Group recognition and profiling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9520957-B2
Application number	US-201113213408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2011
Priority date	Aug 19, 2011
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A system can include storage for identification data for individuals; an interface configured to receive image data; recognition circuitry configured to recognize individuals using received image data and stored identification data; grouping circuitry configured to define groups based on recognized individuals; assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups; and output circuitry configured to output preferred media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
storage for identification data for individuals;
an interface configured to receive image data;
recognition circuitry configured to recognize individuals using received image data and stored identification data;
location circuitry configured to spatially locate recognized individuals in an environment and to determine an arrangement of spatial locations of the recognized individuals with respect to each other in the environment;
assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to a defined group based at least in part on a determined arrangement of spatial locations of recognized individuals in the defined group; and
output circuitry configured to output preferred media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage for identification data for individuals comprises storage for facial data.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface configured to receive image data comprises a wired or a wireless interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface configured to receive image data comprises one or more camera interfaces configured to receive still images, to receive video images, or to receive still images and video images.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences comprises blending circuitry configured to blend media consumption preferences for combinations of defined groups.

6. The system of claim 1 comprising circuitry to determine environmental information for an environment wherein the environmental information comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of natural lighting, artificial lighting, noise, temperature, and humidity.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the recognition circuitry comprises facial recognition circuitry.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises circuitry configured to locate a remote control and to associate a remote control with an individual.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising input circuitry configured to receive input of information for individuals and to receive input of information for groups of individuals.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences comprises circuitry configured to access one or more remote databases that comprise media information.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the output circuitry configured to output media information comprises an output interface configured to output selectable preferred media for rendering to a screen for consumption by the defined group.

12. A method comprising:
identifying a group of individuals located in front of a screen using a camera and facial recognition circuitry;
determining an arrangement of spatial locations of the individuals with respect to each other as located in front of the screen;
associating the group with media consumption preferences based at least in part on the arrangement of spatial locations of the individuals with respect to each other as located in front of the screen; and
based on the associating, rendering selectable preferred media choices to the screen.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising identifying a new group of individuals located in front of the screen; associating the new group with media consumption preferences; and, based on the associating, rendering selectable preferred media choices to the screen.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising, based on the associating, automatically rendering preferred media to the screen for consumption by the group.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing environmental information for an environment in which the screen is located wherein the environmental information comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of natural lighting, artificial lighting, noise, temperature, and humidity.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to:
define a group based on a list of individuals;
assign media consumption preferences to defined groups of individuals based at least in part on spatial arrangements of individuals with respect to each other in the defined groups; and
responsive to recognition of individuals that define a group and determination of a spatial arrangement of the individuals with respect to each other in the group, output preferred media choices, the preferred media choices selectable, via a graphical user interface, for rendering to a display for consumption by the group.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to receive media selections from a group and, based thereon, to assign revised media consumption preferences to the group.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to restrict preferred media choices for a group based on age of an individual in a list of individuals that define the group.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to recognize individuals that define a group and to determine a spatial arrangement of the individuals in the group.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to sense environmental information for an environment in which recognized individuals are located and to output preferred media choices based at least in part on the sensed environmental information wherein the environmental information comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of natural lighting, artificial lighting, noise, temperature, and humidity.

Assignees

• Ramirez Flores Axel
• Davis Mark Charles
• Strazisar Bradley Park
• Kelso Scott Edwards
• Perrin Steven Richard
• Zhou Yi
• Locker Howard J
• Li Jian
• Zhang Jianbang
• Zawacki Jennifer Greenwood
• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Ramirez Flores Axel
• Davis Mark Charles
• Strazisar Bradley Park
• Kelso Scott Edwards
• Perrin Steven Richard
• Zhou Yi
• Locker Howard J
• Li Jian
• Zhang Jianbang
• Zawacki Jennifer Greenwood

Classifications

• H04N21/4532

  involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18) · CPC title

• H04H60/65

  for using the result on users' side · CPC title

• H04N21/44218

  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

• H04H60/45 Primary

  for identifying users · CPC title

• H04N21/4223

  Cameras (H04N23/00 takes precedence) · CPC title