IP Library Granted Patent US 9,436,279
Granted Patent B2
US 9,436,279 · App. 14/230,997 · Granted Sep 6, 2016

Systems and methods for controlling user devices based on brain activity

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,436,279
App. No.
14/230,997
Granted
Sep 6, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems described herein provide for an integrated approach for controlling a user's various devices based on the user's brain activity. A user's brain activity is monitored with a first user device. A change in the brain activity is detected. In response to detecting the change, data from a second user device is processed. The detected change in brain activity is compared to the processed data to determine whether the change in brain activity is associated with the second user device. In response to determining that the change is associated with the second user device, an option is generated for display on a display screen to control the second user device.

Claims (45)

1. A method for controlling user devices, comprising:

monitoring brain activity of a user with a first user device;

detecting, using control circuitry, a drop in the user's attention level based on a change in the brain activity;

in response to detecting the drop, processing, using the control circuitry, event data from a second user device;

comparing, using the control circuitry, a time of the drop to a time in the processed event data to determine whether the drop is associated with the second user device; and

in response to determining that the drop is associated with the second user device, generating for display an option to control the second user device on a display screen.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display screen is associated with a third user device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user device includes a heads-up display.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating for display an option to control a third user device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the drop comprises:

detecting a differential in the brain activity; and

comparing the detected differential to a threshold differential to determine whether the detected differential corresponds to an interruption in the user's attention level.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

cross-referencing the event data in a database, wherein the database comprises associations with changes in brain activity; and

based on the associations, determining that one of the changes in brain activity is associated with the event data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the time of the drop to the event data comprises:

determining that an event occurred at the second user device based on the processed event data; and

determining that a first time associated with occurrence of the event corresponds to a second time associated with the detection of the drop.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the option to control the second user device based on the brain activity of the user after the drop is detected.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second user device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an input from the user to select the displayed option, wherein the input is of a detected facial feature.

11. A system for controlling user devices, comprising:

storage circuitry configured to store brain activity of a user that is monitored with a first user device; and

control circuitry configured to:

detect a drop in the user's attention level based on a change in the brain activity;

process event data from a second user device in response to the detecting the drop;

compare a time of the drop to a time in the processed event data to determine whether the drop is associated with the second user device; and

generate for display an option to control the second user device on the display screen.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the display screen is associated with a third user device.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first user device includes a heads-up display.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display an option to control a third user device.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the detecting the drop comprises:

detecting a differential in the brain activity; and

comparing the detected differential to a threshold differential to determine whether the detected differential corresponds to an interruption in the user's attention level.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

cross-reference the event data in a database, wherein the database comprises associations with changes in brain activity; and

based on the associations, determine that one of the changes in brain activity is associated with the event data.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to compare the time of the drop to the event data by being further configured to:

determine that an event occurred at the second user device based on the processed event data; and

determine that a first time associated with occurrence of the event corresponds to a second time associated with the detection of the drop.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

select the option to control the second user device based on the brain activity of the user after the drop is detected.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second user device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.

20. The system of claim 11 , further comprising user input interface circuitry configured to receive an input from the user to select the displayed option, wherein the input is of a detected facial feature.

Assignments (14)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 27, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ROVI PRODUCT CORPORATION (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ROVI GUIDES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 061786/0768 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 23, 2022
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 061746/0981 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2022
From: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
To: ROVI PRODUCT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061747/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035893/0241 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0245 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0270 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2014
From: BEATY, RICHARD M.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 032583/0715 →