System and method for selecting audio/video content for presentation to a user in response to monitored user activity

• US 8,793,727 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Ukraine LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EchoStar Ukraine LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Serdiuk, Dmytro
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US13/514,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20120254907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 725 9- 14
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• 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: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system for providing audio/video content to a user is disclosed. The system includes a set-top box device configured to provide audio/video content to a presentation device, and at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the set-top box device, the at least one sensor configured to provide sensor data to the set-top box device. The system also includes a sensor data processing module configured to process the sensor data to determine a probable activity type for the user, and a controller coupled to the sensor data processing module. The controller is configured to select particular audio/video content for playback at the presentation device, where the particular audio/video content is influenced by the probable activity type. Related operating methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of presenting audio/video content to a user, the method comprising:

receiving, with a set-top box device, first audio/video content provided by a network-based video services broadcasting system;

operating the set-top box device to present the first audio/video content to the user;

maintaining, with the set-top box device, a set of predefined probable activity types;

monitoring, with the set-top box device, a physical activity level of the user;

selecting, from the set of predefined probable activity types, a probable activity type based upon the monitored physical activity level, wherein the selected probable activity type estimates the monitored physical activity level of the user;

selecting, with the set-top box device, second audio/video content provided by the network-based video services broadcasting system, the second audio/video content being categorized according to an amount of audio/visual stimuli conveyed in the second audio/video content, such that the amount of audio/visual stimuli is correlated to the selected probable activity type;

switching programming services of the network-based video services broadcasting system to provide the second audio/video content to the user in place of the first audio/video content; and

providing the second audio/video content to a presentation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the physical activity level of the user comprises obtaining sensor data at the set-top box device, the sensor data being indicative of user activity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively high audio/visual stimuli when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively high physical activity; and

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively low audio/visual stimuli when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively low physical activity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting step selects second audio/video content of a first genre when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively high physical activity; and

the selecting step selects second audio/video content of a second genre when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively low physical activity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively high volume characteristics when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively high physical activity; and

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively low volume characteristics when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively low physical activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively high tempo characteristics when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively high physical activity; and

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively low tempo characteristics when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively low physical activity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively high dynamic range characteristics when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively high physical activity; and

the selecting step selects second audio/video content having relatively low dynamic range characteristics when the probable activity type is indicative of relatively low physical activity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling at least one presentation parameter associated with the second audio/video content, wherein the controlling is influenced by the probable activity type.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one presentation parameter comprises a parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a brightness setting of the presentation device;

a volume setting of the presentation device; and

a playback speed of the second audio/video content.

10. A method of controlling presentation of content to a user, the method comprising:

maintaining a set of predefined probable activity types;

receiving, with a set-top box device, first audio/video content provided by a network-based video services broadcasting system;

operating the set-top box device to present the first audio/video content at a presentation device;

obtaining, at the set-top box device, sensor data that is indicative of physical activity of the user;

processing the sensor data to select, from the set of predefined probable activity types, a probable activity type for the user, wherein the selected probable activity type estimates the physical activity of the user;

identifying a category of audio/video content that is correlated to the selected probable activity type;

selecting, for playback at the presentation device, second audio/video content provided by the network-based video services broadcasting system, the second audio/video content being categorized to be included in the category;

switching programming services of the network-based video services broadcasting system to provide the second audio/video content to the user in place of the first audio/video content; and

operating the set-top box device to present the second audio/video content at the presentation device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the processing step is performed by the set-top box device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the processing step is performed by a system, device, or component other than the set-top device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the obtaining step obtains sensor data selected from the group consisting of:

user motion data;

user acceleration data;

user velocity data;

user posture data;

user body position data;

user heart rate data;

user respiration data;

user sound data;

user perspiration data;

user physiological characteristic data; and

user temperature data.

14. A system for providing audio/video content to a user, the system comprising:

a set-top box device configured to provide audio/video content to a presentation device;

at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the set-top box device, the at least one sensor configured to provide sensor data to the set-top box device;

a sensor data processing module configured to process the sensor data to select, from a set of predefined probable activity types, a probable activity type for the user, wherein the selected probable activity type estimates whether the user is currently engaged in relatively low physical activity or relatively high physical activity; and

a controller coupled to the sensor data processing module, the controller configured to operate the set-top box device to receive first audio/video content from a network-based video services broadcasting system, and to present the first audio/video content at the presentation device, and the controller further configured to select second audio/video content provided by the network-based video services broadcasting system for playback at the presentation device, the second audio/video content having an amount of audio/visual stimuli that is correlated to the probable activity type, wherein the second audio/video content has relatively low audio/visual stimuli when the selected probable activity type is indicative of relatively low physical activity of the user, and wherein the second audio/video content has relatively high audio/visual stimuli when the selected probable activity type is indicative of relatively high physical activity of the user, and the controller further configured to switch programming services of the network-based video services broadcasting system and operate the set-top box device to present the second audio/video content at the presentation device in place of the first audio/video content.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a motion detector;

an accelerometer;

a pedometer;

a perspiration meter;

a video camera;

a still camera;

a microphone;

a sound meter;

a physiological characteristic sensor; and

a thermometer.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor data processing module is implemented in a subsystem, device, or component other than the set-top box device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor data processing module is maintained by a network-based content provider.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is implemented in a subsystem, device, or component other than the set-top box device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to:

identify a category of audio/video content that is correlated to the probable activity type; and

select the second audio/video content from the identified category.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the category is associated with variable content characteristics, the variable content characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

audio/visual stimuli conveyed in the audio/video content;

content genres;

content volume characteristics;

content tempo characteristics;

geographic/ethnic origin;

beat characteristics;

beat intensity characteristics;

musical key;

vocal type or characteristics; and

content dynamic range characteristics.