IP Library Granted Patent US 12,386,878
Granted Patent B2
US 12,386,878 · App. 17/187,010 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Automatic enabling of accessibility features based on profiling and detection of disability

Inventors: Rohit Dhiman (Uttarakhand, IN); Srishti Sharma (Bihar, IN)
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc.
G06F16/436
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,386,878
App. No.
17/187,010
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure is generally directed to interactive media guidance applications. In particular, methods and systems are provided herein for automatic detection and identification of disabled users near media devices to provide accessible media content. Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, the present disclosure provides a method for allowing disabled users to be detected and identified by a media device automatically. The result is improved access to media content and an enhanced multimedia experience for people with disabilities and improved personalization when it comes to media systems. This can lead towards a hyper-personalized experience tailored towards all users, not just non-disabled users.

Claims (68)

1. A method for providing accessible media content to users with disabilities, the method comprising:

detecting, with a detection mechanism, a first user within a detection region relative to a media system;

identifying the first user;

determining that the first user has a disability using the detection mechanism;

determining one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability of the first user; and

operating a media guidance application to:

generate a first list of recommended media assets for the first user based on media assets consumed by other users;

filter the first list to generate a second list by selecting disability-appropriate media assets from the first list for which the one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability of the first user are available;

generate for audio or visual or audiovisual output a recommendation of at least one of the media assets in the second list to the first user;

receive from the first user a first selection of a first disability-appropriate media asset recommended to the first user; and

generate the selected first disability-appropriate media asset with the one or more media asset accessibility features automatically enabled for output to the first user;

receive a second selection of a disability-appropriate media asset recommended to the first user;

detect, with the detection mechanism, one or more additional users within the detection region relative to the media system;

determine one or more group preferences between the first user and the one or more additional users, the one or more group preferences comprising a preference not to activate certain accessibility features; and

generating the second selected disability-appropriate media asset for output to the first user without activating the certain accessibility features.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

defining the detection region for the media system having the detection mechanism, wherein the detection region is within a detectable range, and wherein the detection region is smaller than the detectable range; and

storing parameters of the detection region for the media system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability for the first user is based on a retrieved first user profile or a database of media asset accessibility features.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying at least one of the one or more additional users having a user profile.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising recommending alternative media assets based on the one or more media asset accessibility features or the one or more group preferences.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein recommending alternative media assets is based on previously consumed media assets when the one or more media asset accessibility features were active.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating the media system to receive a media asset via a communications path.

8. A system for providing accessible media content to users with disabilities, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

detect, with a detection mechanism, a first user within a detection region relative to a media system;

identify the first user;

determine that the first user has a disability using the detection mechanism;

determine one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability of the first user; and

operate a media guidance application to:

generate a first list of recommended media assets for the first user based on media assets consumed by other users;

filter the first list to generate a second list by selecting disability-appropriate media assets from the first list for which the one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability of the first user are available;

generate for audio or visual or audiovisual output a recommendation of at least one of the media assets in the second list to the first user;

receive from the first user a first selection of a first disability-appropriate media asset recommended to the first user;

generate the selected first disability-appropriate media asset with the one or more media asset accessibility features automatically enabled for output to the first user;

receive a second selection of a disability-appropriate media asset recommended to the first user;

detect, with the detection mechanism, one or more additional users within the detection region relative to the media system;

determine one or more group preferences between the first user and the one or more additional users, the one or more group preferences comprising a preference not to activate certain accessibility features; and

generate the second selected disability-appropriate media asset for output to the first user without activating the certain accessibility features.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

define the detection region for the media system having the detection mechanism, wherein the detection region is within a detectable range, and wherein the detection region is smaller than the detectable range; and

store parameters of the detection region for the media system.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability for the first user is based on a retrieved first user profile or a database of media asset accessibility features.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to

identify at least one of the one or more additional users having a user profile.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to recommend alternative media assets based on the one or more media asset accessibility features.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein recommending alternative media assets is based on previously consumed media assets when the one or more media asset accessibility features were active.

14. The media system of claim 8 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a media asset via a communications path.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising non-transitory computer-readable instructions encoded thereon for operating a media system to provide accessible media content to users with disabilities, the instructions comprising:

instructions for detecting, with a detection mechanism, a first user within a detection region relative to a media system;

instructions for identifying the first user;

instructions for determining that the first user has a disability using the detection mechanism;

instructions for determining one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability of the first user;

instructions for operating a media guidance application to:

generate a first list of recommended media assets for the first user based on media assets consumed by other users;

filter the first list to generate a second list by selecting disability-appropriate media assets from the first list for which the one or more media asset accessibility features associated with the disability of the first user are available;

generate for audio or visual or audiovisual output a recommendation of at least one of the media assets in the second list to the first user;

receive from the first user a first selection of a first disability-appropriate media asset recommended to the first user; and

generate the selected disability-appropriate media asset with the one or more media asset accessibility feature automatically enabled for output to the first user;

receive a second selection of a disability-appropriate media asset recommended to the first user;

detect, with the detection mechanism, one or more additional users within the detection region relative to the media system;

determine one or more group preferences between the first user and the one or more additional users, the one or more group preferences comprising a preference not to activate certain accessibility features; and

generate the second selected disability-appropriate media asset for output to the first user without activating the certain accessibility features.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

instructions for operating the media system to:

define the detection region for the media system having the detection mechanism, wherein the detection region is within a detectable range, and wherein the detection region is smaller than the detectable range; and

store parameters of the detection region for the media system.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for operating the media system to receive a media asset via a communications path.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 4, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069113/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2023
From: ADEIA GUIDES INC.; ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC; ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063707/0884 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2021
From: DHIMAN, ROHIT; SHARMA, SRISHTI
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 056739/0455 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220277036A1 · Sep 1, 2022
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