Methods and apparatuses for monitoring attention of a user during a collaboration session

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect devices participating in a collaboration session; monitor the devices for an attribute corresponding to an attention level of each of the devices; and determine whether each device is active based on the attention level.

1 . A method comprising: 
 detecting devices participating in a collaboration session;    monitoring the devices for an attribute corresponding to an attention level of each of the devices; and    determining whether each device is active based on the attention level.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising storing the attention level and corresponding attribute for each device with a record associated with each device.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising presenting content during the collaboration session.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the attribute is a location of content on each device during the collaboration session wherein the content is utilized during the collaboration session.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the attribute is a frequency of interfacing with each device during the collaboration session.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the attribute is a duration of interfacing with each device during the collaboration session.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising comparing the attention level with a predetermined threshold to determine whether each device is active.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising scoring a plurality of attributes.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising generating the attention level from scoring the plurality of attributes.  
   
   
       10 . A system, comprising: 
 a storage module configured to store a record containing an attention attribute associated with a device participating in a collaboration session;    a content detection module configured to detect a location of content utilized by the device wherein the content is utilized during the collaboration session and the location of the content contributes to the attention attribute; and    a scoring module configured to generate an attention level for the device based on the attention attribute.    
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 10  wherein storage module is configured to store the attention level for the device.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 10  further comprising an interface detection module configured to detect an input from the device during the collaboration session and contributes to the attention attribute.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the input from the device is initiated from a pointing device.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the input from the device is an audio signal.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 10  further comprising a duration module configured to detect a duration of the content in a particular location.  
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 10  wherein the location of the content refers to a particular location on a display of the device.  
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 10  wherein the location of the content refers to a priority order of the content relative to other content displayed on the device.  
   
   
       18 . A system comprising: 
 means for detecting devices participating in a collaboration session;    means for monitoring the devices for an attribute corresponding to an attention level of each of the devices; and    means for determining whether each device is active based on the attention level.    
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 18  wherein the means for determining includes a scoring module configured to weigh a plurality of attributes corresponding to the device.  
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 18  wherein the means for determining includes a comparing module configured to compare the attention level with a predetermined threshold.