Method and apparatus for controlling a media player based on user activity

• US 20020144259A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Trajkovic, Miroslav, Gutta, Srinivas, Colmenarez, Antonio J.
• Application Number:
  US09/821,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144259A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A media player controller is disclosed that monitors user activity and automatically controls a media player in response to predefined events. The disclosed media player controller includes one or more audio/visual mage capture devices focused on one or more users. The captured audio and video information is processed by the media player controller to identify one or more predefined events. A number of rules can be utilized to define various user events, such as when the user has left the room, is on the telephone or is otherwise paying attention to the media player. Each rule contains one or more conditions, and, optionally, a corresponding action-item that should be performed when the rule is satisfied. Upon detection of a predefined event, the corresponding action, if any, is performed by the media player controller.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a media player, comprising:

establishing at least one rule defining a predefined user activity, said rule including at least one condition and an action item to be performed to automatically adjust said media player when said rule is satisfied;

analyzing at least one of audio and video information focused on a user to identify said condition; and

performing said action item if said rule is satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to pause said media player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to begin recording.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to enter a power save mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said user activity is a predefined gestural command and said action item is the issuance of a corresponding command to said media player.

6. A method for controlling a media player, comprising:

analyzing at least one of audio and video information focused on a user to identify at least one predefined user activity; and

performing a predefined action item to automatically adjust said media player when said user activity is identified.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to pause said media player.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to begin recording.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to enter a power save mode.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said user activity is a predefined gestural command and said action item is the issuance of a corresponding command to said media player.

11. A system for controlling a media player, comprising:

a memory for storing computer readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

establish at least one rule defining a predefined user activity, said rule including at least one condition and an action item to be performed to automatically adjust said media player when said rule is satisfied;

analyze at least one of audio and video information focused on a user to identify said condition; and

perform said action item if said rule is satisfied.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to pause said media player.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to begin recording.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to enter a power save mode.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said user activity is a predefined gestural command and said action item is the issuance of a corresponding command to said media player.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to pause said media player.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to begin recording.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said user activity suggests that said user is not paying attention to said media player and said action item is the issuance of a command to said media player to enter a power save mode.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said user activity is a predefined gestural command and said action item is the issuance of a corresponding command to said media player.

16. A system for controlling a media player, comprising:

a memory for storing computer readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

analyze at least one of audio and video information focused on a user to identify at least one predefined user activity; and

perform a predefined action item to automatically adjust said media player when said user activity is identified.

21. An article of manufacture for controlling a media player, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to establish at least one rule defining a predefined user activity, said rule including at least one condition and an action item to be performed to automatically adjust said media player when said rule is satisfied;

a step to analyze at least one of audio and video information focused on a user to identify said condition; and

a step to perform said action item if said rule is satisfied.

22. An article of manufacture for controlling a media player, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to analyze at least one of audio and video information focused on a user to identify at least one predefined user activity; and

a step to perform a predefined action item to automatically adjust said media player when said user activity is identified.