017G06F1/163G06F3/012G06F3/013G06F3/017G06F3/0346G06F3/0485G06F3/0487G06F3/04812G06F3/04817G06F3/04842G06F3/04883G06F3/167G06F21/71H04L12/1822H04L67/18H04M1/72569H04N5/2252H04N5/23293H04W4/08H04W12/08H04W76/02A45C2011/002G02B2027/014G02B2027/0138G02B2027/0141G02B2027/0178G06F3/0486G06F3/04845G06F3/04847
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,996,221
App. No.
14/556,668
Granted
Jun 12, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods allow a user to interact with an augmented reality device. In one implementation, a wearable device establishes a communication path with a user of the wearable device and at least one individual. The wearable device includes a display; at least one sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a viewing direction of the user; and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device is configured to monitor the viewing direction of the user based on the output of the at least one sensor; determine, based on the monitored viewing direction, whether the user is looking in the direction of the at least one individual; and establish the communication path between the user and the at least one individual if the user is determined to be looking in the direction of the at least one individual.

Claims (8)

1. A wearable device for establishing a communication path with a user of the wearable device and at least one individual, the wearable device comprising:

a display;

at least one sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a viewing direction of the user; and

at least one processing device configured to:

monitor the viewing direction of the user based on the output of the at least one sensor;

determine, based on the monitored viewing direction, whether the user is looking in the direction of the at least one individual; and

establish the communication path between the user and the at least one individual if the user is determined to be looking in the direction of the at least one individual;

wherein determining, based on the monitored viewing direction, whether the user is looking in the direction of the at least one individual includes: tracking a time duration during which the gaze of the user's eyes is in the direction of the at least one individual; and determining that the time duration is greater than a predetermined dwell threshold.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNEE CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 8, 2017
From: UPSKILL, INC.
To: UPSKILL, INC.
Reel/Frame 044396/0362 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2017
From: UPSKILL, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 043340/0227 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 10, 2017
From: APX LABS, INC.
To: UPSKILL, INC.
Reel/Frame 041974/0910 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2015
From: BALLARD, BRIAN ADAMS; ATHEY, JAMES LEIGHTON; ENGLISH, EDWARD ROBERT; REILY, TODD RICHARD; TAGUNICAR, HAROLD RONALD VILLANUEVA; SCISCENTI, MICHAEL ANTHONY
To: APX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 034876/0136 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 61910419 · Dec 1, 2013
Provisional Application 61910425 · Dec 1, 2013
Provisional Application 62043759 · Aug 29, 2014
Related Publication 20150156803A1 · Jun 4, 2015