Systems and methods for providing personalized audio content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9635390-B2
Application number	US-201514965201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 17, 2012
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A method for providing audio content to a user device in a movie theater includes the steps of personalizing the audio content for the user device based on an identifier and providing the personalized audio content to the user device. In some embodiments, the identifier is based on demographic information about the user. According to some embodiments, the personalized audio content accompanies additional content that is not provided by the user device. In some embodiments, the personalized audio content accompanies a movie.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing audio content to a user device in a movie theater, comprising:
personalizing the audio content for the user device based on an identifier;
providing the personalized audio content to the user device; and
changing the personalized audio content provided to the user device to a different personalized audio content based on a change in location of the user device within the movie theater.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content accompanies a movie.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the personalized audio content comprises at least one of: an alternate or additional dialogue, an alternate or additional sound effect, and an additional musical accompaniment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content comprises one or more advertisements or offers.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more advertisements or offers are related to an in-theater purchase.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more advertisements or offers are for merchandise related to content being viewed.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
personalizing the audio content for a different user device based on a different identifier, wherein the personalized audio content for the user device is different from the personalized audio content for the different user device; and
providing the personalized audio content to the different user device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a location in a room.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a location outside a room displaying a movie.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is at a range of audio frequencies different from a range of audio frequencies provided by an external audio source.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is a three-dimensional audio effect.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the three-dimensional audio effect is dependent on a location in a room of the user device.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a group to which a user of the user device belongs.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
personalizing the audio content for a different user device based on a different identifier, wherein the personalized audio content for the user device is different from the personalized audio content for the different user device; and
providing the personalized audio content to the different user device;
wherein the personalized audio content for the different user device is based on a different group to which a different user of the different user device belongs.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein members of the group each receive the personalized audio content through their respective user devices, the personalized audio content being the same for each of the members.

16. A system for providing audio content to a user device in a movie theater, the system comprising:
a content personalizer comprising a processor, the content personalizer configured to:
personalize the audio content for the user device based on an identifier; and
provide the personalized audio content to the user device based on a change in location of the user device within the movie theater.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the content personalizer wirelessly provides the personalized audio content to the user device.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the content personalizer is within the user device.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a type of the user device.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on at least one user preference.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the personalization of the audio content is affected by at least one user preference.

22. The system of claim 16 , wherein the personalized audio content is provided as a result of a ticket purchase.

23. The system of claim 16 , wherein the identifier is based on a ticket purchase.

24. The system of claim 16 , wherein the identifier is based on information provided by the user device.

25. The system of claim 16 , the content personalizer further configured to:
receive input from a user.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions when processed by a processing circuit perform the following:
personalizing audio content for a user device based on an identifier; and
providing the personalized audio content to the user device; and
changing the personalized audio content when the user device leaves a room displaying a movie.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein the identifier is based on demographic information about a user.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein the identifier is based on a ticket purchase.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein the identifier is based on information provided by the user device.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein the identifier is based on an identity of the user device.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein the identifier is based on facial recognition.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31 , wherein the facial recognition determines demographics of a user.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein the personalized audio content comprises audio in a language foreign to a user of the user device.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein the personalized audio content is provided to the user device in exchange for money or credit.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 , wherein a user is provided an incentive in exchange for receiving the personalized audio content.

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Chan Alistair K
• Holman Pablos
• Hyde Roderick A
• Myhrvold Nathan P
• Rosema Keith David
• Stephenson Neal
• Tegreene Clarence T

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• H04L67/30

  Profiles · CPC title

• H04N21/25883

  being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address (arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52) · CPC title

• H04R3/12

  for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} · 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