Systems and methods for look-initiated communication

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.

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 in determining, based on the monitored viewing direction, whether the user is looking in the direction of the at least one individual, the at least one processing device is configured to:
 track a time duration during which the gaze of the user's eyes is in the direction of the at least one individual; and 
 determine that the time duration is greater than a predetermined dwell threshold, and 
   wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to determine, based on a comparison of collected image data, including a representation of at least a portion of the at least one individual, with stored image data, whether the at least one individual is a recognized person and establish the communication path between the user and the at least one individual if the at least one individual is a recognized person.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication path includes a cellular connection. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication path includes a Wi-Fi connection. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication path includes a radio connection. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one individual includes a group of people, and wherein the at least one processing device is configured to establish the communication path between the user and the group of people if the user is determined to be looking in the direction of one or more members of the group of people. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to recognize a graphical icon associated with the at least one individual and establish the communication path between the user and the at least one individual if the user is looking at the recognized graphical icon associated with the at least one individual. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the viewing direction of the user by tracking a pattern of movement of an orientation of the head of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the viewing direction of the user by tracking a gaze of the user's eyes. 
     
     
         10 . A method for establishing a communication path with a user of a wearable device and at least one individual, the method comprising:
 monitoring, based on an output of at least one sensor, a viewing direction of the user;   determining, based on the monitored viewing direction, whether the user is looking in the direction of the at least one individual; and   establishing 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. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the communication path includes a cellular connection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the communication path includes a Wi-Fi connection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the communication path includes a radio connection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one individual includes a group of people, and the method further comprises establishing the communication path between the user and the group of people if the user is determined to be looking in the direction of one or more members of the group of people. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining, based on a comparison of collected image data, including a representation of at least a portion of the at least one individual, with stored image data, whether the at least one individual is a recognized person and establishing the communication path between the user and the at least one individual if the at least one individual is a recognized person. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising recognizing a graphical icon associated with the at least one individual and establish the communication path between the user and the at least one individual if the user is looking at the recognized graphical icon associated with the at least one individual. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the monitored viewing direction includes a monitored pattern of movement of an orientation of the head of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the tracked viewing direction includes a tracked gaze of the user's eyes. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by at least one processor to perform a method for establishing a communication path with a user of a wearable device and at least one individual, the method comprising:
 monitoring, based on an output of at least one sensor, a viewing direction of the user;   determining, based on the monitored viewing direction, whether the user is looking in the direction of the at least one individual; and   establishing 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.