Intelligent user mode selection in an eye-tracking system

A method in a personal computer system comprising:

• a visual display;
• an imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer of the visual display and to process said eye-tracking data, wherein the imaging device is selectively operable in one of a plurality of personalized active sub-modes and further in a sub-profile mode associated with said actual viewing condition;
• an identifying device for recognizing the viewer with reference to one of a plurality of predefined personal profiles,
• said method comprising:
• recognizing, using the first identifying device, a viewer by comparing viewer-related data with predefined personal profiles and selecting a best matching personal profile;
• sensing the recognized viewer's actual viewing condition;
• and
• operating the imaging device in a sub-mode associated with said best matching personal profile and further in one of a plurality of sub-profile modes, said plurality of sub-profile modes being hierarchically defined as children of a personalized sub-mode, and said one of a plurality of sub-profile modes being associated with said actual viewing condition.