Granted Patent B2

US 12,381,755 · App. 18/612,851 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Inventors: Mark D. Thompson (Wayne, PA); Daniel P. Rowan (Wayne, PA); Jennifer L. Holloway (Wallingford, PA); Sara Dever (Boothwyn, PA)

Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc.

H04L12/2827G16Y40/30H04L12/2821H04N21/43615

Abstract

Claims (54)

1. A method comprising:

detecting that a first media consumption device is outputting a media asset;

detecting a presence of a first user and a second user in a vicinity of the first media consumption device;

determining, based on a sensor input, that the first user is asleep; and

based at least in part on (a) the determining that the first user is asleep and (b) the detecting the presence of the first user and the second user in the vicinity of the first media consumption device:

causing the output of the media asset to be transitioned to a second media consumption device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media asset comprises and audio component and a video component, and wherein causing the output of the media asset to be transitioned to a second media consumption device comprises:

causing the output of the audio component to be transitioned to the second media consumption device; and

causing the output of the video component to continue to be output by the first media consumption device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting that the first media consumption device comprises a first output capability; and

selecting the second media consumption device, from a plurality of media consumption devices, based on determining that the second media consumption device comprises a second output capability, different from the first output capability.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first output capability corresponds to an audio output capability of the first media consumption device and the second output capability corresponds to a second audio output capability of the second media consumption device.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining the first output capability based on a first device type of the first media consumption device; and

determining the second output capability based on a second device type of the first media consumption device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user is located in a first room and the second user is located in a second room.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of the first user and the second user in the vicinity of the first media consumption device comprises:

detecting a first portable device that is associated with the first user; and

detecting a second portable device that is associated with the second user.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor input is a movement sensor input, and wherein determining that the first user is asleep comprises detecting, based on the movement sensor input, that the first user has not moved within a threshold period of time.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first user is asleep further comprises determining that a light corresponding to a room of the first user is off.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, based at least in part on the determining that the first user is asleep:

determining that an audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device exceeds a threshold value;

causing the audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device to be lowered; and

detecting, subsequent to causing the audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device to be lowered, that the audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device still exceeds a threshold value; and

based on the detecting, selecting the second media consumption device based on an audio output capability of the second media consumption device.

11. A system comprising control circuitry configured to:

detect that a first media consumption device is outputting a media asset;

detect a presence of a first user and a second user in a vicinity of the first media consumption device;

determine, based on a sensor input, that the first user is asleep; and

based at least in part on (a) the determining that the first user is asleep and (b) the detecting the presence of the first user and the second user in the vicinity of the first media consumption device:

cause the output of the media asset to be transitioned to a second media consumption device.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the media asset comprises and audio component and a video component, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when causing the output of the media asset to be transitioned to a second media consumption device to:

cause the output of the audio component to be transitioned to the second media consumption device; and

cause the output of the video component to continue to be output by the first media consumption device.

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

detect that the first media consumption device comprises a first output capability; and

select the second media consumption device, from a plurality of media consumption devices, based on determining that the second media consumption device comprises a second output capability, different from the first output capability.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first output capability corresponds to an audio output capability of the first media consumption device and the second output capability corresponds to a second audio output capability of the second media consumption device.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine the first output capability based on a first device type of the first media consumption device; and

determine the second output capability based on a second device type of the first media consumption device.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first user is located in a first room and the second user is located in a second room.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when detecting the presence of the first user and the second user in the vicinity of the first media consumption device, to:

detect a first portable device that is associated with the first user; and

detect a second portable device that is associated with the second user.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor input is a movement sensor input, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when determining that the first user is asleep, to detect, based on the movement sensor input, that the first user has not moved within a threshold period of time.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when determining that the first user is asleep, to determine that a light corresponding to a room of the first user is off.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, based at least in part on the determining that the first user is asleep, to:

determine that an audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device exceeds a threshold value;

cause the audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device to be lowered; and

detect, subsequent to causing the audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device to be lowered, that the audio volume of the output of the first media asset on the first media consumption device still exceeds a threshold value; and

based on the detecting, select the second media consumption device based on an audio output capability of the second media consumption device.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (37)