Method for operating user functions based on eye tracking and mobile device adapted thereto

Abstract

An eye tracking based user function controlling method and a mobile device adapted thereto are provided. A camera unit of a mobile device is activated while a specific user function is executed. A gaze angle of a user's eye is acquired from an image obtained via the camera unit. An eye tracking function is executed in which execution state is controlled according to the gaze angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 identifying, at an electronic device, a direction of a user's body part facing toward a display of the electronic device;   determining a time period for which the direction of the user's body part is maintained;   executing a first function based at least in part on a determination that the time period satisfies a specified time period; and   executing a second function based at least in part on a determination that the time period does not satisfy the specified time period.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to the direction being identified, activating an eye tracking mode based at least in part on a determination that a specified application is executed.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing of the first function comprises:
 adjusting a level of illumination of the display or a volume of an audio content to be presented at the electronic device based at least in part on the time period.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises:
 detecting a gaze angle of a user's face as the user's body part.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the user's face comprises one of more eyes, a nose, a eyebrow, a jaw line or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing of the second function comprises:
 pausing or terminating execution of an application.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing of the first function comprises:
 moving an image object on the display based at least in part on the time period.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing of the first function comprises:
 maintaining a current screen of the display while the direction toward the display.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises:
 detecting presence of a face from the user's body part;   automatically focusing on an iris in the face; and   acquiring a gaze of the iris.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing of the first function comprises:
 executing an application related to a graphic object on the display if the direction toward the graphic object.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a camera unit;   a display; and   a controller operatively coupled with the camera unit, the controller configured to:   identify a direction of a user's body part facing toward the display;   determine a time period for which the direction of the user's body part is maintained;   execute a first function based at least in part on a determination that the time period satisfies a specified time period; and   execute a second function based at least in part on a determination that the time period does not satisfy the specified time period.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein controller is configured to:
 manage a list of functions associated with eye tracking.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 reduce an illumination level of the display or inactivated the display if the direction facing toward the display.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 inactivate the camera unit if the display is turned off or an application being executed at the apparatus is terminated.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 pause or terminate execution of an application if the direction facing toward the display.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 change the state of a touch panel of the apparatus based at least in part on the direction.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein controller is configure to:
 control the camera unit to automatically focus on an iris, a nose, an eyebrow or a jaw line of the user's face to acquire the direction.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 execute the first function or the second function related to an object on the display if the direction indicates that the user's face toward the object.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 execute the first function or the second function to move a graphic object on the display based at least in part on the time period.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 identifying, at an electronic device, a direction of a user's body part facing toward a display of the electronic device;   determining a time period for which the direction of the user's body part is maintained;   executing a first function based at least in part on a determination that the time period satisfies a specified time period; and   executing a second function based at least in part on a determination that the time period does not satisfy the specified time period.