Monitoring of crowd response to performances

• US 20030033600A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cliff, David Trevor, Wilkinson, Timothy Alan Heath
• Granted Patent: US 6,885,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations

Abstract

Monitoring apparatus and methods for monitoring the reaction of people to a performance use two or more monitoring devices of different types. Output signals from the monitoring devices are combined to produce at least one crowd reaction signal indicative of the reaction of those people to the performance. Particularly appropriate types of monitoring device are described, as is automatic performance generating apparatus, such an automatic DJ, adapted to use crowd reaction signals to modify performances.

Claims

1. Monitoring apparatus for monitoring the reaction of people to a performance, the apparatus comprising:

two or more monitoring devices each adapted to provide at least one output signal from which the behaviour of at least a portion of those people reacting to the performance can be estimated, wherein the two or more monitoring devices comprise at least one device of a first type and at least one device of a second type, wherein devices of the first type monitor a different quality of user response to devices of the second type; and

a processor adapted to process the or each output signal provided by the two or more monitoring devices to produce at least one crowd reaction signal indicative of the reaction of those people to the performance.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first type of monitoring device is one of the following device types, and the second type of monitoring device is a different one of the following device types:

monitor for detecting the movement or location of people;

monitor of ambient temperature;

monitor for detecting sounds or gestures made by people;

monitor for providing direct feedback from individuals; and

monitor of ambient humidity.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first type of monitoring device is a dance floor sensor adapted to monitor people on a dance floor at the performance.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the dance floor sensor comprises one or more pressure sensors located on, within or below the surface of the dance floor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the dance floor sensor comprises a thermal imaging camera which is adapted to capture a digital image of at least a portion of a dance floor, and an image processor adapted to process the image to identify the number of people present in the captured image, the behaviour of those people, or both.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the processor is arranged to generate a crowd reaction signal indicative of a positive reaction if the number of people on the dance floor increases and a negative crowd reaction if it decreases.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the processor is arranged to generate a crowd reaction signal that is indicative of a positive reaction if the number of people on the dance floor exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a sensor adapted to monitor people not on a dance floor at the performance, whereby the processor is thereby able to obtain an output signal representative of a percentage of people attending the performance and on the dance floor.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first type of monitoring device is a microphone for monitoring at least a portion of the people reacting to the performance.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the processor is arranged to produce a crowd reaction signal which has a value dependent upon the amplitude of the sound measured by the microphone.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the processor is arranged to produce a crowd reaction signal dependent upon the type of sound produced by the crowd.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first type of monitoring device is a portable monitoring device worn or carried by at least one person reacting to the performance to provide feedback from the person.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the feedback is solicited feedback.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the feedback is personal biometric data.

15. A method of monitoring the reaction of people at a performance with two or more monitoring devices each adapted to provide at least one output signal from which the behaviour of at least a portion of those people reacting to the performance can be estimated, wherein the two or more monitoring devices comprise at least one device of a first type and at least one device of a second type, wherein devices of the first type monitor a different quality of user response to devices of the second type;

the method comprising;

deriving first and second types of output signals from the monitoring devices of the first and second types, respectively; and

processing the first and second output signals to produce at least one crowd reaction signal indicative of the reaction of at least part of the crowd to the performance.

16. The method of claim 15 which further comprises applying one or more logical rules to the output signals to produce one or more crowd reaction signals.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising deriving a plurality of crowd reaction signals and applying one or more logical rules to a plurality of the crowd reaction signals to produce an overall crowd reaction signal.

18. Monitoring apparatus for monitoring the reaction of people to a performance, the apparatus comprising:

one or more first monitoring devices each adapted to provide at least one output signal from which the behaviour of an individual reacting to the performance can be estimated;

one or more second monitoring devices each adapted to provide at least one output signal from which the behaviour of a plurality of those people reacting to the performance can be estimated; and

a processor adapted to process the or each output signal provided by the two or more monitoring devices to produce at least one crowd reaction signal indicative of the reaction of those people to the performance.

19. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of the first monitoring devices is a portable monitoring device worn or carried by at least one person at the event to provide feedback from the person.

20. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least a part of the feedback is arranged to be provided by the person through a user interface.

21. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the processor is arranged to solicit at least a part of the feedback.

22. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the portable monitoring device comprises a biometric sensor.

23. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 18 in which at least one of the one or more second monitoring devices is a dance floor sensor adapted to monitor people on a dance floor at the performance.

24. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 23 in which the dance floor sensor comprises one or more pressure sensors located on, within or below the surface of the dance floor.

25. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 23 in which the dance floor sensor comprises a thermal imaging camera which is adapted to capture a digital image of at least a portion of a dance floor, and an image processor adapted to process the image to identify the number of people present in the captured image, the behaviour of those people, or both.

26. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 23 at which at least a further one of the one or more second monitoring devices is a sensor adapted to monitor people not on a dance floor at the performance, whereby the processor is thereby able to obtain an output signal representative of a percentage of people attending the performance and on the dance floor.

27. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 18 in which at least one of the one or more second monitoring devices is a microphone for monitoring at least a portion of the people reacting to the performance.

28. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 27 in which the processor is arranged to produce a crowd reaction signal dependent upon the type of sound produced by the crowd.

29. A method of monitoring the reaction of people at a performance with one or more first monitoring devices each adapted to provide at least one output signal from which the behaviour of an individual reacting to the performance can be estimated and one or more second monitoring devices each adapted to provide at least one output signal from which the behaviour of a plurality of those people reacting to the performance can be estimated;

the method comprising;

deriving output signals from the one or more first monitoring devices and the one or more second monitoring devices, and

processing the output signals to produce at least one crowd reaction signal indicating of the reaction of at least part of the crowd to the performance.

30. The method of claim 29 which further comprises applying one or more logical rules to the output signals to produce one or more crowd reaction signals.

31. The method of claim 30 which further comprises deriving a plurality of crowd reaction signals and applying one or more logical rules to the derived plurality of the crowd reaction signals to produce an overall crowd reaction signal.

32. A performance generator for automatically controlling one or more features of a performance, comprising:

a memory for containing a plurality of performance elements;

a processor adapted to receive one or more crowd reaction signals indicative of a reaction of one or more people reacting to the performance, to select one or more performance elements from the plurality of performance elements in response to the one or more crowd reaction signals, and to perform the selected performance elements.

33. A performance generator as claimed in claim 32, wherein the performance is arranged to play a mix of songs, and wherein the performance elements comprise individual song tracks.

34. A performance generator according to claim 33 in which the selection of performance elements comprises selecting a next track to be played.

35. A performance generator according to claim 33 in which the memory stores a plurality of different tracks and an index indicative of one or more parameters of the stored tracks.

36. A performance generator according to claim 35 in which the index for a track indicates the tempo of the track, and the selection of a performance element comprises generating a selection value from the one or more crowd reaction signals and selection of a track to play from the memory by comparing the selection value with the index for a stored track.

37. A performance generator according to claim 33 in which selection comprises selecting a track from the memory by applying one or more logical rules using the value of the crowd reaction signal and the identity or other parameters of one or more tracks which are or have been played prior to the selection.

38. A performance generating system for automatically controlling one or more features of a performance in response to user feedback, comprising:

one or more monitoring devices each adapted to provide at least one output signal from which the behaviour of one or more of those people reacting to the performance can be estimated;

a memory for containing a plurality of performance elements;

one or more processors together adapted to process the or each output signal provided by the two or more monitoring devices to produce at least one crowd reaction signal indicative of the reaction of those people to the performance and from the one or more crowd reaction signals to select one or more performance elements from the plurality of performance elements in response to the one or more crowd reaction signals, and to perform the selected performance elements.

39. A performance generating system according to claim 38 in which at least one of the one or more monitoring devices is a dance floor sensor adapted to monitor people on a dance floor at the performance.

40. A performance generating system according to claim 39 in which the dance floor sensor comprises one or more pressure sensors located on, within or below the surface of the dance floor.

41. A performance generating system according to claim 39 in which the dance floor sensor comprises a thermal imaging camera which is adapted to capture a digital image of at least a portion of a dance floor, and an image processor adapted to process the image to identify the number of people present in the captured image, the behaviour of those people, or both.

42. A performance generating system according to claim 38 in which at least one or the one or more monitoring devices is a microphone for monitoring at least a portion of the people reacting to the performance.

43. A performance generating system according to claim 38 in which at least one of the one or more monitoring devices is a portable monitoring device worn or carried by at least one person reacting to the performance to provide feedback from the person.

44. A performance generating system according to claim 43 in which the one or more processors are arranged to solicit the feedback.

45. A monitoring device adapted to sense people on a dance floor, comprising a dance floor sensor and adapted to provide at least one output signal from which at least one aspect of the behaviour of at least a portion of those people present at an event can be estimated.

46. A device according to claim 45 in which the dance floor sensor comprises one or more pressure sensors located on, within or below the surface of the dance floor.

47. A device according to claim 45 in which the dance floor sensor comprises a thermal imaging camera which is adapted to capture a digital image of at least a portion of a dance floor, and an image processor adapted to process the image to identify the number of people present in the captured image and/or the behaviour of those people.

48. A device according to claim 45 further comprising a processor and adapted to generate a crowd reaction signal indicative of a positive reaction if the number of people on the dance floor increases and a negative crowd reaction if it decreases.

49. A device according to claim 45 further comprising a processor and adapted to generate a crowd reaction signal that is indicative of a positive reaction if the number of people on the dance floor exceeds a predetermined threshold.

50. A device according to claim 49 in which the value of the threshold is variable as a function of a parameter of the event.

51. A device according to claim 50 in which the threshold is adjustable as a function of the total number of people at the event.

52. A device according to claim 45 further comprising a processor and at least one further sensor for monitoring the number of people present at the event that are not on the dance floor, the processor being arranged to combine output of the further sensor and the dance floor sensor to provide an output signal representative of the percentage of people on the dance floor.

53. A data carrier adapted to program the processor of a computing device to control one or more features of a performance in response to user feedback, the programmed processor being adapted to:

receive one or more crowd reaction signals indicative of the reaction of people to a performance;

from the one or more crowd reaction signals, select one or more performance elements from a plurality of stored performance elements in response to the one or more crowd reaction signals; and

perform the selected performance elements.

54. A data carrier having stored thereon an output of a performance, wherein said output comprises the performance of selected performance elements from a plurality of performance elements by a programmed processor in response to one or more crowd reaction signals indicative of the reaction of people to a performance.

55. A data carrier as claimed in claim 54, wherein the performance is a musical performance and the output is a recording of music.