Apparatus and method for biometric control of a set top box
Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus dedicated to controlling a specified multimedia device for viewing programming content. The apparatus has an input interface configured for capturing a fingerprint of a user. The apparatus also includes memory for storing a plurality of user identification files. Each user identification file including data associated with at least one reference fingerprint of a respective user. A processor compares the captured fingerprint with at least one reference fingerprint stored in memory, and generates a control signal based on a result of the comparison. The control signal can include user profile identifier associated with the captured fingerprint and command data for instructing the multimedia device to generate a customized or default user interface for the identified user to view or access programming content. The control signal is transmitted to a multimedia device.
1. A remote control device, comprising:
an input interface configured for capturing a fingerprint of a user;
memory for storing:
program code for controlling a specified content provider apparatus, and
a plurality of user identification files, each user identification file including data associated with a reference fingerprint of a user, at least one of the plurality of user identification files including data associated with a plurality of reference fingerprints, each reference fingerprint being associated with a different finger of the user and a different control function or operation including: displaying a menu or interface for selecting content, displaying a menu or interface for selecting/setting hardware preferences, and initiating one or more functions or controls of the multimedia device;
a remote control processor configured to compare the captured fingerprint with at least one reference fingerprint stored in memory, the remote control processor executing the program code to generate a control signal based on a result of the comparison, wherein:
when the captured fingerprint matches the at least one reference fingerprint, the control signal includes at least a user profile identifier associated with the captured fingerprint and command data for instructing the multimedia device to generate a customized user interface for the identified user; and
when the captured fingerprint does not match the at least one reference fingerprint, the control signal includes command data for instructing the multimedia device to generate a default user interface; and
a remote control transmitter configured for transmitting the control signal to a multimedia device.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control signal includes instructions for generating a user interface customized according to at least one of viewing history and viewing preferences provided in the user profile of the identified user.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control signal includes instructions for generating a user interface which includes options for controlling display, audio, and playback options of the content provider apparatus.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the program code includes an application program for controlling the multimedia device, and in executing the program code the remote control unit is a device dedicated for controlling the multimedia device.
5. The device of claim 1 , comprising:
a control circuit which includes the processor.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the program code includes firmware for generating commands to operate the control circuit, and in executing the program code the remote control unit is a device dedicated for controlling the multimedia device.
7. A multimedia device in combination with the remote control device of claim 1 , the multimedia device, comprising:
a receiving device configured to wirelessly receive the control signal from the remote control device; and
a multimedia processor configured to generate a data signal for displaying an interface on a client device, wherein when the received control signal includes a user profile identifier, the multimedia processor is further configured to:
generate a query for selecting a user profile associated with the user profile identifier, the user profile being stored in a memory device having storage locations accessible by the multimedia processor, the user profiled including data associated with a plurality of fingerprints, each fingerprint being associated with a different finger of the user and a different control function or operation including: displaying a menu or interface for selecting content, displaying a menu or interface for selecting/setting hardware preferences, and initiating one or more functions or controls of the multimedia device; and
generate a data signal for displaying a customized interface based on at least one of the viewing history and the preference information provided in the selected user profile; and
a transmitting device configured to transmit the data signal for displaying the interface to the client device of the identified user.
8. The multimedia device of claim 7 , wherein:
if the control signal includes command data for generating a default user interface, the processor is further configured to:
obtain at least one of the viewing history and the preference information provided in one or more selected user profiles associated with a subscriber account; and
generate a data signal for displaying the default interface based on at least one of the obtained viewing history and the preference information of the one or more selected user profiles; and
the transmitting device is further configured to transmit to a client device, the data signal for displaying the default interface.
9. The multimedia device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to select one or more advertisements for output to a client device based on at least one of the viewing history and the preference information provided in the selected user profile of the identified user.
10. The multimedia device of claim 7 , wherein the query is sent to a cloud database.
11. The multimedia device of claim 10 , wherein the cloud database stores a plurality of user profiles, wherein each user profile is associated with a specified user.
12. The multimedia device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to execute a neural network for learning a viewing and usage behavior of the specified user.
13. The multimedia device of claim 11 , wherein one of the plurality of user profiles is an administrative profile, the administrative profile having permissions to control configurable parameters of the multimedia device.
14. The multimedia device of claim 13 , wherein the administrative profile has permissions to set controls for other user profiles.
15. A method for generating a customized user interface, comprising:
storing, in memory of a remote control unit, a plurality of user identification files, wherein at least one of the plurality of user identification files includes data associated with a plurality reference fingerprints, each reference fingerprint being associated with a different finger and a different control function or operation generated by the remote control processor including displaying a menu or interface for selecting content, displaying a menu or interface for selecting/setting hardware preferences, and initiating one or more functions or controls of the multimedia device;
executing, by a processing device of the remote control unit, program code dedicated for controlling a specified multimedia device;
capturing, via a fingerprint scanner of a remote control unit, a fingerprint of a user;
comparing, by a processing device of the remote control unit, the captured fingerprint with at least one reference fingerprint stored in the memory;
generating, by the processing device of the remote control unit, a control signal based on the executed program code and as a result of the comparison, wherein:
when the captured fingerprint matches the at least one reference fingerprint, the control signal includes at least a user profile identifier associated with the captured fingerprint and command data for instructing the multimedia device to generate a customized user interface for the identified user; and
when the captured fingerprint does not match the at least one reference fingerprint, the control signal includes command data for instructing the multimedia device to generate a default user interface; and
transmitting, via a transmitting device of the remote control unit, the control signal to a multimedia device.
16. The method according to claim 15 , comprising:
receiving, in a receiving unit of the specified multimedia device, the control signal from the control unit;
determining, in a processor of the multimedia device, whether the control signal includes a user profile identifier;
if the control signal includes a user profile identifier:
generating, in the processor of the multimedia device, a first query for selecting a user profile associated with the user profile identifier;
generating, in the processor of the multimedia device, a data signal for displaying a customized interface based on at least one of the viewing history and the preference information provided in the selected user profile; and
transmitting, by a transmitting device of the multimedia device, the data signal for displaying the customized interface on a display device of a user associated with the selected user profile.
17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
identifying, in the processor of the multimedia device, one or more advertisements to display to the user based on at least one of the viewing history and the preference information provided in the user profile of the identified user.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to execute a neural network for learning a viewing and usage behavior of the specified user.
19. The method of claim 16 , comprising:
storing, in a memory device of a control unit, one or more user identification files, the user identification file including a reference fingerprint of a user.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
if the control signal includes command data for generating a default user interface:
obtaining, in the processor of the multimedia device, at least one of the viewing history and the preference information provided in one or more user profiles associated with a subscriber account;
generating, in the processor of the multimedia device, a data signal for displaying the default user interface based the obtained viewing history and preference information provided in the one or more user profiles; and
transmitting, by a transmitting device of the multimedia device, the data signal for displaying the default user interface to a client device.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the data signal includes instructions for generating a user interface which includes options for controlling at least one of a display output, an audio output, and playback options of the multimedia device.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the program code includes an application program, and in executing the program code the remote control unit is a device dedicated for controlling the multimedia device.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the program code includes firmware for controlling an output of a control circuit, and in executing the program code the remote control unit is a device dedicated for controlling the multimedia device.
24. The device of claim 1 , wherein the different control function or operation includes: device power, volume control, and trickplay operations.
25. The device of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the reference fingerprints of one of the plurality of user identification files is associated with a first user profile and a second one of the reference fingerprints of the one of the plurality of user identification files is associated with a second user profile.