Abstract:
A method for recommending content from among a collection of available content includes determining for each of available content at least one of a first, second and third content ratings related to (1) content characteristics that interfere with sleep patterns; (2) excitement level of the content; and (3) dynamic range of content audio, respectively. Thereafter, the content having a content rating that least interfere with sleep patterns is established. The available content having the content rating that least interferes with sleep patterns is recommended.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a technique for recommending content for viewing at night. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Today, users can acquire content from a variety of sources, including on-line content providers such as Technicolor&#39;s M-GO content delivery service. In connection with providing users with content, many on-line content providers also provide personalized content recommendations usually by taking into account the user&#39;s past viewing history. Often, content providers make recommendations based on what content will engage a user the most. For present purposes, the phrase “engage a user” relates to the level of interest of a user in a particular piece of content. The phrase “excite a user,” as used hereinafter, relates to a degree to which a particular piece of content stimulates or arouses the user (thus increasing the user&#39;s physiological response measurable by an increase in blood pressure or galvanic skin response). In some instances, the content that will most engage will most excite the user. However, viewing exciting content prior to bed time can disturb a viewer&#39;s sleep cycle because exciting videos often have bright, vivid in colors and/or dynamic audio which can adversely affect the viewer&#39;s senses, and thus affect sleep. Moreover, exciting content even without vivid colors and/or dynamic audio can leave the viewer agitated after viewing which can also adversely affect sleep patterns. For this reason, many users avoid watching exciting video content at night. 
         [0003]    There currently exist software programs that filter content to alter visual attributes of the content, such as color, screen brightness and contrast, among others. Reducing the visual impact of the content makes the content more suitable for night-time viewing. For example, research has shown that content rich in the blue part of the visual spectrum tends to keep the human brain active, thus adversely affecting sleep patterns. However, altering the display attributes affects the quality of the video content perceived by the user. Moreover, altering the visual attributes of the content will not necessarily make the content less dramatic in terms of stimulating the user so as to adversely affect sleep patterns, 
         [0004]    Thus, a need exists for a content recommendation technique that takes into account the ease of night time viewing and impact on the user&#39;s sleep. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Briefly, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present principles, a method for recommending content from among a collection of available content commences by determining for each of available content at least one of a first, second and third content ratings related to (1) content characteristics that interfere with sleep patterns; (2) excitement level of the content; and (3) dynamic range of content audio, respectively. Thereafter, which of the available content having a highest content rating value for the at least one of the at least one of a first, second and third content ratings that least interfere with sleep patterns is established. The available content having the highest content rating is recommended. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a block schematic diagram of a content delivery system for generating content recommendations in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary content receiving device comprising part of the system of  FIG. 1  and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts in flow chart form the steps of a process for generating content recommendations in accordance with the present principles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a system  100  for delivering content to a home or end user for practicing the content recommendation method of the present principles. The system  100  includes a content source  102 , such as a movie studio or production house or agent thereof for providing movies, television programs and/or other audio-visual content. The content source  102  can supply content in at least one of two forms. For example, the content source  102  can supply content to a broadcast affiliate manager  104 , typically, a broadcast television network, such as the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), etc. The broadcast affiliate manager  104  may collect and store the content, and can schedule delivery of the content over a delivery network, shown as the delivery network  106 . Delivery network  106  can include a satellite link transmission from a national center to one or more regional or local centers. The delivery network  106  can also include local content delivery using local delivery systems such as over-the-air broadcast, satellite broadcast, or cable television broadcast. 
         [0010]    A content receiving device  108 , typically situated in a user&#39;s home, enjoys a connection to the delivery network  106  to enable a user to search and select content. The content receiving device  108  can take many forms and could exist as a set top box/digital video recorder (DVR), a gateway, a modem, etc. Further, the content receiving device  108  could act as entry point, or gateway, for a home network system (not shown) that includes additional devices configured as either client or peer devices in such a network. 
         [0011]    The content source  102  can also supply a second form of content, hereinafter referred to as special content. Special content can include content delivered for premium viewing, pay-per-view content or content otherwise not provided to the broadcast affiliate manager  104 . For example, such special content can include movies, video games or other audio/visual content. In many cases, the special content can comprise content specifically requested by the user, in contrast to content which the broadcast affiliate manager  104  selects and schedules for delivery. 
         [0012]    In practice, the content source  102  supplies special content to a content manager  110 , which can comprise service provider, such as an Internet website, affiliated with a content provider, broadcast service, or delivery network service. Thus, the content manager  110  can incorporate Internet content for delivery to users. In this regard, the content manager  110  typically delivers content to the user&#39;s content receiving device  108  over a separate delivery network  112 , which can include one or more high-speed broadband communications networks, including the Internet. Note that the content delivery network  112  could also serve to deliver content from the broadcast affiliate manager  104 , and by the same token, the delivery network  106  could deliver appropriately formatted content from the content manager  110 , although  FIG. 1  does not specifically depict such cross links between the networks  106  and  112 . In addition, the user may also obtain content through the content receiving device  108  directly from the Internet via delivery network  112  without necessarily having the content managed by the content manager  110 . 
         [0013]    Delivery of the special content can occur separately from the broadcast content. Thus, the special content can exist as an alternative media for selection by the user. For instance, the special content could comprise a library of movies not yet available as broadcast content. Alternatively, the special content can augment the broadcast content, thus providing alternative information, purchase and merchandising options, enhancement material, etc. In another embodiment, the special content could completely replace all or part of the broadcast content 
         [0014]    As discussed, the content receiving device  108  can receive content from one or both of delivery networks  106  and delivery network  112 . The content receiving device  108  processes the received content based on user preferences and commands. The content receiving device  108  may also include a storage device, such as a hard drive or optical disk drive, for recording and playing back content. Further details of the operation of the content receiving device  108  and features associated with playback of stored content will become apparent in accordance the description of the content receiving device provided hereinafter in relation to  FIG. 2 . The content receiving device  108  provides the content processed thereby to a display device  114 , which can comprise a conventional 2-D type display or an advanced 3-D display. 
         [0015]    The content receiving device  108  can interface with a second screen, such as a touch screen control device  116 , which could include a laptop computer, tablet, smart phone or other device with wireless communications and information processing capabilities. Depending on its capabilities, the touch screen device  116  can display content, either the same as, or different from, the content displayed on the display device  114 . For example, the touch screen control device  116  could execute a second screen application that would enable the user to control the content receiving device  108  and/or the display device  114 . Another second screen application executed by the touch screen display device  116  could enable the user to interact with the content. The touch screen control device  116  can interface with receiving device  108  using any well-known wireless transmission protocols, such as infra-red (IR) or radio frequency (RF) communications and could employ such standard protocols such as the infra-red data association (IRDA) standard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the like, or any proprietary protocol. 
         [0016]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the system  100  also includes a back end server  118  and a usage database  120 . The back end server  118  includes a personalization engine that analyzes content usage information from a user and makes content recommendations based on such information in accordance with the present principles as described in greater detail below. The usage database  120  stores the content usage information. In some cases, the usage database  120  could comprise part of the back end server  118 . In the illustrated embodiment, the back end server  118  enjoys a connection to the delivery network  112 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the content receiving device  108  of  FIG. 1 . The content receiving device of  FIG. 2  can comprise part of a gateway device, modem, set-top box, or other similar communications device (not shown). The content receiving device  108  could also comprise part of another system including an audio device or a display device. In either case, the block diagram of  FIG. 2  has omitted some elements, such as a power supply, that support the operation of the content receiving device  108  in the interest of conciseness, as such elements well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0018]    The content receiving device  108  of  FIG. 2  includes an input signal receiver  202  that receives content from either of the networks  106  and  112  of  FIG. 1 . The input signal receiver  202  can take the form of one of several known receiver circuits for receiving, demodulating and decoding signals having various network protocols. Typically, a user controls the input signal receiver  202  via a remote control (not shown) or other device such as the touch screen control device  116  or  FIG. 1 , which interfaces with the content receiving device  108  via a touch panel interface  222 . 
         [0019]    The input signal receiver  202  supplies a demodulated and decoded signal to an input stream processor  204 , which performs the final input signal selection and processing, including separation of video from audio. The input stream processor  204  supplies the audio to an audio processor  206  for conversion from the received format (e.g., a compressed digital signal), to an analog signal. The audio processor  206  transmits the analog audio to an audio interface  208  for subsequent transmission to the display device  114  of  FIG. 1  and/or a separate audio reproduction system or other device (not shown). Alternatively, the audio processor  206  could supply digital audio to the audio interface  208  for output to the display device  114  or other system or device using a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable or alternate audio interface such as via a Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (SPDIF). The audio interface  208  may also include amplifiers for driving one more sets of speakers (not shown). The audio processor  206  will performs any necessary conversion for the storage of the audio. 
         [0020]    The input stream processor supplies the video to a video processor  210 . The video can have one of several well-known several formats and the video processor  210  undertakes the necessary conversion of the video for storage and for output to a display interface  218  that connects to the display device  114  of  FIG. 1 . The display interface  218  can comprise an analog signal interface such as red-green-blue (RGB) or a digital interface such as HDMI. 
         [0021]    The content receiving device  108  of  FIG. 2  includes a storage device  212  for storing audio and video from the audio processor  206  and the video processor  210 , respectively. The storage device  212  records and plays back under the control of a controller  214 , based on user entered commands, e.g., record, play, fast-forward (FF) and rewind (REW), received from the user via the user interface  216  and/or the touch panel interface  222 . The storage device  212  can comprise a hard disk drive, one or more large capacity integrated electronic memories, such as static RAM (SRAM), or dynamic RAM (DRAM), or an interchangeable optical disk storage system such as a compact disk (CD) drive or digital video disk (DVD) drive. The storage device supplies recorded audio and to the audio interface  204  and the display interface  218 , respectively, for consumption by the user. 
         [0022]    The controller  214  enjoys connections to the various other elements in the content receiving device  108 , including the input stream processor  202 , the audio processor  206 , the video processor  210 , the storage device  212 , and the user interface  216 . The controller  214  manages the conversion process for converting the input stream signal into audio and video signal for storage on the storage device  212  or for display on the display device  114  of  FIG. 1 . The controller  214  also manages the retrieval and playback of stored content. 
         [0023]    The controller  214  has a connection to a control memory  220  (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory, including RAM, SRAM, DRAM, ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), flash memory, electronically programmable ROM (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), etc.) for storing information and instruction code for controller  214 . The Control memory  220  can also store a set of elements, such as graphic elements, containing content. Alternatively, the control memory  220  can store the graphic elements in identified or grouped memory locations and use an access or location table to identify the memory locations for the various portions of information related to the graphic elements. Further, the implementation of the control memory  220  can include several possible embodiments, such as a single memory device or, alternatively, more than one memory circuit communicatively connected or coupled together to form a shared or common memory. Still further, the memory may be included with other circuitry, such as portions of bus communications circuitry, in a larger circuit. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  depicts the steps of a method  300  for recommending content suitable for night-time viewing. The content recommendation method  300  of the present principles takes account of at least one or more of the following factors that influence content suitability for night-time viewing: 
         [0025]    1. Visual characteristics that interfere with sleep patterns, such as color, brightness, and contrast for example; 
         [0026]    2. The excitement level of the content (e.g., the content includes dramatic visual scenes, for example, car chases, fighting, gun fire, and the like); and 
         [0027]    3. The dynamic range of the audio (e.g., loudness, pitch and frequency, for example.) 
         [0028]    To enable the content method  300  of the present principles to take into account the above-listed factors, the content provided by the content source  102  typically will have a first, second, and third content rating associated therewith. The first content rating reflects the degree to which characteristics of the content, and especially visual attributes of the content, such as color, brightness, and contrast, interfere with human sleep. Content that has characteristics, and especially visual attributes that interfere with sleep, such as a color palette having in the blue spectrum will have a relatively low content rating. Thus, for example, assume a first content rating on a scale of 1-10, with content having a first content rating of “1” most interfering with human sleep, and “10” for content that least interferes with sleep. Thus, content having a color palette heavy in the blue spectrum typically would have a first content rating of, for example say 1-2, whereas content with little if any blue might have a first content rating of 7-8. Establishing a first content rating for other visual attributes that influence sleep, such as brightness and contrast could occur by determining what percentage of the content had contrast and/or brightness or other such visual factors above a threshold level, for example 75-80% of a total available level. Other techniques could serve to establish a first content rating for the content. 
         [0029]    Typically, the content will also have a second rating based on its excitement level. Determining the excitement level could occur by determining what percentage of the content has scenes that depict action (e.g., car chases, gun fights, physical altercations, and the like). Thus, content having a high level of excitement would have a low second content rating. Conversely, content having a low level of excitement would have a high second content rating. Like the first content rating, in one embodiment of the present principles the second content rating could also employ a 1-10 scale. 
         [0030]    In addition, the content typically will have a third content rating based on the dynamic audio in the content. The dynamic audio in the content can be measured in several different ways. For example, one measure of dynamic audio would be the frequency (how often) the audio changes from a first threshold, for example 50-60 dB to levels in excess of a second threshold, for example 85-90 dB. Another measure would be the percentage of the content that has audio in excess of a set threshold (e.g., 85-90 dB). Other audio attributes of the content such as pitch and frequency would also affect the second content rating. 
         [0031]    Typically, the content producer will assign first, second and third content ratings to the content. The personalization engine  118  of  FIG. 1  can then assess the first, second and third content ratings of content in the content source  102  to recommend content, which has the highest of all three ratings. Basing the recommendation on the content with the highest of all three ratings reduces the likelihood of recommending content which may have one or even two high content ratings, but a very low rating for the other category and thus still interfere with the user&#39;s sleep. 
         [0032]    In some instances, the content producer might supply content with only two or only one content ratings. Thus, the personalization engine  118  will have to make a recommendation on that content rating alone. Alternatively, the personalization engine  118  could screen the content having such missing content ratings (or even no content ratings at all) to assign the content ratings itself and then make the content recommendation based on such assigned content ratings. In alternate embodiments of the present principles the receiving device can include a personalization engine of the present principles, such as the personalization engine  118  of  FIG. 1 , for making content recommendations and even assigning content ratings as described above. 
         [0033]    The foregoing describes a technique for recommending content for viewing at night.