Patents by Inventor Jeffrey S. Shell

Jeffrey S. Shell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10915171
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Publication number: 20200097078
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Patent number: 10296084
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Publication number: 20170371407
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Publication number: 20160103486
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Publication number: 20150042555
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Patent number: 8672482
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell, Conner Dickie
  • Publication number: 20130231938
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Patent number: 8322856
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Publication number: 20120268367
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Roel VERTEGAAL, Jeffrey S. SHELL
  • Publication number: 20120078623
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Patent number: 8096660
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Patent number: 7963652
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for eye gaze tracking in human or animal subjects without calibration of cameras, specific measurements of eye geometries, or tracking of a cursor image on a screen by the subject through a known trajectory. One embodiment provides a method for tracking a user's eye gaze at a surface, object, or visual scene, comprising: providing an imaging device for acquiring images of at least one of the user's eves: modeling, measuring, estimating, and/or calibrating for the user's head position: providing one or more markers associated with the surface, object, or visual scene for producing corresponding glints or reflections in the user's eyes; analyzing the images to find said glints or reflections and/or the pupil: and determining eye gaze of the user upon a said one or more marker as indicative of the user's eye gaze at the surface, object, or visual scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Changuk Sohn, Daniel Cheng, Victor MacFarlane, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Publication number: 20110043617
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Patent number: 7809160
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for eye gaze tracking in human or animal subjects without calibration of cameras, specific measurements of eye geometries or the tracking of a cursor image on a screen by the subject through a known trajectory. One embodiment includes one uncalibrated camera for acquiring video images of the subject's eye(s) and optionally having an on-axis illuminator, and a surface, object, or visual scene with embedded off-axis illuminator markers. The off-axis markers are reflected on the corneal surface of the subject's eyes as glints. The glints indicate the distance between the point of gaze in the surface, object, or visual scene and the corresponding marker on the surface, object, or visual scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Changuk Sohn, Daniel Cheng, Victor Macfarlane, Jeffrey S. Shell
  • Patent number: 7762665
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Roel Vertegaal, Jeffrey S. Shell