GB2388941A

GB2388941A - A remote control with a finger print sensor for user identi cation

Info

Publication number: GB2388941A
Application number: GB0211797A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Christopher Willia Newell
Original assignee: British Broadcasting Corp
Current assignee: British Broadcasting Corp
Priority date: 2002-05-22
Filing date: 2002-05-22
Publication date: 2003-11-26
Also published as: GB0211797D0

Abstract

An input device for entertainment equipment is disclosed. The input device comprises means for receiving a command input from a user and means for deriving both a user identifier and a command instruction for the equipment from the received command input. Preferably the command input comprises user actuation of a button. Also disclosed is a remote control for entertainment equipment having a plurality of input buttons including at least one button providing a function to change an entertainment channel. The remote control further comprises an input button having integrated therein a fingerprint sensor for performing an input function. The remote control has means for transmitting key codes to the entertainment equipment and further includes means for transmitting data corresponding to a fingerprint read by the fingerprint sensor.

Description

Input Unit for Equipment The present invention relates to an input unit

for equipment, particularly entertainment equipment such as a television display or other entertainment or media playback device or a programme recorder. The invention is particularly concerned with entertainment equipment which may be used by multiple users.

s In a particularly preferred application, the invention is concerned with an entertainment device having means for storing user profile information for a plurality of users, the input device comprising means for inputting a plurality of commands to the entertainment device. The input device may be a remote control.

In such a system, it is possible for individual users to identify themselves to the device by means of setting functions of the input device, for example by navigating amongst menus to select a user identity and/or by entering a PIN number or a password.

Systems involving PIN numbers and passwords have been used on entertainment devices such as video recorders and televisions to provide parental access control whereby only authorised users knowing the password can access certain features. Thus, at a basic level only two profiles are stored for example 20 "adult" and "child" or unrestricted and restricted.

A problem with existing systems, however, is that they are cumbersome to operate and as a result are not used very frequently in practice.

25 It is a particular concern of the present invention to provide an input device for an entertainment device in which user profile information is stored for at least two profiles, preferably more. The inventor has appreciated that accessing user profile information using individual PIN numbers for each user, is undesirable and would in practice be likely to result in an arrangement where only a single user preference is

! regularly used, thereby depriving a practical implementation of many of the benefits of storage of individual user preferences.

The inventor has appreciated thatthe problem will become more acute as the 5 number of user preferences stored increases.

By way of other background information, the problem of enabling multiple

users to access a computer system is typically solved by providing each user with an id and password. More sophisticated highly secure computer access control 10 systems have been proposed which make use of smart cards and/or user biometrics (such as retinal scans, fingerprints, facial recognition, voice prints, or even DNA analysis). Whilst these may be acceptable in computer systems, particularly where security is a concern, such systems are unsuited to input devices for an entertainment device, where security is a lesser concern but ease of use by an 15 unsophisticated user is.

A first aspect of the invention aims to provide a convenient means of identifying one of a plurality of users to an entertainment or other device.

20 According to a first aspect, the invention provides an input device for equipment, the input device comprising means for receiving a command from a user; and means for deriving both a user identifier and a command for the equipment from the received command.

Thus, by deriving an identifier and a command a user profile can be selected automatically when the user issues a command without the user having to go through a separate step of identifying himself to the device.

30 Preferably, the command from the user comprises actuation of a button or touch-sensitive input. Thus preferably, the user is identified based on touch of the button or touch of another part of the input device. In a preferred embodiment, the

( input unit comprises at least one user actuable button and means for reading a fingerprint of a user.

Thus, simply by operating the device the user can be identified. The s fingerprint reading means is most preferably provided on one or more input buttons.

AIternatively, it may be provided at a position on the device where at least one of the users' fingers will rest while another finger is actuating a button.

In a preferred implementation, the device has a plurality of input buttons 10 including at least one button having an integrated fingerprint sensor, the button with the integrated fingerprint sensor being positioned to be actuated by a designated user finger, preferably the thumb. This can be achieved by shaping the unit so that it fits comfortably in the hand of a typical user with the designated finger naturally falling near the button. The button including the sensor is preferably sized to 15 facilitate seating of the designated finger. We have found that an advantageous reliable arrangement may be achieved by having an area of at least about 1 square centimetre, preferably no more than 6 square centimetres.

The button including the sensor is preferably recessed to facilitate positioning 20 of the finger. In contrast to a security fingerprint sensor which is typically flat to optimize reading of the fingerprint, it has been appreciated that, in the present application, assisting casual orientation of the finger (by means of a concave recess) may be more beneficial than providing a sensor optimised for a well-positioned finger. The input unit preferably comprises a remote control for the equipment. The remote control preferably includes at least one entertainment channel change button in addition to the fingerprint sensor.

30 The sensor may advantageously comprise an image sensor, preferably a COD sensor. However, capacitance and/or pressure sensors may be used instead or as well. However physically obtained, the fingerprint is preferably acquired as an image.

The fingerprint may be partially processed or compressed or may be communicated uncompressed to the equipment. Whilst compression such as JPEG compression might be used, preferably lossless compression (such as run-length encoding) is used (if compression is included). This may simplify the processing 5 requirement for the input unit and avoid risking losing features but may increase the communication bandwidth requirement with the equipment. However, for a typical image and communication link (most preferably a wireless link such as an infra-red link, although a Bluetooth link may be used) the image can be communicated in an acceptable time. In some embodiments, the input unit may be provided as a part of 10 the equipment, or may be directly coupled to the equipment.

In place of simply compressing the fingerprint, the input device may process the fingerprint to extract key features. The key features may be transmitted using an appropriate coding scheme and compared to perform matching in the receiving unit.

15 It will be appreciated that this serves as a form of "intelligent" compression. An advantage is that the input device does not need to store information about fingerprints but can do some of the processing work and this may significantly reduce the volume of data to be transmitted. This may be significantly more efficient than the use of generic image compression and/or yield better results. References 20 to transmitting and receiving images of fingerprints are intended to encompass transmitting and receiving processed or compressed images or "descriptions" of

images based on feature recognition which are not necessarily complete images, unless otherwise stated or implied.

25 In a further aspect, the invention provides entertainment equipment having means for storing entertainment choice profile information for at least two users, the equipment having an input unit comprising means for inputting at least one entertainment selection command from a user and further comprising means for distinguishing between at least two users based on a user biometric.

Although a fingerprint is a preferred biometric, as this can readily be combined with actuation of a command, other biometrics may be used. For example, a voice T_rr

( command may be processed to determine a command and to recognize the voice of the user giving the command.

The profile information preferably comprises at least one user preference, s preferably information relating to the user interest and/or viewing preferences. The equipment and/or the input unit may further include means for storing characteristics of a plurality of users, preferably fingerprint characteristics, for use in distinguishing between users. The information for use in distinguishing users may be stored separately from the user preference information or may be linked to the user 10 preference information.

The equipment preferably has means for storing a plurality of user profiles, for example user viewing profiles. Preferably the equipment has means for selecting a profile based on the user identified by the input unit. Preferably the equipment has 15 means for updating a selected user profile in response to a selection made by a user identified by the input unit. For example, when a user changes channel, the equipment may interpret that as a viewing preference for the user. Similarly, when a user selects from credits a schedule proposed by the equipment, preferences may be inferred. In this way, the equipment may create or augment user profiles without 20 explicit user input of preferences. Preferably the equipment has means for receiving metadata containing information concerning programme content. The metadata may be received with the programmes (for example as digital content in a digital broadcast, or encoded for example based on text encoding in an analogue broadcast) or available from a separate source, for example over a communication 25 downlink or over a network, such as the Internet, for example from a schedule of programmes and content type.

The equipment preferably has a profile engine for receiving a first input of a user identifier identified by the input unit, a second input of a selection command 30 received by the input unit, a third input of metadata containing information concerning programme content, a store of user profile information for a plurality of users, and means for selecting a user profile for an active viewer based on the first input and for updating the stored user profile for the active user based on the second

( and third inputs. Preferably the profile engine is arranged to update user profiles in response to selections by users identified by the input unit based on the frequency of selections over a period of time. Preferably the profile engine has means for correlating selections with time of day and week and with specific programme 5 content. A predetermined, or user-configurable, or adaptive weighting function may be used. For example, if a user makes a single selection of a sport programme, the user's profile may be updated to increase by a small factor the priority given to sport.

If the user selects a given programme which is shown regularly on more than one occasion, that specific programme may be given a higher priority and the programme 10 type associated with the specific programme may also be given a higher priority.

The provision of such an input device greatly facilitates the provision of a device providing multiple personalized viewing schedules.

15 In a further aspect, the invention provides an entertainment device arranged to store multiple user viewing profiles, the device having input means for identifying individual users based on a user biometric.

The entertainment device preferably has means for accessing a source of 20 media programmes, means for accessing metadata containing information regarding the content of the programmes and means for providing a userspecific viewing schedule based on a stored viewing profile for an identified user.

The device may further comprise means for modifying a user viewing profile 25 in response to a command input by an identified user.

In the preferred application, the equipment comprises means for receiving 30 and/or decoding and/or recording and/or replaying a broadcast signal. This may include a television, a set-top box, a personal video recorder, a video-on-demand user interface or an interactive entertainment console. Preferablythe equipment has

a profile engine for storing a plurality of user profiles and is arranged to select a profile for an active user based on the user identified by the input unit.

The invention further extends to methods of operation of input units and S equipment, a computer program or computer program product for operating an input unit or equipment, and to a data packet or command produced by an input unit.

The invention further provides a remote control for entertainment equipment, the remote control having a plurality of user actuable buttons each arranged to 10 perform a respective function, the functions including at least one entertainment channel change function, wherein at least one selection button has incorporated therein fingerprint reading means, the remote control being arranged so that, on actuation of said at least one selection button by a user, a user recognition process is activated and a command corresponding to the function assigned to the actuated 15 button is generated.

The user recognition process may comprise transmitting an image of the fingerprint to the entertainment equipment to be processed by the entertainment equipment or may comprise processing (partially or completely) the fingerprint in the 20 remote control.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a view of a remote control handset embodying the invention; and 25 Fig 2 is an overview of the system incorporating the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a remote control unit 1 according to an embodiment is arranged to capture a thumbprint by means of combined fingerprint sensor and pushbutton 2. The remote control also has a number of pushbutton switches 3 for 30 performing otherfunctions, thefunctions including a channel changefunction. Other functions may include a volume adjustmentfunction and may include menu selection commands.

( The remote control unit is shaped so that it lies in the hand and is naturally operated by the thumb, based on conventional ergonomic considerations for remote controls. s The combined fingerprint sensor and pushbutton 2 is recessed slightly to encourage repeatable location of the thumb (or other finger) during each key press.

Known techniques and sensors may be used to obtain an image of the user's thumbprint (e.g. optical, capacitance or pressure sensors). Sensors are 10 commercially available based on COD sensors which are of a suitable size to form a thumb-sized push-button. Modified sensors, for example smaller flat sensors and/or shaped (e.g. including a concave recess to encourage location) may be made i in a similar manner using known techniques. A sensor may be mounted resiliently biased so that depression of the sensor closes (or opens) a contact and actuates a 15 command and triggers fingerprint reading. Alternatively, the sensor may detect placement of a finger (for example optically) and trigger a command signal as well as reading the fingerprint.

The combined sensor and pushbutton 2 can be labelled as required. The 20 label is preferably positioned to the side of the button or on the periphery to avoid interfering with the imaging function and preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 75% of the area of the button comprises a sensor. By having at least 50% provided as a sensor, preferably a central portion, the risk of actuation with insufficient exposure to identify the user is reduced. The system is preferably 25 arranged so that the button 2 must be pressed at least once in order to access a function that requires or benefits from user identification. For example, the button may provide a confirmation function, for example it could be labelled "Select" or "OK" and the system may be arranged so that this is required to be pressed to confirm a selection made with cursor keys.

When the combined sensor and pushbutton 2 is pressed, the remote control is arranged to transmit the appropriate key code via a data channel to the receiving system followed by a compressed and serialised image of the thumbprint.

( The communication link may be bi-directional; this may enable the equipment to confirm valid receipt or request re-transmission. It may also allow the equipment to request transmission of the thumbprint selectively so that it is only transmitted when required to authorise an action or to identify a user or change of user but not s when the button is used to confirm other simple actions. Additionally or alternatively, the remote control may include a state machine or may monitor commands and transmit the thumbprint after certain sequences or keys but not after others.

To enhance security in some applications, an encryption and/ortime stamping 10 scheme may be used during transmission to prevent copying devices being used to regenerate a valid signal. As well as user identification, the device may be used as a theft deterrent so that the unit is only operational if the user has been validated.

This may be achieved by providing a pin number of authorization key to enable one or more users to be initially identified to the system and then subsequently requiring 15 the pin/key and/or an input by an authorised user to authorize subsequent users.

The receiving system preferably includes means for performing the processing required to match the thumbprint image against a known database of users. However, if the remote control has sufficient processing capability, it may partially pre-process the thumbprint or may process and "recognize" the thumbprint.

If processing is provided in the remote control, it may be configured to transmit a change of user or invalid user signal but will not need to transmit a user identifier for 25 - each key press, while the user remains the same.

Alternatively, the input device may include means for processing the received fingerprint. The input device may include means for storing a plurality of fingerprints or characteristics of fingerprints and means for matching a received fingerprint to a 30 stored fingerprint or characteristic. In such a case, the input device may have means for communicating an identifier of a user, preferably a numerical identifier of the user selected from a defined plurality of users to the equipment. This may have the benefit of simplifying communication between the input device and the equipment.

( The input device may include means for signaling that a new user fingerprint is to be recognised and/or may have means for recognising that a fingerprint does not correspond to a stored fingerprint. The input unit may include means for signaling that no match is detected, either to the user or to the equipment or to both.

Although input units such as remote controls generally have limited processing power, they are generally required to perform limited processing and are idle for much of the time. Thus' even with relatively limited processing power, aided by appropriate accelerators, sufficient processing may be performed even by simple 10 input equipment in order to select a best match from amongst stored users. The resolution processing required and degree of confidence in the match need only be sufficient to distinguish between typically of the order of two or three or at most half a dozen, rarely more than ten users in a household, which may represent a processing task several orders of magnitude less than that required, for example, to 15 identify an unknown person based on national criminal database records. A complication, however, is that within a typical household, at least some users are likely to be genetically related which may reduce the variation between individual users' fingerprints but nonetheless a distinction is possible using known algorithms for processing fingerprints.

In a preferred arrangement, the image comprises at least 10,000 pixels (for example a 1 centimetre square (although the image need not be square or indeed regular) at least 100 by 100 pixels of 100 microns (about 250 dpi)). The image may be monochrome and may be binary (black and white) although in some cases a 25 limited greyscale (or equivalent) may be used. Higher resolutions, in terms of pixel spacing and image size as well as image depth (greyscale) may be used dependent on available processing power and bandwidth. Lower resolutions may be used in some cases, although the ability to distinguish similar fingerprints, particularly in sub optimal conditions (e.g. with dirty or poorly positioned fingers) may become 30 degraded as resolution decreases.

Referring to Fig. 2, the remote control may be used in a system comprising a remote control unit with thumbprint capture 1, an audio/video access system 2, for

( example comprising a personal video recorder or decoder, and an audio/video display 3 such as a television set or monitor.

The audio/video access system 2 may provide the user with access to 5 audio/video services received from a unidirectional broadcast network, a bi-directional communications network or from an internal storage device which may support removable storage media.

A communication channel between the remote control unit 1 and the 10 audio/video access System 2 is preferably established using a wireless link, preferably bi-directional, such as infra-red, radio (e.g. Bluetooth protocol or a simple radio-frequency link, preferably bi-directional) or ultrasound.

The audio/video access system 2 and audio/video display 3 may be 15 integrated into a single unit.

In a preferred implementation, the apparatus has means for receiving and decoding metadata, describing the content that is available to the entertainment system. This can be provided with the content itself or from an independent source.

20 A profile engine may be provided to correlate user identifiers and metadata and to access stored profiles. This can be used to provide a number of advantageous features: The ability of the entertainment system to determine which user has 25 requested a particular action concerning an item of content, combined with metadata about that item, allows the accumulation of information about viewing behavior over a period of time and enables the build up a profile of each user's individual interests and preferences. For example, the fact that a specific user frequently selects content of a particular genre would indicate that further material of this genre is likely 30 to be of interest to this user.

The ability of the entertainment system to accumulate user profile information combined with a source of metadata describing the content that is accessible via the

( entertainment system may allow the system to identify automatically items of content that may be of interest to each user. A routine may be executed each time the remote control is handled by a different user to highlight items which may be of interest to the "new" user.

The ability of the entertainment system to identify content of interest to specific users may allow it automatically to acquire and store this content' when it is broadcast or when it becomes available for download, so that it is available for immediate consumption.

The ability of the entertainment system to determine the identity of the current user, combined with the ability to identify content of interest to specific users would allow the entertainment system to highlight and offer access to any available content that is likely to be of particular interest to the current user.

The ability of the entertainment system to determine the identity of the current user combined with user profile information, which includes parental rating settings, can be used to prevent specific users from gaining access to unsuitable material.

20 The ability of the entertainment system to determine the identity of the current user combined with user profile information, which may includes a personal expenditure or credit limit, could be used to prevent access to pay services that would enable an individual's personal expenditure limit to be exceeded or when credit is exhausted.

The ability of the entertainment system to determine the identity of the current I user could be used to prevent operation of the unit by an unknown individual. This could be used to prevent unauthorized use and discourage theft of the unit.

30 The ability of the entertainment system to determine the identity of the current user combined with user profile information, which includes viewing preferences, could be used to modify the presentation of the content. For example, the choice of

language, video format and subtitling settings could be automatically selected from 3 those available.

The embodiment has been described with reference to finger(thumb) print 5 capture integrated into a button of a remote control. This is a particularly preferred implementation. However, the invention may be extended to other command capture devices and the remote control may comprise a voice command and voiceprint capture device, which may be integrated into the equipment. Although described in the context of an audio video playback unit, the device may also be 10 used in conjunction with an interactive unit, and may be used with a games console or combined games console and media source. References to Entertainment" devices are not intended to imply any particular restriction or qualification on the content provided by the device (which may be educational or otherwise).

15 Each feature disclosed herein may be independently provided.

Claims

( Claims

1. An input device for entertainment equipment, the input device 5 comprising means for receiving a command input from a user; and means for deriving both a user identifier and a command instruction for the equipment from the received command input.

2. An input device according to Claim 1 wherein the command input 10 comprises user actuation of a button.

3. An input device according to Claim 2 wherein the input unit comprises at least one user actuable button having integrated therein means for reading a fingerprint of a user.

4. An input device according to Claim 3 having a plurality of input buttons.

5. An input device according to Claim 4 wherein not all buttons include means for reading a fingerprint.

6. An input device according to Claim 5 wherein only one button has an integrated fingerprint sensor.

7. An input device according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the or each button 25 with the integrated fingerprint sensor is positioned to be actuated by a designated user finger.

8. An input device according to Claim 6 and 7 wherein the designated finger comprises a thumb.

9. An input device according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the button has a concave recess to facilitate location of the designated finger.

10. An input device according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the or a button having an integrated fingerprint sensor is arranged to generate a selection or confirmation command instruction.

5

1 1. An input device according to any preceding claim comprising a remote control for entertainment equipment.

12. A remote control according to Claim 1 1 arranged to transmit key codes in response to actuation of input buttons and to transmit a data stream encoding a 10 fingerprint read by the sensor.

13. A remote control according to Claim 12 arranged to transmit the data encoding the fingerprint as an image, preferably as a compressed image or image features.

14. A remotecontrolforentertainmentequipment having a plurality of input buttons including at least one button providing a function to change an entertainment channel, the remote control further comprising an input button having integrated therein a fingerprint sensorfor performing an inputfunction, preferably a confirmation 20 function, the remote control having means for transmitting key codes to the entertainment equipment and further including means for transmitting data corresponding to a fingerprint read by the fingerprint sensor.

15. A remote control for entertainment equipment, the remote control 25 having a plurality of user actuable buttons each arranged to perFomm a respective function, the functions including at least one entertainment channel change function, wherein at least one selection button has incorporated therein fingerprint reading means, the remote control being arranged so that, on actuation of said at least one selection button by a user, a user recognition process is activated and a command 30 corresponding to the function assigned to the actuated button is generated.

16. Entertainment equipment having means for storing entertainment choice profile information for at least two users, the equipment having an input unit

comprising means for inputting at least one entertainment selection command from a user and further comprising means for distinguishing between at least two users based on a user biometric.

5

17. Entertainment equipment according to Claim 16 wherein the biometric comprises a fingerprint.

18. Entertainment equipment according to Claim 16 or 17 wherein the profile information comprises at least one user preference relating to entertainment I O viewing.

19. Entertainment equipment according to Claim 16, 17 or 18 further comprising means for storing at least one characteristic of each of a plurality of users for use in distinguishing between the users.

20. Entertainment equipment according to any of Claims 16 to 19 or 30 to 32 comprising means for receiving and/or decoding and/or recording and/or replaying a broadcast signal.

20

21. Entertainment equipment according to any of Claims 16 to 20 or 30 to 32 comprising means for retrieving a stored media programme or accessing a video on-demand service.

22. A method of operating entertainment equipment comprising: 25 receiving a command input from a user; and deriving both a user identifier and a command instruction for the equipment from the received command input.

23. A method according to Claim 22 wherein the user identifier is derived 30 from a user biometric.

24. A method according to Claim 23 wherein the user biometric comprises a fingerprint.

(

25. A method according to any of Claims 22 to 24 further comprising selecting a user profile based on the user identifier.

26. A method according to Claim 25 comprising compiling or modifying a S user viewing selection or entertainment choice based on the selected user profile.

27. A method according to Claim 26 wherein a viewing schedule is produced based on the selected user profile.

JO

28. A method according to Claim 26 or 27 wherein a user preference stored in a selected user profile is modified in response to a selection by the user.

29. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 21, wherein the equipment includes a profile engine for receiving a first input of a user identifier identified by the 15 input unit, a second input of a selection command received by the input unit, a third input of metadata containing information concerning programme content, a store of user profile information for a plurality of users, and means for selecting a user profile for an active viewer based on the first input and for updating the stored user profile for the active user based on the second and third inputs.

30. An entertainment device arranged to store multiple user viewing profiles, the device having input means for identifying individual users based on a user biometric.

25

31. An entertainment device according to Claim 30, the entertainment device having means for accessing a source of media programmed, means for accessing metadata containing information regarding the content of the programmed and meansforproviding a user-specificviewing schedule based on a stored viewing profile for an identified user.

32. An entertainment device according to Claim 31 further comprising means for modifying a user viewing profile in response to a command input by an identified user.

33. A remote control substantially as herein described.

34. An entertainment system substantially as herein described.