Methods and systems for calibrating user devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9778736-B2
Application number	US-201414492358-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2014
Priority date	Sep 22, 2014
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that improves the customization and calibration of user devices to a particular user. For example, in response to erroneously detecting (or failing to detect) a user input of a first type, the media guidance application may re-calibrate the user device based on subsequent corrective inputs issued using a second input type such that future user inputs of the first type will not be erroneously detected (or fail to be detected).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of calibrating user devices, the method comprising:
monitoring, with a user device, a first input type for a command;
receiving a first user input comprising a first user attempt to issue the command using the first input type, wherein the first user input does not trigger the command, wherein the first user input is detected based on a detection of a first indicium of the first user input, and wherein the first user input does not trigger the command because a value corresponding to the first indicium of the first user input is below a threshold value;
receiving a second user input comprising a second user attempt to issue the command using a second input type, wherein the second user attempt triggers the command; and
in response to receiving the second user attempt, recalibrating the user device such that subsequent receipt of the first user input with the first input type triggers the command by reducing the threshold value based on the value corresponding to the first indicium of the first user input.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
searching data received while monitoring the first input type prior to the second user input for the first indicium of the first user input; and
wherein reducing the threshold value comprises:
reducing the threshold value to a value equal to or lower than the value corresponding to the first indicium of the first user input.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising identifying the first indicium based on the temporal proximity of the first indicium to the second user input.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising identifying the first indicium based on biometric activity associated with triggering the command.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating a user profile to include the recalibration of the user device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the first input type for the command includes monitoring brain activity of a user.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the first user input further comprises:
cataloging an instance of the brain activity;
comparing the instance with a database listing instances of brain activity that correspond to the command to determine whether or not the instance corresponds to the command; and
not triggering the command in response to determining that the instance does not correspond to any of the instances of brain activity that correspond to the command.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein recalibrating the user device further comprises updating the database listing instances of brain activity that correspond to the command to include a listing corresponding to the instance.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the first user input further comprises:
cataloging an instance of the brain activity;
comparing a value corresponding to the instance to a threshold value; and
not triggering the command in response to determining that the value does not exceed the threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein recalibrating the user device further comprises lowering the threshold value.

11. A system of calibrating user devices, the system comprising:
storage circuitry configured to store a calibration of a user device; and
control circuitry configured to:
monitor a first input type for a command;

receive a first user input comprising a first user attempt to issue the command using the first input type, wherein the first user input does not trigger the command, wherein the first user input is detected based on a detection of a first indicium of the first user input, and wherein the first user input does not trigger the command because a value corresponding to the first indicium of the first user input is below a threshold value;
receive a second user input comprising a second user attempt to issue the command using a second input type, wherein the second user attempt triggers the command; and
in response to receiving the second user attempt, recalibrate the user device such that subsequent receipt of the first user input with the first input type triggers the command by reducing the threshold value based on the value corresponding to the first indicium of the first user input.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
search data received while monitoring the first input type prior to the second user input for the first indicium of the first user input; and
wherein reducing the threshold value comprises:
reducing the threshold value to a value equal to or lower than the value corresponding to the first indicium of the first user input.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify the first indicium based on the temporal proximity of the first indicium to the second user input.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify the first indicium based on biometric activity associated with triggering the command.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to update a user profile to include the recalibration of the user device.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein monitoring the first input type for the command includes monitoring brain activity of a user.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry configured to receive the first user input is further configured to:
cataloging an instance of the brain activity;
comparing the instance with a database listing instances of brain activity that correspond to the command to determine whether or not the instance corresponds to the command; and
not triggering the command in response to determining that the instance does not correspond to any of the instances of brain activity that correspond to the command.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to recalibrate the user device is further configured to update the database listing instances of brain activity that correspond to the command to include a listing corresponding to the instance.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry configured to receive the first user input is further configured to:
cataloging an instance of the brain activity;
comparing a value corresponding to the instance to a threshold value; and
not triggering the command in response to determining that the value does not exceed the threshold value.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry configured to recalibrate the user device is further configured to lower the threshold value.

Assignees

• Rovi Guides Inc

Inventors

• Shimy Camron
• Nichols Michael R

Classifications

• 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

• H04N21/42201 Primary

  biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user (input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015) · CPC title

• G06F2203/011

  Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns · CPC title

• G06F3/015

  Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection · CPC title

• G06F1/163

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title