Methods and systems for generating icons associated with providing brain state feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9367131-B2
Application number	US-201314038046-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2013
Priority date	Jul 24, 2013
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application configured to generate for display an icon that provides feedback to a user related to the current brain activity of the user. For example, a media guidance application may monitor the brain activity of the user in order to determine whether or not to perform a particular operation. The media guidance application may further generate a display of icons that inform the user of the current brain activity of the user and/or the progress of the user towards achieving a particular operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of providing brain activity feedback to a user accessing a media guidance application, the method comprising:
monitoring the brain activity of the user for a first brain state, wherein the first brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a first operation of the media guidance application;
detecting a first level of the brain activity;
determining that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards a threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;
generating for display an icon on a display screen, wherein the icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards the threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;
detecting a second level of the brain activity;
determining that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity; and
adjusting the icon on the display screen, wherein the adjusted icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the brain activity of the user further comprises receiving data from an electroencephalogram unit indicating a first frequency range of the brain activity of the user or receiving data from an electromyogram unit indicating first electrical activity of muscles near a brain of the user at rest and during contraction.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electroencephalogram unit or the electromyogram unit is incorporated into a mobile headset, wherein the mobile headset is battery powered.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising cross-referencing the first frequency range of the brain activity of the user with a database associated with frequencies of brain states to determine the first brain state or cross-referencing the first electrical activity of the muscles near the brain of the user with a database associated with electrical activity of brain states to determine the first brain state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback to the user related to achieving the first brain state prior to the user achieving the first brain state includes a graphical representation of the brain activity associated with the first brain state and a graphical representation indicating the user's progress towards the first brain state.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback relates to an attentiveness level of the user and the first brain state is associated with a threshold level of attentiveness of the user.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising in response to detecting an eye blink pattern, monitoring the brain activity of the user associated with a second brain state, wherein the second brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a second operation of the media guidance application.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation includes a navigation command, a fast-access playback command, a selection command, or a settings command.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the icon includes on-screen instructions for how to achieve the first brain state.

10. A system of providing brain activity feedback to a user accessing a media guidance application, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:
monitor the brain activity of the user for a first brain state, wherein the first brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a first operation of the media guidance application;
detect a first level of the brain activity;
determine that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards a threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;
generate for display an icon on a display screen, wherein the icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the first level of the brain activity is a portion of the way towards the threshold level of brain activity but does not exceed the threshold level of brain activity;
detect a second level of the brain activity;
determine that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity; and
adjust the icon on the display screen, wherein the adjusted icon provides feedback to the user indicating that the second level of the brain activity exceeds the threshold level of brain activity.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor the brain activity of the user using data from an electroencephalogram unit indicating a first frequency range of the brain activity of the user or using data from an electromyogram unit indicating first electrical activity of muscles near a brain of the user at rest and during contraction.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the electroencephalogram unit or the electromyogram unit is incorporated into a mobile headset, wherein the mobile headset is battery powered.

13. The system of claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cross-reference the first frequency range of the brain activity of the user with a database associated with frequencies of brain states to determine the first brain state or cross-reference the first electrical activity of the muscles near the brain of the user with a database associated with electrical activity of brain states to determine the first brain state.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the feedback to the user related to achieving the first brain state goal of the first brain state and the user's progress towards the goal includes a graphical representation of the brain activity associated with the first brain state and a graphical representation indicating the user's progress towards the first brain state.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the feedback relates to an attentiveness level of the user and the first brain state is associated with a threshold level of attentiveness of the user.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to detecting an eye blink pattern, monitor the brain activity of the user associated with a second brain state, wherein the second brain state corresponds to a frequency range of brain activity for performing a second operation of the media guidance application.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operation includes a navigation command, a fast-access playback command, a selection command, or a settings command.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the icon includes on-screen instructions for how to achieve the first brain state.

Assignees

• United Video Properties Inc
• Rovi Guides Inc

Inventors

• Klappert Walter R
• Nichols Michael R
• Shimy Camron
• Wagner William
• Chen Yinghsueh
• Stathacopoulos Paul

Classifications

• H04N21/4436

  Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver (power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418) · CPC title

• H04N21/443

  OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB · CPC title

• A61B5/7264

  Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems · CPC title

• A61B5/6803

  Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles · CPC title

• H04N21/4668

  for recommending content, e.g. movies · CPC title