Apparatus and method for predicting targets of visual attention

An apparatus for tracking a gaze of a user, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions;
• and
• at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing the at least one processor to:
• receive gaze information associated with the gaze of the user;
• based on the gaze information, determine whether change information associated with the gaze of the user is greater than a threshold value;
• and
• in response to determining that the change information is greater than the threshold value, predict at least one from among a gaze vector of the gaze of the user and a location of a gaze target of the gaze of the user based on a kinematic model, where the gaze of the user is outside of a detectable area,
• wherein the predicting the location of the gaze target comprises:
• determining whether coordinates of the predicted location are within the detectable area;
• in response to determining that the coordinates are within the detectable area, calculating a difference between the predicted location and the location of the gaze target and updating the kinematic model based on the calculated difference;
• and
• in response to determining that the coordinates are outside the detectable area, executing a function based on the predicted location, historical usage information, and vehicle context information.