System and method for biometric identification using portable interface device for content presentation system

• US 20080320520A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HBC Solutions Incorporated (AEG Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HBC Solutions Incorporated (AEG Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beadle, Edward R., DeLay, John L.
• Application Number:
  US11/812,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20080320520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4666 using neural networks, e.g. processing the feedback provided by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user'"'"'s pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user'"'"'s identifying and use information. Specifically, the systems and/or methods may be user to identify a viewer of a content presentation system having a portable device with an actuator, operating the actuator by the viewer, obtaining biometric information via the actuator, and providing the biometric information to a content provider. The systems and/or methods may further include determining at the content provider an identification of the viewer based on the biometric information.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a viewer of a content presentation system, comprising:

providing a portable device to interact with a content presentation system that is operatively connected to a content provider, wherein said device includes an actuator which is operable by the viewer for interacting with the content presentation system via the portable device, and wherein said actuator includes circuitry for obtaining biometric information from the viewer;

operating said actuator by the viewer;

obtaining biometric information from the viewer via said actuator; and

providing the obtained biometric information to the content provider.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said content presentation system comprises a television and said portable device remotely controls the operation of said television.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, changes a state of the content presentation system from off to on.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, causes said content presentation system to switch from presenting to said viewer a first received signal from the content provider to presenting to said viewer a second received signal from the content provider.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first received signal is a television signal on a first television channel.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said obtained biometric information is provided to said content provider via a transmission path between said content provider and said content presentation system wherein said transmission path also carries said first received signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining at said content provider an identification of said viewer based on the provided biometric information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein determining the identification of said viewer includes comparing said provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

11. A method for identifying a viewer, comprising:

providing a first portable device to interact with a first content presentation system that is operatively connected to a first content provider, wherein said first device includes a first actuator which is operable by the viewer for interacting with the first content presentation system via said first device, and wherein said first actuator includes first circuitry for obtaining a first set of biometric information from the viewer;

operating said first actuator by the viewer at a first point in time;

obtaining said first set of biometric information from the viewer via said first actuator;

providing the obtained first set of biometric information to the first content provider;

determining at said first content provider a first identification of said viewer based on said provided first set of biometric information;

providing a second portable device to interact with a second content presentation system that is operatively connected to a second content provider, wherein said second device includes a second actuator which is operable by the viewer for interacting with the second content presentation system via said second device, and wherein said second actuator includes second circuitry for obtaining a second set of biometric information from the viewer;

operating said second actuator by the viewer at a second point in time;

obtaining said second set of biometric information from the viewer via said second actuator;

providing the obtained second set of biometric information to the second content provider; and

determining at said second content provider a second identification of said viewer based on said provided second set of biometric information.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first and second portable devices are the same.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said first and second content providers are the same.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said first content presentation system comprises a television and said first portable device remotely controls the operation of said television.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said first actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, changes a state of the first content presentation system from off to on.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said first actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, causes said first content presentation system to switch from presenting to said viewer a first received signal from the first content provider to presenting to said viewer a second received signal from the first content provider.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first received signal is a television signal on a first television channel.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said first set of biometric information is provided to said first content provider via a transmission path between said first content provider and said first content presentation system wherein said transmission path also carries said first received signal.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said first content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein determining said first identification of said viewer includes comparing said provided first set of biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

22. A system for identifying a viewer of a content presentation system, comprising:

a portable device for interacting with a content presentation system that is operatively connected to a content provider, wherein said device includes an actuator which is operable by the viewer for interacting with the content presentation system via the portable device;

circuitry for obtaining biometric information from the viewer upon operation of said actuator; and

circuitry for providing said obtained biometric information to said content provider.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said content presentation system comprises a television and said portable device remotely controls the operation of said television.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, changes a state of the content presentation system from off to on.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, causes said content presentation system to switch from presenting to said viewer a first received signal from the content provider to presenting to said viewer a second received signal from the content provider.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first received signal is a television signal on a first television channel.

27. The system of claim 28 wherein said circuitry for providing said obtained biometric information to said content provider includes a transmission path between said content provider and said content presentation system wherein said transmission path also carries said first received signal.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein said content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

29. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a determining circuit at said content provider for determining an identification of said viewer based on said provided biometric information.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said determining circuit comprises circuitry for comparing said provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

32. A system for identifying a viewer, comprising:

a first portable device for interacting with a first content presentation system that is operatively connected to a first content provider, wherein said first device includes a first actuator which is operable by the viewer for interacting with the first content presentation system via said first device;

first circuitry for obtaining a first set of biometric information from the viewer upon operation of said first actuator;

second circuitry for providing said obtained first set of biometric information to said first content provider;

a first determining circuit at said first content provider for determining a first identification of said viewer based on said provided first set of biometric information;

a second portable device for interacting with a second content presentation system that is operatively connected to a second content provider, wherein said second device includes a second actuator which is operable by the viewer for interacting with the second content presentation system via said second device;

third circuitry for obtaining a second set of biometric information from the viewer upon operation of said second actuator;

fourth circuitry for providing said obtained second set of biometric information to the second content provider; and

a second determining circuit at said second content provider for determining a second identification of said viewer based on said provided second set of biometric information signal.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said first and second portable devices are the same.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said first and second content providers are the same.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said first and second determining circuits are the same.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein said first content presentation system comprises a television and said first portable device remotely controls the operation of said television.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said first actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, changes a state of the first content presentation system from off to on.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein said first actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, causes said first content presentation system to switch from presenting to said viewer a first received signal from the first content provider to presenting to said viewer a second received signal from the first content provider.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the first received signal is a television signal on a first television channel.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein said circuitry for providing said obtained first set of biometric information to said first content provider includes a transmission path between said first content provider and said first content presentation system wherein said transmission path also carries said first received signal.

41. The system of claim 32 wherein said first content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

42. The system of claim 32 wherein said first determining circuit comprises circuitry for comparing said provided first set of biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

43. The method of claim 32 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

44. A method for interacting with a viewer of a content presentation system, comprising:

providing to a content provider biometric information of the viewer obtained at a portable device, wherein said device includes an actuator which is operable by the viewer for interacting with a content presentation system via the portable device, and wherein said actuator includes circuitry for obtaining the biometric information from the viewer;

determining at said content provider an identification of said viewer based on the provided biometric information; and

selecting at said content provider a program wherein the selecting is based on the determined identification of said viewer and on previously-obtained information regarding program preferences of said viewer.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising delivering the selected program to said content presentation system.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein said content presentation system comprises a television and said portable device remotely controls the operation of said television.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, changes a state of the content presentation system from off to on.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, causes said content presentation system to switch from presenting to said viewer a first received signal from the content provider to presenting to said viewer a second received signal from the content provider.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the first received signal is a television signal on a first television channel.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein said provided biometric information is sent to said content provider via a transmission path between said content provider and said content presentation system wherein said transmission path also carries said first received signal.

51. The method of claim 44 wherein said content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

52. The method of claim 44 wherein determining the identification of said viewer includes comparing the provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein said information regarding program preferences of said viewer is gathered as a function of an adaptive learning algorithm applied to a viewing pattern of said viewer.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said information regarding program preferences of said viewer is gathered without said viewer actively providing data regarding said viewing pattern.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm operates over a predetermined time interval.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm weighs a recent viewing pattern more heavily than an older viewing pattern.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein said predetermined time interval is a sliding window.

58. The method of claim 53 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm operates over a predetermined number of viewing cycles of said viewer.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm weighs a recent viewing pattern more heavily than an older viewing pattern.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein said predetermined number of viewing cycles is a sliding window.

61. The method of claim 44 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

62. A system for interacting with a viewer of a content presentation system, comprising:

a content presentation system;

a portable device for interfacing between the viewer and said content presentation system, said device including an actuator which is operable by said viewer for interacting with said content presentation system via the portable device, wherein said actuator includes circuitry for obtaining biometric information from said viewer;

a content provider operatively connected to said content presentation system;

circuitry for providing said obtained biometric information to said content provider;

circuitry for determining at said content provider an identification of said viewer based on said provided biometric information; and

circuitry for selecting at said content provider a program wherein the selecting is based on the determined identification of said viewer and on previously-obtained information regarding program preferences of said viewer.

63. The system of claim 62 further comprising a transmitter for delivering the selected program to said content presentation system from said content provider.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein said content presentation system comprises a television and said portable device remotely controls the operation of said television.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, changes a state of the content presentation system from off to on.

66. The system of claim 64 wherein said actuator is a button which, when operated by the viewer, causes said content presentation system to switch from presenting to said viewer a first received signal from the content provider to presenting to said viewer a second received signal from the content provider.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the first received signal is a television signal on a first television channel.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein said circuitry for providing said biometric information to said content provider includes a transmission path between said content provider and said content presentation system wherein said transmission path also carries said first received signal.

69. The system of claim 62 wherein said content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

70. The system of claim 62 wherein said circuitry for determining the identification of said viewer includes circuitry for comparing said provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

71. The system of claim 62 further comprising circuitry for executing an adaptive learning algorithm for determining program preferences of said viewer as a function of one or more viewing patterns of said viewer.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm circuitry does not use information actively provided by said viewer.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm circuitry operates over a predetermined time interval.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm circuitry weighs a recent viewing pattern more heavily than an older viewing pattern.

75. The system of claim 73 wherein said predetermined time interval is a sliding window.

76. The system of claim 71 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm circuitry operates over a predetermined number of viewing cycles of said viewer.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein said adaptive learning algorithm circuitry weighs a recent viewing pattern more heavily than an older viewing pattern.

78. The system of claim 76 wherein said predetermined number of viewing cycles is a sliding window.

79. The method of claim 62 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.