SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER MONITORING AND INTENT DETERMINATION

• US 20140223461A1
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hatambeiki, Arsham, Arling, Paul D.
• Application Number:
  US14/083,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223461A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• 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 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements

Abstract

Sensing interfaces associated with a home entertainment system are used to automate a system response to events which occur in a viewing area associated with the home entertainment system. Data derived from such sensing interfaces may also be used to enhance the response readiness of one or more system components. Still further, user presence data derived from such sensing interfaces may be used to capture and report user viewing habits and/or preferences.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a display device, comprising:

receiving event data via an image sensing interface;

determining from the received event data at least a number of and identity of viewers in a viewing area associated with the display device; and

when it is determined from the received event data that at least the number of and identity of viewers in the viewing area associated with the display device has changed causing a command action to be executed whereupon a display state of the display device is caused to be correspondingly changed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a television.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a cloud-based service performs the step of causing a command action to be executed whereupon a display state of the display device is caused to be corresponding changed.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the state of the display device comprises a state in which media is made available via use of at least a profile associated with at least one identified viewer in the viewing area.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the profile comprises a favorites list.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein a cloud-based service performs the step of causing a command action to be executed whereupon a display state of the display device is caused to be corresponding changed.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the display device comprises a television.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising changing the state of the display device such that the display device presents media that is commonly found in a favorites list of a plurality of identified viewers in the viewing area.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein a cloud-based service performs the step of causing a command action to be executed whereupon a display state of the display device is caused to be corresponding changed.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the display device comprises a television.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the state of the display device comprises a state associated with a preference linked to an identity of a new viewer entering the viewing area.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the preference comprises a closed-captioning preference.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the preference comprises a SAP preference.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the state of the display device comprises a state in which the display device is caused to render media associated with an identity of a new viewer entering the viewing area.