U.S. patent application number 13/155673 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-11 for user interface for audio video display device such as tv personalized for multiple viewers.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Steven Friedlander, Sabrina Tai-Chen Yeh, David Young.
Application Number | 20120260284 13/155673 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46965840 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120260284 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young; David ; et
al. |
October 11, 2012 |
USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS TV
PERSONALIZED FOR MULTIPLE VIEWERS
Abstract
Settings for an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV
are established by combining settings from multiple individual
viewer profiles when viewers of the respective individual profiles
are recognized through image recognition as viewing the AVDD.
Inventors: |
Young; David; (San Diego,
CA) ; Yeh; Sabrina Tai-Chen; (Laguna Beach, CA)
; Friedlander; Steven; (San Diego, CA) |
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
46965840 |
Appl. No.: |
13/155673 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61473098 |
Apr 7, 2011 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4314 20130101;
G06F 3/0485 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; G06F 3/017 20130101;
H04N 21/42204 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/37 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/445 20110101
H04N005/445 |
Claims
1. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising: processor; video
display; and computer readable storage medium bearing instructions
executable by the processor to: present a message on the display,
the message including at least a first selection indicating that
settings of the AVDD are to represent settings in at least two
individual viewer profiles; and responsive to receiving the first
selection, establish AVDD settings according to settings in both
individual viewer profiles.
2. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein the processor establishes AVDD
settings at least in part by adding overlapping settings
characteristics between a first individual viewer profile and a
second individual viewer profile to a combined setting profile
(CP), a characteristic being overlapping in that it appears in both
first and second individual viewer profiles, the AVDD settings
being defined by the CP.
3. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the processor establishes AVDD
settings at least in part by adding to the CP non-overlapping,
non-conflicting settings characteristics of the first individual
viewer profile and second individual viewer profile, a
characteristic being non-overlapping, non-conflicting in that it
appears in the first individual viewer profile and not the second
individual viewer profile and is not mutually exclusive with a
setting in the second individual viewer profile.
4. The AVDD of claim 3, wherein non-overlapping setting
characteristics are prioritized according to at least one
prioritization rule.
5. The AVDD of claim 3, wherein the processor, responsive to a
determination that a setting of a corresponding characteristic in
the first individual viewer profile conflicts with a setting
defined by the second individual viewer profile, uses neither
profile to establish the setting and instead establishes a default
setting.
6. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein the processor gives priority to a
most restrictive parental lock setting among the individual viewer
profiles.
7. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein the processor gives a first setting
from a first individual viewer profile more weight than the first
setting from a second individual viewer profile and combines the
first and second settings accordingly to establish a combined first
setting, the processor establishing the combined first setting in
the AVDD.
8. The AVDD of claim 7, wherein settings from the first viewer
profile are always weighted more than settings from the second
viewer profile.
9. The AVDD of claim 7, wherein a first setting from the first
viewer profile is weighted more than a first setting from the
second viewer profile and a second setting from the first viewer
profile is weighted less than a second setting from the second
viewer profile.
10. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising: processor; video
display; and computer readable storage medium bearing instructions
executable by the processor to: establish at least one setting in
the AVDD according to a combined setting derived from individual
settings associated with respective individual viewers.
11. The AVDD of claim 10, wherein the individual settings are
contained in respective first and second individual viewer
profiles.
12. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the processor gives priority to a
most restrictive parental lock setting among the individual viewer
profiles.
13. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the processor gives a first
setting from the first individual viewer profile more weight than
the first setting from the second individual viewer profile and
combines the first and second settings accordingly to establish the
combined setting.
14. The AVDD of claim 13, wherein settings from the first
individual viewer profile are always weighted more than settings
from the second individual viewer profile.
15. The AVDD of claim 13, wherein a first setting from the first
individual viewer profile is weighted more than a first setting
from the second individual viewer profile and a second setting from
the first individual viewer profile is weighted less than a second
setting from the second individual viewer profile.
16. Method, comprising: establishing settings for an audio video
display device (AVDD) by: accessing at least first and second
individual viewer profiles containing respective settings; and
establishing the settings for the AVDD based at least in part on
the respective settings in the first and second individual viewer
profiles.
17. The method of claim 16, comprising automatically establishing
the settings for the AVDD responsive to viewers of the respective
individual profiles being recognized through image recognition as
viewing the AVDD.
18. The method of claim 16, comprising establishing the settings
for the AVDD responsive to a viewer command to establish combined
settings.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein settings from the first
individual viewer profile are always weighted more than settings
from the second individual viewer profile.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein a first setting from the first
individual viewer profile is weighted more than a first setting
from the second individual viewer profile and a second setting from
the first individual viewer profile is weighted less than a second
setting from the second individual viewer profile.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 61/473,098, filed Apr. 7, 2011.
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present application relates generally to user interfaces
(UI) for audio video display devices (AVDD) such as televisions
(TVs).
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] User interfaces for AVDDs that envision customization of
certain settings of the AVDD according to a viewer profile
typically require a viewer to navigate through a cumbersome system
of menus, type in a password or PIN, and then select which one of
multiple profiles to use to establish AVDD settings. As understood
herein, these types of solutions fail to offer a viewer a way to
quickly and easily select a profile with minimal user interface
steps, nor do they permit combining any given profile with another
profile as might be desired when multiple viewers are watching the
same AVDD.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to principles set forth further below, an audio
video display device (AVDD) includes a processor, a video display,
and computer readable storage medium bearing instructions
executable by the processor present a message on the display. The
message includes a first selection indicating that settings, of the
AVDD are to represent settings in at least two individual viewer
profiles. Responsive to receiving the first selection, the
processor establishes AVDD settings according to settings in both
individual viewer profiles.
[0005] In some embodiments the processor establishes AVDD settings
adding overlapping settings characteristics between a first
individual viewer profile and a second individual viewer profile to
a combined settings profile (CP). A characteristic is overlapping
in that it appears in both first and second individual viewer
profiles. The AVDD settings may be defined by the CP. Further, in
example embodiments the processor establishes AVDD settings by
adding to the CP non-overlapping, non-conflicting settings
characteristics of the first individual viewer profile and second
individual viewer profile. A characteristic is non-overlapping,
non-conflicting in that it appears in the first individual viewer
profile and not the second individual viewer profile and is not
mutually exclusive with a setting in the second individual viewer
profile. Still further, if desired non-overlapping setting
characteristics may be prioritized according to at least one
prioritization rule.
[0006] In non-limiting examples the processor, responsive to a
determination that a setting of a corresponding characteristic in
the first individual viewer profile conflicts with a setting
defined by the second individual viewer profile, uses neither
profile to establish the setting and instead establishes a default
setting.
[0007] In examples discussed further below the processor can give
priority to a most restrictive parental lock setting among the
individual viewer profiles. If desired, the processor can give a
first setting from a first individual viewer profile more weight
than the first setting from a second individual viewer profile,
combining the first and second settings accordingly to establish a
combined first setting which is established in the AVDD. In some
cases settings from the first viewer profile are always weighted
more than settings from the second viewer profile. In other
examples a first setting from the first viewer profile may be
weighted more than a first setting from the second viewer profile,
while a second setting from the first viewer profile may be
weighted less than a second setting from the second viewer
profile.
[0008] In another aspect, an audio video display device (AVDD)
includes a processor, a video display, and computer readable
storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to
establish at least one setting in the AVDD according to a combined
setting derived from individual settings associated with respective
individual viewers.
[0009] In another aspect, a method is disclosed for establishing
settings for an audio video display device (AVDD) by accessing
first and second individual viewer profiles containing respective
settings. The method includes establishing the settings for the
AVDD based at least in part on the respective settings in the first
and second individual viewer profiles.
[0010] The details of the present invention, both as to its
structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to
like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting example system
in accordance with present principles;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example remote control (RC) that
may be used to control the graphical user interfaces (GUI)
described herein, schematically showing the processor and wireless
transceiver;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a nine panel GUI in a coarse mode
suitable for gesture control;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a nine panel GUI in a fine mode
suitable for RC control;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a non-limiting flow chart of example recognition
notification logic according to present principles;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a screen shot of an example notification
message;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a non-limiting flow chart showing example profile
combination logic; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a non-limiting flow chart showing example object
recognition and corresponding image presentation logic.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, a system 10 includes an audio video display device
(AVDD) 12 such as a TV including a TV tuner 16 communicating with a
TV processor 18 accessing a tangible computer readable storage
medium 20 such as disk-based or solid state storage. The AVDD 12
can output audio on one or more speakers 22. The AVDD 12 can
receive streaming video from the Internet using a built-in wired or
wireless modern 24 communicating with the processor 18 which may
execute a software-implemented browser 26. Video is presented under
control of the TV processor 18 on a TV display 28 such as but not
limited to a high definition TV (HDTV) flat panel display, and may
be a touch screen display. User commands to the processor 18 may be
wirelessly received from a remote control (RC) 30 using, e.g., rf
or infrared. Audio-video display devices other than a TV may be
used, e.g., smart phones, game consoles, personal digital
organizers, notebook computers and other types of computers,
etc.
[0020] TV programming from one or more terrestrial TV broadcast
sources 32 as received by a terrestrial broadcast antenna 34 which
communicates with the AVDD 12 may be presented on the display 28
and speakers 22. The terrestrial broadcast programming may conform
to digital ATSC standards and may carry within it a terrestrial
broadcast EPG, although the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be
received from alternate sources, e.g., the Internet via Ethernet,
or cable communication link, or satellite communication link.
[0021] TV programming from a cable TV head end 36 may also be
received at the TV for presentation of TV signals on the display 28
and speakers 22. When basic cable only is desired, the cable from
the wall typically carries TV signals in QAM or NTSC format and is
plugged directly into the "F-type connector" 38 on the TV chassis
in the U.S., although the connector used for this purpose in other
countries may vary. In contrast, when the user has an extended
cable subscription for instance, the signals from the head end 36
are typically sent through a STB 40 which may be separate from or
integrated within the TV chassis but in any case which sends HDMI
baseband signals to the TV. Other types of connections may be used,
e.g., MOCA, USB, 1394 protocols, DLNA.
[0022] Similarly, HDMI baseband signals transmitted from a
satellite source 42 of TV broadcast signals received by an
integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) 44 associated with a home
satellite dish may be input to the AVDD 12 for presentation on the
display 28 and speakers 22. Also streaming video may be received
from the Internet 46 for presentation on the display 28 and
speakers 22. The streaming video may be received at the computer
modem 24 or it may be received at an in-home modern 48 that is
external to the AVDD 12 and conveyed to the AVDD 12 over a wired or
wireless Ethernet link and received at an RJ45 or 802.11x antenna
on the TV chassis.
[0023] Also, in some embodiments a video camera 50, which may be
integrated in the chassis if desired or mounted separately and
electrically connected thereto, may be connected to the processor
18 to provide to the processor 16 video images of viewers looking
at the display 28. In some non-limiting embodiments, the processor
18 executes facial recognition using the video images received from
the camera 50 to identify particular viewers. The processor 18 also
stores images of viewers on the medium 20 in non-limiting
embodiments for future determination of whether viewer is
recognized when compared to stored images, or whether a recently
received image relates to a new, or non-recognized, viewer. If
desired, the processor 18 also creates and/or associates a profile
with a user and/or stored images of the user and store the profile
on the medium 20. A microphone 52 may also be provided on the
chassis or separate therefrom and can be electrically connected to
the processor 18 to provide viewer-generated voice commands to the
processor 18.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows that an example RC 30 may include a power on
key 60 that can be toggled to energize and deenergize the AVDD 12.
A touch-sensitive pad 62 may be provided against which a user can
move his finger to correspondingly move a screen cursor on the
display 28. Tapping the pad 62 can generate a "select" signal, it
being understood that point-and-click devices other than the touch
sensitive pad 62 may be used.
[0025] Also, a back key 64 may be provided to cause the display 28
to go back a screen shot, i.e., to present the screen shot
immediately prior to the one being displayed when the back signal
is generated, so as to enable a user to navigate through the
various GUIs shown herein. A home key 66 may be provided to cause
the below-described "home" GUI to be presented on the display 28,
and an options key 68 may be provided to allow a user to cause a
list of GUI options to be presented in the display 28. Volume
output by the speakers 22 of the AVDD 12 can be controlled using a
volume up/down rocker key 70. Manipulation of a key or the pad 62
on the RC 30 causes a respective signal to be sent to an RC 72 in
the RC 30, which transmits the corresponding command to the AVDD 12
using a wireless transceiver 74 such as but not limited to an
infrared transceiver. In addition, if desired four arrow keys may
be arranged on the RC 30 to move a cursor up, down, left, and right
on the display 28. Also, channel up/down keys may be provided as
well as a microphone for voice input. A full QWERTY keyboard or
keypad may be provided if desired. The touch pad 62 may be provided
with a buzzer or other device to generate tactile feedback to the
user.
[0026] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example home GUI that may be presented
on the display 28 of the AVDD 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
3, nine information panels arranged as shown in three rows of three
panels each present visual content. The panels shown in FIG. 3 are
of equal size with each other and are rectangular as shown.
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the to left panel 76
of the GUI always shows the currently selected video content,
typically either televised content front a selected TV channel or
streaming video from a selected website. Information pertaining to
available video content is presented in the other eight panels.
This information typically includes a photograph or other image, a
content source logo indicating the source of the content by the
panel, and text typically describing the title of the content and
other information.
[0027] As shown at 78, a numeral may be provided next to each
panel, so that the panels may be numbered onscreen from one to nine
as shown. This facilitates a user selecting to play video content
from a panel by saying the numeral associated with the panel. Also,
as shown at 80 a genre indicator may be presented next to each
panel. The genre indicator may be an arrow in the case of the first
panel 76 indicating that the first panel 76 is presenting the
currently selected video. The genre indicator may be a heart (as
shown in FIG. 3 for panel 2) indicating the underlying video
content has been selected by the user as a "favorite". Other genre
indicators may be presented respectively representing "history",
meaning that the content associated with the panel had been
presented previously, "recommended", meaning that the content
associated with the panel is recommended by a recommendation engine
executed by the AVDD processor 18, and so on, e.g., "frequently
viewed", "promotional content". A user can select to present panels
associated with content of only a single genre.
[0028] Additionally, if desired the GUI shown in FIG. 3 may present
gesture hints 82, describing in text and/or animated hand motion a
gesture and its associated command that the user may make, which
can be captured by the camera 50 and correlated to the respective
command by the processor 18 executing image recognition software.
Thus, while viewer input may be afforded by making the display 28 a
touch-sensitive display that a viewer can touch and thereby enter
commands, present principles envision using viewer gestures in free
space, i.e., gestures in which the viewer is distanced from the
display 28, as would typically be the case for a TV viewer, with
the viewer not touching the display but making gestures that are
captured by the camera 50 and correlated to commands by the
processor 18 executing image recognition software.
[0029] Further, a menu of selections may be presented as shown
along the bottom of the GUI, including a "just for you" selector 84
to cause the GUI to contain panels with content personalized to a
recognized user. A search selector 86 can be selected to cause a
search for a user-input term to be executed. Also, a bookmark
selector 88 can be selected to bookmark the currently playing video
in panel 76 or to bookmark content in a panel over which the screen
cursor is positioned.
[0030] Still referring to FIG. 3, a settings selector element 90 if
selected causes a setting menus to be presented to control settings
of the GUI. A queue selector element 92 may be presented to cause a
list of enqueued programs to be presented on the display 28, and an
inputs selector element 94 may be presented, selection of which
causes a list of available input sources, e.g., "disk player,
cable, satellite" to be presented on the display 28. A
recommendations selector element 96 may be presented and if
selected causes a list of recommended programming to be presented
on the display 28. The list may be generated by a content
recommendation engine such as the "Navi" engine made by Sony Corp.
A "what's on" selector element 98 may be provided and if selected
causes a list of current and future programs such as an electronic
program guide (EPG) to be presented on the display 28. Indeed, an
EPG may be presented in one of the panels shown in FIG. 3.
[0031] In any case, as mentioned above in the example shown the
currently selected video content is always presented in the upper
left panel 76 of the GUI. Should the user select another panel by
using the RC 30 or by speaking the number of the panel or by the
appropriate gesture captured by the camera 50, video content from
the source associated with the selected panel automatically
replaces the video content which was presented in the upper left
panel 76 prior to receiving the new select signal. Indeed, should
the user scroll the panels left or right to view additional content
the upper left panel 76 remains unmoving as the other panels move
on and off the display 28 as they are replaced by previously hidden
content panels, with the upper left panel 76 always showing the
currently selected video program.
[0032] The panel layout shown in FIG. 3 is somewhat coarse in that
a visible border space 100 of many pixels width exists between
adjacent panels as shown. Such a coarse representation facilitates
control using gestures, although navigation by voice and by use of
the RC 30 is always preferably enabled regardless of whether the
GUI is in the coarse or fine view. FIG. 4 shows that if the user
selects the fine view, the border space 100 disappears between
adjacent panels, a view more suitable for RC control than gesture
control although as stated above all three modes of command input
(RC, voice, and gesture) remain enabled simultaneously with each
other if desired.
[0033] Transition between the two views of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be
effected by an appropriate hand gesture (e.g., a vertical motion of
the hand) or by an appropriate voice command (e.g., "fine" or
"coarse"), or by selecting, using the RC 30, "fine" or "course"
from a settings menu accessed by selecting the settings selector
element 90 or by pressing a key on the RC 30 or by simply grasping
the RC, which is detected by the camera 50 and inferred by the
processor 18 to correlate to a command to move to the "fine" screen
of FIG. 4. The larger panels in the fine mode of FIG. 4 can be used
to present more information than is presented in the panels of FIG.
3.
[0034] The GUI shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be removed from the
screen and the currently playing video presented on the full
display 28 by, e.g., toggling the home key on the RC 30. Voice
command input may be enabled by voicing a phrase such as "hello
TV`, which is detected by the microphone 52 and using voice
recognition software correlated by the processor 18 to a command to
enable voice commands. Voice input may also be enabled using the RC
30 to select the "search" selector element 86. To indicate that
voice commands are enabled, an icon such as an image of a
microphone 102 can be presented on the display 28. Gesture command
input may be enabled by waving the hand, which is detected by the
camera 50 and using image recognition software correlated by the
processor 18 to a command to enable gesture commands. To indicate
that gesture commands are enabled, an icon such as an image of a
hand 104 can be presented on the display 28.
[0035] Non-limiting examples of corresponding RC, voice, and
gesture commands that accomplish the same tasks are:
TABLE-US-00001 RC COMMAND VOICE COMMAND GESTURE Channel up "Channel
up" upward motion of hand Channel down "Channel down" downward
motion of hand Volume decrease "Quieter" thumb down Volume increase
"louder" thumb up
[0036] FIG. 5 shows example viewer recognition notification logic.
While logic is illustrated herein using flow charts for
convenience, it is to be understood that equivalent state logic may
be used.
[0037] Commencing at block 110, when a new viewer is recognized by,
e.g., facial recognition of an image received from the camera 50 or
by biometric means input by means of, e.g., a fingerprint reader on
the RC 30 or by voice print recognition of signals received by the
microphone 52, etc. the logic moves to block 112 to present a
recognition notification message on the display 28. Note that
viewers may initially input their recognition characteristics
during system set up following menu prompts, along with their
preferences, which become their "profile" with associated AVDD
settings. Thus, multiple viewers may each have their own respective
profile which defines settings of the AVDD, such as but not limited
to audio settings such as volume, bass, treble, display settings
such as brightness and contrast, favorites or other content that
may be represented by content panels in FIG. 3, command input mode
(voice, gesture, or RC), parental lock settings, etc. By "new
viewer" is meant a viewer who is not associated with a profile that
is currently being used to determine settings of the AVDD.
[0038] Decision diamond 114 indicates that if the notification
message has been presented for greater than a timeout period, e.g.,
thirty seconds or sixth seconds, without response the logic ends at
block 116 without taking further action. Similarly, if a viewer
response is received to the message using, e.g., the RC 30 to
select a "no thanks" option at decision diamond 118, the logic also
ends at state 116 without further action. Thus, the "no thanks"
option gives the viewer the opportunity not to change TV settings
for a newly recognized viewer if so desired, and instead maintain
the current settings.
[0039] On the other hand, if a viewer response is received within
the timeout period and it is not a "no thanks" response the logic
moves to decision diamond 120, used for exposition purposes to
branch to block 122 if a viewer has selected to change settings to
those of the individual new viewer profile or to branch to block
124 if a viewer has selected to change settings to a combination of
those of the individual new viewer profile and those which are
currently implemented by the AVDD 12. More specifically, if a
viewer has chosen to alter AVDD settings to match the settings
implicated by the profile of the new viewer, the AVDD settings are
so altered at block 122. In contrast, if a viewer has chosen to
alter AVDD settings to combine profile settings of the newly
recognized viewer with the settings currently being used the logic
combines the profiles or settings at block 124. FIG. 7 shows
example logic for doing this. Note that combined settings may be
established in response to viewer command as discussed above or
automatically responsive to the processor, through image
recognition, determining that multiple recognized individual
viewers are watching the AVDD are watching the AVDD.
[0040] Prior to discussing FIG. 7, however, reference is first made
to FIG. 6, which shows an example recognition notification message
126 that can be presented unobtrusively on the display 28 as shown.
The message 126 preferably is kept simple, naming the newly
recognized viewer as shown so viewers know who the AVDD thinks it
is recognizing and giving a viewer only a few selections based on
the recognition event of the new viewer. Specifically, in the
embodiment shown the viewer may be queried as to whether the viewer
wishes to customize the AVDD settings to account for the new
viewer. As discussed above the viewer may decline (by selecting "no
thanks" in the example GUI shown), or may "change to me", meaning
change to the settings defined by the profile of the viewer named
in the message 126, or change to combined settings as discussed
above and explicated further below. When "no thanks" is selected
the newly recognized viewer may thereafter be ignored by the AVDD
12 and the message 126 not presented when the newly recognized
viewer is again recognized until the AVDD is deenergized and then
reenergized, which resets the AVDD to not ignore recognizing the
same viewer. In this way a viewer who may be in the room but not
interested in the AVDD does not keep triggering the message 126
when walking in and out of the room in which the AVDD is disposed.
Other GUIs may be presented to affirmatively allow viewers to
choose when the notifications 126 are displayed, including setting
the AVDD to ignore a specific viewer for the current viewing
session, so that the notification 126 can be conditionally
suppressed depending on which viewer is recognized.
[0041] Accordingly, it may now be appreciated that by the automatic
display of a notification message, the AVDD viewer is allowed to
quickly and easily decide how he wishes to personalize his
experience on the AVDD. Rather than navigating through complicated
menu systems, the dialog message 126 brings the available choices
up to the viewer, so that the viewer can quickly modify his user
experience with little effort.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows example profile combination logic. Commencing
at block 128, any overlapping settings characteristics between the
profile of the new viewer who is the subject of the message 126 and
the profile currently being used to define the AVDD settings
("existing viewer profile") are added to a previously empty
combined profile (CP). By "overlapping" is meant settings that
agree with each other, so that, for example, if channel A is a
favorite of both the new viewer and the existing viewer whose
profile currently defines the AVDD settings, channel A is indicated
in the CP as being a favorite. Likewise, if both viewers prefer the
same audio and video settings, those settings are added to the
CP.
[0043] Proceeding to block 130 any non-overlapping settings
features of the new viewer's profile and existing viewer's profile
are added to the CP. This means that, for example, if the new
viewer has a volume preference but the existing viewer does not,
the volume setting of the new viewer's profile is added to the CP.
Likewise, if the new viewer has a favorite channel that is not on
the favorites list of the existing viewer, both viewers' favorites
are added to a favorites list in the CP.
[0044] Recognizing that non-overlapping settings, while not
necessarily conflicting, may still require prioritization, the
logic may flow to block 132 to give priority to the settings of the
new viewer. Thus, for example, the first content panel in FIG. 3
can represent the new viewer's favorite channel while the second
content panel may represent the existing viewer's favorite channel.
Other heuristics for prioritizing settings may be used. As an
example, priority can be given to the most restrictive parental
lock setting among the various profiles.
[0045] On the other hand, some settings in the new viewer's profile
may conflict with settings from the existing viewer's profile and
if so, the CP contains no setting that is mutually inconsistent
with those of the other profile. Instead, default settings are
added to the CP. Thus, for example, if one viewer profile requires
a loud volume setting and the Other profile requires a low volume
setting, neither setting is added to the CP and the CP instead
employs a default volume setting.
[0046] Conflicts between profiles, and prioritizing non-overlapping
settings, may be based on weights. Thus, for example, a first
setting may be weighted more in a parent's profile than in a
child's profile, e.g., a volume setting from a parent's profile may
be accorded more weight than a volume setting in a child's profile
and thus the combined profile would use the volume setting from the
parent's profile. Or, the two settings may be combined with more
weight given to the setting from the parent's profile so that, for
instance, if the parent profile weight is twice that of the child
and the parent volume setting is 4 while the child volume setting
is 7, the volume setting of the combined profile may be one-third
of (4+4+7), or in this example, 5. The weights may be universal for
all settings or may be setting-specific, so that while the weight
given to one setting may be greater for a first viewer than a
second viewer, the weight given to another setting may be greater
for the second person than the first person. As an example, the
weight given to the parental lock content setting for a child may
be accorded greater weight than the weight given to the parental
lock content setting for an adult, so that the combined profile
would use the parental lock setting from the child's profile.
[0047] When the AVDD employs object recognition, not just face
recognition, the logic of FIG. 8 may be used to tailor presentation
based on objects in the location at which the AVDD 12 is disposed.
If no object is recognized at decision diamond 136 the logic ends
at state 138, but otherwise proceeds to block 140 to determine the
identity of the recognized object by entering a remote or local
database of object IDs and then using the ID as entering argument
to a remote or local database correlating object IDs to images or
messages or advertisements and the like. The image, etc.
corresponding to the object ID is presented at block 142 on the
display 28.
[0048] Thus, object recognition can be used to display momentary
dialog boxes or other images for ether purposes than customizing
the user interface. For instance, if a child's toy is recognized by
the AVDD, the AVDD might periodically display an actionable dialog
box promotion for related or competitor toys, depending on the
advertisement model. The user interface of the AVDD can display a
momentary message with a few simple action buttons.
[0049] While the particular USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY
DEVICE SUCH AS TV PERSONALIZED FOR MULTIPLE VIEWERS is herein shown
and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject
matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited
only by the claims.
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