Determining User Interest Through Detected Physical Indicia

Abstract

In accordance with some implementations, a method for determining viewer interest is disclosed. The method is performed on a client system having one or more processors, a camera, and memory storing programs for execution. The electronic device captures analyzes captured visual data to detect physical indicia of interest associated with a user of the client system. The electronic device then determines a level of interest of the user with respect to media content being displayed in the proximity of the users based on the detected physical indicia of interest. The electronic device then sends the determined level of interest to a server system; the server system including an interest profile for the user of the client system. The electronic device then receives, from the server system, recommendations for additional media content for the user based, at least in part on, the determined level of interest.

1 . A method for determining viewer interest, comprising:
 on a client system having one or more processors, a camera, and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors:   capturing visual data of a user of the client system with the camera;   analyzing the captured visual data to detect physical indicia of interest associated with a user of the client system;   based on the detected physical indicia of interest, determining a level of interest of the user with respect to media content being displayed in proximity to the user;   generating an interest score based on the determined level of interest, wherein the interest score represents the level of interest the user has in the media content being displayed in proximity to the user;   sending the interest score to a server system; the server system including an interest profile for the user of the client system; and   receiving, from the server system, recommendations for additional media content for the user based, at least in part, on the interest score.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting physical indicia of interest includes:
 determining a first gaze point for a first eye relative to a display;   determining a second gaze point for a second eye relative to a display; and   measuring the distance between the first gaze point and the second gaze point.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein detecting physical indicia of interest further includes:
 determining a focus area of the user based on the position of the first gaze point, the second gaze point, and the distance between them.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting physical indicia of interest includes:
 determining an orientation of the user's head;   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 receiving, from the server system, a list of events associated with the media being displayed in proximity to the user of the client system.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein detecting physical indicia of interest further includes:
 detecting a user's physical response to the list of events received from the user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the list of events includes audio events and visual events. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein detecting physical indicia of interest further includes:
 receiving a stream of media content for display in proximity to the user of a client system;   analyzing the stream of media content to determine a plurality of objects currently being displayed, each object in the plurality of objects having an associated location;   determining, at a first time, an first object intersecting with the focus area,   determining, at a second time, a second object intersecting with the focus area; and   determining whether the focus area intersects the same object at both the first time and the second time.   
     
     
         9 . An electronic device for determining viewer interest, comprising:
 one or more processors;   a camera,   memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;   the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 capturing visual data of a user of the client system with a camera; 
 analyzing the captured visual data to detect physical indicia of interest associated with a user of the client system; 
 based on the detected physical indicia of interest, determining a level of interest of the user with respect to media content being displayed in proximity to the user; 
 generating an interest score based on the determined level of interest, wherein the interest score represents the level of interest the user has in the media content being displayed in proximity to the user; 
 sending the interest score to a server system; the server system including an interest profile for the user of the client system; and 
 receiving, from the server system, recommendations for additional media content for the user based, at least in part, on the interest score. 
   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 determining a first gaze point for a first eye relative to a display;   determining a second gaze point for a second eye relative to a display; and   measuring the distance between the first gaze point and the second gaze point.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 determining a focus area of the user based on the position of the first gaze point, the second gaze point, and the distance between them.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , further including instructions for:
 receiving, from the server system, a list of events associated with the media being displayed in proximity to the user of the client system.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 detecting a user's physical response to the list of events received from the user.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 receiving a stream of media content for display in proximity to the user of a client system;   analyzing the stream of media content to determine a plurality of objects currently being displayed, each object in the plurality of objects having an associated location;   determining, at a first time, an first object intersecting with the focus area,   determining, at a second time, a second object intersecting with the focus area; and   determining whether the focus area intersects the same object at both the first time and the second time.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by an electronic device with a camera, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 capturing visual data of a user of the client system;   analyzing the captured visual data to detect physical indicia of interest associated with a user of the client system;   based on the detected physical indicia of interest, determining a level of interest of the user with respect to media content being displayed in proximity to the user;   generating an interest score based on the determined level of interest, wherein the interest score represents the level of interest the user has in the media content being displayed in proximity to the user;   sending the interest score to a server system; the server system including an interest profile for the user of the client system; and   receiving, from the server system, recommendations for additional media content for the user based, at least in part, on the interest score.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 determining a first gaze point for a first eye relative to a display;   determining a second gaze point for a second eye relative to a display; and   measuring the distance between the first gaze point and the second gaze point.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 determining a focus area of the user based on the position of the first gaze point, the second gaze point, and the distance between them.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15  further including instructions for:
 receiving, from the server system, a list of events associated with the media being displayed in proximity to the user of the client system. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 detecting a user's physical response to the list of events received from the user.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions for detecting physical indicia of interest further include instructions for:
 receiving a stream of media content for display in proximity to the user of a client system;   analyzing the stream of media content to determine a plurality of objects currently being displayed, each object in the plurality of objects having an associated set of coordinates;   determining, at a first time, a first object intersecting with the focus area,   determining, at a second time, a second object intersecting with the focus area; and   determining whether the first object intersecting with the focus area at the first time is the same as the second object intersecting with the focus at the second time.