U.S. patent application number 13/155542 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-11 for personalized user interface for audio video display device such as tv.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Steven Friedlander, Sabrina Tai-Chen Yeh, David Young.
Application Number | 20120260287 13/155542 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46965840 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120260287 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yeh; Sabrina Tai-Chen ; et
al. |
October 11, 2012 |
PERSONALIZED USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS
TV
Abstract
When a viewer is automatically recognized by an audio video
display device (AVDD) such as a TV using, e.g., a camera, a dialog
message is presented on the AVDD indicating that the viewer has
been recognized and allowing the viewer to customize AVDD settings
by selecting to implement the new viewer's profile, or by combining
the new viewer profile with the currently-active profile to create
a shared profile, or by ignoring the new viewer altogether.
Inventors: |
Yeh; Sabrina Tai-Chen;
(Laguna Beach, CA) ; Friedlander; Steven; (San
Diego, CA) ; Young; David; (San Diego, CA) |
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
46965840 |
Appl. No.: |
13/155542 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61473098 |
Apr 7, 2011 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/482 20130101;
G06F 3/017 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; G06F 3/0485 20130101;
H04N 21/4314 20130101; H04N 21/42204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/39 |
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: receive a notification message
trigger; responsive to the trigger, present a notification message
on the display, the notification message including at least a first
selection and a second selection, responsive to receiving the first
selection, executing first logic; and responsive to receiving the
second selection, executing second logic.
2. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein the notification message trigger is
a determination, using a face recognition algorithm on an image
provided to the processor, that a new viewer is recognized to be
present in the vicinity of the AVDD, the new viewer being
associated with a new viewer profile including at least one setting
of the AVDD, the AVDD being controlled in accordance with settings
associated with an existing viewer profile, the first logic is to
change AVDD settings for the new viewer, and the second logic is to
change settings to conform to the new viewer profile and only the
new viewer profile.
3. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the message also includes a third
selection indicating that the new viewer profile is to be combined
with the existing viewer profile and AVDD settings altered
accordingly.
4. The AVDD of claim 3, wherein the processor, responsive to
receiving the third selection, combines the new viewer profile with
the existing viewer profile and alters AVDD settings
accordingly.
5. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the processor removes the message
from the display responsive to a determination that the message has
been presented for greater than a timeout period without viewer
response.
6. The AVDD of claim 3, wherein the processor combines the profiles
at least in part by adding overlapping settings characteristics
between the new viewer profile and the existing viewer profile to a
combined profile (CP), a characteristic being overlapping in that
it appears in both profiles.
7. The AVDD of claim 6, wherein the processor combines the profiles
at least in part by adding to the CP non-overlapping,
non-conflicting settings characteristics of the new viewer profile
and existing viewer profile, a characteristic being
non-overlapping, non-conflicting in that it appears in one viewer
profile and not the other viewer profile and is not mutually
exclusive with a setting in the other viewer profile.
8. The AVDD of claim 7, wherein non-overlapping setting
characteristics are prioritized according to at least one
prioritization rule.
9. The AVDD of claim 7, wherein the processor, responsive to a
determination that a setting of a corresponding characteristic in
the new viewer profile conflicts with a setting defined by the
existing viewer profile, uses neither profile to establish the
setting and instead establishes a default setting.
10. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the processor, responsive to a
determination that an object is recognized by the processor near
the AVDD, presents on the display at least one image associated
with the object.
11. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising: processor; video
display; and computer readable storage medium bearing instructions
executable by the processor to: responsive to a determination that
a new viewer is recognized by the processor, present on the display
a notification message naming the new viewer so viewers of the AVDD
know who the AVDD thinks it is recognizing, the message querying as
to whether a viewer wishes to customize AVDD settings to account
for the new viewer, the message including a decline option and at
least one accept option, the processor, responsive to selection of
the decline option, not changing any AVDD settings, the processor,
responsive to selection of the accept option, changing at least one
setting of the AVDD to account for the new viewer.
12. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein responsive to the decline option
being selected the processor does not present the message on the
display thereafter prior to deeenrgizing the AVDD.
13. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the processor removes the message
from the display responsive to a determination that the message has
been presented for greater than a timeout period without viewer
response.
14. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the message also includes a
combine option indicating that a profile associated with the new
viewer is to be combined with an existing profile, the processor
combining the profiles at least in part by adding overlapping
settings characteristics between the new viewer profile and the
existing viewer profile to a combined profile (CP), a
characteristic being overlapping in that it appears in both
profiles.
15. The AVDD of claim 14, wherein the processor combines the
profiles at least in part by adding to the CP non-overlapping,
non-conflicting settings characteristics of the new viewer profile
and existing viewer profile, a characteristic being
non-overlapping, non-conflicting in that it appears in one viewer
profile and not the other viewer profile and is not mutually
exclusive with a setting in the other viewer profile.
16. The AVDD of claim 15, wherein non-overlapping setting
characteristics are prioritized according to at least one
prioritization rule.
17. The AVDD of claim 15, wherein the processor, responsive to a
determination that a setting of a corresponding characteristic in
the new viewer profile conflicts with a setting defined by the
existing viewer profile, uses neither profile to establish the
setting and instead establishes a default setting.
18. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the processor, responsive to a
determination that an object is recognized by the processor near
the AVDD, presents on the display at least one image associated
with the object.
19. Method, comprising: automatically sensing, at an audio video
display device (AVDD), that a new viewer having a new viewer
profile accessible to the AVDD is near the AVDD; responsive to
sensing the new viewer, presenting on the AVDD a dialog message
indicating that the new viewer has been recognized and allowing the
new viewer to customize AVDD settings by selecting to implement the
new viewer profile, or by combining the new viewer profile with a
currently-active profile to create a combined profile (CP), or by
ignoring the new viewer altogether.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising combining the profiles at
least in part by adding to the CP non-overlapping, non-conflicting
settings characteristics of the new viewer profile and
currently-active profile.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 61/473,098, filed Apr. 7, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present application relates generally to user interfaces
(UI) for audio video display devices (AVDD) such as televisions
(TVs).
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 to determine that a new viewer is
recognized to be present in the vicinity of the AVDD. The new
viewer is associated with a new viewer profile including at least
one setting of the AVDD, and the AVDD is controlled in accordance
with settings associated with an existing viewer profile.
Responsive to determining that the new viewer is recognized, a
recognition notification message is presented on the display. The
notification message includes a first selection not to change AVDD
settings for the new viewer, and a second selection to change
settings to conform to the new viewer profile and only the new
viewer profile. Responsive to receiving the first selection, the
AVDD settings are not changed. In contrast, responsive to receiving
the second selection, AVDD settings are changed to conform to the
new viewer profile.
[0005] In example embodiments the message also includes a third
selection indicating that the new viewer profile is to be combined
with the existing viewer profile and AVDD settings altered
accordingly. The processor, responsive to receiving the third
selection, combines the new viewer profile with the existing viewer
profile and alters AVDD settings accordingly. The processor may
remove the message from the display responsive to a determination
that the message has been presented for greater than a timeout
period without viewer response.
[0006] In some implementations the processor combines the profiles
at least in part by adding overlapping settings characteristics
between the new viewer profile and the existing viewer profile to a
combined profile (CP). A characteristic is overlapping in that it
appears in both profiles. The profiles may also be combined by
adding to the CP non-overlapping, non-conflicting settings
characteristics of the new viewer profile and existing viewer
profile. A characteristic is non-overlapping, non-conflicting in
that it appears in one viewer profile and not the other viewer
profile and is not mutually exclusive with a setting in the other
viewer profile. Non-overlapping setting characteristics may be
prioritized according to at least one prioritization rule.
[0007] In contrast, responsive to a determination that a setting of
a corresponding characteristic in the new viewer profile conflicts
with a setting defined by the existing viewer profile, neither
profile is used to establish the setting. Instead, a default
setting is established.
[0008] Non-limiting examples provide for also determining that an
object is recognized near the AVDD, and responsive to object
recognition an image such as a dialog box that is associated with
the object is presented.
[0009] 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,
responsive to a determination that a new viewer is recognized by
the processor, present on the display a notification message naming
the new viewer so viewers of the AVDD know who the AVDD thinks it
is recognizing. The message queries as to whether a viewer wishes
to customize AVDD settings to account for the new viewer.
Accordingly, the message includes a decline option and at least one
accept option. The processor, responsive to selection of the
decline option, does not change any AVDD settings, whereas
responsive to Selection of the accept option at least one setting
of the AVDD is changed to account for the new viewer.
[0010] In another aspect, a method includes automatically sensing,
at an audio video display device (AVDD), that a new viewer having a
new viewer profile accessible to the AVDD is near the AVDD. The
method also includes, responsive to sensing the new viewer,
presenting on the AVDD a dialog message indicating that the new
viewer has been recognized and allowing the new viewer to customize
AVDD settings by selecting to implement the new viewer profile, or
by combining the new viewer profile with a currently-active profile
to create a combined profile (CP), or by ignoring the new viewer
altogether.
[0011] 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
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting example system
in accordance with present principles;
[0013] 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;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a nine panel GUI in a coarse mode
suitable for gesture control;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a nine panel GUI in a fine mode
suitable for RC control;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a non-limiting flow chart of example recognition
notification logic according to present principles;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a screen shot of an example notification
message;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a non-limiting flow chart showing example profile
combination logic; and
[0019] FIG. 8 is a non-limiting flow chart showing example object
recognition and corresponding image presentation logic.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] 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 modem 24 communicating with the processor 12 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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 modem 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.
[0024] 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
16 to provide to the processor 16 video images of viewers looking
at the display 28. In some non-limiting embodiments, the processor
16 executes facial recognition using the video images received from
the camera 50 to identify particular viewers. The processor 16 also
stores images of viewers on the medium 20 in non-limiting
embodiments for future determination of whether a 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 16 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 16 to provide viewer-generated voice commands to the
processor 16.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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
processor 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.
[0027] 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 top left panel 76
of the GUI always shows the currently selected video content,
typically either televised content from 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
represented by the panel, and text typically describing the title
of the content and other information.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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 he presented on the display 28. Indeed, an
EPG may be presented in one of the panels shown in FIG. 3.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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
[0037] 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.
[0038] 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), 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.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[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 other 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 PERSONALIZED USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO
VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS TV 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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