349 results about "Television watching" patented technology

A system residing preferably in a television set-top box monitors the television watching habits of one or more viewers and creates one or more profiles for each viewers descriptive of various characteristics of each viewers, including television watching preferences and demographics. The set-top box is able to select among various available video programming segments to create customized and / or targeted video programs for delivery to the viewer or viewers as a linear program. The customized linear video programs may include targeted content, advertising, and other video programming.

An electronic programming guide (EPG) system employs a preference engine and processing system that learns viewers' television watching preferences by monitoring their viewing patterns. The system operates transparently to build a profile of a viewer's tastes. The profile is used to provide services, for example, recommending or automatically recording television programs the viewer might be interested in watching. To permit the personalization of the preferences database, a user interface is provided to allow the user to simulate various kinds of interaction with the system. This allows the system to build a profile rapidly without requiring a long interaction history to personalize the system.

A system residing preferably in a television set-top box monitors the television watching habits of one or more viewers and creates one or more profiles for each viewers descriptive of various characteristics of each viewers, including television watching preferences and demographics. The set-top box is able to select among various available video programming segments to create customized and / or targeted video programs for delivery to the viewer or viewers as a linear program. The customized linear video programs may include targeted content, advertising, and other video programming.

A system, method, and article of manufacture suitable for automatically generating recommendations of a set of entertainment options from a larger set of entertainment options based on user preferences for those options. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of automatically generating recommendations for viewing television programs based on past viewing patterns and preferences of a plurality of television viewers, all of whom do not need to be physically present in front of the television. The present invention creates a composite user profile based on individual profiles for each user detected who is to be used in the composite user profile, some of whom need not be present in front of the television. Each user's preferences may be weighted the same as each other user's or users may have differing weights assigned to their preferences.

Digital technology based consumer media devices have many desirable features, including the ability to easily find and watch television shows, and / or automatically record programs of interest. Disclosed is a system and method for allowing a group of television viewers to share program viewing information. This information, exchanged through various on-line community modalities (including Internet chat rooms, email, Internet Web Logs, and the like), can be used within a consumer media device, such as a Digital video Recorder to influence the decision process concerning which programs to record, buffer or view.

A presence detector for detecting and estimating an audience watching television comprising: one or more presence sensors adapted to capturing signals emitted by or reflected from the audience; and a translator connected to the one or more presence sensors adapted to translating output signals created by the one or more presence sensors to data signals representing the estimated number of people in the audience. Presence information captured is converted to television rating data and is very useful for pricing advertisements accurately.

The invention discloses a face-recognition-based method and a face-recognition-based system for automatically classifying television programs. The method comprises the following steps of: A, establishing a program classification table; B, acquiring the personal information of a plurality of users, and establishing a user combination classification table; C, recording the program classification information and frequency information of television watching of different user combinations in different time buckets to obtain the statistical watching habit information of the different user combinations; and D, associating the user combination classification table and the statistical watching habit information to establish a watching habit classification table. In the method and the system, the program classification table and the user combination classification table are established, the program classification information of frequency information of the television watching of users in the different time buckets are recorded to obtain the statistical watching habit information, and the user combination classification table and the statistical watching habit information are associated to establish the watching habit classification table; therefore, when the user watches a television program, a favorite program of the user can be transmitted according to corresponding watching habits and a successive favorite program of the user also can be recommended to save the complex channel searching process of the user.

A device used with a conventional television set that permits both hearing impaired and non hearing impaired individuals to view television audio voice signals in a text format on the television screen without the requirement of a closed / open caption broadcast signal or a closed / open caption enabled television. The device also can utilize an FM audio input, an audio line input, and a microphone or impedance input for conversion into a text format. The system may use on-board or remote displays, wireless or wired, for also providing the text format representative of human speech. The system includes audio filters for filtering a television audio signal and filtering out human speech audio signals for processing and conversion by a speech-to-text converter.

The application discloses a program recommending method and apparatus for a smart television. Included are the steps of obtaining a name of a currently broadcast program; setting a program name as a keyword, searching a program with a name being the keyword, and taking the searched program as an associated program to the currently broadcast program; and loading information describing the associated program into video data of the currently broadcast program, so as to display the information describing the associated program in a broadcasting screen of the currently broadcast program, wherein the information describing the associated program at least comprises a program name of a program number of the associated program. In this way, when a program is broadcast, an associated program can be recommended for a user, so that the user can easily and conveniently view the associated program to the program in the broadcasting screen of the currently broadcast program while watching the program and thus can quickly find out the associated program the user wants to watch. The television watching efficiency is improved and the user experience is enhanced.

The invention is suitable for the technical field of interactive comments, and provides a comment method for an interactive comment system, a television and a mobile terminal. The system comprises the television and at least one mobile terminal. The method comprises the following steps: interconnecting the television and the mobile terminal; receiving an identification information inquiry request sent by the mobile terminal; and acquiring identification information of the current played television program according to the identification information inquiry request, and sending the identification information to the mobile terminal, so that the mobile terminal enters the interactive comment system corresponding to the identification information so as to receive and display comment information published by a user through the interactive comment system. According to the invention, the user can publish a comment through the terminal which is used for displaying the comment, and a comment operation space is not limited by a screen of the television any more; a comment process cannot influence the television which the user watches; the method is easy and convenient to operate; the problem that an implementation process for inputting the comment through the television is complicated, and is inconvenient to operate is solved; and a high user experience is supplied to the user.

The invention provides a control method and device based on an eye movement three-dimensional display angle. The control method based on the eye movement three-dimensional display angle comprises the steps of: predicating a focusing point of a user on a television screen; calculating an included angle between two pupils of the user and the television screen according to the center of the two pupils of the user and the location of the focusing point; and according to the included angle, changing the location of a three-dimensional optical display device in television so that the user is withinthe angle range defined by the directions of light emitted by the three-dimensional optical display device. By predicating the focusing point of the user on the television screen as well as by calculating the included angle between the two pupils of the user and the television screen according to the locations of the focusing point and the two pupils of the user, the location of the three-dimensional optical display device in a television can be changed according to the calculated included angle, so that the user is within the angle range defined by the directions of light emitted by the three-dimensional optical display device, and accordingly, the motion range of the user during television watching is widened.

An automatic zoom apparatus and method for playing dynamic images. The automatic zoom apparatus provides more dynamic images to a user by detecting a dynamic change of image signals to zoom and display a predetermined area where the dynamic change is detected. To this end, the automatic zoom apparatus for playing the dynamic images comprises a motion detector for, when a zoom function is requested to zoom predetermined image signals, detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from the predetermined image signals. Also included is a motion area designator for designating a predetermined area including objects of the motion detected by the motion detector, as a motion area, and a zoom controller for performing a zoom function for zooming an image of the image signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator. Thereby, the user can enjoy a more dynamic image such that television watching is not as monotonous.

The invention discloses a family member mix identification method and system based on television watching log mining. The method comprises the steps of acquiring log data of television programs watched by a user, wherein the log data comprises following data content: user operation time, program type, and watching time of the program type; dividing the log data by time period; extracting the program type and the proportion of the watching time of the program type from each period of log data and taking the program type and the proportion of the watching time of the program type as a feature of a family member; clustering according to features of family members; and determining the mix of family members by use of a clustering result. Through adoption of the method, the problem in the prior art that user preferences cannot be analyzed through a single account in the intelligent television field is solved. The invention also discloses a family member mix identification system based on television watching log mining.

The invention provides a method for interacting with audiences in the process of watching television programs. The audience inputs interactive content through a television terminal, the interactive content inputted by the audience is transmitted to a background system through the television terminal by using a communication network, the interactive content is organized in the background system, and real-time results are transmitted back to the television terminal through the communication network and displayed on the television terminal. An interactive evaluation system composed of the television terminal, the background system and the communication system can be realized by using the method provided by the invention, thereby turning into a third party evaluation system except a television station, and being capable of providing more objective and fairer evaluation results.

The invention is suitable for the digital communication field and provides a recording method for the information of a top box of a digital television and a watching rate statistical service system. The method includes recording the information parameters of the channels browsed by a digital television user; uploading the recorded information parameters of the channels browsed by the digital television user after packed in a SOAP data packet to a watching rate statistical service device. Through recording the information parameters of the channels browsed by the digital television user and transmitting the recorded information parameters of the channels browsed by the digital television user after packed in the SOAP data packet to the watching rate statistical service device, a watering rate tendency curve can be generated according to the channel information parameters and program lists contained in the data packet after the watching rate statistical service device receives the data packet, the invention solves the problems of higher statistical cost, insufficient automation and larger error in the statistical result during the statistic operation of television watching rate in the prior art.

To provide a remote controller into which a kitchen timer function and a television control function are integrated so that mutual cooperation between cooking and television watching is simplified. As shown in FIG. 5, when executing a kitchen timer function using a remote controller 50, a user depresses a function selection button 71 predetermined number of times to select the kitchen timer function. Next, the user depresses a first time period setting button 72 to set a “minute” unit portion of the desirable time period and then depresses a second time period setting button 73 to set a “second” unit portion of the time period. Finally, the user depresses a SET / STOP button 74 and the kitchen timer function starts. When the timer counts down and its display indicates “0 minute and 0 second”, a buzzer 58 of a remote control section 56 gives an alarm sound. Further, the remote control section 56 switches the display of a liquid crystal display section 54 to a clock time display.

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the optimal virtual sound track of a loudspeaker of a television according to the position of a watcher and the television. The method comprises the steps that the displacement and the width of the head of the watcher are sensed in real time; sensed information is processed according to the face recognition technology, and when the face is recognized, azimuth information and information of the width of the head of the watcher are obtained through detection; the nearest actual watcher and the position of the watcher are found according to the azimuth information and information of the width of the head of the watcher, and a corresponding Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) is obtained through search; virtual sound track data are calculated according to initial sound track data and the HRTF, and the virtual sound track data are played through the loudspeaker of the television. According to the method for adjusting the optimal virtual sound track of the loudspeaker of the television according to the position of the watcher and the television, the problem of manual setting of a sweet spot and parameters is solved, the virtual sound track corresponding to the optimal audition area can be adjusted in a self-adaptation mode, the parameters can be adjusted automatically, and the improvement in the effect of television watching by a user is facilitated.

A device that permits a television to be extended from a position hidden behind a picture frame, and pivots an art picture frame up, and out of view so that a television screen is viewable at a lower level. When the television viewing is complete, the user retracts the television, resulting in a picture frame being pivoted down and coming to rest in front of the hidden television. The devise utilizes only one motorized pulley system to simultaneously move both a television and a picture frame. This devise also utilizes roller extension arms enabling a user to watch a flat TV screen at any level including fully up or down positions. Additionally, optional swivel arms can be utilized to allow a person to tilt the flat screen side to side for easy viewing at an angle.

The invention provides a method for recording the history of television programs watched by users and a television thereof. The method comprises the steps that firstly, an activated channel identification number is monitored by a television system, and an electronic program guide EPG is inquired according to the channel identification number; secondly, the information of the programs which are being played through a channel corresponding to the channel identification number is obtained from the EPG by the television system, and is stored. The technical proposal provided by the invention ensures that when the users want to inquire the history record of the watched television programs, the history record list of the watched television programs can be called out by the user, especially when the user wants to search the programs watched before but forgets the title of the programs, the channel number played or the name of a television broadcast station, the channel number corresponding to the programs can be conveniently and quickly searched by the users through the history record list of the watched television programs, the memory storage and the effective management of the interested program information for the digital television users can be performed, therefore, the users can be convenient for calling out and viewing the information, to ensure the use of the program information of the digital television to be more convenient.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for reminding a safe television watching distance, belonging to the technical field of smart televisions. The method includes the steps of when a display screen of a television is started, starting a body sensing apparatus; monitoring, by the body sensing apparatus, a distance between an audience in front of the television and the television in real time; and if the distance is less than a preset safe distance, warning to remind the audience of a reasonable distance from the television. Through adoption of the method and the apparatus, the audience in front of the television can be reminded of a safe distance when watching television, and extra hardware devices are not increased, therefore, a user can be prevented from watching television too close so as to not cause eyesight problems.

The invention discloses a method for controlling a television to play. The method comprises the following steps of: according to preset watching time, when reaching the watching time, controlling the television to interrupt the play of a television program; and when the play of the television program is interrupted, controlling the television to insert contents corresponding to an interrupt command. Correspondingly, the invention also discloses a television. The method can effectively control the television watching time of viewers (such as children), so as to prevent the viewers from indulging in television programs, help the viewers to mull things over and promote the viewers to study.

The invention relates to the technical field of set-top box program broadcasting control methods, in particular to a child viewing behavior control system and method for a digital TV set-top box. The child viewing behavior control system mainly comprises a time control submodule, a program control submodule and a child viewing behavior analyzing submodule. The specific control method comprises the steps that a parent controls the set-top box to enter in a child mode by inputting passwords at a set-top box terminal; the time period of TV programs allowing a child to watch and the specific TV programs in the week are set in the child mode; the set-top box enters in the working mode of the child mode, the child is only allowed to watch the specific TV programs at the specific time period, and meanwhile the viewing behavior of the child is automatically recorded. Through the child viewing behavior control method, the parent can automatically control and monitor the behavior of watching the TV programs of the child.

An information service system in which information is collected, on a public communication network, from viewers who watch television programs and points are awarded to the viewers in accordance with the collected information, and which is constituted by an interest information generating portion for inputting individual audience result information generated as a result of the viewed television programs into information supply terminals existing on the public communication network to thereby generate individual interest information on the basis of the individual audience result information, an interest information input portion for receiving the individual interest information generated as a result of the viewed television programs from the information supply terminals, a file managing portion for managing an individual interest information file, and a point awarding portion for awarding points to the viewers in according to supply of the individual audience result information, and so on, from the viewers.

The invention discloses a television capable of controlling the volume intelligently and a method. The television comprises an image acquisition module, an image processing module and a volume control module, wherein the image acquisition module is used for obtaining images of the face of a user as well as a certain area nearby the face, the image processing module is used for analyzing the images obtained by the image acquisition module to recognize face detection and / or human eyes locating and / or gestures and / or lip change and / or judge whether the user is calling mobile phones or not and transmitting a recognition result to the volume control module; the volume control module is used for adjusting the volume of the television according to the recognition result. The user has no need to adjust the volume of the television actively during watching, the user experience is improved, and the user can call more clearly, meanwhile, the intelligent level of the television is improved.

The invention relates to an automatic control device for a shipborne satellite antenna. The automatic control device comprises a base and an antenna part, wherein the base is arranged on a ship body and the antenna part is arranged on the base; and a connecting support seat is arranged between the base and the antenna part. The automatic control device is characterized in that an azimuth control motor, which is used for controlling the planar rotation of the connecting support seat, is arranged at the upper part of the base, a pitch control motor, which is used for controlling the pitch angle of the antenna part, is arranged at the upper part of the connecting support seat, a mechanical transmission mechanism, which is used for the power transmission of all motors, is arranged inside the connecting support seat, and a control circuit is arranged in the base. The automatic control device for the shipborne satellite antenna has the advantages that an automatic control satellite antenna system is integrated, a satellite can be automatically searched and aligned, the environmental change caused due to the fact that a ship sails and wobbles on the water is overcome, the ship can receive satellite signals in motion in an uninterrupted manner, the requirements of sailors on television watching or telephone communication at sea are met, and then, the daily lives of the sailors are enriched.

The disclosed method to limit time on watching TV comprises: when a TV is running, pressing the watching-limit key to enter set program, setting and storing watching time, exiting program, beginning to time; detecting whether up to the time; once up to the time, changing into limit state and exiting the state when receiving signal from the watching-limit key again. This invention uses mainly software to realize its function without complex control, and saves cost.

The method thereof comprises: an infrared human body detection module is used to detect the area in front of a TV set in order to decide if there is a person in the area; if there is a person detected in the area, the detection module starts a time keeping; if before the ending of the time keeping the person has not yet left the area, the brightness of TV set is gradually reduced and until to a lowest brightness value; when the detection module detects the person has left the area, it recovers the brightness of TV screen. The apparatus thereof comprises an infrared human body detection module, a CPU, a memory, a backlight source of display screen. The detection signal of infrared human body detection module controls the brightness of display screen through the CPU.

It is the objective of the present invention to easily change between an image display application and the viewing of a program for a digital television, and to improve the usability of the television for operating an image display application. The display change list for a (channel) Up / Down key of a remote controller is dynamically altered so that, during the execution of an image display application, an application screen is displayed by using the Up / Down key. Further, when a memory card is loaded immediately after the television is powered on, a display application can be automatically activated. Furthermore, while a user is watching the television, the contents of a memory card is displayed on a small window in one part of the screen, and execution of the image application controlled by the user. In addition, no icons are displayed while an important program is on displaying. Moreover, since the same color and the same arrangement are used for the four function icons as are used for the four color keys on the remote controller, various processes can be performed for the image application.

The invention provides a bidirectional set-top box system with a time shifting on-demand service. The system realizes abundant and flexible time shifting television watching functions such as channel classification, program classification, live broadcast playback and the like through a bidirectional set-top box with embedded browser software, a time shifting program editing workstation, digital encoding equipment, a video acquisition and storage server, an acquisition control service, a database server, a web electronic program guide (WEBEPG) server and an official development assistance (ODA) server.

The invention discloses a device for limiting television watching time. The device comprises a user exercise data input module, a user available watching duration calculation module, a user television watching duration monitoring module and a limiting television watching control module, wherein the user exercise data input module is used for collecting exercise amount information of a user, the user available watching duration calculation module is used for converting the exercise amount information into available watching duration of the user, the user television watching duration monitoring module is used for recording television watching duration of the user and comparing the recording television watching duration with the available watching duration, and when accumulated television watching duration of the user excesses the available watching duration of the user, the limiting television watching control module is started. The device can prevent the user form watching a television for a long time and simultaneously can promote the purpose of strengthening physical exercise of the user. The invention further provides a method for limiting television watching time, and the method adopts the device for limiting television watching time.