Video system for integrating observer feedback with displayed images

• US 20030131351A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shmuel Shapira
• Original Assignee: Shmuel Shapira
• Inventors: Shapira, Shmuel
• Granted Patent: US 6,798,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

An interactive video system is provided that includes an input device configured to produce an input signal, and a video-mixing device configured to interpret the input signal and to receive a video-source signal. The video-mixing device includes a video-image processor configured to selectively alter the video-source signal based on the interpreted input signal and transmit a selectively altered-video signal.

Claims

1. An interactive video system comprising:

an input device configured to produce an input signal; and

a video-mixing device configured to interpret the input signal and to receive a video-source signal, wherein the video-mixing device includes a video-image processor configured to selectively alter the video-source signal based on the interpreted input signal and transmit a selectively altered-video signal.

2. The video system of claim 1, wherein the input signal includes dynamic data from the input device configured to be selectively integrated into the altered-video signal.

3. The video system of claim 2, wherein the input device includes a sensor for detecting physiological responses and the input signal includes the physiological responses as the dynamic data.

4. The video system of claim 3, wherein the sensor for detecting physiological responses is configured to sense a physiological response selected from a group consisting of blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conductance, pulse oxygen, temperature, peripheral skin temperature, electroencephalograms, and an electro micrograph.

5. The video system of claim 2, wherein the video-image processor adds an image to the video image received from the video-source signal in response to the input signal, and wherein the image includes the dynamic data from in the input signal.

6. The video system of claim 1, wherein the video-mixing device is configured to read embedded instructions from the video-source signal, and wherein the video-source signal includes embedded instructions.

7. The video system of claim 6, wherein the embedded instructions in the video-source signal include formatting information which provide the video-image processor with proper location on the video image to add overlay images to the altered-video signal.

8. The video system of claim 6, wherein the embedded instructions enable the video-mixing device to compare input signal responses to content of the video-source signal.

9. The video system of claim 8, wherein the video signal includes a series of questions for a viewer to respond to and the embedded instructions enable the video-mixing device to score viewer responses to the series of questions.

10. The video system of claim 8, wherein the video-mixing device tracks comparisons between the input signal and the embedded instructions.

11. The video system of claim 8, wherein the video-mixing device tracks comparisons between input signals from a plurality of users.

12. A method of integrating observer feedback with video images comprising:

receiving a video-source signal;

receiving an input signal from a user;

selectively modifying the video-source signal based on the input signal; and

transmitting to a display device, the selectively modified video-source signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the video-source signal includes embedded instructions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein selectively modifying the video-source signal includes adding an image to the video-source signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the video-source signal includes embedded instructions configured to locate the image.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the input signal includes physiological data and the modified video-source signal contains the physiological data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the physiological data contained in the modified video signal includes one or more data selected from the group consisting of a blood pressure data, heart rate data, respiration rate data, skin conductance data, pulse oxygen data, temperature data, peripheral skin temperature data, electroencephalograms, and electromirograph data.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the input signal includes a user-selectable emotional input.

19. The method of claim 13, embedded instructions enables a video-mixing device to compare input signal responses to content of the video-source signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the video signal includes a series of questions for a viewer to respond to and the embedded instructions enable the video-mixing device to score viewer responses to the series of questions.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the video-mixing device tracks comparisons between the input signal and the embedded instructions.

22. The video system of claim 20, wherein the video-mixing device tracks comparisons between input signals from a plurality of users.

23. A video-mixing device comprising:

a video-source-signal receiver configured to receive a video signal;

an input-device-signal receiver configured to receive an input device signal;

a video-image processor configured to selectively modify a video signal received based on the input device signal; and

a video signal transmitter configured to transmit the selectively modified video signal to a display device.

24. The video-mixing device of claim 23, wherein the input device includes a sensor for detecting physiological data.

25. The video-mixing device of claim 24, wherein the sensor for detecting physiological responses is configured to sense a physiological response selected from a group consisting of blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conductance, pulse oxygen, temperature data, peripheral skin temperature data, electroencephalograms, and electromirograph data.

26. The video-mixing device of claim 23, wherein the video-image processor adds an image to the video image received from the video-source signal in response to the input signal, wherein the image includes dynamic data received from the input signal.