Methods and apparatus for tracking user's remote control handling signatures

• US 8,381,239 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eldon Technology Limited (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Burton, David Robert, Ward, Martyn Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US12/702,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 725/13, 725/14, 725/39, 725/46, 348/114, 348/734, 340/4.11, 705/14.4, 705/14.49, 705/14.53
• US Class Current: 725/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for identifying a particular user of an receiver, such as a set-top box or receiver. A user is identified by the manner in which she uses an input device, such a wireless remote. Each individual user of the receiver is assigned a profile that includes values for a number of information points that serve to distinguish the user from other users of the receiver. With a user identified through tracking of her usage of a input device, customized content such as target advertisements or programming suggestions may be provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing customized output to a user of a receiver, comprising:

receiving one or more commands at a receiver from a user input device associated with the receiver;

determining data values for one or more information points based on the one or more commands;

establishing one or more profiles based on the data values, each profile corresponding to a particular user;

determining a current user of the user input device based on one or more recently received commands, wherein the recently received commands correspond to one of the one or more profiles; and

providing output from the receiver based on the current user of the user input device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each command is sent to the receiver in response to a user pressing a key on the user input device, each command including a group of identical command codes, the number of command codes corresponding to a length of time in which the key is pressed, and the receiver operating to execute the command in response to receiving a predetermined number of identical command codes, the method further comprising:

determining data values by counting the number of identical command codes in each group of identical command codes, and recording the number of identical command codes as a first information point, the first information point indicating a length of time associated with a key press; and

establishing one or more profiles by using the first information point to define a characteristic button press time for the user assigned to each profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input device includes a plurality of keys, and a particular command received at the receiver corresponds to a user pressing a particular key on the user input device, the method further comprising:

determining data values by recording which keys are pressed by a user as the first information point; and

establishing one or more profiles by using the first information point to define a characteristic group of commonly pressed buttons for the user assigned to each profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input device includes a plurality of keys, and a particular command received at the receiver corresponds to a user pressing a particular key on the user input device, the method further comprising:

determining data values by recording a key press that is repeated by a user as the first information point; and

establishing one or more profiles by using the first information point to define a characteristic key press that is repeated for the user assigned to each profile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver is operable to provide an output signal for display of a channel, the channel received by the receiver from a program service transmission having a plurality of channels, and the commands received at the receiver operate to cause the receiver to change the channel output by the receiver, the method further comprising:

determining data values by recording which channels remain output from the receiver for longer than a pre-determined time as the first information point; and

establishing one or more profiles by using the first information point to define a preferred channel for the user associated with each profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a clock, the method further comprising:

determining data values by recording a time of day in which commands are received from the user input device as the first information point; and

establishing one or more profiles by using the first information point to define a preferred time of day for using the receiver for the user associated with each profile.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first user command from the user input device identifying a current user of the user input device; and

establishing a profile for the current user of the user input device by determining data values for one or more information points based on the one or more commands until a second user command is received from the user input device indicating a different user of the user input device.

8. A method of providing customized output to a user of a receiver, comprising:

receiving one or more commands at a receiver from a user input device associated with the receiver;

determining data values for one or more information points based on the one or more commands;

establishing one or more profiles based on the data values, each profile corresponding to a particular user;

determining a current user of the user input device based on one or more recently received commands, wherein the recently received commands correspond to one of the one or more profiles;

providing output from the receiver based on the current user of the user input device;

receiving a command from the user input device indicating that data values for the information points of a particular profile are no longer usable;

resetting the particular profile by discarding all of the data values associated with the information points of the particular profile; and

reestablishing the particular profile by determining data values for one or more information points based on one or more subsequent user commands until a user command is received from the user input device indicating a different user of the user input device.

9. A receiver, comprising:

a tuner operable to receive a program service transmission having a plurality of channels, the tuner operable to select one of the channels responsive to a signal received from an input device and to prepare the channel to be output in a data signal to a display device;

a memory connected to the tuner, the memory including a tangible storage medium operable to store computer readable data and instructions, the memory storing at least one profile associated with a user, the profile having data values for a number of information points that distinguish the user'"'"'s operation of the input device;

a processor operable to run computer executable code stored in the memory device, the processor operable to output user-specific data to the display device based on the user profile stored in the memory; and

an input signal analyzer including instructions stored in the memory and running on the processor, the input signal analyzer operable to acquire data for one or more information points from input signals received from the input device,

wherein data acquired by the input signal analyzer is incorporated in one or more profiles stored in the memory in correspondence with a particular user, and

wherein the input signal analyzer is operable to count a number of redundant command codes received from the input device in connection with a single command, wherein the number of redundant commands codes is recorded as data for an information point corresponding to a length of time that a key is pressed.

10. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the input analyzer is further operable to acquire data for one or more information points from key presses received through a key pad associated with the input device.

11. The receiver of claim 10, wherein the data is transmitted to the receiver in a transmission that includes at least a command associated with the key presses.

12. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the user-specific data output by the processor to the display device includes a targeted advertisement.

13. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the user-specific data output by the processor to the display device includes a programming suggestion.

14. A receiver, comprising;

a tuner operable to receive a program service transmission having a plurality of channels, the tuner operable to select one of the channels responsive to a signal received from an input device and to prepare the channel to be output in a data signal to a display device;

a memory connected to the tuner, the memory including a tangible storage medium operable to store computer readable data and instructions, the memory storing at least one profile associated with a user, the profile having data values for a number of information points that distinguish the user'"'"'s operation of the input device;

a processor operable to run computer executable code stored in the memory device, the processor operable to output user-specific data to the display device based on the user profile stored in the memory; and

an input signal analyzer including instructions stored in the memory and running on the processor, the input signal analyzer operable to acquire data for one or more information points from input signals received from the input device,

wherein data acquired by the input signal analyzer is incorporated in one or more profiles stored in the memory in correspondence with a particular user, and

wherein the input signal analyzer is operable to count groups of redundant command codes received from the input device in connection with a single command, wherein the number of groups of redundant commands codes is recorded as data for an information point corresponding to the number of times that a key press is repeated.

15. The receiver of claim 14, wherein the input analyzer is further operable to acquire data for one or more information points from key presses received through a key pad associated with the input device, and wherein the data is transmitted to the receiver in a transmission that includes at least a command associated with the key presses.

16. A receiver, comprising:

a tuner operable to receive a program service transmission having a plurality of channels, the tuner operable to select one of the channels responsive to a signal received from an input device and to prepare the channel to be output in a data signal to a display device;

a memory connected to the tuner, the memory including a tangible storage medium operable to store computer readable data and instructions, the memory storing at least one profile associated with a user, the profile having data values for a number of information points that distinguish the user'"'"'s operation of the input device; and

a processor operable to run computer executable code stored in the memory device, the processor operable to output user-specific data to the display device based on the user profile stored in the memory, wherein

the input device includes an input analyzer provided in association with a capacitive grid disposed substantially at the exterior of the input device, the capacitive grid operable to determine as a data for an information point a location of the exterior of the input device in which a user'"'"'s hand is in contact, the input device transmitting the data to the receiver for incorporation in a profile corresponding to a particular user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the input analyzer recording the location of the user'"'"'s hand as data for an information point.

18. A method of providing customized output to a user of a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a key press on a key pad associated with an input device, the key press corresponding to a command selected by a user;

in response to receiving the key press, sending the command from the input device to a receiver;

in response to receiving the key press, analyzing the key press to determine data on one or more information points; and

in response to analyzing the key press, transmitting the data from the input device to the receiver;

wherein the receiver is operable to store the data in one or more profiles that are each associated with a particular user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the input device includes a timing mechanism, the method further comprising:

analyzing the key press by using the timing mechanism to determine a duration of time that begins when the user presses the key and ends when the user releases the key;

wherein the data transmitted from the input device to the receiver includes a measured time interval.

20. A method of providing customized output to a user of a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a key press on a key pad associated with an input device, the key press corresponding to a command selected by a user, wherein the input device includes a resistive switch associated with one or more keys;

in response to receiving the key press, sending the command from the input device to a receiver;

in response to receiving the key press, analyzing the key press to determine data on one or more information points; and

analyzing the key press by measuring a pressure in which the user exerts on the resistive switch when the user presses the key associated with the resistive switch;

wherein the data transmitted from the input device to the receiver includes the measured pressure.