Systems and methods for recommending content

• US 9,674,563 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROVI Product Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheatley, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): EKPO, NNENNA NGOZI
• Application Number:
  US14/070,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20150128158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 725 10, 725 12, 725 46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score

Abstract

Systems and methods for recommending content to a user are described. A user equipment device may be equipped with a built-in or separately connected image capturing device which may be used to pinpoint the location of the remote control when it is activated, thereby defining the specific location of the remote and the user. The relative location of the user in the room where the television is located may be associated with that particular user and used to automatically log in and access their user profile. This information may be used to enhance the television experience for the user by, e.g., recommending content.

Claims

1. A method for recommending content, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment device during a first time interval, a first input from a remote control device operated by a first user positioned in a viewing area;

in response to receiving the first input;

transmitting a first instruction to activate an image capturing device; and

receiving, from the image capturing device, a first image of the viewing area;

detecting in the received first image that the remote control device is positioned at a position;

retrieving, from the storage device, a first profile associated with a portion of the viewing area that includes the detected position of the remote control device in the received first image;

determining a first media content of interest based on the retrieved first profile;

generating a display recommending the first media content to the first user;

receiving, at the user equipment device during the first time interval, a second input from the remote control device operated by a second user positioned in the viewing area, wherein the second user is different from the first user;

in response to receiving the second input;

transmitting a second instruction to activate the image capturing device; and

receiving, from the image capturing device, a second image of the viewing area;

detecting in the received second image that the remote control device is positioned at the position;

retrieving, from the storage device, the first profile associated with the portion of the viewing area that includes the detected position of the remote control device in the received second image;

determining a second media content of interest based on the retrieved first profile; and

generating a display recommending the second media content to the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieved first profile includes a viewing history of media content selected when the remote control device was positioned in a vicinity of the determined position in the viewing area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the viewing history includes at least one of (i) the media content selected in a vicinity of a particular time, and (ii) the media content selected on a particular day.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting in the received first image that the remote control device is positioned at the position comprises:

receiving a signal from the remote control device that is captured in the first image;

identifying a location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the signal from the remote control device; and

determining the position of the remote control device based on the identified location.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving two signals simultaneously from the remote control device;

identifying a first location of one or more pixels and a second location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the two signals from the remote control device;

retrieving a distance associated with the two signals;

calculating a distance of the remote control device from a display device in the viewing area based on the identified first and second locations and the retrieved distance; and

determining the position of the remote control device based on the identified first and second locations and the distance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the two signals are received simultaneously from two infrared (IR) devices included in the remote control device.

7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining a location of a third user in the viewing area when the second user is in the viewing area;

retrieving, from the storage device, a profile based on the location of the third user; and

determining at least one media content of interest to both users based on the retrieved profiles.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the location of the third user in the viewing area comprises:

analyzing the received second image to detect silhouettes corresponding to one or more users;

retrieving, from the storage device, a silhouette for the third user;

comparing the retrieved silhouette for the third user to the silhouettes detected in the second image; and

determining the location of the third user in the viewing area based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a plurality of inputs from the remote control device over a period of time;

receiving, from the image capturing device, a plurality of images of the viewing area over the period of time;

clustering a plurality of positions in the viewing area to define a user area based on the position of the remote control device in each captured image; and

associating the defined user area with the first user.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the image capturing device, the first image of the viewing area;

analyzing the received first image to detect the position of the remote control device;

determining the user area associated with the detected position; and

retrieving, from the storage device, the first profile associated with the portion of the viewing area based on the determined user area.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the first profile further comprises:

determining when the detected position of the remote control is within a user area; and

based on the determining, retrieving the first profile associated with the user area.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the user equipment device during a second time interval, a third input from the remote control device operated by the first user positioned in the viewing area, wherein the second time interval is different from the first time interval;

in response to receiving the third input;

transmitting a third instruction to activate the image capturing device; and

receiving, from the image capturing device, a third image of the viewing area;

detecting in the received third image that the remote control device is positioned at the position;

retrieving, from the storage device, a second profile associated with the portion of the viewing area that includes the detected position of the remote control device, wherein the second profile is different from the first profile;

determining a third media content of interest based on the retrieved second profile; and

generating a display recommending the third media content to the first user.

11. A system for recommending content, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

receive a first input from a remote control device operated by a first user positioned in a viewing area;

in response to receiving the first input;

transmit a first instruction to activate an image capturing device; and

receive, from the image capturing device, a first image of the viewing area;

detect in the received first image that the remote control device is positioned at a position;

retrieve, from a storage device, a first profile associated with a portion of the viewing area that includes the detected position of the remote control device in the received first image;

determine a first media content of interest based on the retrieved first profile;

generate a display recommending the first media content to the first user;

receive, at the user equipment device, a second input from the remote control device operated by a second user positioned in the viewing area, wherein the second user is different from the first user;

in response to receiving the second input;

transmit a second instruction to activate the image capturing device; and

receive, from the image capturing device, a second image of the viewing area;

detect in the received second image that the remote control device is positioned at the position;

retrieve, from the storage device, the first profile associated with the portion of the viewing area that includes the detected position of the remote control device in the received second image;

determine a second media content of interest based on the retrieved first profile; and

generate a display recommending the second media content to the second user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the retrieved first profile is based on a viewing history of media content selected when the remote control device is positioned in a vicinity of the determined position in the viewing area.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the viewing history only includes at least one of (i) the media content selected in a vicinity of a particular time, and (ii) the media content selected on a particular day.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry for detecting in the received first image that the remote control device is positioned at the position is further configured to:

receive a signal from the remote control device that is captured in the first image;

identify a location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the signal from the remote control device; and

determine the position of the remote control device based on the identified location.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive two signals simultaneously from the remote control device;

identify a first location of one or more pixels and a second location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the two signals from the remote control device;

retrieve a distance associated with the two signals;

calculate a distance of the remote control device from a display device in the viewing area based on the identified first and second locations and the retrieved distance; and

determine the position of the remote control device based on the identified first and second locations and the distance.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the two signals are received simultaneously from two infrared (IR) devices included in the remote control device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a location of a third user in the viewing area when the second user is in the viewing area;

retrieve, from the storage device, a profile based on the location of the third user; and

determine at least one media content of interest to both users based on the retrieved profiles.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry for determining the location of the third user in the viewing area is further configured to:

analyze the received second image to detect silhouettes corresponding to one or more users;

retrieve, from the storage device, a silhouette for the third user;

compare the retrieved silhouette for the third user to the silhouettes detected in the second image; and

determine the location of the third user in the viewing area based on the comparison.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a plurality of inputs from the remote control device over a period of time;

receive, from the image capturing device, a plurality of images of the viewing area over the period of time;

cluster a plurality of positions in the viewing area to define a user area based on the position of the remote control device in each captured image; and

associate the defined user area with the first user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive, from the image capturing device, the first image of the viewing area;

analyze the received first image to detect the position of the remote control device;

determine the user area associated with the detected position; and

retrieve, from the storage device, the first profile associated with the portion of the viewing area based on the determined user area.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry for retrieving the first profile is further configured to:

determine when the detected position of the remote control is within a user area; and

based on the determining, retrieve the first profile associated with the user area.

24. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive, during a second time interval, a third input from the remote control device operated by the first user positioned in the viewing area, wherein the second time interval is different from the first time interval;

in response to receiving the third input;

transmit a third instruction to activate the image capturing device; and

receive, from the image capturing device, a third image of the viewing area;

detect in the received third image that the remote control device is positioned at the position;

retrieve, from the storage device, a second profile associated with the portion of the viewing area that includes the detected position of the remote control device, wherein the second profile is different from the first profile;

determine a third media content of interest based on the retrieved second profile; and

generate a display recommending the third media content to the first user.