IP Library Granted Patent US 10,074,024
Granted Patent B2
US 10,074,024 · App. 15/670,791 · Granted Sep 11, 2018

Mental state analysis using blink rate for vehicles

Inventors: Rana el Kaliouby (Milton, MA); Abdelrahman N. Mahmoud (Somerville, MA); Seyedmohammad Mavadati (Watertown, MA); Panu James Turcot (Pacifica, CA)
Assignee: Affectiva, Inc.
G06K9/00845A61B5/0077A61B5/1103A61B5/165A61B5/18A61B5/6893B60K28/06B60R11/04G06F19/3418G06F19/3481G06K9/00281A61B5/02055G06Q30/0271G06T2207/30201G06T2207/30268G16H50/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,074,024
App. No.
15/670,791
Filed
Aug 7, 2017
Granted
Sep 11, 2018
Kind
B2
Examiner
WU, ZHEN Y
Art Unit
2685
USPC
340/439
Abstract

Mental state analysis is performed by obtaining video of an individual as the individual interacts with a computer, either by performing various operations, such as driving a vehicle or being a passenger in a vehicle, or by consuming a media presentation. The video is analyzed to determine eye-blink information on the individual, such as eye-blink rate or eye-blink duration. The blink-rate information is compensated for a context. Blinking for a group of people of which the individual is a part is evaluated. Mental states of the individual are inferred for the blink event based on the blink event, the blink duration of the individual, the difference in blinking between the individual and the remainder of the group, and the blink-rate information that was compensated. The blink-rate information and associated mental states can be used to modify an advertisement, a media presentation, a digital game, or vehicle controls.

Claims (55)

1. A computer-implemented method for mental state analysis comprising:

obtaining video of an individual with an image capture device;

analyzing, using one or more processors, the video to detect a blink event based on a classifier for a blink that was determined wherein the blink event is determined by identifying that eyes of the individual are closed for a frame in the video using temporal analysis;

evaluating, using the one or more processors, a blink duration of the individual for the blink event;

determining, using the one or more processors, blink-rate information using the blink event and one or more other blink events;

compensating, using the one or more processors, the blink-rate information for a context;

evaluating blinking for a group of people of which the individual is a part;

determining a difference in blinking between the individual and a remainder of the group; and

inferring, using the one or more processors, mental states of the individual for the blink event, wherein the mental states are based on the blink event, the blink duration of the individual, the difference in blinking between the individual and the remainder of the group, and the blink-rate information that was compensated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the video of the individual is obtained from within a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the individual is a passenger in the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the individual is a driver of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising manipulating the vehicle based on the mental states that were inferred.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the manipulating the vehicle includes recommending action.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the manipulating the vehicle includes initiating a locking out operation, recommending a break for an occupant, recommending a different route, recommending how far to drive, controlling the vehicle in response to traffic, adjusting seats, adjusting mirrors, adjusting climate control, adjusting lighting, adjusting music, generating audio stimuli, activating a braking system, or activating steering control.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the mental states that were inferred indicate one or more of attention, concentration, boredom, fatigue, or cognitive load for the individual.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the mental states that were inferred indicate drowsiness for the individual.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising locating a portion of a face with eyes.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising performing temporal analysis on the portion of the face.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the identifying that the eyes are closed is based on the performing temporal analysis on the portion of the face.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a difference in blinking by the individual and typical blinking for the individual.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the inferring mental states of the individual is further based on the difference in blinking by the individual and typical blinking for the individual.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing filters out single eye winks.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing filters out looking down by the individual.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating average blink duration.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising aggregating the blink-rate information for the individual with blink-rate information for a plurality of other people.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising correlating the blink-rate information with activities performed by the individual.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the blink-rate information is correlated to a stimulus that the individual is encountering.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the video is obtained from multiple sources.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of the multiple sources is a mobile device.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the video is collected sporadically.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the inferring includes evaluation of an impaired state.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting physiological data or accelerometer data with a biosensor.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising correlating the mental states, which were inferred, to a context for the individual.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the mental states, which were inferred, are used to modify a media presentation.

28. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for mental state analysis, the computer program product comprising code which causes one or more processors to perform operations of:

obtaining video of an individual with an image capture device;

analyzing, using one or more processors, the video to detect a blink event based on a classifier for a blink that was determined wherein the blink event is determined by identifying that eyes of the individual are closed for a frame in the video using temporal analysis;

evaluating, using the one or more processors, a blink duration of the individual for the blink event;

determining, using the one or more processors, blink-rate information using the blink event and one or more other blink events;

compensating, using the one or more processors, the blink-rate information for a context;

evaluating blinking for a group of people of which the individual is a part;

determining a difference in blinking between the individual and a remainder of the group; and

inferring, using the one or more processors, mental states of the individual for the blink event, wherein the mental states are based on the blink event, the blink duration of the individual, the difference in blinking between the individual and the remainder of the group, and the blink-rate information that was compensated.

29. A computer system for mental state analysis comprising:

a memory which stores instructions;

one or more processors attached to the memory wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions which are stored, are configured to:

obtain video of an individual with an image capture device;

analyze the video to detect a blink event based on a classifier for a blink that was determined wherein the blink event is determined by identifying that eyes of the individual are closed for a frame in the video using temporal analysis;

evaluate a blink duration of the individual for the blink event;

determine blink-rate information using the blink event and one or more other blink events;

compensate the blink-rate information for a context;

evaluate blinking for a group of people of which the individual is a part;

determine a difference in blinking between the individual and a remainder of the group; and

infer mental states of the individual for the blink event, wherein the mental states are based on the blink event, the blink duration of the individual, the difference in blinking between the individual and the remainder of the group, and the blink-rate information that was compensated.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2018
From: EL KALIOUBY, RANA; MAHMOUD, ABDELRAHMAN N; MAVADATI, SEYEDMOHAMMAD; TURCOT, PANU JAMES
To: AFFECTIVA, INC.
Reel/Frame 044691/0477 →
Continuity (46)
Continuation In Part 14214918 · Mar 15, 2014
Continuation In Part 13153745 · Jun 6, 2011
Continuation In Part 15670791
Continuation In Part 15666048 · Aug 1, 2017
Continuation In Part 15395750 · Dec 30, 2016
Continuation In Part 15262197 · Sep 12, 2016
Continuation In Part 14796419 · Jul 10, 2015
Continuation In Part 13153745 · Jun 6, 2011
Continuation In Part 14460915 · Aug 15, 2014
Continuation In Part 13153745
Provisional Application 62442325 · Jan 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62448448 · Jan 20, 2017
Provisional Application 62442291 · Jan 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62469591 · Mar 10, 2017
Provisional Application 62503485 · May 9, 2017
Provisional Application 62524606 · Jun 25, 2017
Provisional Application 61789038 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61793761 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61790461 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61798731 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61844478 · Jul 10, 2013
Provisional Application 61916190 · Dec 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61924252 · Jan 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61927481 · Jan 15, 2014
Provisional Application 61352166 · Jun 7, 2010
Provisional Application 61388002 · Sep 30, 2010
Provisional Application 61414451 · Nov 17, 2010
Provisional Application 61439913 · Feb 6, 2011
Provisional Application 61447089 · Feb 27, 2011
Provisional Application 61447464 · Feb 28, 2011
Provisional Application 61467209 · Mar 24, 2011
Provisional Application 62370421 · Aug 3, 2016
Provisional Application 62439928 · Dec 29, 2016
Provisional Application 62273896 · Dec 31, 2015
Provisional Application 62301558 · Feb 29, 2016
Provisional Application 62217872 · Sep 12, 2015
Provisional Application 62222518 · Sep 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62265937 · Dec 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62023800 · Jul 11, 2014
Provisional Application 62047508 · Sep 8, 2014
Provisional Application 62082579 · Nov 20, 2014
Provisional Application 62128974 · Mar 5, 2015
Provisional Application 61867007 · Aug 16, 2013
Provisional Application 61953878 · Mar 16, 2014
Provisional Application 61972314 · Mar 30, 2014
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