Computer Vision Demographic Forecasting for Media Content Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for customizing programming content in media networks in public spaces rely on cumbersome customer feedback or manual demographic data collection, lacking efficient and automated solutions for characterizing customer demographics for targeted content delivery.

Innovation Solution

The use of computer vision technologies and image capturing devices to automatically measure, characterize, and forecast demographic information of customers, enabling flexible installation of data-gathering devices separate from output devices and eliminating the need for customer involvement in data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual demographic data collection methods are used, then customer feedback can be obtained, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedemographic data accuracyVSAvoiddata collection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual data collection mechanisms with an automated computer vision system using cameras and image processing algorithms. The system automatically captures images of customers, extracts demographic information through algorithmic analysis, and provides real-time demographic profiles without requiring manual survey completion or customer feedback, thereby eliminating time loss while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service demographic data collection where customers are passively observed and characterized by the automated vision system without their active participation. The customer base is automatically characterized through image analysis, eliminating the need for customers to manually provide demographic information or feedback, thus resolving the contradiction between data accuracy and collection time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated image capturing devices are installed near output devices, then demographic data can be collected, but device installation flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into independent functional modules: image capturing devices, processing units, and output devices. This segmentation allows each component to be installed separately at optimal locations without requiring physical proximity between all components. The demographic characterization can be performed at distributed locations, enabling flexible installation while maintaining high data collection efficiency through automated image analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If customer feedback is required for content customization, then programming can be tailored, but customer involvement increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent customization capabilityVSAvoidsystem operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the complex mechanism of collecting and processing customer feedback with a simplified automated vision system. Image capturing devices automatically characterize customers based on visual attributes, and this information is directly used for programming customization without requiring customers to provide feedback, fill surveys, or interact with the system, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining content adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary automated characterization system that bridges the gap between customers and content customization. Instead of directly requiring customer feedback, the vision system acts as an intermediary that automatically extracts demographic information from images and translates it into actionable data for programming customization, simplifying the overall system operation while preserving content adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8706544B1Method and system for automatically measuring and forecasting the demographic characterization of customers to help customize programming contents in a media network

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

The present invention is a method and system for forecasting the demographic characterization of customers to help customize programming contents on each means for playing output of each site of a plurality of sites in a media network through automatically measuring, characterizing, and estimating the demographic information of customers that appear in the vicinity of each means for playing output. The analysis of demographic information of customers is performed automatically based on the visual information of the customers, using a plurality of means for capturing images and a plurality of computer vision technologies on the visual information. The measurement of the demographic information is performed in each measured node, where the node is defined as means for playing output. Extrapolation of the measurement characterizes the demographic information per each node of a plurality of nodes in a site of a plurality of sites of a media network. The forecasting and customization of the programming contents is based on the characterization of the demographic information.