Facilitating Television Based Interaction with Social Networking Tools

Abstract

Video analysis may be used to determine who is watching television and their level of interest in the current programming. Lists of favorite programs may be derived for each of a plurality of viewers of programming on the same television receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 electronically determining whether a person is watching television content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including electronically determining if the person is also online. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  including using electronic video analysis to determine if the person is watching television. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  including automatically indicating, using a social networking tool, when the person is watching television. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  including automatically electronically assessing whether the person likes the television content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  including using video facial analysis to assess whether the person likes the television content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  including automatically reporting the analysis of whether the user likes the content using a social networking tool. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  including electronically identifying a plurality of persons who are watching television. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  including using electronic video analysis to identify each of a plurality of persons who are watching television. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  including electronically developing lists of favorite programs for each of a plurality of said persons. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executed by a computer to:
 determine if a person is actually watching television; and   transmit information about whether the person is watching television, using a social networking tool.   
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to determine if the person is also online and to transmit this information to a social networking tool. 
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 12  further storing instructions to determine if the person likes what is on the television and to report that information to a social networking tool. 
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13  further storing instructions to use video facial analysis to determine whether the person likes what is on the television. 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to use video analysis to identify each of a plurality of persons watching the television. 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15  further storing instructions to determine which television programs each of said persons likes. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 16  further storing instructions to compile lists of television programs each of a plurality of viewers likes. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 14  further storing instructions to link with a friend on a social networking site that likes the same television program. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a processor to identify a person watching television and to report, that the person is watching television, through a social networking tool; and   a storage coupled to said processor.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , said processor to determine if the person is also on line. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  including a video camera coupled to said processor, said processor to use video facial analysis to determine if the person likes a program on television. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , said processor to identify a plurality of people watching television. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , said processor to determine which programs each of said people like. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  to compile lists of programs each of said people like. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  including a video camera coupled to said processor, said processor to use video analysis to determine who is watching television and whether they like a program on television. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , said processor to communicate, using a social network tool, whether the person likes a television program. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , said processor coupled to a video camera, said processor to analyze video to determine whether the user likes the television program.