SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVELY MANAGING PLAY BACK OF DEMO CONTENT BY A DISPLAY DEVICE BASED ON SIGNALING FROM A PRESENCE SENSOR

• US 20110150425A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Candelore, Brant L., Shintani, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/643,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20110150425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention involves an apparatus and method for controlling periodic play back of demo content by a display device. The method comprises monitoring for a triggering event by a presence sensor within the display device. The triggering event involves a detection of a non-moving or slow-moving object remaining in front of the display device for a predetermined period of time. In response to detecting the triggering event, the demo content is automatically played for a first period of time. Thereafter, play back of the demo content is halted after the first period of time has elapsed and play back the streaming advertising content is continued by the display device for a second period of time, and as an option, even if another triggering event is detected during the second period of time. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling periodically play back of demo content by a display device, the method comprising:

monitoring for a triggering event by a presence sensor within the display device, the triggering event being a detection of a non-moving or slow-moving object remaining in front of the display device for a predetermined period of time;

automatically playing back the demo content for a period of time in response to detecting the triggering event;

halting play back of the demo content after the period of time has elapsed; and

continuing to play back the streaming advertising content by the display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein play back of the streaming advertising content by the display device is conducted for a second period of time even if another triggering event is detected during the second period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the triggering event includes scanning for objects in front of the display device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the scanning for objects includes scans for the non-moving or slow-moving object remaining in front of the display device for over thirty seconds.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the scanning is an infrared scan such that slow-movement is detected through comparison of results from multiple successive scans.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatic playing back of the demo content for the first period of time includes displaying one or more video clips directed to features of the display device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to automatically playing back the demo content for the first period of time, the method further comprises:

repeating to monitor for a second triggering event, and upon detecting of the second triggering event, the demo content is automatically played back.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a presence sensor to detect presence of a customer in front of the apparatus for a prolonged period of time and to generate a control signal in response to detection of an object being in front of the apparatus for the prolonged period of time; and

a processor coupled to the presence sensor, the processor to (i) permit play back of a first type of content for a first period of time upon receipt of the control signal where the first type of content is played back in lieu of playing back a second type of content that is normally processed for play back by the processor, (ii) permit play back of the second type of content for a second period of time after the first period of time has elapsed, and (iii) play back the first type of content after the second period of time has elapsed and the object is detected to remain present in front of the apparatus for the prolonged period of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor to permit play back of the second type of content for the second period of time after the first period of time has elapsed regardless whether another object remains present in front of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a display screen.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the presence sensor is configured to detect vibrations on a floor in front of the display screen.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the presence sensor is configured to detect non-movement or slow-movement of the object in front of the display screen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a housing including a rear casing and a bezel, the rear casing containing the processor and memory and the bezel surrounding the display screen.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the presence sensor is integrated within the bezel so that a portion of the presence sensor is substantially flush with an outer surface of the bezel.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor to permit play back of the first type of content for the first period of time by automatically displaying one or more video clips being demo content in lieu of display of streaming advertising content being the second type of content.

16. A software stored within a memory and executed by a processor implemented within a display device being an electronic device with display capability, to perform the operations of:

monitoring for a triggering event during display of a streaming advertising content received from a remote source, the triggering event being detection of a non-moving or slow-moving object in front of the display device for a predetermined period of time;

automatically displaying a demo content uploaded into internal memory of the display device for a first period of time; and

continuing the display of the streaming advertising content by the display device after the first period of time has elapsed, the display of the streaming advertising content being for a second period of time being at least equal in duration to the first predetermined period of time during which the demo content cannot be displayed.

17. The software of claim 16, wherein the automatic displaying of the demo content for the first period of time includes displaying one or more video clips directed to features of the display device.