Methods and apparatus for improving user experience

• US 9,407,751 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hansen, Timothy E., Asokan, Ashwini, Jordan, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Belousov, Andrey
• Application Number:
  US13/614,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20140075352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 715/765, 715/745, 715/733
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243

Abstract

A data processing system includes components for providing a pleasant user experience. Those components may include a family interaction engine that provides a family channel. The family interaction engine may provide for creation of a user group. The family channel may present content of interest to multiple users in the user group. When a user is detected near the data processing system, the family interaction engine may automatically present content of interest to that user. When used for presenting media content, the data processing system may also cause supplemental data to automatically be presented, wherein the supplemental data is relevant to the media content and to a predetermined interest of the user. The data processing system may also provide a ranked list of applications for potential activation by the user. The applications may be ordered based on the current context. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. At least one machine accessible medium comprising computer instructions for dynamically tailoring an application, wherein the computer instructions, in response to being executed on a data processing system, enable the data processing system to:

in a data processing system with an application configured to present media content and with first and second user profiles, wherein (a) the first user profile identifies (i) preferred application settings for a first user and (ii) at least one interest of the first user, (b) the second user profile identifies (i) preferred application settings for a second user and (ii) at least one interest of the second user, and (c) the identified interests of the first user and the second user pertain to media content, determine that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application;

in response to determining that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically configure the application (a) to utilize the preferred application settings for the first user and (b) to consider the interest of the first user when determining supplemental data to present while the first user is interacting with the data processing system;

after determining that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically determine that the second user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application;

in response to determining that the second user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically reconfigure the application (a) to utilize the preferred application settings for the second user and (b) to reconfigure the application to consider the interest of the second user when determining supplemental data to present while the second user is interacting with the data processing system;

while first media content is being presented, automatically determine whether at least one context attribute has changed, wherein the context attribute comprises at least one item from the group consisting of (a) current location of the data processing system and (b) current time; and

in response to determining that the context attribute has changed, (a) automatically determine a second media content to be presented, based at least in part on the context attribute that changed and (b) automatically cause the first media content to be replaced with the second media content.

2. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 1, wherein the operation of automatically determining that the second user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application comprises using face recognition to automatically determine that the second user is interacting with the data processing system.

3. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 1, wherein:

configuring the application to utilize the preferred application settings for the first user comprises configuring the application to use a first user interface setting, based on the first user profile; and

reconfiguring the application to utilize the preferred application settings for the second user comprises reconfiguring the application to use a second user interface setting instead of the first user interface setting, based on the second user profile.

4. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 3, wherein:

configuring the application to use the first user interface setting comprises configuring the application to use a first default setting, based on the first user profile; and

reconfiguring the application to use the second user interface setting instead of the first user interface setting comprises reconfiguring the application to use a second default setting, based on the second user profile.

12. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first content preference with a first location and a second content preference with a second location; and

the computer instructions enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine whether the data processing system is in the first location or the second location;

in response to determining that the data processing system is in the first location, automatically determine a first content recommendation, based on (a) the current location of the data processing system and (b) the first content preference in the first user profile associated with the first location;

automatically present the first content recommendation;

after presenting the first content recommendation, automatically determine whether the current location of the data processing system has changed to the second location;

in response to determining that the current location of the data processing system has changed to the second location, automatically determine a second content recommendation, based on (a) the current location of the data processing system and (b) the second content preference in the first user profile associated with the second location; and

automatically present the second content recommendation.

13. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first content preference with a first time period and a second content preference with a second time period; and

the computer instructions enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine whether the current time is in the first time period or the second time period;

in response to determining that the data processing system is in the first time period, automatically determine a first content recommendation, based on (a) the current time and (b) the first content preference in the first user profile associated with the first time period;

automatically present the first content recommendation;

after presenting the first content recommendation, automatically determine that the current time is in the second time period;

in response to determining that the current time is in the second time period, automatically determine a second content recommendation, based on (a) the current time and (b) the second content preference in the first user profile associated with the second time period; and

automatically present the second content recommendation.

14. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 1, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first presentation format with a first physical activity and a second presentation format with a second physical activity, wherein the physical activities comprise at least two items the group consisting of sitting, standing, and moving around; and

the computer instructions enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine a current physical activity of a current user; and

automatically use the first presentation format in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user is the first physical activity; and

automatically use the second presentation format in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user is the second physical activity.

15. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 14, wherein:

the operation of automatically using the first presentation format comprises using the first presentation format to present a first media program that pertains to a particular topic; and

the computer instructions further enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine whether the current physical activity of the current user has changed to a new physical activity;

in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user has changed to the new physical activity, automatically determine a new presentation format to be used for presenting media, based at least in part on (a) associations in the first user profile between particular physical activities and corresponding presentation formats and (b) the current physical activity of the current user;

automatically determine a second media program (a) that pertains to the particular topic and (b) that is suitable for presentation in the new presentation format; and

automatically use the new presentation format to present the second media program.

16. At least one machine accessible medium according to claim 14, wherein:

the first presentation format comprises a format from the group consisting of a video presentation format, an audio presentation format, and a textual presentation format; and

the second presentation format comprises a different format from the group consisting of the video presentation format, the audio presentation format, and the textual presentation format.

5. A data processing system that facilitates dynamic tailoring of an application, the data processing system comprising:

a processing element;

a machine accessible medium responsive to the processing element;

an application in the machine accessible medium, wherein the application is configured to present media content;

first and second user profiles in the machine accessible medium, wherein (a) the first user profile identifies (i) preferred application settings for a first user and (ii) at least one interest of the first user, and (b) the second user profile identifies (i) preferred application settings for a second user and (ii) at least one interest of the second user, wherein the identified interests of the first user and the second user pertain to media content; and

computer instructions in the machine accessible medium which, when executed, enable the data processing system to;

determine that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application;

in response to determining that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically configure the application (a) to utilize the preferred application settings for the first user and (b) to consider the interest of the first user when determining supplemental data to present while the first user is interacting with the data processing system;

after determining that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically determine that the second user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application;

in response to determining that the second user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically reconfigure the application (a) to utilize the preferred application settings for the second user and (b) to reconfigure the application to consider the interest of the second user when determining supplemental data to present while the second user is interacting with the data processing system;

while first media content is being presented, automatically determine whether at least one context attribute has changed, wherein the context attribute comprises at least one item from the group consisting of (a) current location of the data processing system and (b) current time; and

in response to determining that the context attribute has changed, (a) automatically determine a second media content to be presented, based at least in part on the context attribute that changed and (b) automatically cause the first media content to be replaced with the second media content.

17. A data processing system according to claim 5, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first content preference with a first location and a second content preference with a second location; and

the computer instructions enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine whether the data processing system is in the first location or the second location;

in response to determining that the data processing system is in the first location, automatically determine a first content recommendation, based on (a) the current location of the data processing system and (b) the first content preference in the first user profile associated with the first location;

automatically present the first content recommendation;

after presenting the first content recommendation, automatically determine whether the current location of the data processing system has changed to the second location;

in response to determining that the current location of the data processing system has changed to the second location, automatically determine a second content recommendation, based on (a) the current location of the data processing system and (b) the second content preference in the first user profile associated with the second location; and

automatically present the second content recommendation.

18. A data processing system according to claim 5, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first content preference with a first time period and a second content preference with a second time period; and

the computer instructions enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine whether the current time is in the first time period or the second time period;

in response to determining that the data processing system is in the first time period, automatically determine a first content recommendation, based on (a) the current time and (b) the first content preference in the first user profile associated with the first time period;

automatically present the first content recommendation;

after presenting the first content recommendation, automatically determine that the current time is in the second time period;

in response to determining that the current time is in the second time period, automatically determine a second content recommendation, based on (a) the current time and (b) the second content preference in the first user profile associated with the second time period; and

automatically present the second content recommendation.

19. A data processing system according to claim 5, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first presentation format with a first physical activity and a second presentation format with a second physical activity, wherein the physical activities comprise at least two items the group consisting of sitting, standing, and moving around; and

the computer instructions enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine a current physical activity of a current user; and

automatically use the first presentation format in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user is the first physical activity; and

automatically use the second presentation format in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user is the second physical activity.

20. A data processing system according to claim 19, wherein:

the operation of automatically using the first presentation format comprises using the first presentation format to present a first media program that pertains to a particular topic; and

the computer instructions further enable the data processing system to;

automatically determine whether the current physical activity of the current user has changed to a new physical activity;

in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user has changed to the new physical activity, automatically determine a new presentation format to be used for presenting media, based at least in part on (a) associations in the first user profile between particular physical activities and corresponding presentation formats and (b) the current physical activity of the current user;

automatically determine a second media program (a) that pertains to the particular topic and (b) that is suitable for presentation in the new presentation format; and

automatically use the new presentation format to present the second media program.

21. A data processing system according to claim 19, wherein:

the first presentation format comprises a format from the group consisting of a video presentation format, an audio presentation format, and a textual presentation format; and

the second presentation format comprises a different format from the group consisting of the video presentation format, the audio presentation format, and the textual presentation format.

6. A method for dynamically tailoring an application, the method comprising:

in a data processing system with an application configured to present media content and with first and second user profiles, wherein (a) the first user profile identifies (i) preferred application settings for a first user and (ii) at least one interest of the first user, (b) the second user profile identifies (i) preferred application settings for a second user and (ii) at least one interest of the second user, and (c) the identified interests of the first user and the second user pertain to media content, determining that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application;

in response to determining that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically configuring the application (a) to utilize the preferred application settings for the first user and (b) to consider the interest of the first user when determining supplemental data to present while the first user is interacting with the data processing system;

after determining that the first user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically determining that the second user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application;

in response to determining that the second user is interacting with the data processing system while the data processing system is executing the application, automatically reconfiguring the application (a) to utilize the preferred application settings for the second user and (b) to reconfigure the application to consider the interest of the second user when determining supplemental data to present while the second user is interacting with the data processing system;

while first media content is being presented, automatically determining whether at least one context attribute has changed, wherein the context attribute comprises at least one item from the group consisting of (a) current location of the data processing system and (b) current time; and

in response to determining that the context attribute has changed, (a) automatically determining a second media content to be presented, based at least in part on the context attribute that changed and (b) automatically causing the first media content to be replaced with the second media content.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first content preference with a first location and a second content preference with a second location; and

the method comprises;

automatically determining whether the data processing system is in the first location or the second location;

in response to determining that the data processing system is in the first location, automatically determining a first content recommendation, based on (a) the current location of the data processing system and (b) the first content preference in the first user profile associated with the first location;

automatically presenting the first content recommendation;

after presenting the first content recommendation, automatically determining whether the current location of the data processing system has changed to the second location;

in response to determining that the current location of the data processing system has changed to the second location, automatically determining a second content recommendation, based on (a) the current location of the data processing system and (b) the second content preference in the first user profile associated with the second location; and

automatically presenting the second content recommendation.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first content preference with a first time period and a second content preference with a second time period; and

the method comprises;

automatically determining whether the current time is in the first time period or the second time period;

in response to determining that the data processing system is in the first time period, automatically determining a first content recommendation, based on (a) the current time and (b) the first content preference in the first user profile associated with the first time period;

automatically presenting the first content recommendation;

after presenting the first content recommendation, automatically determining that the current time is in the second time period;

in response to determining that the current time is in the second time period, automatically determining a second content recommendation, based on (a) the current time and (b) the second content preference in the first user profile associated with the second time period; and

automatically presenting the second content recommendation.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

the first user profile associates a first presentation format with a first physical activity and a second presentation format with a second physical activity, wherein the physical activities comprise at least two items the group consisting of sitting, standing, and moving around; and

the method comprises;

automatically determining a current physical activity of a current user; and

automatically using the first presentation format in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user is the first physical activity; and

automatically using the second presentation format in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user is the second physical activity.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein:

the operation of automatically using the first presentation format comprises using the first presentation format to present a first media program that pertains to a particular topic; and

the method comprises;

automatically determining whether the current physical activity of the current user has changed to a new physical activity;

in response to determining that the current physical activity of the current user has changed to the new physical activity, automatically determining a new presentation format to be used for presenting media, based at least in part on (a) associations in the first user profile between particular physical activities and corresponding presentation formats and (b) the current physical activity of the current user;

automatically determining a second media program (a) that pertains to the particular topic and (b) that is suitable for presentation in the new presentation format; and

automatically using the new presentation format to present the second media program.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein:

the first presentation format comprises a format from the group consisting of a video presentation format, an audio presentation format, and a textual presentation format; and

the second presentation format comprises a different format from the group consisting of the video presentation format, the audio presentation format, and the textual presentation format.