Neuro-feedback Stimulus Compression via EEG Significance Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for compressing entertainment and marketing materials rely on subjective survey evaluations and material characteristics, which are limited by biases and lack accuracy in measuring true audience responses, leading to inefficient compression.

Innovation Solution

A neuro-feedback based system that uses neurological and neurophysiological measurements, such as EEG, fMRI, and GSR, to determine the significance of stimulus material, aggregating central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, and effector system measurements to automatically compress materials by removing or modifying low-significance portions and enhancing high-significance segments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If survey based evaluations are used to measure responses to materials, then the compression process is simple to implement, but the accuracy and reliability of measuring true audience responses deteriorates due to biases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of compression implementationVSAvoidaccuracy of audience response measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces survey-based mechanical evaluation systems with neurophysiological measurement systems (EEG, fMRI, GSR) that directly measure brain activity and physiological responses. This substitution eliminates subjective biases inherent in survey methods while providing objective, quantifiable data about actual audience engagement and emotional responses to stimulus materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces neurophysiological instruments as intermediary devices between the stimulus material and the audience's internal response. These instruments (EEG electrodes, fMRI scanners, GSR sensors) act as mediators that capture and transmit physiological signals from the audience's nervous system, providing an indirect but accurate measurement of cognitive and emotional processes that surveys cannot access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual editing based on producer or director insights is used to delete movie scenes, then the compression maintains creative control, but the objectivity and repeatability of the compression process deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecreative control in compressionVSAvoidobjectivity and repeatability of compression

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback loops where neurophysiological data from audience responses is continuously collected and used to automatically adjust compression decisions. The system measures real-time brain activity and physiological responses, feeds this data back into the compression algorithm, and automatically modifies the stimulus material accordingly. This creates an objective, repeatable process that maintains creative intent while eliminating subjective variability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the compression system to serve itself by using automatically collected neurophysiological data to make compression decisions without requiring continuous human intervention. The system self-adjusts based on measured audience responses, identifying which portions of stimulus material generate high engagement and which can be safely removed or modified, thereby maintaining consistency and repeatability across different compression operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If compression is based on characteristics of the materials or limited survey responses, then the compression process is fast and efficient, but the effectiveness and audience engagement of the compressed material deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression speed and efficiencyVSAvoideffectiveness measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary neurophysiological testing on stimulus materials before final compression deployment. By pre-measuring audience brain responses and physiological engagement to different portions of the material, the system identifies high-value segments in advance. This preliminary action allows for faster subsequent compression operations while maintaining high effectiveness, as the critical engagement data is already captured and can guide automated compression decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9886981B2Neuro-feedback based stimulus compression device

Publication Date: 2018.02.06 NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC

AI summary

A stimulus compression device determines neuro-feedback significance corresponding to stimulus material and modifies the stimulus material using neuro-feedback significance measures. For example, the stimulus compression device determines portions of a media stream corresponding to low neuro-feedback significance and removes them from the media stream. Compression of stimulus material may involve removal, modification, repetition, bit rate adjustment, resolution adjustment, etc. Transitions can be smoothed or lengthened to further improve processed stimulus material.