Mobile device attention detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11997351-B2
Application number	US-202318176212-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2023
Priority date	Jun 24, 2020
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for mobile device attention detection. An example apparatus includes a mobile meter to receive, from an external device, a signal to gather user attention data, and transmit the user attention data. The example apparatus further includes an interval timer to activate a time period for determining attention of a user. The example apparatus further includes an attention determiner to generate the user attention data during the time period.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a signal to gather user attention data when a presentation of media is detected on a media device within proximity of a mobile device, wherein the user attention data is to be associated with media output by the media device;
based on the signal, activating, by executing instructions with a processor, a time period for determining attention of a user;
generating, by executing instructions with the processor, the user attention data during the time period; and
transmitting the user attention data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises data specifying the time period.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
transmitting the user attention data comprises transmitting the user attention data to a meter device configured to monitor the media output by the media device within a household associated with an audience measurement entity, and
the mobile device, the meter device, and the media device are located within the household.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on the signal, activating a camera of the mobile device,
wherein generating the user attention data comprises generating the user attention data based on camera data captured by the camera.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the camera data indicates an orientation of a face of the user.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being on the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the orientation of the face of the user is towards the camera.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being away from the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the orientation of the face of the user is away from the camera.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the camera data indicates an eye gaze of the user.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being on the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the eye gaze of the user is directed towards the camera.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being away from the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the eye gaze of the user is directed away from the camera.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the user attention data during the time period comprises:
determining user interaction with the mobile device during the time period; and
generating the user attention data based on the user interaction with the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by the mobile device, the mobile device comprising the processor.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving a signal to gather user attention data when a presentation of media is detected on a media device within proximity of a mobile device, wherein the user attention data is to be associated with media output by the media device;
based on the signal, activating a time period for determining attention of a user;
generating the user attention data during the time period; and
transmitting the user attention data.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein:
transmitting the user attention data comprises transmitting the user attention data to a meter device configured to monitor the media output by the media device within a household associated with an audience measurement entity, and
the mobile device, the meter device, and the media device are located within the household.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , the operations further comprising:
based on the signal, activating a camera of the mobile device,
wherein generating the user attention data comprises generating the user attention data based on camera data captured by the camera.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
the camera data indicates an orientation of a face of the user, and
generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being on the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the orientation of the face of the user is towards the camera.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
the camera data indicates an orientation of a face of the user, and
generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being away from the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the orientation of the face of the user is away from the camera.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
the camera data indicates an eye gaze of the user, and
generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being on the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the eye gaze of the user is directed towards the camera.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
the camera data indicates an eye gaze of the user, and
generating the user attention data based on the camera data captured by the camera comprises generating user attention data indicative of the attention of the user being away from the mobile device based on the camera data indicating that the eye gaze of the user is directed away from the camera.

20. A method performed by a meter device comprising a processor, the method comprising:
detecting a presentation of media on a media device within proximity of a mobile device;
based on the detecting, transmitting to the mobile device, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to generate user attention data during a predefined time period upon receipt of the signal and transmit the user attention data to the meter device;
receiving the user attention data; and
transmitting the user.

Assignees

• Nielsen Co Us Llc

Inventors

• Stavropoulos John

Classifications

• G06T2207/30201

  Face · CPC title

• G06T7/70

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title

• H04N21/44218 Primary

  Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV programme (methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45) · CPC title

• H04N21/4126

  The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones · CPC title

• H04N21/4223 Primary

  Cameras (H04N23/00 takes precedence) · CPC title