Methods and systems for selecting modes based on the level of engagement of a user

• US 9,361,005 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROVI Product Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheatley, David John, Korbecki, William J., Peterson, Brian Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdul-Ali, Omar
• Application Number:
  US14/141,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20150185993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• 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 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that adjusts modes based on actively determining an engagement level of a user. In such modes both the content presented and the interactions of a user that are recognized may be based on the level of engagement of the user.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting presentation modes based on actively determining an engagement level of a user, the method comprising:

generating a first presentation mode associated with a first composite engagement level;

receiving engagement indicia of the user;

quantifying each of the engagement indicium according to respective metrics to determine engagement levels based on each of the engagement indicium;

computing a second composite engagement level for the user based on the engagement levels associated with each of the engagement indicium;

comparing the second composite engagement level to a threshold engagement level; and

in response to determining that the second composite engagement level corresponds to the threshold engagement level, replacing the first presentation mode with a second presentation mode associated with the second composite engagement level;

generating a display of a ticker feed featuring updates from a social media account associated with the user in the second presentation mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first presentation mode and the second presentation mode are associated with different audio or video presentation capabilities, and wherein the first presentation mode and the second presentation mode are associated with a display of different media assets based on the different audio or video presentation capabilities.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective metrics for each of the engagement indicium are different.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the engagement indicia indicate the engagement level of the user with respect to a user device generating the first presentation mode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising cross-referencing a user action with a database associated with contexts of user actions to determine whether a context associated with the user action indicates how the user action corresponds to one or more of the engagement indicium.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a likelihood that the context associated with the user action indicates how the user action corresponds to the one or more of the engagement indicium;

comparing the likelihood to a threshold likelihood; and

in response to determining that the likelihood does not correspond to the threshold likelihood, determining that the context associated with the user action does not indicate how the user action corresponds to the one or more of the engagement indicium.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating transition information, wherein the transition information identifies what content is being presented while the first type of user input interaction is recognized, what length of time the first type of user input interaction is recognized, or what time of day the first type of user input interaction is recognized; and

transmitting the transition information to a remote server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a first engagement indicium is eye contact of the user and quantifying the eye contact of the user includes measuring a length of time that the user is making eye contact with a display of a first media asset during a period of time, and wherein a second engagement indicium is an input amount and quantifying user inputs includes determining a number of times that the user enters a user input during the period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective metrics are calibrated to the user.

10. A system for adjusting presentation modes based on actively determining an engagement level of a user, the system comprising control circuitry that:

generates a first presentation mode associated with a first composite engagement level;

receives engagement indicia of the user;

quantifies each of the engagement indicium according to respective metrics to determine engagement levels based on each of the engagement indicium;

computes a second composite engagement level for the user based on the engagement levels associated with each of the engagement indicium;

compares the second composite engagement level to a threshold engagement level; and

in response to determining that the second composite engagement level corresponds to the threshold engagement level, replaces the first presentation mode with a second presentation mode associated with the second composite engagement level

generates a display of a ticker feed featuring updates from a social media account associated with the user in the second presentation mode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first presentation mode and the second presentation mode are associated with different audio or video presentation capabilities, and wherein the first presentation mode and the second presentation mode are associated with a display of different media assets based on the different audio or video presentation capabilities.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the respective metrics for each of the engagement indicium are different.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the engagement indicia indicate the engagement level of the user with respect to a user device generating the first presentation mode.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry further cross-references a user action with a database associated with contexts of user actions to determine whether a context associated with the user action indicates how the user action corresponds to one or more of the engagement indicium.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry further:

determines a likelihood that the context associated with the user action indicates how the user action corresponds to the one or more of the engagement indicium;

compares the likelihood to a threshold likelihood; and

in response to determining that the likelihood does not correspond to the threshold likelihood, determines that the context associated with the user action does not indicate how the user action corresponds to the one or more of the engagement indicium.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry further:

generates transition information, wherein the transition information identifies what content is being presented while the first type of user input interaction is recognized, what length of time the first type of user input interaction is recognized, or what time of day the first type of user input interaction is recognized; and

transmits the transition information to a remote server.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein a first engagement indicium is eye contact of the user and the control circuitry that quantifies the eye contact of the user includes control circuitry that measures a length of time that the user is making eye contact with a display of a first media asset during a period of time, and wherein a second engagement indicium is an input amount and the control circuitry that quantifies user inputs includes control circuitry that determines a number of times that the user enters a user input during the period of time.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the respective metrics are calibrated to the user.