Music Recommendation Using Physiological Emotion Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media recommendation systems lack an objective framework for labeling and regulating user emotions, leading to subjective categorizations and unreliable emotional feedback, which hampers personalized mood regulation and user connections.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that generates plots of emotional intensity reactions in real time, averages these reactions over time, verifies emotional thresholds, and recommends media elements based on these plots and personality profiles, using both explicit and implicit user feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If known platform algorithms are used to retain and prioritize music based on positive platform responses, then user engagement is improved, but the reliability of emotional feedback is worsened due to subjectivity in user responses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser engagementVSAvoidemotional feedback reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that objectively measures user emotional responses to music using physiological sensors (heart rate, skin conductance, temperature) rather than relying directly on subjective user feedback. This intermediary measurement layer transforms unreliable subjective emotional data into reliable objective physiological data, resolving the contradiction between maintaining user engagement and improving feedback reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual user feedback (thumbs up/down, subjective ratings) with an automated physiological sensing system that objectively measures emotional responses. This substitution eliminates the subjectivity inherent in manual feedback while maintaining the ability to personalize music recommendations, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If subjective media categorizations are used for emotion-based playlists, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision is worsened due to lack of objective emotion frameworks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaylist creation easeVSAvoidemotion labeling precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback loop where the system continuously monitors user physiological responses to music and automatically refines its emotional categorization framework. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain ease of operation while progressively improving measurement precision by learning from objective physiological data patterns across multiple users and sessions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the static subjective parameters of manual emotion labeling into dynamic objective parameters based on physiological measurements (heart rate variability, skin conductance levels, temperature changes). This parameter transformation enables precise, quantifiable emotion detection while maintaining user-friendly playlist operations through automated system decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If verbalizations are used for emotion prediction, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened due to embellishments and inaccuracies in user reporting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemotion input simplicityVSAvoidemotion data accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces physiological sensors as an intermediary that directly measures emotional states without relying on user verbal reports. This intermediary measurement system bypasses the reliability issues of self-reported emotions (embellishments, inaccuracies, biases) while maintaining ease of operation since users simply wear or carry the sensing device without active participation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service emotion measurement where the physiological sensors automatically and continuously monitor the user's emotional state without requiring active user input or verification. This self-service approach eliminates the reliability problems of manual reporting while maintaining operational simplicity, as the system autonomously collects and processes emotional data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260030291A1Mood-altering music recommendation system based on emotional reactions to entertainment

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 BOULARD JESSE

AI summary

A system and its corresponding method are provided for recommending media based on emotion-related feedback from a user. In one example of the system and its corresponding method, songs are assigned to a queue according to objective criteria for achieving desired emotions with the user. Songs may also be assigned to the queue based on documented similarities between various user personality profiles.