Detection of a Mobile Device to Identify User Preferences and Provide Customized Functionality or Content

• US 20170034560A1
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Inventors: Garner, Gregory M., Hollinger, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,820,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• 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 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for the detection of a mobile device to identify user preferences. An embodiment operates by detecting that a mobile device is within a vicinity of a computing device. A user ID that corresponds to the mobile device is identified. The user ID is provided to an application over a network, wherein the application identifies one or more preferences associated with the user ID. The one or more identified preferences are received from the application. The computing device is configured based on the one or more identified preferences associated with on the user ID, responsive to the detection.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

detecting that a mobile device is within a vicinity of a computing device;

identifying a user ID that corresponds to the mobile device;

providing the user ID to an application over a network, wherein the application identifies one or more preferences associated with the user ID; and

receiving, from the application, the one or more identified preferences;

configuring the computing device, responsive to the detection, based on the one or more identified preferences associated with on the user ID;

wherein the detecting, identifying, providing, receiving, and configuring are performed by one or more computers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to identify a mobile ID of the mobile device, and wherein the mobile ID corresponds the user ID of a user of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

detecting that a first mobile device is within the vicinity of the computing device, wherein the first mobile device corresponds to a first user ID;

detecting that a second mobile device is within the vicinity of the computing device, wherein the second mobile device corresponds to a second user ID; and

providing both the first user ID and second user ID to the application, wherein the application loads the preferences associated one of;

the first user ID, the second user ID, or both the first and second user IDs, wherein the computing device is configured to receive media content from the application, and wherein loaded preferences determine which media content is received.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprises:

receiving, from the application, an indication as to which user ID(s) are associated with the one or more identified preferences; and

wherein the configuring comprises providing a visual or audio notification as to which user ID(s) are associated with the one or more identified preferences.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises:

adjusting visual display settings of the computing device based on the user ID.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises:

adjusting audio settings of the computing device based on the user ID.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the user ID comprises:

determining that an app associated with the application is active on the computing device; and

communicating the user ID to the app, wherein the app is communicatively coupled to the application over the network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

determining a location of the mobile device in a room relative to the computing device, wherein the one or more preferences are adjusted based on the location of the mobile device relative to the computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprises:

determining a subsequent location of the mobile device in the room relative to the computing device; and

adjusting the one or more preferences based on the subsequent location of the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone, and wherein the computing device is a device other than a mobile phone.

10. A system, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

detect that a mobile device is within a vicinity of a computing device;

identify a user ID that corresponds to the mobile device;

provide the user ID to an application over a network, wherein the application identifies one or more preferences associated with the user ID; and

receive, from the application, the one or more identified preferences;

configure the computing device, responsive to the detection, based on the one or more identified preferences associated with on the user ID.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to identify a mobile ID of the mobile device, and wherein the mobile ID corresponds the user ID of a user of the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to detect is configured to:

detect that a first mobile device is within the vicinity of the computing device, wherein the first mobile device corresponds to a first user ID;

detect that a second mobile device is within the vicinity of the computing device, wherein the second mobile device corresponds to a second user ID; and

provide both the first user ID and second user ID to the application, wherein the application loads the preferences associated one of;

the first user ID, the second user ID, or both the first and second user IDs, wherein the computing device is configured to receive media content from the application, and wherein loaded preferences determine which media content is received.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, from the application, an indication as to which user ID(s) are associated with the one or more identified preferences; and

wherein the processor that configures the computing device is configured to provide a visual or audio notification as to which user ID(s) are associated with the one or more identified preferences.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to configure the computing device is configured to:

adjust visual display settings of the computing device based on the user ID.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to configure the computing device is configured to:

adjust audio settings of the computing device based on the user ID.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to provide is configured to:

determine that an app associated with the application is active on the computing device; and

communicate the user ID to the app, wherein the app is communicatively coupled to the application over the network.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to detect is configured to:

determine a location of the mobile device in a room relative to the computing device, wherein the one or more preferences are adjusted based on the location of the mobile device relative to the computing device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a subsequent location of the mobile device in the room relative to the computing device; and

adjust the one or more preferences based on the subsequent location of the mobile device.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

detecting that a mobile device is within a vicinity of a computing device;

identifying a user ID that corresponds to the mobile device;

providing the user ID to an application over a network, wherein the application identifies one or more preferences associated with the user ID; and

receiving, from the application, the one or more identified preferences;

configuring the computing device, responsive to the detection, based on the one or more identified preferences associated with on the user ID.