Systems and methods for adjusting display settings to reduce eye strain of multiple viewers

Methods and systems for reducing eye strain for multiple users are described herein. The method includes calculating, for each viewer, a metric representing a degree of eye strain of the viewer based on eye activity of the first viewer. The method further involves determining whether each metric is within a range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for each viewer. If a metric is not within the range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain, then, for each viewer, a subset of display settings that is known to cause the metric to be within the viewer's range is identified. The method further involves identifying an additional subset of display settings, where the additional subset is made up of display settings that are also in each viewer's subset. A display setting is selected from this additional subset, and the display is generated according to the selected display setting.

BACKGROUND

Eye strain can make viewing display screens difficult or painful for users. Users may experience eye strain for various reasons, such as poor vision, fatigue, or viewing a display screen for an extended period of time. Different users may experience different levels of eye strain based on their own vision, level of fatigue, or length of time viewing a display screen, among other factors. Current display screens and media guidance applications may allow users to adjust various aspects of a display, including brightness, contrast, or font size. However, users must manually adjust these settings, which can be time consuming. Moreover, it may be challenging to find a set of display settings that reduces eye strain for two or more users. For example, one user's eye strain may be improved by increasing the contrast, while the other user may have poorer vision and need to increase the font size to sufficiently reduce eye strain. Adjusting the display settings to improve eye strain for one user may not improve eye strain for the other. Alternatively, the users may attempt to manually adjust display settings to improve eye strain for both users, but this will be difficult and time consuming, especially if multiple settings must be adjusted.

SUMMARY

Methods and systems are provided herein for reducing eye strain for viewers of a display screen. When multiple users are viewing a display screen, they may experience different types and/or different levels of eye strain. To ensure a comfortable viewing experience for all users, the methods and systems provided herein determine a degree of eye strain for each user, and determine whether or not each user is experiencing an acceptable degree of eye strain. If at least one viewer is not experiencing an acceptable degree of eye strain, the methods and systems identify a display setting that will create an acceptable degree of eye strain for all viewers, and display content according to that display setting. The methods and systems described herein automatically detect that one or more users is experiencing an unacceptable degree of eye strain, determine a display setting or set of display settings that will be comfortable for all users, and adjust the display screen accordingly.

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided herein for reducing eye strain for multiple viewers. In some embodiments, a media guidance application generates content for display according to a first display setting, and the media guidance application detects that a first viewer and a second viewer are consuming the content from a device that is displaying the content. For example, the media guidance application may be displaying a program listings display. The media guidance application may detect that two users, a mother and son, are viewing the program listings display from a television that is displaying the program listings display.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates, for the first viewer, based on eye activity of the first viewer, a first metric. The first metric represents a degree of eye strain of the first viewer. For example, the media guidance application may calculate, for the mother, a first metric representing the mother's eye strain based on the mother's eye activity. For example, the mother may be near-sighted and is straining to view the content by, for example, squinting her eyes; the first metric will then represent that the mother's eyes are straining to see the content based on her eye activity.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates the first metric by measuring at least one of an amount of blinking of the first viewer, a pupil diameter of the first viewer, an amount of squinting of the first viewer, an eye movement velocity of the first viewer, and a speed of pupil accommodation of the first viewer. The media guidance application may further store the amount of blinking of the first viewer, the pupil diameter of the first viewer, the amount of squinting of the first viewer, the eye movement velocity of the first viewer, and the speed of pupil accommodation of the first viewer. For example, during a first minute-long time period, the media guidance application may measure that the mother is squinting during 40% of the minute. The media guidance application may store this amount of squinting in memory.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates the first metric by measuring a first eye strain factor of the first viewer during a first time period, wherein the first eye strain factor represents a first symptom of eye strain, and measuring a second eye strain factor of the first viewer during the first time period, wherein the second eye strain factor represents a second symptom of eye strain. The media guidance application may calculate the first metric based on the first eye strain factor and the second eye strain factor. For example, the first eye strain factor may be the number of times that the mother blinks during the first time period (e.g., 15 times over one minute), and the second eye strain factor may be the level of squinting (e.g., squinting during 40% of the minute). The media guidance application may then calculate the first metric for the mother based on the number of times that the viewer blinks (i.e., a blinking factor) and the amount of squinting (i.e., a squinting factor). For example, the media guidance application may first scale both the blinking factor and the squinting factor based on the severity of the symptoms, and then the media guidance application may average the two factors to calculate the first metric. For example, squinting during 40% of the minute may be 8 out of 10 on a scale of squinting severity, because it represents a fairly high amount of squinting. Blinking 15 times during one minute may be 0 out of 10 on a scale of blinking severity, because blinking 15 times over one minute is a normal amount of blinking. The first metric, which is the average of these two factors, is 4 out of 10, which may represent that the mother is straining her eyes a moderate amount.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates, for the second viewer, based on eye activity of the second viewer, a second metric, wherein the second metric represents a degree of eye strain of the second viewer. The second metric may be calculated similar to how the first metric is calculated. For example, the media guidance application may calculate, for the son, a second metric representing the son's eye strain based on the son's eye activity. For example, the son may have been looking at a display screen continuously for many hours, and has eye strain due to fatigue. The second metric will then represent that the son's eyes are straining to see the content based on his eye activity. For example, the media guidance application may detect that the son's eyes are minimally squinting, and the media guidance application may detect that the son's eyes are blinking more than a normal amount, which is another symptom of eye strain. As an example, the son's squinting factor may be 2 out of 10, and his blinking factor may be 6 out of 10. The second metric may be the average of these two factors, which is 3 out of 10; this may represent that the son is experiencing some eye strain, but less than his mother.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application determines whether the first metric is within a first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer and whether the second metric is within a second range indicating acceptable eye strain for the second viewer. For example, if the media guidance application calculates the first and second metric on a scale from one to ten, the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother may be from one to three, and the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the son may be from zero to one. The media guidance application may determine that the first metric, representing the mother's degree of eye strain, is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother, because four is outside of the range of one to three. The media guidance application may further determine that the second metric, representing the son's degree of eye strain, is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the son, because three is outside of the range of zero to one.

In some embodiments, to determine whether the first metric is within the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, the media guidance application retrieves a plurality of values that indicate the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, compares the first metric with each of the plurality of values that indicate the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, and determines, based on the comparing, that the first metric is not within the first range. For example, to determine whether the first metric, representing the mother's degree of eye strain, is within the first range, the media guidance application first retrieves a plurality of values, e.g., 1 and 3, which indicate the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother. The media guidance application may then compare the first metric (which was calculated to be 4) to the first of the two values (1), and determine that 4 is not less than 1, which represents the lower end of the first range. The media guidance application may then compare the first metric (4) to the second of the two values (3), and determine that 4 is greater than 3, which represents the upper end of the first range. Because the first metric (4) is greater than the upper end of the range (3), the media guidance application determines that the first metric is not within the first range.

In some embodiments, in response to determining that the first metric is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, or that the second metric is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the second viewer, the media guidance application identifies, for the first viewer, a first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range and, for the second viewer, a second subset of display settings that are known to cause the second metric to be within the second range. For example, in response to determining that the first metric representing the mother's degree of eye strain is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother, and/or that the second metric representing the son's degree of eye strain is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the son, the media guidance application may determine two subsets of display settings. The first subset of display settings may be known to cause the first metric, representing the mother's degree of eye strain, to be within the first range (e.g., between 1 and 3). For example, the first subset of display settings may include a set of display settings with a larger font, so that the mother no longer must squint to see the content. The second subset of display settings may be known to cause the second metric, representing the son's degree of eye strain, to be within the second range (e.g., between 0 and 1). For example, the second subset of display settings may include a set of display settings with a lower brightness level, to reduce the eye fatigue experienced by the son.

In some embodiments, to identify the first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range, the media guidance application detects that the first viewer started consuming content from the device with a given display setting; calculates, for the first viewer, based on the eye activity of the first viewer, a starting metric that measures a degree of eye strain of the first viewer; calculates a plurality of additional metrics while the first viewer is consuming content from the device; and, in response to determining that each metric of the plurality of additional metrics is within the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, stores the given display setting as a display setting in the subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range. For example, the media guidance may detect that the mother started consuming content from the television with a first font size. The media guidance application may calculate for the mother, based on her eye activity (e.g., blinking frequency and squinting frequency), a starting metric of 2 that measures the mother's eye strain. The media guidance application may continue to calculate additional metrics while the mother continues watching television, and may determine that each of the additional metrics is within the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother. The media guidance application may store the font size as a display setting in the subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric representing the mother's degree of eye strain to be within the first range.

In some embodiments, to identify the first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range, the media guidance application transmits a query comprising an identifier of the first viewer to a database, wherein the database associates the identifier of the first viewer to a plurality of settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range. The media guidance application receives from the database one or more settings of the plurality of settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range, and stores the one or more settings as the first subset of display settings. For example, the media guidance application may transmit a query that includes an identifier of the mother (e.g., a user ID used by the mother) to a database. The database associates the user ID of the mother to a plurality of settings (e.g., settings for font sizes that the mother can read, and settings for brightness that are acceptable to the mother) that are known to cause the first metric representing the mother's degree of eye strain to be within the first range representing an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother. The media guidance application may receive from the database one or more settings of the plurality of settings (e.g., two font sizes and three brightness levels) and store these received settings as the first subset of display settings.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application identifies a third subset of display settings wherein the third subset of display settings comprises display settings that are in both the first subset and the second subset. For example, if the media guidance application has received subsets of display settings describing font sizes and brightness levels that cause the first and second metrics to be within the first and second ranges, respectively, the media guidance application may determine a third subset of display settings that includes the overlapping font sizes and brightness levels from the first and second subsets. For example, if the mother's subset of display settings includes font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1, 2, and 3, and the son's subset of display settings includes font sizes 14, 18, 20, and 24, and brightness levels 1 and 2, the third subset of display settings may include font sizes 20 and 24, and brightness levels 1 and 2.

In some embodiments, to identify the third subset of display settings, the media guidance application retrieves, from a database, the first subset of display settings and the second subset of display settings, compares each display setting in the first subset of display settings to each display setting in the second subset of display settings, and store each matching display setting in the third subset of display settings. For example, the media guidance application may retrieve from a database the first subset of display settings (e.g., font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1, 2, and 3) and the second subset of display settings (font sizes 14, 18, 20, and 24, and brightness levels 1 and 2). The media guidance application may compare each display setting in the first subset of display settings to the corresponding display settings in the second subset of display settings. For example, the media guidance application may compare the font sizes 20 and 24 to font sizes 14, 18, 20, and 24, and determine that font sizes 20 and 24 are within both the first subset and second subset. The media guidance application may similarly compare the brightness levels in the first subset and second subset and determine that brightness levels 1 and 2 are on both subsets. The media guidance application may then store the matching settings (font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1 and 2) in the third subset of display settings.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application selects a second display setting that is within the third subset. For example, if the third subset of display settings includes font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1 and 2, the media guidance application may select a display setting with font size 20 and brightness 2. In some embodiments, the media guidance application selects a setting that has been selected in the past and is known to cause the first viewer's eye strain and the second viewer's eye strain to be within the ranges indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer and the second viewer. For example, the media guidance application may determine that the display setting with font size 20 and brightness level 2 has been selected in the past when the mother and son were viewing the television, and that this display setting caused the mother's eye strain and the son's eye strain to be within the ranges indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother and the son.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application generates for display the content according to the second display setting. For example, the media guidance application may generate the program listings display with a font size of 20 and a brightness level of 2 for display.

In some embodiments, in response to determining that generating for display the content according to the second display setting caused the first viewer's eye strain to be within the first range and the second viewer's eye strain to be within the second range, the media guidance application associates the second settings with the combination of the first viewer and the second viewer. For example, in response to determining that generating the program listings display with a font size of 20 and a brightness level of 2 caused the mother's and the son's eye strain to return to the first and second ranges indicating acceptable degrees of eye strain for the mother and son, respectively, the media guidance application associates this font size and brightness level with the viewing combination of the mother and the son.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application detects that the first viewer started consuming content from the device and calculates, based on the eye activity of the first viewer, a historical metric that represents an acceptable degree of eye strain of the first viewer. The media guidance application further determines the first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer based on the historical metric. For example, the media guidance application may detect that the mother started watching the television and calculates, based on the mother's eye activity, a historical metric that represents an acceptable degree of eye strain for the mother based on the historical metric. For example, the media guidance application may determine that historically, an acceptable degree of eye strain for the mother may be an eye strain metric of 3, based on previous eye strain metrics measured for the mother. The media guidance application may determine the first range of 1 to 3 indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the mother based on the historical metric of 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods and systems are provided herein for reducing eye strain for multiple viewers. When multiple users are viewing a display screen, they may experience different types and/or different levels of eye strain. As used herein, “eye strain” refers to any pain or fatigue of the eyes that may cause a viewer discomfort or may make it difficult for a user to see or focus. To ensure a comfortable viewing experience for all users, the methods and systems provided herein determine a degree of eye strain for each user, and determine whether or not each user is experiencing an acceptable degree of eye strain. If at least one viewer is not experiencing an acceptable degree of eye strain, the methods and systems identify a display setting that will create an acceptable degree of eye strain for all viewers, and display content according to that display setting. The methods and systems described herein automatically detect that one or more users is experiencing an unacceptable degree of eye strain, determine a display setting or set of display settings that will be comfortable for all users, and adjust the display screen accordingly.

In some embodiments, a media guidance application detects that a first viewer and a second viewer are consuming content from a device. The content is generated for display according to a first display setting. For example, two viewers may be viewing a program listings display on a television, and the program listings may be displayed with a first font size (e.g., font size 16). The media guidance application calculates, for the first viewer, a first metric representing a degree of eye strain of the first viewer based on eye activity of the first viewer. The media guidance application also calculates, for the second viewer, a second metric representing a degree of eye strain of the second viewer based on eye activity of the second viewer. For example, the media guidance application may calculate for both viewers a metric representing each viewer's eye strain based on how much or how often each viewer's eyes are squinting. The media guidance application determines whether the first metric is within a first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer, and whether the second metric is within a second range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the second viewer. For example, the media guidance application may compare the two metrics to two respective ranges describing an acceptable amount of squinting for each viewer.

In response to determining that either the first metric is not within the first range, or that the second metric is not within the second range, the media guidance application identifies, for the first viewer, a first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range. The media guidance application also identifies, for the second viewer, a second subset of display settings that are known to cause the second metric to be within the second range. For example, if the media guidance application determines that the metric representing the amount that the first viewer is squinting (e.g., the first viewer is squinting during 30% of a given time period) is not within a first range describing an acceptable amount of squinting for the first viewer (e.g., squinting 0-10% of the time), the media guidance application may identify two subsets of display settings, such as font sizes. The first subset of font sizes (e.g., sizes 20 to 30) may cause the metric representing the amount that the first viewer is squinting to be within the first range describing an acceptable amount of squinting for the first viewer. The second subset of display settings (e.g., sizes 14 to 30) may cause the metric representing the amount that the second viewer is squinting to be within the second range describing an acceptable amount of squinting for the second viewer.

The media guidance application then identifies a third subset of display settings that includes display settings that are in both the first subset and the second subset. For example, given that the first subset includes font sizes 20 to 30 and the second subset includes font sizes 14 to 30, the media guidance application may identify font sizes 20 to 24, which includes font sizes in both the first and second subsets, as the third subset. The media guidance application selects a second display setting that is within the third subset and generates for display the content according to the second display setting. For example, if the third subset includes font sizes 20 to 24, the media guidance application may select the font size 22, which is within the third subset. Further, the media guidance application may generate for display the program listings display with font size 22.

FIG. 1shows an illustrative example of a display generated by a media guidance application according to a first display setting, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 1shows a display100generated by a media guidance application. The display includes a grid of program listings102that are arranged by time and channel. The program listing104for “The Big Bang Theory” is highlighted a highlight region. The text106of this highlight region is displayed with a first font size. The font size of text106may be determined from a default setting, a user preference, a user selection, an analysis of eye strain of one or more viewers, or by any other means. The other program listings102are displayed at the same font size. The display100further includes time and date region108and information region110for displaying additional information related to the highlighted program listing104. The display100also includes video region112, which may display media, such as an image or a video. Additional elements of display100, and additional and alternative features that may be included in display100, are described further with respect toFIG. 4.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application generates content, such as display100, for display according to a first display setting. For example, the text106and the text of regions108and110are displayed with a font size, which is a display setting. The font size may vary between different regions or within any region, or it may be constant across the display. Additional or alternative display settings may include contrast, brightness, resolution, zoom, and color settings. The color or color scheme settings may include colors for text, lines, background regions, graphics, images, or videos. For example, the setting may specify the color(s) for text and the background of the text, or specify different colors to use based on the background color. Furthermore, the display setting may include the RBG (red-green-blue) balance, color temperature, or other settings for adjusting the color scheme or the way that colors are displayed. In some embodiments, the display setting may set or adjust coloration of the display to improve visibility for color blind viewers. The media guidance application may generate content according to one or more of these display settings or any other display settings.

The display settings may apply to any type of display generated by a media guidance application. For example, the media guidance application may provide a variety of different user interface displays for providing information to and/or receiving input from one or more viewers. The media guidance application may also display various types of media, as described further with respect toFIGS. 4-7.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application detects that a first viewer and a second viewer are consuming the content from a device that is displaying the content. For example, the media guidance application may be displaying the program listings display100. The media guidance application may detect that two viewers, such as a mother and son, are viewing the program listings display from a television that is displaying the program listings display. The media guidance may detect that the first and second viewer are consuming the content in several ways. For example, the media guidance application may receive proximity data from devices associated with the viewers (e.g., smart phones or smart watches) identifying that the viewers are in the proximity of the display100. As another example, the viewers may provide identifying information to the media guidance application by, e.g., signing in or selecting a user profile.

As described with respect toFIG. 4, the media guidance application may receive data from a detection module. As shown inFIG. 3, this detection module may include a camera. The media guidance may receive an identification of the viewers from the detection module, or the media guidance application may analyze data received from the detection module (e.g., an image or video captured by the camera) to identify the viewers. Although for simplicity the methods and systems are generally described with reference to two viewers, it should be understood that the media guidance application can detect more than two viewers and can adjust the display settings to alleviate eye strain for more than two viewers.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates, for the first viewer, based on eye activity of the first viewer, a first metric. The first metric represents a degree of eye strain of the first viewer. For example, the media guidance application may calculate, for the mother, a first metric representing the mother's eye strain based on the mother's eye activity. The media guidance application may use one or more different types of eye activity for identifying eye strain. The eye activity may include, for example, squinting, blinking, pupil diameter, eye movement velocity, and/or speed of pupil accommodation. For example, the mother may be near-sighted and is straining to view the content by, for example, squinting her eyes; the first metric will then represent that the mother's eyes are straining to see the content based on her eye activity. As another example, the son may have been viewing a display screen for a long period of time and is blinking less as a result. Pupil diameter, eye movement velocity, and speed of pupil accommodation are found to change as a result of fatigue or visual fatigue. In a particular environmental condition, a person whose eyes are fatigued will have a smaller pupil diameter than if that person were not fatigued. Eye movement velocity, such as the speed of saccades (which are quick, simultaneous movement of the eyes while scanning), can decrease as a result of visual fatigue. Pupil accommodation is a reflex action of the pupil in which it contracts or dilates based on lighting conditions or change of focus; a slower accommodation speed can indicate visual fatigue. Any other type of eye activity that is associated with eye strain and/or eye fatigue can be monitored and used to calculate the first metric.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates the first metric by measuring at least one of an amount of blinking of the first viewer, a pupil diameter of the first viewer, an amount of squinting of the first viewer, an eye movement velocity of the first viewer, and a speed of pupil accommodation of the first viewer. The media guidance application may further store the at least one of the amount of blinking of the first viewer, the pupil diameter of the first viewer, the amount of squinting of the first viewer, the eye movement velocity of the first viewer, and the speed of pupil accommodation of the first viewer. For example, during a first minute-long time period, the media guidance application may measure that the mother is squinting during 40% of the minute. The media guidance application may store this amount of squinting in memory. The media guidance application may then access this stored amount of blinking to calculate the first metric. The media guidance application may measure and store multiple factors (e.g., an amount of blinking and an amount of squinting) and calculate the first metric based on the multiple stored factors.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates the first metric by measuring a first eye strain factor of the first viewer during a first time period, wherein the first eye strain factor represents a first symptom of eye strain, and measuring a second eye strain factor of the first viewer during the first time period, wherein the second eye strain factor represents a second symptom of eye strain. The media guidance application may calculate the first metric based on the first eye strain factor and the second eye strain factor. For example, the first eye strain factor may be the number of times that the mother blinks during the first time period (e.g., 15 times over one minute), and the second eye strain factor may be the level of squinting (e.g., squinting during 40% of the minute). The media guidance application may then calculate the first metric for the mother based on the number of times that the user blinks (i.e., a blinking factor) and the amount of squinting (i.e., a squinting factor). For example, the media guidance application may first scale both the blinking factor and the squinting factor based on the severity of the symptoms, and then the media guidance application may average the two factors to calculate the first metric. For example, squinting during 40% of the minute may be 8 out of 10 on a scale of squinting severity, because it represents a fairly high amount of squinting. Blinking 15 times during one minute may be 0 out of 10 on a scale of blinking severity, because blinking 15 times over one minute is a normal amount of blinking. The first metric, which is the average of these two factors, is 4 out of 10, which may represent that the mother is straining her eyes a moderate amount.

The media guidance application may calculate the first metric according to any algorithm, equation, or set of equations. For example, the media guidance application may receive data describing eye activity detected by, for example, the detection module shown inFIG. 3. The media guidance may analyze the data describing the eye activity to measure multiple eye strain factors based on the eye activity. The media guidance application may optionally scale a measurement to calculate an eye strain factor. The media guidance application may numerically combine the eye strain factors by calculating, e.g., an average of the eye strain factors, a weighted average of the eye strain factors, or some other function or formula that receives the eye strain factors as inputs and calculates the first metric. Alternatively, the media guidance application may select an eye strain factors, such as the highest scaled eye strain factor, and set the first metric equal to the selected eye strain factor.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application calculates, for the second viewer, based on eye activity of the second viewer, a second metric, wherein the second metric represents a degree of eye strain of the second viewer. The second metric may be calculated similar to how the first metric is calculated, as discussed above. For example, the media guidance application may calculate, for the son, a second metric representing the son's eye strain based on the son's eye activity. For example, the son may have been looking at a display screen continuously for many hours, and has eye strain due to fatigue. The second metric will then represent that the son's eyes are straining to see the content based on his eye activity. For example, the media guidance application may detect that the son's eyes are minimally squinting, and the media guidance application may detect that the son's eyes are blinking more than a normal amount, which is another symptom of eye strain. As an example, the son's squinting factor may be 2 out of 10, and his blinking factor may be 6 out of 10. The second metric may be the average of these two factors, which is 3 out of 10; this may represent that the son is experiencing some eye strain, but less than his mother, whose first metric was 4 out of 10.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application determines whether the first metric is within a first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer and whether the second metric is within a second range indicating acceptable eye strain for the second viewer. For example, if the media guidance application calculates the first and second metric on a scale from one to ten, the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother may be from one to three, and the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the son may be from zero to one. The media guidance application may determine that the first metric, representing the mother's degree of eye strain, is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother, because four is outside of the range of one to three. The media guidance application may further determine that the second metric, representing the son's degree of eye strain, is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the son, because three is outside of the range of zero to one.

The media guidance application may use different ranges for different viewers because some viewers, e.g., those with poorer eyesight or those who routinely experience eye fatigue, may routinely experience eye strain that cannot be adequately corrected by adjusting the display settings, or would require extreme adjustments that would not be suitable for all viewers. The range for a viewer can vary over time based on changes in the viewer's eye activity and eye strain, and/or changes in the viewer's preferences. Alternatively, the media guidance application may use the same range for all viewers, to ensure that all viewers are comfortable.

In some embodiments, to determine whether the first metric is within the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, the media guidance application retrieves a plurality of values that indicate the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, compares the first metric with each of the plurality of values that indicate the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, and determines, based on the comparing, that the first metric is not within the first range. These values may be stored in a database that associates an identifier of each viewer with a range, and the media guidance application may look up the range for a particular viewer based on the identifier of that viewer. For example, to determine whether the first metric, representing the mother's degree of eye strain, is within the first range, the media guidance application first retrieves from a database a plurality of values, e.g., 1 and 3, which indicate the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother. The media guidance application may then compare the first metric (which was calculated to be 4) to the first of the two values (1), and determine that 4 is not less than 1, which represents the lower end of the first range. The media guidance application may then compare the first metric (4) to the second of the two values (3), and determine that 4 is greater than 3, which represents the upper end of the first range. Because the first metric (4) is greater than the upper end of the range (3), the media guidance application determines that the first metric is not within the first range.

In some embodiments, in response to determining that the first metric is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, or that the second metric is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the second viewer, the media guidance application identifies, for the first viewer, a first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range and, for the second viewer, a second subset of display settings that are known to cause the second metric to be within the second range. For example, in response to determining that the first metric representing the mother's degree of eye strain is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother, and/or that the second metric representing the son's degree of eye strain is not within the range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the son, the media guidance application may determine two subsets of display settings. The first subset of display settings may be known to cause the first metric, representing the mother's degree of eye strain, to be within the first range (e.g., between 1 and 3). For example, the first subset of display settings may include a set of display settings with a larger font, so that the mother no longer must squint to see the content. The second subset of display settings may be known to cause the second metric, representing the son's degree of eye strain, to be within the second range (e.g., between 0 and 1). For example, the second subset of display settings may include a set of display settings with a lower brightness level, to reduce the eye fatigue experienced by the son.

The subsets of display settings may include one or more of any of the types of display settings described above with respect toFIG. 1. The media guidance application may select a subset of display settings based on the eye activity detected for a viewer. For example, if the media guidance application detects that the mother is squinting, this may indicate that the current display setting for the font size is too small, so the media guidance application may identify a subset of display settings with a larger font size. If each viewer is experiencing a different type of eye strain, and changing different settings would alleviate the strain for different viewers, the media guidance application may provide subsets of display settings for each viewer relating to all of identified display settings that could alleviate the strain for the viewers. For example, if the mother is squinting and the son is experiencing fatigue, and the squinting can be alleviated by changing the font size and the fatigue can be alleviated by changing the brightness, then both the first and second subsets of display settings may include both font size and brightness level.

In some embodiments, to identify the first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range, the media guidance application detects that the first viewer started consuming content from the device with a given display setting; calculates, for the first viewer, based on the eye activity of the first viewer, a starting metric that measures a degree of eye strain of the first viewer; calculates a plurality of additional metrics while the first viewer is consuming content from the device; and, in response to determining that each metric of the plurality of additional metrics is within the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer, stores the given display setting as a display setting in the subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range. For example, the media guidance may detect that the mother started consuming content from the television with a first font size. The media guidance application may calculate for the mother, based on her eye activity (e.g., blinking frequency and squinting frequency), a starting metric of 2 that measures the mother's eye strain. The media guidance application may continue to calculate additional metrics while the mother continues watching television, and may determine that each of the additional metrics is within the first range indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother. The media guidance application may store the font size as a display setting in the subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric representing the mother's degree of eye strain to be within the first range. This way, when the media guidance application determines that the mother's eye strain metric is not within the first range, the media guidance application may identify a subset of display settings that includes the font size that was previously stored as causing an acceptable amount of eye strain.

In some embodiments, to identify the first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range, the media guidance application transmits a query comprising an identifier of the first viewer to a database, wherein the database associates the identifier of the first viewer to a plurality of settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range. The media guidance application receives from the database one or more settings of the plurality of settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range, and stores the one or more settings as the first subset of display settings. For example, the media guidance application may transmit a query that includes an identifier of the mother (e.g., a user ID used by the mother) to a database. The database associates the user ID of the mother to a plurality of settings (e.g., settings for font sizes that the mother can read, and settings for brightness that are acceptable to the mother) that are known to cause the first metric representing the mother's degree of eye strain to be within the first range representing an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother. The media guidance application may receive from the database one or more settings of the plurality of settings (e.g., two font sizes and three brightness levels) and store these received settings as the first subset of display settings. This database may be the same database that stores the first and the second range, or it may be a separate database.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application identifies a third subset of display settings wherein the third subset of display settings comprises display settings that are in both the first subset and the second subset. For example, if the media guidance application has received subsets of display settings describing font sizes and brightness levels that cause the first and second metrics to be within the first and second ranges, respectively, the media guidance application may determine a third subset of display settings that includes the overlapping font sizes and brightness levels from the first and second subsets. For example, if the mother's subset of display settings includes font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1, 2, and 3, and the son's subset of display settings includes font sizes 14, 18, 20, and 24, and brightness levels 1 and 2, the third subset of display settings may include font sizes 20 and 24, and brightness levels 1 and 2.

The third subset may include all display settings that are included in the first subset and the second subset. Alternatively, the third subset may include a portion of the display settings that are included in the first and the second subset. For example, the third subset may include the portion of display settings that are most similar to the current display settings, or the third subset may remove the display settings that are at the edge of a range of display settings that are included in the first and second subset. For example, if the first subset includes font sizes 6 to 30, and the second subset includes font sizes 10 to 24, the overlapping subset includes font sizes 10 to 24. The third subset may include all font sizes from 10 to 24, or it may include font sizes 12 through 22 (removing the edges), font sizes 12 to 24 (removing the smallest font size), or any other subset of font sizes 10 to 24. The third set may include a single display setting, or a single set of different types of display settings (e.g., one font size and one brightness), or a mix of single display settings and ranges (e.g., one font size and three brightness levels).

In some embodiments, to identify the third subset of display settings, the media guidance application retrieves, from a database, the first subset of display settings and the second subset of display settings. This may be the same database that associates the identifier of the first viewer to a plurality of settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range, as described above. The media guidance application then compares each display setting in the first subset of display settings to each display setting in the second subset of display settings, and store each matching display setting in the third subset of display settings. For example, the media guidance application may retrieve from a database the first subset of display settings (e.g., font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1, 2, and 3) and the second subset of display settings (e.g., font sizes 14, 18, 20, and 24, and brightness levels 1 and 2). The media guidance application may compare each display setting in the first subset of display settings to the corresponding display settings in the second subset of display settings. For example, the media guidance application may compare the font sizes 20 and 24 to font sizes 14, 18, 20, and 24, and determine that font sizes 20 and 24 are within both the first subset and second subset. The media guidance application may similarly compare the brightness levels in the first subset and second subset and determine that brightness levels 1 and 2 are on both subsets. The media guidance application may then store the matching settings (e.g., font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1 and 2) in the third subset of display settings.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application selects a second display setting that is within the third subset. For example, if the third subset of display settings includes font sizes 20 and 24 and brightness levels 1 and 2, the media guidance application may select a display setting with font size 20 and brightness 2. In some embodiments, the media guidance application selects a setting that has been selected in the past and is known to cause the first viewer's eye strain and the second viewer's eye strain to be within the ranges indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the first viewer and the second viewer. For example, the media guidance application may determine that the display setting with font size 20 and brightness level 2 has been selected in the past when the mother and son were viewing the television, and that this display setting caused the mother's eye strain and the son's eye strain to be within the ranges indicating an acceptable amount of eye strain for the mother and the son.

The media guidance application may select the display setting that is most similar to the current display setting. This may provide the most gradual change in the display100to the viewers, and would allow the media guidance application to continue changing the display setting as required, if one or more viewers' eyes are still straining. The media guidance application may alternatively select a midpoint within the range. Alternatively, the media guidance application may select a display setting that is dissimilar to the current display setting, to provide the greatest alleviation of eye strain.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application generates for display the content according to the second display setting. For example, the media guidance application may generate the program listings display with a font size of 20 and a brightness level of 2 for display.

FIG. 2shows an illustrative example of a display200generated by a media guidance application according to a second display setting, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2, the text206in the grid of program listings202has a larger font than the text106in the grid of program listings102inFIG. 1. The font sizes for the text in time and date region208and information region210are also larger than the corresponding regions108and110inFIG. 1. This indicates that the media guidance application has generated the display200according to a display setting that sets the font size larger than the first display setting, used for generating display100. In addition, the image in the video region212is larger than the image in the video region112, indicating that the media guidance application has zoomed in on this image by changing the zoom display setting for this region212. The media guidance application may alternatively or additionally adjust other display settings, such as brightness, contrast, and color settings, according to the second display setting.

After generating the program listings display200, the media guidance application may continue calculating the eye strain metrics for the viewers in order to determine whether the metrics are within the ranges of acceptable degrees of eye strain for the viewers. If the media guidance application determines that one or more metrics are not within a range of acceptable degree or eye strain for a viewer, the media guidance application may again adjust the display settings, as described above.

In some embodiments, in response to determining that generating for display the content according to the second display setting caused the first viewer's eye strain to be within the first range and the second viewer's eye strain to be within the second range, the media guidance application associates the second settings with the combination of the first viewer and the second viewer. For example, in response to determining that generating the program listings display with a font size of 20 and a brightness level of 2 caused the mother's and the son's eye strain to return to the first and second ranges indicating acceptable degrees of eye strain for the mother and son, respectively, the media guidance application associates this font size and brightness level with the viewing combination of the mother and the son. The media guidance application may store this setting in a database and associate it with an identifier of both the mother and the son, indicating that it was acceptable for that pair of viewers. Alternatively, the media guidance application may store one entry in the database linking the mother to the setting, and a second entry in the database linking the setting to the son. If the media guidance application detects that the mother and the son are consuming content at a later time, the media guidance application may automatically adjust the display setting according to the setting stored in the database.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application detects that the first viewer started consuming content from the device and calculates, based on the eye activity of the first viewer, a historical metric that represents an acceptable degree of eye strain of the first viewer. The media guidance application further determines the first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer based on the historical metric. For example, the media guidance application may detect that the mother started watching the television and calculates, based on the mother's eye activity, a historical metric that represents an acceptable degree of eye strain for the mother based on the historical metric. For example, the media guidance application may determine that historically, an acceptable degree of eye strain for the mother may be an eye strain metric of 3, based on previous eye strain metrics measured for the mother. The media guidance application may determine the first range of 1 to 3 indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the mother based on the historical metric of 3. A historical metric may be based on the eye strain metrics that have been previously been measured for a viewer, e.g., the most common metrics measured for that viewer. Alternatively or additionally, the historical metric may be based on an eye strain metric that a viewer has indicated represents and acceptable degree of eye strain for that viewer.

FIG. 3shows a block diagram of an illustrative system300for detecting eye strain, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. The system300includes a processor302, a camera304, and an eye activity sensor306. The system300is observing two viewers, User1308and User2310. Although two viewers are shown inFIG. 3, the system300may be capable of detecting eye activity of more than two viewers. Alternatively, a separate system for detecting eye strain may be required for each viewer.

The processor302may analyze data captured by the camera304and/or the eye activity sensor306to, for example, measure eye activity and/or identify viewers, as described below. The processor302may implement the media guidance application, or the processor302may implement a portion of the media guidance application. Alternatively, the processor302may be in communication with hardware implementing the media guidance application, and the processor302may transmit data to the media guidance application for use by the media guidance application. Such data may include video or image data, data identifying one or more viewers, and/or data describing eye activity. The processor302may receive instructions from the media guidance applications, e.g., to measure or collect data. The processor302may be similar to the processing circuitry described with respect toFIG. 6. The processor302may include communications circuitry for receiving data from the camera304and/or eye activity sensor306, and/or communicating with hardware implementing the media guidance application.

The camera304may capture images or video of User1and User2. The images or video may be transmitted to the processor302, which may determine the identity of User1and User2based on, e.g., facial recognition. Alternatively, the processor302may transmit the images or data to the media guidance application, which identifies User1and User2. The camera304may additional or alternatively capture images or video used to detect eye activity at the processor302. For example, the processor302may determine the location of eyes of User1and User2, and the camera304may take images or video focused on the eyes of User1and User2. The system300may include multiple cameras, e.g., one focused on User1and one focused on User2210. The system300may track only one eye for each viewer; in this case, the system may include one camera304to track one eye of User1and another camera304to track one eye of User2. The camera(s)304transmit the image or video data to the processor302, which analyzes the data to detect, e.g., an amount that a user is blinking, an amount that a user is squinting, the user's pupil diameter, the velocity of the user's eye movements, and/or the speed of the user's pupil accommodation.

The system300may additionally or alternatively include one or more eye activity sensors306. The eye activity sensor306may be an integrated piece of equipment that directly detects one or more types of eye activity. For example, the eye activity sensor306may be able to focus on an eye of User1and/or User2and detect, for example, blinking, by registering fast movements or color changes within the eye area. The eye activity sensor306may outputs data indicating, e.g., a blink or a squint, which is then processed by processor302to determine an amount of blinking or squinting. In some embodiments, the eye activity sensor306may include a camera and process in real time the images captured to measure any eye activity that is visually observed. The system300may include multiple eye sensors306for monitoring different users, different eyes, and/or different types of eye activity.

The system300or some elements of the system300may be located nearer to User1and/or User2. For example, User1and User2may wear equipment, such as glasses, that include a camera304and/or eye activity sensors306. The processor302may be integrated into equipment worn by the users, or the processor302may be located remotely and the equipment may be in wired or wireless communication with processor302. Alternatively, the system300may be located in the direction of gaze of User1and User2; for example, the system300may be integrated into hardware displaying displays100and200, or may be located near the display hardware. If User1and User2wear equipment that incorporates the camera304and/or eye activity sensors306, this may improve the quality of the metrics; however, this arrangement may be less comfortable or convenient for the viewers.

In some embodiments, the system300performs best if the position of the viewers' heads are fixed or relatively stable. In other embodiments, the system300is configured to account for viewers' head movement, which allows the viewers a more natural viewing experience than if the viewers' head were fixed in a particular position. In some embodiments accounting for the viewers' head movement, the system300includes two or more cameras304. For example, two cameras may be arranged to form a stereo vision system for obtaining a 3D image of the viewers or one or more eyes; this allows processor302to compensate for head movement when measuring eye activity. The two or more cameras304may be part of a single unit or may be separate units.

In some embodiments, the system300or the media guidance application may transmit data describing the viewers' eye activity, such as the first and second metric, to another party. The data may be used for purposes other than adjusting the display settings. For example, the data may be used by a content provider or an advertiser, who may be interested in the effects of content or advertisements on viewers' eye activity. The content provider or advertiser may then adjust their content or advertisements according to the eye activity. The data could be used by any other interested party, such as television manufacturers or researchers, to study how viewers' eye activity responds to visual stimuli and display settings.

FIG. 4shows illustrative grid of a program listings display400arranged by time and channel that also enables access to different types of content in a single display. Display400may include grid402with: (1) a column of channel/content type identifiers404, where each channel/content type identifier (which is a cell in the column) identifies a different channel or content type available; and (2) a row of time identifiers406, where each time identifier (which is a cell in the row) identifies a time block of programming. Grid402also includes cells of program listings, such as program listing408, where each listing provides the title of the program provided on the listing's associated channel and time. With a user input device, a user can select program listings by moving highlight region410. Information relating to the program listing selected by highlight region410may be provided in program information region412. Region412may include, for example, the program title, the program description, the time the program is provided (if applicable), the channel the program is on (if applicable), the program's rating, and other desired information.

Grid402may provide media guidance data for non-linear programming including on-demand listing414, recorded content listing416, and Internet content listing418. A display combining media guidance data for content from different types of content sources is sometimes referred to as a “mixed-media” display. Various permutations of the types of media guidance data that may be displayed that are different than display400may be based on user selection or guidance application definition (e.g., a display of only recorded and broadcast listings, only on-demand and broadcast listings, etc.). As illustrated, listings414,416, and418are shown as spanning the entire time block displayed in grid402to indicate that selection of these listings may provide access to a display dedicated to on-demand listings, recorded listings, or Internet listings, respectively. In some embodiments, listings for these content types may be included directly in grid402. Additional media guidance data may be displayed in response to the user selecting one of the navigational icons420. (Pressing an arrow key on a user input device may affect the display in a similar manner as selecting navigational icons420.)

Another display arrangement for providing media guidance is shown inFIG. 5. Video mosaic display500includes selectable options502for content information organized based on content type, genre, and/or other organization criteria. In display500, television listings option504is selected, thus providing listings506,508,510, and512as broadcast program listings. In display500the listings may provide graphical images including cover art, still images from the content, video clip previews, live video from the content, or other types of content that indicate to a user the content being described by the media guidance data in the listing. Each of the graphical listings may also be accompanied by text to provide further information about the content associated with the listing. For example, listing508may include more than one portion, including media portion514and text portion516. Media portion514and/or text portion516may be selectable to view content in full-screen or to view information related to the content displayed in media portion514(e.g., to view listings for the channel that the video is displayed on).

The listings in display500are of different sizes (i.e., listing506is larger than listings508,510, and512), but if desired, all the listings may be the same size. Listings may be of different sizes or graphically accentuated to indicate degrees of interest to the user or to emphasize certain content, as desired by the content provider or based on user preferences. Various systems and methods for graphically accentuating content listings are discussed in, for example, Yates, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0153885, filed Nov. 12, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Users may access content and the media guidance application (and its display screens described above and below) from one or more of their user equipment devices.FIG. 6shows a generalized embodiment of illustrative user equipment device600. More specific implementations of user equipment devices are discussed below in connection withFIG. 7. User equipment device600may receive content and data via input/output (hereinafter “I/O”) path602. I/O path602may provide content (e.g., broadcast programming, on-demand programming, Internet content, content available over a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), and/or other content) and data to control circuitry604, which includes processing circuitry606and storage608. Control circuitry604may be used to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable data using I/O path602. I/O path602may connect control circuitry604(and specifically processing circuitry606) to one or more communications paths (described below). I/O functions may be provided by one or more of these communications paths, but are shown as a single path inFIG. 6to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

A user may send instructions to control circuitry604using user input interface610. User input interface610may be any suitable user interface, such as a remote control, mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touchpad, stylus input, joystick, voice recognition interface, or other user input interfaces. Display612may be provided as a stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of user equipment device600. For example, display612may be a touchscreen or touch-sensitive display. In such circumstances, user input interface610may be integrated with or combined with display612. Display612may be one or more of a monitor, a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD) for a mobile device, amorphous silicon display, low temperature poly silicon display, electronic ink display, electrophoretic display, active matrix display, electro-wetting display, electrofluidic display, cathode ray tube display, light-emitting diode display, electroluminescent display, plasma display panel, high-performance addressing display, thin-film transistor display, organic light-emitting diode display, surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), laser television, carbon nanotubes, quantum dot display, interferometric modulator display, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. In some embodiments, display612may be HDTV-capable. In some embodiments, display612may be a 3D display, and the interactive media guidance application and any suitable content may be displayed in 3D. A video card or graphics card may generate the output to the display612. The video card may offer various functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors. The video card may be any processing circuitry described above in relation to control circuitry604. The video card may be integrated with the control circuitry604. Speakers614may be provided as integrated with other elements of user equipment device600or may be stand-alone units. The audio component of videos and other content displayed on display612may be played through speakers614. In some embodiments, the audio may be distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes and outputs the audio via speakers614.

The guidance application may be implemented using any suitable architecture. For example, it may be a stand-alone application wholly-implemented on user equipment device600. In such an approach, instructions of the application are stored locally (e.g., in storage608), and data for use by the application is downloaded on a periodic basis (e.g., from an out-of-band feed, from an Internet resource, or using another suitable approach). Control circuitry604may retrieve instructions of the application from storage608and process the instructions to generate any of the displays discussed herein. Based on the processed instructions, control circuitry604may determine what action to perform when input is received from input interface610. For example, movement of a cursor on a display up/down may be indicated by the processed instructions when input interface610indicates that an up/down button was selected.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application is a client-server based application. Data for use by a thick or thin client implemented on user equipment device600is retrieved on-demand by issuing requests to a server remote to the user equipment device600. In one example of a client-server based guidance application, control circuitry604runs a web browser that interprets web pages provided by a remote server. For example, the remote server may store the instructions for the application in a storage device. The remote server may process the stored instructions using circuitry (e.g., control circuitry604) and generate the displays discussed above and below. The client device may receive the displays generated by the remote server and may display the content of the displays locally on equipment device600. This way, the processing of the instructions is performed remotely by the server while the resulting displays are provided locally on equipment device600. Equipment device600may receive inputs from the user via input interface610and transmit those inputs to the remote server for processing and generating the corresponding displays. For example, equipment device600may transmit a communication to the remote server indicating that an up/down button was selected via input interface610. The remote server may process instructions in accordance with that input and generate a display of the application corresponding to the input (e.g., a display that moves a cursor up/down). The generated display is then transmitted to equipment device600for presentation to the user.

User equipment device600may also incorporate or be accessible to detection module616. Detection module616may further include various components (e.g., a video detection component, an audio detection component, etc.). In some embodiments, detection module616may include components that are specialized to generate particular information.

For example, as discussed above in relation toFIG. 3, detection module616may include an eye activity detection component, which tracks one or more viewers' eyes and measures one or more types of eye activity, including squinting, blinking, pupil diameter, eye movement velocity, and/or speed of pupil accommodation. These eye activities can be symptoms that the viewer is experiencing eye strain. In some embodiments, the eye movement detection component may include a camera. The images captured by the camera may be used to identify the viewers. Alternatively or additionally, the images captured by the camera may be analyzed to determine one or more types of eye activity. In some embodiments, the eye contact detection component includes a processor for determining the identity of the viewer and/or for analyzing the images to measure eye activity. The eye activity detection component may be integrated with other elements of user equipment device600, or the eye contact detection component, or any other component of detection module616and may be a separate device or system in communication with user equipment device600.

User equipment device600ofFIG. 6can be implemented in system700ofFIG. 7as user television equipment702, user computer equipment704, wireless user communications device706, or any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing content, such as a non-portable gaming machine. For simplicity, these devices may be referred to herein collectively as user equipment or user equipment devices, and may be substantially similar to user equipment devices described above. User equipment devices, on which a media guidance application may be implemented, may function as a standalone device or may be part of a network of devices. Various network configurations of devices may be implemented and are discussed in more detail below.

A user equipment device utilizing at least some of the system features described above in connection withFIG. 6may not be classified solely as user television equipment702, user computer equipment704, or a wireless user communications device706. For example, user television equipment702may, like some user computer equipment704, be Internet-enabled allowing for access to Internet content, while user computer equipment704may, like some television equipment702, include a tuner allowing for access to television programming. The media guidance application may have the same layout on various different types of user equipment or may be tailored to the display capabilities of the user equipment. For example, on user computer equipment704, the guidance application may be provided as a web site accessed by a web browser. In another example, the guidance application may be scaled down for wireless user communications devices706.

In system700, there is typically more than one of each type of user equipment device but only one of each is shown inFIG. 7to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, each user may utilize more than one type of user equipment device and also more than one of each type of user equipment device.

The user equipment devices may be coupled to communications network714. Namely, user television equipment702, user computer equipment704, and wireless user communications device706are coupled to communications network714via communications paths708,710, and712, respectively. Communications network714may be one or more networks including the Internet, a mobile phone network, mobile voice or data network (e.g., a 4G or LTE network), cable network, public switched telephone network, or other types of communications network or combinations of communications networks. Paths708,710, and712may separately or together include one or more communications paths, such as, a satellite path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, a path that supports Internet communications (e.g., IPTV), free-space connections (e.g., for broadcast or other wireless signals), or any other suitable wired or wireless communications path or combination of such paths. Path712is drawn with dotted lines to indicate that in the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 7it is a wireless path and paths708and710are drawn as solid lines to indicate they are wired paths (although these paths may be wireless paths, if desired). Communications with the user equipment devices may be provided by one or more of these communications paths, but are shown as a single path inFIG. 7to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

System700includes content source716and media guidance data source718coupled to communications network714via communication paths720and722, respectively. Paths720and722may include any of the communication paths described above in connection with paths708,710, and712. Communications with the content source716and media guidance data source718may be exchanged over one or more communications paths, but are shown as a single path inFIG. 7to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, there may be more than one of each of content source716and media guidance data source718, but only one of each is shown inFIG. 7to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. (The different types of each of these sources are discussed below.) If desired, content source716and media guidance data source718may be integrated as one source device. Although communications between sources716and718with user equipment devices702,704, and706are shown as through communications network714, in some embodiments, sources716and718may communicate directly with user equipment devices702,704, and706via communication paths (not shown) such as those described above in connection with paths708,710, and712.

In a third approach, users of user equipment devices inside and outside a home can use their media guidance application to communicate directly with content source716to access content. Specifically, within a home, users of user television equipment702and user computer equipment704may access the media guidance application to navigate among and locate desirable content. Users may also access the media guidance application outside of the home using wireless user communications devices706to navigate among and locate desirable content.

A user may use various content capture devices, such as camcorders, digital cameras with video mode, audio recorders, mobile phones, and handheld computing devices, to record content. The user can upload content to a content storage service on the cloud either directly, for example, from user computer equipment704or wireless user communications device706having content capture feature. Alternatively, the user can first transfer the content to a user equipment device, such as user computer equipment704. The user equipment device storing the content uploads the content to the cloud using a data transmission service on communications network714. In some embodiments, the user equipment device itself is a cloud resource, and other user equipment devices can access the content directly from the user equipment device on which the user stored the content.

FIG. 8is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in reducing eye strain for multiple users, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. The flowchart inFIG. 8describes a process800implemented on control circuitry (e.g., control circuitry604). The control circuitry604may be acting under commands from the media guidance application, as described above. The elements of process800may be performed at control circuitry604, detection module616, or a combination of devices. In some embodiments, an algorithm for process800may be encoded on to non-transitory storage medium (e.g., storage device608) as a set of instructions to be decoded and executed by processing circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry606). Processing circuitry may, in turn, provide instructions to other sub-circuits contained within control circuitry604, such as video generating, encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, scaling, analog/digital conversion circuitry, and the like.

At802, control circuitry604detects that two viewers are consuming content from a device, wherein the content is generated for display according to a first display setting. Generating content for the display100with a first display setting is described with respect toFIG. 1. Various types of display settings that may be used in generating the display are also described with respect toFIG. 1. Detecting that two viewers, such as User1and User2ofFIG. 3, are consuming content from a device (e.g., the device displaying display100) is described with respect toFIG. 1andFIG. 3.

At804, control circuitry604calculates, for the first viewer (e.g., User1inFIG. 1), based on the eye activity of the first viewer, a first metric that represents a degree of eye strain. At806, control circuitry calculates, for the second viewer (e.g., User2inFIG. 3), based on eye activity of the second viewer, a second metric that represents a degree of eye strain. Calculating a metric representing a degree of eye strain based on eye activity of a viewer is described with respect toFIG. 1andFIG. 3. Calculating a metric representing a degree of eye strain based on eye activity of a viewer is also shown and described in further detail with respect toFIG. 9.

At808, control circuitry604determines whether a first metric in a first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer (e.g., User1). Determining whether a metric is in a range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for a viewer is described with respect toFIG. 1, and is also shown and described in greater detail with respect toFIG. 10. If the first metric is in not a first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer, the process proceeds directly to812. If the first metric is in a first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer, the process proceeds to decision810.

At810, control circuitry604determines whether a second metric in a second range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the second viewer (e.g., User2). Determining whether a metric is in a range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for a viewer is described with respect toFIG. 1, and is also shown and described in greater detail with respect toFIG. 10. If the first metric is in not a first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer, the process proceeds to812. If the first metric is in a first range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer, the process may return to802, and continue monitoring for viewers and monitoring their eye activity until an unacceptable degree of eye strain is detected. Alternatively, the process may pause and resume after a period of time, e.g., 5 minutes or 15 minutes, to check whether either viewer has begun experiencing eye strain.

At812, control circuitry604identifies, for the first viewer (e.g., User1), a first subset of display settings that are known to cause the first metric to be within the first range. At814, control circuitry604identifies, for the second viewer (e.g., User2), a second subset of display settings that are known to cause the second metric to be within the second range. Identifying a subset of display settings that are known to cause a metric to be within a viewer's range indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain is described with respect toFIG. 1, and is also shown and described in greater detail with respect toFIG. 10.

At816, control circuitry604identifies a third subset of display settings comprising display settings that are in both the first subset and the second subset. This third subset of display settings should cause both the first metric to be within the first range and the second metric to be within the second range. Identifying the third subset of display settings is described with respect toFIG. 1.

At818, control circuitry604selects a second display setting that is within the third subset. At820, control circuitry604generates for display the content according to the second display setting. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, control circuitry604generates display200according to the second display setting. Selecting a second display setting and generating the content for display according to the second display setting are described with respect toFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in calculating an eye strain metric for a viewer, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. The illustrative steps are described with respect to the first viewer, but a similar process may be performed for the second viewer or any other viewer. The flowchart inFIG. 9describes a process900implemented on control circuitry (e.g., control circuitry604). The control circuitry604may be acting under commands from the media guidance application, as described above. The elements of process900may be performed at control circuitry604, detection module616, or a combination of devices. In some embodiments, an algorithm for process800may be encoded on to non-transitory storage medium (e.g., storage device608) as a set of instructions to be decoded and executed by processing circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry606). Processing circuitry may, in turn, provide instructions to other sub-circuits contained within control circuitry604, such as video generating, encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, scaling, analog/digital conversion circuitry, and the like.

At904, control circuitry604receives images or video of either one or both eyes of the first viewer. Control circuitry604may receive the images or video from the detection module616, which may be implemented as system300, described with respect toFIG. 3. For example, control circuitry604may receive images or video from camera304. Control circuitry604may store, e.g., in storage608, the received images or video for processing. While process900is described as being performed by control circuitry604, it should be understood that processor302may receive images or video from camera304, and processor302may perform some or all of process900, alone or in conjunction with processor604.

At904, control circuitry604analyzes the received images or video to measure one or more types of eye activity. For example, as described with respect toFIG. 1, control circuitry604may analyze the images or video to measure one or more eye characteristics or movements. These measurements may be used to calculate the eye strain metric, as described above. For example, control circuitry604may analyze a video to determine an amount of blinking of the first viewer, e.g., the number of times that the viewer's eye(s) blink during a time period, or the frequency with which the viewer's eye(s) blink. Control circuitry604may perform image processing to determine when the viewer's eyelid is closed, or may use motion detection to determine when the viewer's eyelid is moving quickly upward and/or downward.

As another example, control circuitry604may measure a pupil diameter of the first viewer by assessing the distance across of the black circle in the center of the viewer's eye(s), which control circuitry604may detect using image processing. Control circuitry604may measure a single measurement of pupil diameter in a single image, or control circuitry604may take multiple measurements of the viewer's pupil diameter and then calculate, e.g., an average pupil diameter, or a range of pupil diameter. Control circuitry604may additionally or alternatively receive data relating to the brightness of display100, and control circuitry604may calculate a measurement or metric that compares the pupil diameter (at a given time or over a period of time) to the brightness of display100.

As another example, control circuitry604may measure an amount of squinting of the first viewer by performing image or video processing. Control circuitry604may measure the number of times that the viewer squints, the length of the viewer's squints, and/or the amount of time during a given time period that the viewer is squinting. Control circuitry604may perform image processing to determine when the viewer's eye(s) are squinting (e.g., by measuring the height of the viewer's eye opening relative to a non-squinting height, by measuring an amount of eye wrinkles relative to a non-squinting amount of eye wrinkles), or may use motion detection to determine when the viewer's eyelid are moving into a squinting position.

As another example, control circuitry604may measure an eye movement velocity of the first viewer. For example, control circuitry604may perform motion detection to determine how fast the viewer's eye(s) are moving, e.g., by tracking the viewer's pupil(s). Control circuitry604may measure an average velocity, or may measure the eye movement velocity at different points in time and calculate, e.g., an average, maximum, or minimum eye movement velocity over a given time period.

As another example, control circuitry604may measure a speed of pupil accommodation of the first viewer by, e.g., analyzing a video to detect the speed at which the diameter of the viewer's pupil(s) change. For example, control circuitry604may measure the diameter of the viewer's pupil(s) at different points in time and calculate the speed of change between the points in time as a function of change in diameter divided by time. Control circuitry604may measure the speed of pupil accommodation based on triggers, such as changes to the content or brightness of display100. Control circuitry604may calculate an average, maximum, or minimum speed of pupil accommodation during a given time period.

Control circuitry604may assess a video or a set of images received from camera304over a particular time period to measure any of the above-described movements or features. Control circuitry604may compare any of the above-described measurements to similar measurements taken at earlier periods of time to determine whether the measurements have changed. As discussed with respect toFIG. 3, control circuitry604may receive one or more eye activity measurements directly from eye activity sensor306rather than measure the eye activity measurements.

At906, control circuitry604calculates a metric based on the measured eye activity. As discussed with respect toFIG. 1, control circuitry604may, for example, scale an eye activity measurement according to a scaling guideline or formula. If multiple eye activities are measured, each eye activity measurement may be considered an eye strain factor (or control circuitry604may scale each eye activity measurement to generate an eye strain factor), and control circuitry604may combine these eye strain factors using any algorithm or formula. For example, as described above, control circuitry may calculate, e.g., an average of the eye strain factors, a weighted average of the eye strain factors, or some other function or formula that receives the eye strain factors as inputs and calculates the first metric. Alternatively, the media guidance application may select an eye strain factor, such as the highest scaled eye strain factor, and set the first metric equal to the selected eye strain factor. In some embodiments, the measured eye activity may be used as the metric, without any scaling or calculation.

For example, control circuitry604may calculate the metric by scaling or rating any of the eye activity measurements described above. As an example, control circuitry604may rate an eye activity measurement on a scale from 1 to 10, based on a rating scale which may be stored on storage device608. A low number may indicate that the eye activity measurement is generally associated with little or no eye strain, and a higher number may indicate that the eye activity measurement is generally associated with a higher degree of eye strain. As another example, control circuitry604may perform a mathematical function on the eye activity measurement to calculate an eye strain metric, e.g., by multiplying or dividing the eye activity measurement by a given number, squaring the eye activity measurement, etc. The function performed on the eye activity measurement may be tailored to the viewer, e.g., to account for a viewer's baseline eye activity measurement, such as measurements of blinking speed, squinting, pupil accommodation velocity, eye movement velocity, or pupil diameter when the viewer's eyes are not straining.

Furthermore, control circuitry604may calculate the metric based on more than one eye activity measurements, which may be considered eye strain factors. For example, the first eye strain factor may be the number of times that the viewer blinks during a first time period (e.g., 15 times over one minute), and the second eye strain factor may be the level of squinting (e.g., squinting during 40% of the minute). Control circuitry604may then calculate the first metric for the viewer based on the number of times that the viewer blinks (i.e., a blinking factor) and the amount of time that the viewer is squinting (i.e., a squinting factor). For example, control circuitry604may first scale both the blinking factor and the squinting factor based on the severity of these symptoms, and then control circuitry604ion may average the two factors to calculate the first metric. For example, squinting during 40% of the minute may be 8 out of 10 on a scale of squinting severity, because it represents a fairly high amount of squinting. Blinking 15 times during one minute may be 0 out of 10 on a scale of blinking severity, because blinking 15 times over one minute is a normal amount of blinking. The first metric, which is the average of these two factors, is 4 out of 10, which may represent that the viewer is straining her eyes a moderate amount.

FIG. 10is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in determining whether a metric is within a range of acceptable eye strain for a viewer, and identifying a subset of display settings that are known to cause the metric to be within the range of acceptable eye strain, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. The illustrative steps are described with respect to the first viewer, but a similar process may be performed for the second viewer or any other viewer. The flowchart inFIG. 10describes a process1000implemented on control circuitry (e.g., control circuitry604). The control circuitry604may be acting under commands from the media guidance application, as described above. The elements of process1000may be performed at control circuitry604, detection module616, or a combination of devices. In some embodiments, an algorithm for process800may be encoded on to non-transitory storage medium (e.g., storage device608) as a set of instructions to be decoded and executed by processing circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry606). Processing circuitry may, in turn, provide instructions to other sub-circuits contained within control circuitry604, such as video generating, encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, scaling, analog/digital conversion circuitry, and the like.

At1002, control circuitry604monitors a first viewer's eye activity while content is displayed at various display settings. The monitoring may be similar to process900, described above. Control circuitry604may monitor the first viewer's eye activity while the first viewer views display612. For example, control circuitry604may implement a display setting configuration test with the first viewer, in which control circuitry604generates displays of content with various different display settings and observes the first viewer's eye activity under the different display settings. In some embodiments, control circuitry604may receive feedback from the first viewer indicating, for example, whether the display settings are comfortable for the viewer, how comfortable the viewer is with the display settings, whether and to what degree the viewer is straining to see the display, any modifications to the display settings that the viewer would prefer, etc. Alternatively, or in addition, control circuitry604may monitor the first viewer's eye activity in a background mode while the first viewer consumes content on display612. Control circuitry604may note any manual changes the first viewer makes to the display settings.

At1004, control circuitry604stores eye strain metrics that indicate an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer. For example, control circuitry604may store eye strain metrics that are most commonly detected for the first viewer. Control circuitry604may store eye strain metric that are detected for the first viewer over a long period of time, without the first viewer adjusting the display settings. Control circuitry604may store eye strain metrics that are detected after the first viewer adjusts the display settings. If control circuitry604performs the display setting configuration test described with respect to1002, control circuitry604may store the eye strain metrics corresponding to the times when the first viewer indicated that his eyes were comfortable and not straining. Any of these metrics may be stored in a database associating an identifier for the first viewer with the eye strain metrics indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain. The database may store a range of eye strain metrics (e.g., the highest calculated eye strain metric deemed acceptable, and the lowest eye strain metric deemed acceptable), or the database may store a plurality of eye strain metrics (e.g., each calculated eye strain metric that was deemed acceptable) that may be used to generate a range of eye strain metrics. The identity of the first viewer may be determined as described with respect toFIG. 1 and 1008, discussed below.

At1006, control circuitry604stores a subset of display settings that cause the first viewer to experience an acceptable degree of eye strain. For example, for each of the stored eye strain metrics described with respect to1004, control circuitry604may also store the display settings used by control circuitry604to generate an image on display612at the time the eye strain metric was calculated. Any of these display settings may be stored in a database associating an identifier for the first viewer with the display settings. The database may store a range of display settings (e.g., the highest acceptable brightness and the lowest acceptable brightness; the highest acceptable font size and the lowest acceptable font size, etc.), or the database may store a plurality of sets of display settings (e.g., each set of display settings that was deemed acceptable). The identity of the first viewer may be determined as described with respect toFIG. 1 and 1008, discussed below.

At1008, control circuitry604determines an identifier of the first viewer. For example, described with respect toFIG. 1, control circuitry604may receive proximity data from devices associated with the viewers (e.g., smart phones or smart watches) identifying that the viewers are in the proximity of the display100. As another example, the viewers may provide identifying information to control circuitry704by, e.g., signing in or selecting a user profile. As another example, as described with respect toFIGS. 1 and 3, control circuitry604and/or system300may perform facial recognition based on an image or video of the viewer captured by camera604. Control circuitry604may associate each viewer with a particular identifier, which can be used to reference the viewer in various databases, such as databases for viewer preferences, prior eye strain metrics and/or measurements of the viewer, an acceptable degree of eye strain (or range of eye strains) for the viewer, display settings that have been known to cause an acceptable degree of eye strain for the viewer, etc.

At1010, control circuitry604retrieves a range of eye strain metrics associated with the identifier of the first viewer. For example, control circuitry604may access or query a database on storage608that associates identifiers of viewers with ranges of eye strain metrics associated with the viewers. The ranges may have been developed according to the process described at1002and1004. Alternatively, the range of eye strain metrics that indicate an acceptable degree of eye strain may be the same for all users, and control circuitry604may simply retrieve this range.

At1012, control circuitry604determine whether the first metric is within the retrieved range of eye strain metrics indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer. For example, control circuitry604may determine whether the first metric is below the lower end of the range, or whether the first metric is above the higher end of the range. If the first metric is within the range of eye strain metrics indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer (i.e., the first viewer's eyes are not straining an unacceptable amount), the process proceeds to810inFIG. 8, described above. Steps810and814inFIG. 8may be performed in a similar manner to process1000. If the first metric is not within the range of eye strain metrics indicating an acceptable degree of eye strain for the first viewer (i.e., the first viewer's eyes are straining an unacceptable amount), the process proceeds to1014.

At1014, control circuitry604retrieves a subset of stored display settings associated with the identifier of the first viewer. For example, control circuitry604may access or query a database on storage608that associates identifiers of viewers with subsets of display settings associated with the viewers. The subset of display settings may have been developed according to the process described at1002and1006.

It is contemplated that the descriptions ofFIGS. 8-10may be used with any other embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the descriptions described in relation to the algorithms ofFIGS. 8-10may be done in alternative orders or in parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure. For example, conditional statements and logical evaluations may be performed in any order or in parallel or simultaneously to reduce lag or increase the speed of the system or method. As a further example, in some embodiments several instances of a variable may be evaluated in parallel, using multiple logical processor threads, or the algorithm may be enhanced by incorporating branch prediction. Furthermore, it should be noted that the processes ofFIGS. 8-10may be implemented on a combination of appropriately configured software and hardware, and that any of the devices or equipment discussed in relation toFIGS. 6-7could be used to implement one or more portions of the process.