TV with eye detection
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a television system viewer'"'"'s status, comprising:
- monitoring a field of view encompassing a viewer environment using a camera sensitive to light in the infrared (IR) spectrum;
identifying a pair of bright spots in the IR spectrum that are spaced by a spacing consistent with spacing of a pair of human eyes;
monitoring at least one characteristic of the spots to ascertain a status of a television system viewer; and
at the television system, taking an action that affects an operational characteristic of the television system on the basis of the ascertained status of the television system viewer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In certain implementations consistent with the present invention, a method for monitoring a television system viewer'"'"'s status involves monitoring a field of view encompassing a viewer environment using a camera sensitive to light in the infrared (IR) spectrum; identifying a pair of bright spots in the IR spectrum that are spaced by a spacing consistent with spacing of a pair of human eyes; monitoring at least one characteristic of the spots to ascertain a status of a television system viewer; and at the television system, taking an action that affects an operational characteristic of the television system on the basis of the ascertained status of the television system viewer. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for monitoring a television system viewer'"'"'s status, comprising:
-
monitoring a field of view encompassing a viewer environment using a camera sensitive to light in the infrared (IR) spectrum; identifying a pair of bright spots in the IR spectrum that are spaced by a spacing consistent with spacing of a pair of human eyes; monitoring at least one characteristic of the spots to ascertain a status of a television system viewer; and at the television system, taking an action that affects an operational characteristic of the television system on the basis of the ascertained status of the television system viewer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for monitoring a television system viewer'"'"'s status, comprising:
-
monitoring a field of view encompassing a viewer environment using a camera sensitive to light in the infrared (IR) spectrum; illuminating the field of view captured by the camera with light in the infrared spectrum; identifying a pair of bright spots in the IR spectrum that are spaced by a spacing consistent with spacing of a pair of human eyes, wherein the spacing encompasses at least a portion of the range of 40 to 70 mm; monitoring at least one characteristic of the spots to ascertain a status of a television system viewer, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises at least one of fading characteristics, blinking characteristics, disappearing characteristics and orientation characteristics; and at the television system, taking an action that affects an operational characteristic of the television system on the basis of the ascertained status of the television system viewer, wherein the at least one characteristic is interpreted as an indication that the viewer is asleep, and wherein the action comprises fading an audio volume of the television system one characteristic is interpreted as an indication that the viewer is asleep, and wherein the action further comprises fading reducing a video brightness of the television system and further comprising placing the television system in a “
standby”
, “
sleep”
or “
off”
mode when the audio volume and video brightness are reduced. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 26)
-
-
19. A television system apparatus that monitors a television system viewer'"'"'s status, comprising:
-
a camera that monitors a field of view in the infrared (IR) spectrum that encompasses a viewer environment; one or more processors that identifies a pair of bright spots in the field of view that are spaced by a spacing consistent with spacing of a pair of human eyes; the one or more processors monitoring at least one characteristic of the spots to ascertain a status of a television system viewer; and the one or more processors taking an action that affects an operational characteristic of the television system on the basis of the ascertained status of the television system viewer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27)
-
Specification