METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING USER DEVICES

• US 20160094874A1
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROVI Product Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Venkataraman, Sashikumar, Barve, Rakesh
• Granted Patent: US 10,165,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 21/44218 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that authorizes a user device to receive commands from selected users and does not authorize the user device to accept commands from non-selected users. Moreover, the media guidance application may authorize the user device to accept commands from a first user based on how other users interact with the first user. For example, if the actions of other users indicate that the first user is the leader of the group of users (or should otherwise be the one controlling the user device), the media guidance application may authorize the user device to accept commands from the first user based on the actions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling user devices, the method comprising:

identifying a first user and a second user within a viewing area of a user device;

detecting a first gesture performed by the first user;

cross-referencing the first gesture with a database listing gestures that indicate that user devices should accept commands to determine whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept a command from the second user; and

in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user, authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising not authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the first gesture does not indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising not authorizing the user device to accept a different command from the first user in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user further comprises determining whether the first gesture indicates that the first user is paying attention to the second user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gesture includes a gaze point of the first user being fixated on the second user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second gesture performed by the second user; and

cross-referencing the second gesture with the database to determine whether the second gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting gestures that indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user from a number of users in the viewing area;

comparing the number to a threshold number; and

not authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the number does not exceed the threshold number.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a length of time of the first gesture;

comparing the length of time of the first gesture to a threshold length of time; and

not cross-referencing the first gesture with the database in response to determining that the length of time does not exceed the threshold length of time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a frequency of the first gesture;

comparing the frequency to a threshold frequency; and

not authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the frequency does not exceed the threshold frequency.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is a voice command.

11. A system for controlling user devices, the system comprising:

storage circuitry configured to store a database listing gestures that indicate that user devices should accept commands; and

control circuitry configured to;

identify a first user and a second user within a viewing area of a user device;

detect a first gesture performed by the first user;

cross-reference the first gesture with the database to determine whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept a command from the second user; and

in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user, authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to not authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the first gesture does not indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to not authorize the user device to accept a different command from the first user in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein determining whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user further comprises determining whether the first gesture indicates that the first user is paying attention to the second user.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first gesture includes a gaze point of the first user being fixated on the second user.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

detect a second gesture performed by the second user; and

cross-reference the second gesture with the database to determine whether the second gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

detect gestures that indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user from a number of users in the viewing area;

compare the number to a threshold number; and

not authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the number does not exceed the threshold number.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a length of time of the first gesture;

compare the length of time of the first gesture to a threshold length of time; and

not cross-reference the first gesture with the database in response to determining that the length of time does not exceed the threshold length of time.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a frequency of the first gesture;

compare the frequency to a threshold frequency; and

not authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the frequency does not exceed the threshold frequency.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the command is a voice command.

21-50. -50. (canceled)