Methods and systems for generating icons associated with providing brain state feedback

• US 9,367,131 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROVI Product Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Klappert, Walter R., Nichols, Michael R., Shimy, Camron, Wagner, William, Chen, Yinghsueh, Stathacopoulos, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): IDOWU, OLUGBENGA O
• Application Number:
  US14/038,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20150033262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• 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: 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 21/42201 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/443 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 21/4436 : 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 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 : for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application configured to generate for display an icon that provides feedback to a user related to the current brain activity of the user. For example, a media guidance application may monitor the brain activity of the user in order to determine whether or not to perform a particular operation. The media guidance application may further generate a display of icons that inform the user of the current brain activity of the user and/or the progress of the user towards achieving a particular operation.

Claims

1. A method of providing brain activity feedback to a user accessing a media guidance application, the method comprising:

monitoring the brain activity of the user for a first brain state, wherein the first brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a first operation of the media guidance application;

detecting a first level of the brain activity;

determining that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards a threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;

generating for display an icon on a display screen, wherein the icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards the threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;

detecting a second level of the brain activity;

determining that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity; and

adjusting the icon on the display screen, wherein the adjusted icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the brain activity of the user further comprises receiving data from an electroencephalogram unit indicating a first frequency range of the brain activity of the user or receiving data from an electromyogram unit indicating first electrical activity of muscles near a brain of the user at rest and during contraction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electroencephalogram unit or the electromyogram unit is incorporated into a mobile headset, wherein the mobile headset is battery powered.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising cross-referencing the first frequency range of the brain activity of the user with a database associated with frequencies of brain states to determine the first brain state or cross-referencing the first electrical activity of the muscles near the brain of the user with a database associated with electrical activity of brain states to determine the first brain state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback to the user related to achieving the first brain state prior to the user achieving the first brain state includes a graphical representation of the brain activity associated with the first brain state and a graphical representation indicating the user'"'"'s progress towards the first brain state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback relates to an attentiveness level of the user and the first brain state is associated with a threshold level of attentiveness of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to detecting an eye blink pattern, monitoring the brain activity of the user associated with a second brain state, wherein the second brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a second operation of the media guidance application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation includes a navigation command, a fast-access playback command, a selection command, or a settings command.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon includes on-screen instructions for how to achieve the first brain state.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cross-reference the first frequency range of the brain activity of the user with a database associated with frequencies of brain states to determine the first brain state or cross-reference the first electrical activity of the muscles near the brain of the user with a database associated with electrical activity of brain states to determine the first brain state.

10. A system of providing brain activity feedback to a user accessing a media guidance application, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

monitor the brain activity of the user for a first brain state, wherein the first brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a first operation of the media guidance application;

detect a first level of the brain activity;

determine that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards a threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;

generate for display an icon on a display screen, wherein the icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards the threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;

detect a second level of the brain activity;

determine that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity; and

adjust the icon on the display screen, wherein the adjusted icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor the brain activity of the user using data from an electroencephalogram unit indicating a first frequency range of the brain activity of the user or using data from an electromyogram unit indicating first electrical activity of muscles near a brain of the user at rest and during contraction.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the electroencephalogram unit or the electromyogram unit is incorporated into a mobile headset, wherein the mobile headset is battery powered.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the feedback to the user related to achieving the first brain state goal of the first brain state and the user'"'"'s progress towards the goal includes a graphical representation of the brain activity associated with the first brain state and a graphical representation indicating the user'"'"'s progress towards the first brain state.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the feedback relates to an attentiveness level of the user and the first brain state is associated with a threshold level of attentiveness of the user.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to detecting an eye blink pattern, monitor the brain activity of the user associated with a second brain state, wherein the second brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a second operation of the media guidance application.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the operation includes a navigation command, a fast-access playback command, a selection command, or a settings command.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the icon includes on-screen instructions for how to achieve the first brain state.