Methods, electronic devices, and computer program products for setting a feature of an electronic device based on at least one user characteristic

• US 20070288898A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Isberg, Peter Claes
• Application Number:
  US11/450,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288898A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/26 Recognition of special voice characteristics, e.g. for use in lie detectors; Recognition of animal voices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

An electronic device includes a user characteristic module that is configured to analyze at least one characteristic of a user and to set a feature of the electronic device based on the analysis of the at least one characteristic.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a user characteristic module that is configured to analyze at least one characteristic of a user and to set a feature of the electronic device based on the analysis of the at least one characteristic.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone that is configured to capture speech from the user;

wherein the user characteristic module comprises a voice analysis module that is configured to analyze the captured speech so as to determine a mood associated with the user and to set the feature of the electronic device based on the determined mood.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the user characteristic module is further configured to make the determined mood accessible to others via a communication network.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the voice analysis module is configured to perform a textual analysis of the captured speech so as to determine the mood associated with the user.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the voice analysis module comprises:

a speech recognition module that is configured to generate text responsive to the captured speech;

a text correlation module that is configured to correlate the generated text with stored words and/or phrases; and

a mood detection module that is configured to determine the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the generated text and the stored words and/or phrases.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the voice analysis module is configured to perform an audio analysis of the captured speech so as to determine the mood associated with the user.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the voice analysis module comprises:

a spectral analysis module that is configured to determine frequencies and/or loudness levels associated with the captured speech;

a spectral correlation module that is configured to correlate the determined frequencies and/or loudness levels with frequency and/or loudness patterns; and

a mood detection module that is configured to determine the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the determined frequencies and/or loudness levels and the frequency and/or loudness patterns.

8. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the voice analysis module is configured to perform a textual and an audio analysis of the captured speech so as to determine the mood associated with the user.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera that is configured to capture an image of the user;

wherein the user characteristic module comprises an image analysis module that is configured to analyze the captured image so as to determine a mood associated with the user and to set the feature of the electronic device based on the determined mood.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the user characteristic module is further configured to make the determined mood accessible to others via a communication network.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the image analysis module comprises:

an expression analysis module that is configured to determine at least one expression associated with the image;

a pattern correlation module that is configured to correlate the determined at least one expression with patterns of expression; and

a mood detection module that is configured to determine the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the determined at least one expression and the patterns of expression.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a video camera that is configured to capture a video image of the user;

wherein the user characteristic module comprises a video analysis module that is configured to analyze the captured video image so as to determine a mood associated with the user and to set the feature of the electronic device based on the determined mood.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the user characteristic module is further configured to make the determined mood accessible to others via a communication network.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the video analysis module comprises:

an expression analysis module that is configured to determine at least one expression associated with the video image;

a pattern correlation module that is configured to correlate the determined at least one expression with patterns of expression; and

a mood detection module that is configured to determine the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the determined at least one expression and the patterns of expression.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile terminal.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the feature of the mobile terminal comprises a ringtone, a background display image, a displayed icon, and/or an icon associated with a transmitted message.

17. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

analyzing at least one characteristic of a user of the electronic device; and

setting a feature of the electronic device based on the analysis of the at least one characteristic.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

capturing speech from the user;

wherein analyzing the at least one characteristic of the user comprises analyzing the captured speech so as to determine a mood associated with the user; and

wherein setting the feature comprises setting the feature of the electronic device based on the determined mood.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

making the determined mood accessible to others via a communication network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein analyzing the captured speech comprises performing a textual analysis of the captured speech so as to determine the mood associated with the user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein performing the textual analysis comprises:

generating text responsive to the captured speech;

correlating the generated text with stored words and/or phrases; and

determining the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the generated text and the stored words and/or phrases.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the captured speech comprises performing an audio analysis of the captured speech so as to determine the mood associated with the user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein performing the audio analysis comprises:

determining frequencies and/or loudness levels associated with the captured speech;

correlating the determined frequencies and/or loudness levels with frequency and/or loudness patterns; and

determining the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the determined frequencies and/or loudness levels and the frequency and/or loudness patterns.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the captured speech comprises performing a textual and an audio analysis of the captured speech so as to determine the mood associated with the user.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

capturing an image of the user;

wherein analyzing the at least one characteristic of the user comprises analyzing the captured image so as to determine a mood associated with the user; and

wherein setting the feature comprises setting the feature of the electronic device based on the determined mood.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

making the determined mood accessible to others via a communication network.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein analyzing the captured image comprises:

determining at least one expression associated with the image;

correlating the determined at least one expression with patterns of expression; and

determining the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the determined at least one expression and the patterns of expression.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

capturing a video image of the user;

wherein analyzing the at least one characteristic of the user comprises analyzing the captured video image so as to determine a mood associated with the user; and

wherein setting the feature comprises setting the feature of the electronic device based on the determined mood.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

making the determined mood accessible to others via a communication network.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein analyzing the captured video image comprises:

determining at least one expression associated with the video image;

correlating the determined at least one expression with patterns of expression; and

determining the mood associated with the user based on the correlation between the determined at least one expression and the patterns of expression.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic device is a mobile terminal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the feature of the mobile terminal comprises a ringtone, a background display image, a displayed icon, and/or an icon associated with a transmitted message.

33. A computer program product for operating an electronic device, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to analyze at least one characteristic of a user of the electronic device; and

computer readable program code configured to set a feature of the electronic device based on the analysis of the at least one characteristic.