Systems and methods for managing power based on media asset consumption

• US 10,263,796 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2017
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROVI Product Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Liston, Alexander W., Logan, Jonathan A., Thomas, William L., Gupta, Ajay Kumar, Burns, Mathew C., Schmidt, Margret B., Dalbec, Gabriel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dhairya A
• Application Number:
  US15/473,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20180287808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for managing, based on a portion of media asset consumed, power consumption of user equipment. A media guidance application may, upon determining that user inactivity time at a user equipment exceeds a threshold inactivity time, determine that a media asset currently being presented at the user equipment has not reached its end point. The media guidance application may then determine a playback duration for which the media asset has been presented. The media guidance application may, upon determining that the playback duration exceeds a threshold playback duration, continue monitoring user activity at the user equipment until the end point for the media asset is reached to determine an updated user inactivity time. The media guidance application may determine that the updated inactivity time exceeds the threshold inactivity time and in response, perform a power management process to reduce power consumption of the user equipment.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether to perform a power management process, the method comprising:

monitoring for indicators of user activity at a user equipment device;

determining, based on data from the monitoring for indicators of user activity, that user inactivity time is greater than a threshold inactivity time, wherein the user inactivity time corresponds to a duration of time from a time corresponding to a last detected indicator of user activity at the user equipment device to a current time;

determining a media asset currently being presented at the user equipment device;

determining, based on accessing a data structure associated with the media asset, a start time corresponding to a start point of the media asset and an end time corresponding to the end point of the media asset;

determining, based on comparing the current time with the end time for the media asset, that the end point for the media asset has not been reached;

in response to determining that the end point for the media asset has not been reached, determining, based on the current time and the start time, a playback duration for which the media asset has been presented;

determining, based on comparing the playback duration with a threshold playback duration, whether the playback duration exceeds the threshold playback duration;

in response to determining that the playback duration exceeds the threshold playback duration, continuing monitoring for indicators of user activity at the user equipment device until the end time is reached;

determining, based on data from the monitoring for indicators of user activity at the user equipment device until the end time is reached, an updated user inactivity time;

determining, based on comparing the updated user inactivity time with the threshold inactivity time, that the updated inactivity time exceeds the threshold inactivity time; and

in response to determining that the user inactivity exceeds the threshold inactivity time, performing a power management process to reduce power consumption of the user equipment device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the power management process comprises:

generating for display, on a display device associated with the user equipment device, a notification, wherein the notification requests a user input;

determining whether the user input is received within a pre-defined user response time interval from a time when the notification is displayed; and

in response to determining that the user input is not received within the pre-defined user response time interval, powering off the user equipment device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating for display the notification comprises:

determining, based accessing a data structure associated with a different media asset currently being presented, a next segment in the different media asset that is associated with an importance score below a threshold importance score; and

generating for display the notification during the next segment in the different media asset.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold importance score is determined based in part on a user profile data structure corresponding to a user associated with the user equipment device and an attribute associated with the different media asset currently being presented.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the power management process comprises:

transmitting a video signal from the user equipment device to a display device associated with the user equipment device;

monitoring, using a first sensor device, display at the display device following the transmission of the video signal;

determining, based on comparing data received from the first sensor device with the transmitted video signal, whether an image displayed at the display device matches an image included in the transmitted video signal; and

in response to determining that the image displayed at the display device does not match the image included in the transmitted video signal, automatically, without any user input, powering off the user equipment device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

in response to determining that the image displayed at the display device does not match the image included in the transmitted video signal, transmitting an audio signal from the user equipment device to an audio device associated with the user equipment device;

monitoring, using a second sensor device, audio at the audio device following the transmission of the audio signal;

determining, based on comparing data received from the second sensor device with the transmitted audio signal, whether a sound pattern received from the audio device matches a sound pattern included in the transmitted audio signal; and

in response to determining that the sound pattern received from the audio device does not match the sound pattern included in the transmitted audio signal, automatically, without any user input, powering off the user equipment device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user equipment device is a first user equipment device, further comprising:

in response to determining that the sound pattern received from the audio device does not match the sound pattern included in the transmitted audio signal, determining, based on accessing a data structure associated with the first user equipment device, a user identifier for a user associated with the first user equipment device;

determining, based on accessing a data structure associated with the user identifier, a second user equipment device associated with the user associated with the first user equipment device;

transmitting a notification to the second user equipment device, wherein the notification requests a user input;

determining whether the user input is received from the second user equipment device within a pre-defined user response time interval from a time when the notification is transmitted; and

in response to determining that the user input is not received within the pre-defined user response time interval, powering off the first user equipment device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the power management process comprises at least one of:

terminating a content streaming application at the user equipment device;

powering-off the user equipment device;

switching the user equipment device to a low power mode;

powering-off another user equipment device that is associated with the user equipment device; and

switching the another user equipment to a low power mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold inactivity time is based in part on a user profile data structure corresponding to a user associated with the user equipment device and wherein the threshold playback duration is based in part on an attribute associated with the media asset currently being presented.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring for indicators of user activity at a user equipment device further comprises:

determining, based on accessing a data structure associated with the user equipment device, a user identifier for a user associated with the user equipment device;

determining, based on the user identifier, a user profile associated with the user associated with the user equipment device;

determining, based on accessing the user profile associated with the user, a social media account associated with the user;

determining, based on accessing the social media account associated with the user, whether the user updated the social media account with information about the media asset currently being presented while the media asset was being presented; and

in response to determining that the user updated the social media account with information about the media asset currently being presented while the media asset was being presented, determining that an indicator of user activity is detected.

11. A system for determining whether to perform a power management process, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

monitor for indicators of user activity at a user equipment device;

determine, based on data from the monitoring for indicators of user activity, that user inactivity time is greater than a threshold inactivity time, wherein the user inactivity time corresponds to a duration of time from a time corresponding to a last detected indicator of user activity at the user equipment device to a current time;

determine a media asset currently being presented at the user equipment device;

determine, based on accessing a data structure associated with the media asset, a start time corresponding to a start point of the media asset and an end time corresponding to the end point of the media asset;

determine, based on comparing the current time with the end time for the media asset, that the end point for the media asset has not been reached;

in response to determining that the end point for the media asset has not been reached, determine, based on the current time and the start time, a playback duration for which the media asset has been presented;

determine, based on comparing the playback duration with a threshold playback duration, whether the playback duration exceeds the threshold playback duration;

in response to determining that the playback duration exceeds the threshold playback duration, continue monitoring for indicators of user activity at the user equipment device until the end time is reached;

determine, based on data from the monitoring for indicators of user activity at the user equipment device until the end time is reached, an updated user inactivity time;

determine, based on comparing the updated user inactivity time with the threshold inactivity time, that the updated inactivity time exceeds the threshold inactivity time; and

in response to determining that the user inactivity exceeds the threshold inactivity time, perform a power management process to reduce power consumption of the user equipment device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein performing the power management process comprises the control circuitry further configured to:

generate for display, on a display device associated with the user equipment device, a notification, wherein the notification requests a user input;

determine whether the user input is received within a pre-defined user response time interval from a time when the notification is displayed; and

in response to determining that the user input is not received within the pre-defined user response time interval, power off the user equipment device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when generating for display the notification, to:

determine, based accessing a data structure associated with a different media asset currently being presented, a next segment in the different media asset that is associated with an importance score below a threshold importance score; and

generate for display the notification during the next segment in the different media asset.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the threshold importance score is determined based in part on a user profile data structure corresponding to a user associated with the user equipment device and an attribute associated with the different media asset currently being presented.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when performing the power management process, to:

transmit a video signal from the user equipment device to a display device associated with the user equipment device;

monitor, using a first sensor device, display at the display device following the transmission of the video signal;

determine, based on comparing data received from the first sensor device with the transmitted video signal, whether an image displayed at the display device matches an image included in the transmitted video signal; and

in response to determining that the image displayed at the display device does not match the image included in the transmitted video signal, automatically, without any user input, power off the user equipment device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is further to:

in response to determining that the image displayed at the display device does not match the image included in the transmitted video signal, transmit an audio signal from the user equipment device to an audio device associated with the user equipment device;

monitor, using a second sensor device, audio at the audio device following the transmission of the audio signal;

determine, based on comparing data received from the second sensor device with the transmitted audio signal, whether a sound pattern received from the audio device matches a sound pattern included in the transmitted audio signal; and

in response to determining that the sound pattern received from the audio device does not match the sound pattern included in the transmitted audio signal, automatically, without any user input, power off the user equipment device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user equipment device is a first user equipment device and wherein the control circuitry is further to:

in response to determining that the sound pattern received from the audio device does not match the sound pattern included in the transmitted audio signal, determine, based on accessing a data structure associated with the first user equipment device, a user identifier for a user associated with the first user equipment device;

determine, based on accessing a data structure associated with the user identifier, a second user equipment device associated with the user associated with the first user equipment device;

transmit a notification to the second user equipment device, wherein the notification requests a user input;

determine whether the user input is received from the second user equipment device within a pre-defined user response time interval from a time when the notification is transmitted; and

in response to determining that the user input is not received within the pre-defined user response time interval, power off the first user equipment device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when performing the power management process, to at least one of:

terminate a content streaming application at the user equipment device;

power-off the user equipment device;

switch the user equipment device to a low power mode;

power-off another user equipment device that is associated with the user equipment device; and

switch the another user equipment to a low power mode.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the threshold inactivity time is based in part on a user profile data structure corresponding to a user associated with the user equipment device and wherein the threshold playback duration is based in part on an attribute associated with the media asset currently being presented.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when monitoring for indicators of user activity at a user equipment device, to:

determine, based on accessing a data structure associated with the user equipment device, a user identifier for a user associated with the user equipment device;

determine, based on the user identifier, a user profile associated with the user associated with the user equipment device;

determine, based on accessing the user profile associated with the user, a social media account associated with the user;

determine, based on accessing the social media account associated with the user, whether the user updated the social media account with information about the media asset currently being presented while the media asset was being presented; and

in response to determining that the user updated the social media account with information about the media asset currently being presented while the media asset was being presented, determine that an indicator of user activity is detected.