Two step gaze interaction

Abstract

A computer system can be controlled with non-contact inputs, such as eye-tracking devices. A computer can enlarge a portion of a display adjacent a first gaze target in response to detecting a first action (e.g., pressing a touchpad). The computer can then allow a user to position a second gaze target in the enlarged portion (e.g., by looking at the desired location) and perform a second action in order to perform a computer function at that location. The enlarging can allow a user to identify a desired location for a computer function (e.g., selecting an icon) with greater precision.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction, wherein the method comprises:
 determining a gaze point of a user on a user interface has remained on a particular area of the user interface for a first predetermined amount of time, wherein the particular area of the user interface is configured to accept a text string input; and   receiving an input from a non-gaze input device, and based upon the gaze point of the user remaining in the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time prior to receiving the input from the non-gaze input device, providing the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 changing an input focus from a different portion of the interface to the particular area upon receiving the input from the non-gaze input device.   
     
     
         3 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 1 , wherein determining the gaze point of the user has remained on the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time comprises:
 ignoring the gaze point of the user leaving the particular area for a second predetermined amount of time during the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         4 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to a non-gaze input device after the first predetermined amount of time, and continuing to provide the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface after the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         5 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 4 , wherein determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to a non-gaze input device comprises:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to below the user interface or a display on which the user interface is presented.   
     
     
         5 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 4 , wherein the non-gaze input device comprises:
 a keyboard below the user interface.   
     
     
         6 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 4 , wherein the non-gaze input device comprises:
 a touch display keyboard below the user interface.   
     
     
         7 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a web browser; and   the particular area comprises a Uniform Resource Locater field.   
     
     
         8 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a graphical user interface of an operating system; and   the particular area comprises a search field.   
     
     
         9 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a messaging interface; and   the particular area comprises a send field.   
     
     
         10 . The method for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a notification; and   the particular area comprises a response field.   
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction, wherein the instructions are executable by one or more processors for at least:
 determining a gaze point of a user on a user interface has remained on a particular area of the user interface for a first predetermined amount of time, wherein the particular area of the user interface is configured to accept a text string input; and   receiving an input from a non-gaze input device, and based upon the gaze point of the user remaining in the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time prior to receiving the input from the non-gaze input device, providing the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable for at least:
 changing an input focus from a different portion of the interface to the particular area upon receiving the input from the non-gaze input device.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein determining the gaze point of the user has remained on the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time comprises:
 ignoring the gaze point of the user leaving the particular area for a second predetermined amount of time during the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable for at least:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to a non-gaze input device after the first predetermined amount of time, and continuing to provide the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface after the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to a non-gaze input device comprises:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to below the user interface or a display on which the user interface is presented.   
     
     
         16 . A system for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction, wherein the system comprises:
 an eye tracking device for determining a gaze point of a user on a user interface;   at least one processor for at least:
 determining the gaze point of the user on the user interface has remained on a particular area of the user interface for a first predetermined amount of time, wherein the particular area of the user interface is configured to accept a text string input; and 
 determining that an input from a non-gaze input device has been received, and based upon the gaze point of the user remaining in the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time prior to receiving the input from the non-gaze input device, providing the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is further for at least:
 changing an input focus from a different portion of the interface to the particular area upon receiving the input from the non-gaze input device.   
     
     
         18 . The system for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 16 , wherein determining the gaze point of the user has remained on the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time comprises:
 ignoring the gaze point of the user leaving the particular area for a second predetermined amount of time during the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         19 . The system for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is further for at least:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to a non-gaze input device after the first predetermined amount of time, and continuing to provide the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface after the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         20 . The system for providing input to a user interface using a gaze interaction of  claim 19 , wherein determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to a non-gaze input device comprises:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to below the user interface or a display on which the user interface is presented.