Method for user interface, display device, and user interface system

• US 8,095,890 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sekimoto, Nobuhiro, Mori, Yasuhide, Kato, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): ZAHR, ASHRAF A
• Application Number:
  US12/169,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20090019394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 715/811
• US Class Current: 715/811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4415 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

A home system for supporting a life behavior, in which a user can effectively select a function or content quickly according to attributes and states of display devices arranged in respective locations and the user behavior. A storage unit holds location attribute information on the devices, time band dependent use frequency for each user, and location dependence of each. A user identifier input unit identifies a user using a function or content. When displaying a menu for the user to select a content and a function, a calculation unit references each database of the storage unit in accordance with the menu display state and generates menu content information correlated to the content and the function. A display unit displays such a menu that the user can easily select a content and a function with higher priority rank according to the menu content information.

Claims

1. A user interface method in a system providing a content and a function to a user, wherein

the system comprises a calculation unit, a display unit, an identifier input unit, a storage unit, a clocking unit, and operation input unit;

the storage unit holds;

a location-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a location prepared for each of users and describes a frequency of each of contents and functions;

a time band-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a time band prepared for each of the users and describes a priority rank for each of contents and functions;

a user verification database; and

at least one content or function program;

when a user approaches the identifier input unit which is in the vicinity of the display unit;

the calculation unit,

acquires user identification feature information for identifying a user inputted into the identifier input unit;

clocking information from the clocking unit; and

location attribute information which is attribute information on a location where the display unit and the identifier input unit are installed; and

identifies a user by using the user identification feature information and the user verification database;

acquires the location-dependent content/function frequency table and the time band-dependent content/function table on the identified user from the storage unit;

calculates the part corresponding to the location attribute information in the location-dependent content/function frequency table and calculates the part corresponding to the date and time information in the time band-dependent content/function frequency table so as to calculate a priority rank for each of the contents and functions; and

generates menu content information for constituting a content/function selection menu according to the priority rank and transmits it to the display device;

the display unit generates the content/function selection menu according to the menu content information and presents it to the identified user; and

the storage unit further holds a user relationship-dependent content/function frequency table which describes a frequency of a content and a function to be selected when other user prepared for each user is present;

when one or more users other than the main user using the identifier input unit and the user verification database are simultaneously identified,

the priority for each of the calculated contents and functions is calculated by using the user relationship-dependent frequency table concerning the main user and considering the adaptability of the content and the function under the coexistence of the other users, and

the menu content information constituting the content/function selection menu is generated according to the priority.

2. A user interface method in a system providing a content and a function to a user, wherein

the system comprises a calculation unit, a display unit, an identifier input unit, a storage unit, a clocking unit), and operation input unit;

the storage unit holds;

a location-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a location prepared for each of users and describes a frequency of each of contents and functions;

a time band-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a time band prepared for each of the users and describes a priority rank for each of contents and functions;

a user verification database; and

at least one content or function program;

when a user approaches the identifier input unit which is in the vicinity of the display unit;

the calculation unit,

acquires user identification feature information for identifying a user inputted into the identifier input unit;

clocking information from the clocking unit; and

location attribute information which is attribute information on a location where the display unit and the identifier input unit are installed; and

identifies a user by using the user identification feature information and the user verification database;

acquires the location-dependent content/function frequency table and the time band-dependent content/function table on the identified user from the storage unit;

calculates the part corresponding to the location attribute information in the location-dependent content/function frequency table and calculates the part corresponding to the date and time information in the time band-dependent content/function frequency table so as to calculate a priority rank for each of the contents and functions; and

generates menu content information for constituting a content/function selection menu according to the priority rank and transmits it to the display device;

the display unit generates the content/function selection menu according to the menu content information and presents it to the identified user; and

the storage unit further holds a location use table which describes the use time in the location attribute prepared for each of the users and a function use table which describes the time for using the content and the function;

the calculation unit calculates a priority rank of each of the contents and function by considering the adaptability of the use time for using the contents and the functions to the location; and

generates menu content information to constitute the content/function selection menu according to the priority ranks.

3. A user interface method in a system providing a content and a function to a user by using a server connected to a network and client terminals arranged in respective locations, wherein

the server comprises a server calculation unit, a matching unit, a server network unit, a server storage unit, and a clocking unit;

each of the client terminals comprises a client calculation unit, a display unit, a client network unit, an operation input unit, an identifier input unit, and a client storage unit,

the server network unit and the client network unit of the server and the client terminals are connected to the aforementioned network,

in the client terminals, the display unit is connected to a display device and the operation input unit inputs an operation from a user by using the operation device,

the identifier input unit acquires user identification feature information for identifying the user to be inputted,

the server storage unit holds;

a location-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a location prepared for each of users and describes a frequency of each of contents and functions;

a time band-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a time band prepared for each of the users and describes a priority rank for each of contents and functions;

a user verification database; and

at least one content or function program;

the client storage unit holds an identifier of the client terminal and the location attribute where the client terminal is installed, and

when a user exists in the vicinity of the client terminal,

the client calculation unit acquires the user identification feature information from the identifier input unit,

transmits the user identification feature information together with the identifier of the client terminal and the location attribute from the client network unit to the server network,

the server calculation unit

acquires date and time information from the clocking unit and the user identification feature information and the location attribute received by the server network unit,

correlates the user identifier with the user verification database so as to identify the user,

acquires the location-dependent content/function frequency table and the time band-dependent content/function table concerning the identified user from the server storage unit,

calculates the part corresponding to the location attribute information in the location-dependent content/function frequency table and calculates the part corresponding to the date and time information in the time band-dependent content/function frequency table so as to calculate a priority rank for each of the contents and functions,

generates menu content information for constituting a content/function selection menu according to the priority rank of each of the calculated contents and functions, and

transmits them to the client network unit of the client via the network from the server network unit; and

the client calculation unit of the client terminal

acquires the menu content information from the client network unit and transmits it to the display unit,

the display unit generates the content/function selection menu according to the menu content information, transmits it to the display device, and presents it on the display device to the identified user.

4. The user interface method as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the server storage unit of the server further holds a location transition table which describes a location transition when a plurality of terminals prepared for respective users are used, and

when the system is connected to a plurality of the client terminals,

the location transition table concerning the identified user is updated by:

the user identifier identified from the client terminal,

the menu item selected by the user,

the date and time information, and

two or more continuous sets of user use information containing the date and time information and the location attribute information.

5. The user interface method as claimed in claim 3, wherein

when the server receives the user use information from one of the client terminals,

the server calculation unit of the server

references the location transition table and estimates other client terminal to which the client terminal transits next,

acquires the location-dependent content/function frequency table and the time band-dependent content/function frequency table concerning the identified user when the identified user transits to the other client terminal,

calculates the part corresponding to the location attribute information concerning the estimated client terminal in the location-dependent function frequency table and the part corresponding to the date and time information in the time band-dependent content/function frequency table so as to calculate a priority rank of each of the contents and the functions,

generates menu content information to constitute a function selection menu for each of the calculated contents and functions, and

transmits the menu content information from the server network unit via the network to the estimated other client terminal in advance.

6. The user interface method as claimed in claim 5, wherein

when the server receives the user use information from one of the client terminals,

the calculation unit of the server

references the location transition table so as to estimate other client terminal to which the identified user transits next, and

if the identified user transits to the vicinity of the estimated client terminal,

the content and the function item which make the priority highest is selected from the contents and items in the menu content information,

the content or function program which satisfies the selected content and the function item is selected, and

the content or the function program or the state information upon execution of the function program is transmitted from the server network unit via the network to the estimated other client terminal in advance.

7. A display device for providing contents and functions to a user, comprising:

a calculation unit, a display unit, an identifier input unit, a storage unit, a clocking unit, and an operation unit;

wherein the storage unit holds;

a location-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a location prepared for each of users and describes a frequency of each of contents and functions,

a time band-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a tine band prepared for each of the users and describes a priority rank of each of the contents and functions,

a user verification database, and

at least one content or a function program;

wherein when a user approaches the identifier input unit which is in the vicinity of the display unit, the calculation unit performs operations of;

acquires user identification feature information for identifying a user inputted to the identifier input unit, clocking information from the clocking unit, and location attribute information as attribute information on a predetermined location where the display unit and the identifier input unit are installed,

identifies the user by using the user identification feature information and the user verification database,

acquires the location-dependent content/function frequency table and the time band-dependent content/function frequency table concerning the identified user from the storage unit,

calculates the part corresponding to the location attribute information in the location-dependent content/function frequency table and the part corresponding to the date and time information in the time band-dependent content/function frequency table so as to calculate a priority rank for each of the contents and functions, and

generates menu content information constituting the content/function selection menu in accordance with the priority rank and transmits it to the display unit; and

the display unit generates the content/function selection menu on the display screen according to the menu content information and displays the menu to the identified user; and

the storage unit further holds a user relationship-dependent content/function frequency table which describes a frequency of a content and a function to be selected when other user prepared for each user is present;

when one or more users other than the main user using the identifier input unit and the user verification database are simultaneously identified,

the priority for each of the calculated contents and functions is calculated by using the user relationship-dependent frequency table concerning the main user and considering the adaptability of the content and the function under the coexistence of the other users, and

the menu content information constituting the content/function selection menu is generated according to the priority.

8. A user interface which provides contents and function to a user by using a server connected to a network and client terminals arranged at respective locations,

wherein the server comprises a server calculation unit, a verification unit, a server network unit, a server storage unit, and a clocking unit;

the client terminal comprises a client calculation unit, a display unit, a client network unit, an operation input unit, and a client storage unit;

the server network and the client network unit of the server and the client terminal are connected to the network;

in the client terminal, the display unit is connected to a display device and an operation from a user is inputted to the input unit by using the operation device;

the identifier input unit acquires user identification feature information for identifying an inputted user;

the server storage unit holds;

a location-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a location prepared for each of the users and describes a frequency of each of the contents and functions,

a time band-dependent content/function frequency table which depends on a time band prepared for each of the users and describes a priority rank for each of the contents and functions,

a user verification database, and

at least one content and a function program;

the client storage unit holds;

the identifier of the client terminal and the location attribute where the client terminal is installed, and

when a user exists in the vicinity of the client terminal,

the client calculation unit acquires the user identification feature information from the identifier input unit, and

transmits the user identification feature information together with the identifier of the client terminal and the location attribute from the client network via the network to the server network;

the server calculation unit of the server

acquires date and time information from the clocking unit and the user identification feature information and the location attribute received by the server network unit,

correlates the user identifier with the user verification database so as to identify the user,

acquires the location-dependent content/function frequency table and the time band-dependent content/function table concerning the identified user from the server storage unit,

calculates the part corresponding to the location attribute information in the location-dependent content/function frequency table and calculates the part corresponding to the date and time information in the time band-dependent content/function frequency table so as to calculate a priority rank for each of the contents and functions,

generates menu content information for constituting a content/function selection menu according to the priority rank of each of the calculated contents and functions, and

transmits them to the client network unit of the client via the network from the server network unit; and

the client calculation unit of the client terminal

acquires the menu content information from the client network unit and transmits it to the display unit;

the display unit generates the content/function selection menu according to the menu content information, transmits it to the display device, and presents it on the display device to the identified user.