Methods and systems for controlling user devices
View Patent ↗Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that authorizes a user device to receive commands from selected users and does not authorize the user device to accept commands from non-selected users. Moreover, the media guidance application may authorize the user device to accept commands from a first user based on how other users interact with the first user. For example, if the actions of other users indicate that the first user is the leader of the group of users (or should otherwise be the one controlling the user device), the media guidance application may authorize the user device to accept commands from the first user based on the actions.
1. A method for controlling user devices, the method comprising:
identifying a first user and a second user within a viewing area of a user device;
detecting a first gesture performed by the first user;
cross-referencing the first gesture with a database listing gestures that indicate that user devices should accept commands to determine whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept a command from the second user, wherein the cross-referencing comprises:
retrieving a weight associated with the first gesture;
determining whether the weight associated with the first gesture exceeds a value;
in response to determining that the weight associated with the first gesture exceeds the value, determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user; and
in response to determining that the weight associated with the first gesture does not exceed the value, determining whether the first gesture satisfies another criterion that indicates the user device should accept the command from the second user; and
in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user, authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising not authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the first gesture does not indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising not authorizing the user device to accept a different command from the first user in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user further comprises determining whether the first gesture indicates that the first user is paying attention to the second user.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first gesture includes a gaze point of the first user being fixated on the second user.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a second gesture performed by the second user; and cross-referencing the second gesture with the database to determine whether the second gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting gestures that indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user from a number of users in the viewing area;
comparing the number to a threshold number; and
not authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the number does not exceed the threshold number.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the first gesture satisfies another criterion comprises:
determining a length of time of the first gesture; and
comparing the length of time of the first gesture to a threshold length of time.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a frequency of the first gesture;
comparing the frequency to a threshold frequency; and
not authorizing the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the frequency does not exceed the threshold frequency.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command is a voice command.
11. A system for controlling user devices, the system comprising:
storage circuitry configured to store a database listing gestures that indicate that user devices should accept commands; and
control circuitry configured to:
identify a first user and a second user within a viewing area of a user device;
detect a first gesture performed by the first user;
cross-reference the first gesture with the database to determine whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept a command from the second user, wherein the cross-referencing comprises:
retrieving a weight associated with the first gesture;
determining whether the weight associated with the first gesture exceeds a value;
in response to determining that the weight associated with the first gesture exceeds the value, determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user; and
in response to determining that the weight associated with the first gesture does not exceed the value, determining whether the first gesture satisfies another criterion that indicates the user device should accept the command from the second user; and
in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user, authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to not authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the first gesture does not indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to not authorize the user device to accept a different command from the first user in response to determining that the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein determining whether the first gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user further comprises determining whether the first gesture indicates that the first user is paying attention to the second user.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first gesture includes a gaze point of the first user being fixated on the second user.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
detect a second gesture performed by the second user; and
cross-reference the second gesture with the database to determine whether the second gesture indicates that the user device should accept the command from the second user.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
detect gestures that indicate that the user device should accept the command from the second user from a number of users in the viewing area;
compare the number to a threshold number; and
not authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the number does not exceed the threshold number.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a length of time of the first gesture; and
compare the length of time of the first gesture to a threshold length of time.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a frequency of the first gesture;
compare the frequency to a threshold frequency; and
not authorize the user device to accept the command from the second user in response to determining that the frequency does not exceed the threshold frequency.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the command is a voice command.