System and method for interactive communication with a media device user such as a television viewer

• US 20110099017A1
• Filed: 01/18/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Original Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Inventors: Ure, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/688,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

A personalized television or internet video viewing environment, where the user can respond to messages. Messages are received over the internet and overlaid onto the video program. A light and vibrator on the remote control alert the viewer to respond by speaking into a microphone in the remote control unit. Voice recognition techniques are used to interpret the user'"'"'s response, and biometric voice analysis can be used to identify the user. Successive interactions can be related and tailored to the particular user.

Claims

1. A messaging method comprising:

using a media device to present a message to a user;

using a microphone-equipped remote control device configured to control the media device to pick up a user response to the message and convey the user response to the media device; and

transmitting data derived from the user response via the media device to a geographically remote location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording and pausing a media presentation to allow time for interaction with the user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to a user response, establishing a voice connection between the user and a live person.