Systems and methods for detecting a number of viewers

1. A method for detecting a number of viewers of a media device, the method comprising:

providing for display on the media device a media asset;

initiating a first radio frequency (RF) scan, while displaying the media asset, for nearby user devices within a detectable range;

determining a number of nearby user devices from first RF scan data;

determining a direction and distance from the media device to each of the user devices;

initiating a second radio frequency (RF) scan for nearby user devices within the detectable range;

determining whether any of the user devices are non-viewer devices or static devices from the second RF scan data; and

determining, based on the distance and direction of the user devices and the non-viewer or static devices, the number of viewers of the media device currently consuming the media asset.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing for display on the media device a second media asset;

initiating the second RF scan, while displaying the second media asset;

comparing first RF scan data and second RF scan data to determine a change in the number of viewers.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving, from each user device, an indication of identity;

assigning the indication of identity for each of the user devices to a viewer profile;

assigning the indication of identity for each non-viewer device or static device to a non-viewer profile.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining, based on the direction and distance, one or more user devices are associated with the same user; and

assigning the indication of identity of the devices associated with the same user to the corresponding viewer profile.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

assigning the consumed media asset to the viewer profile; and

recommending, based on at least one viewer profile, a third media asset to be consumed.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the recommending further comprises determining, based on first and second RF scan data, the presence of one or more viewers.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining a common interest between two or more viewers, based on previously consumed media content;

wherein the common interest is at least one of a genre, series history, cast members, favorite actors, most viewed media content, most watched media content, unwatched episodes of a series, or common viewing history; and

selecting the third media asset to be consumed based on the common interest.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scan is initiated in response to a trigger event.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the trigger event is at least one of:

an instruction to initiate the scan;

a scheduled time to initiate the scan;

a request for content;

a tag in a manifest of a media content item being consumed on the media device; or

the expiration of a timer, wherein the timer was initiated in response to a first RF scan ending.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting Bluetooth advertising packets of the user device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detectable range is based on at least one of:

a signal comprising an indication of size of a display communicatively coupled with the media device;

a user input; or

determining the average distance from the media device to one or more user devices based on a received signal strength indication of the scanning signal at the user device.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the direction and distance is based on:

an angle of arrival of a scanning signal at each of the user devices, and an angle of departure of the scanning signal at the media device; and

a received signal strength indication of the scanning signal at the user device.

13. A media device, comprising control circuitry, configured to execute a method to cause the media device to:

providing for display on the media device a media asset;

initiate a first radio frequency (RF) scan, while displaying the media asset, for nearby user devices within a detectable range;

determine a number of nearby user devices from first RF scan data;

determine a direction and distance from the media device to each of the user devices;

initiate a second radio frequency (RF) scan for nearby user devices within the detectable range;

determining whether any of the user devices are non-viewer devices or static devices from the second RF scan data; and

determine, based on the distance and direction of the user devices and the non-viewer or static devices, the number of viewers of the media device currently consuming the media asset.

14. The media device of claim 13 , further configured to:

providing for display on the media device a second media asset;

initiate the second RF scan, while displaying the second media asset;

compare first RF scan data and second RF scan data to determine a change in the number of viewers.

15. The media device of claim 14 , further configured to:

receive, from each user device, an indication of identity;

assign the indication of identity for each of the user devices to a viewer profile;

assign the indication of identity for each non-viewer device or static device to a non-viewer profile.

16. The media device of claim 15 , further configured to:

determine, based on the direction and distance, one or more user devices are associated with the same user; and

assign the indication of identity of the devices associated with the same user to the corresponding viewer profile.

17. The media device of claim 15 , further configured to:

assign the consumed media asset to the viewer profile; and

recommend based on at least one viewer profile, a third media asset to be consumed.

18. The media device of claim 17 , wherein the recommending further comprises determining, based on first and second RF scan data, the presence of one or more viewers.

19. The media device of claim 18 , further configured to:

determine a common interest between two or more viewers, based on previously consumed media content;

wherein the common interest is at least one of a genre, series history, cast members, favorite actors, most viewed media content, most watched media content, unwatched episodes of a series, or common viewing history; and

select the third media asset to be consumed based on the common interest.

20. A system for detecting a number of viewers of a media device, the system comprising:

a communication port;

a memory storing instructions; and

control circuitry communicably coupled to the memory and the communication port and configured to execute the instructions to:

provide for display on the media device a media asset;

initiating a first radio frequency (RF) scan, while displaying the media asset, for nearby user devices within a detectable range;

determining a number of nearby user devices from first RF scan data;

determining a direction and distance from the media device to each of the user devices;

initiating a second radio frequency (RF) scan for nearby user devices within the detectable range;

determining whether any of the user devices are non-viewer devices or static devices from the second RF scan data; and

determining, based on the distance and direction of the user devices and the non-viewer or static devices, the number of viewers of the media device currently consuming the media asset.