PVR-based system and method for TV content control using voice recognition

• US 20030005431A1
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinohara, Hiroaki
• Application Number:
  US09/898,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the content displayed on a TV based on recognizing a viewer'"'"'s voice. A microprocessor in a PVR that is associated with the TV can recognize a viewer'"'"'s voice and allow only appropriate programming to be played on the TV. Thus, for example, violent or sexually explicit programs or commercials can be screened from a viewer who is recognized as being a young person.

Claims

1. A system for screening televised content for display on a TV, comprising:

a TV; and

a personal video recorder (PVR) including a processor coupled to the TV and receiving televised content, the processor accessing a biological characteristic recognition module to screen televised content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether to allow presentation of televised content on the TV based on an output of the recognition module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor associates the output of the recognition module with at least one viewer profile stored in a database accessible to the processor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor associates at least some viewer preferences with at least one viewer profile using the output of the recognition module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one viewer preference is a channel selection.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the televised content is at least one commercial or TV program.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising a database accessible to the processor and updatable with information available on a wide area network.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor sends at least one viewer profile with preferences to at least one marketing entity.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the recognition module is a voice recognition module.

10. A method for determining at least one content to display on a TV, comprising:

receiving the content;

receiving at least one viewer biological signal; and

based on the biological signal, determining whether to display the content.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

establishing at least one viewer file; and

associating the biological signal with the viewer file.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a viewer profile is associated with the biological signal, and the biological signal is a vocal signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the viewer profile is established at least in part by information input by a person.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the viewer profile is established at least in part by classifying the vocal signal and comparing the classified vocal signal with at least one predetermined profile.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of determining uses the viewer profile.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising associating at least one viewer preference with the viewer profile.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one viewer preference is a channel selection.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the content is at least one commercial or TV program.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising sending at least one viewer profile with preferences to at least one marketing entity.

20. The method of claim 12, comprising storing the content for playback on the TV based on determining whether to allow presentation of the content based on the vocal signal.

21. A system, comprising:

a TV;

biological recognition means; and

processor means accessing the biological recognition means for establishing what content is displayed on the TV.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor means includes means for associating a viewer profile with a voice, and the biological recognition means is a voice recognition means.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the viewer profile is established at least in part by information input by a person.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the viewer profile is established at least in part by classifying a vocal signal and comparing the classified vocal signal with at least one predetermined profile.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor means includes means for associating at least one viewer preference with the viewer profile.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein at least one viewer preference is a channel selection.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the content is at least one commercial or TV program.

28. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for sending at least one viewer profile with preferences to at least one marketing entity.

29. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for storing the content for playback on the TV based on determining whether to allow presentation of the content.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor means is associated with a personal video recorder (PVR).