# US 2013/0155332 A1 · Method for controlling power on/off of a multimedia player, and associated apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155332 A1 - Document ID: US20130155332A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/610,848 - Filed: 2012-09-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Inventors: Chao-Feng Wei - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155332A1 ## CPC - H04N 5/63: Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers - H04N 21/44218: {Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV programme (methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45)} - H04N 21/4436: {Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver (power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method for controlling power on/off of a multimedia player includes: detecting whether at least one user enters at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player; and when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region, triggering the multimedia player to turn on a main power of the multimedia player, allowing the user to view at least one program provided through the multimedia player. An associated apparatus for controlling power on/off of the multimedia player is also provided. For example, the apparatus may include a portion of the multimedia player, such as a control circuit of the multimedia player. In another example, the apparatus may include the whole of the multimedia player. In particular, the multimedia player can be one or a combination of an optical disc player, a set top box (STB), a television (TV), and/or a TV receiver. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling power on/off of a multimedia player, the method comprising: detecting whether at least one user enters at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player; and when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region, triggering the multimedia player to turn on a main power of the multimedia player, allowing the user to view at least one program provided through the multimedia player. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting whether the at least one user enters the at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player further comprises: detecting whether the user enters the predetermined region by utilizing optical detection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of detecting whether the at least one user enters the at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player further comprises: detecting whether the user enters the predetermined region by utilizing at least one photo resistor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of detecting whether the at least one user enters the at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player further comprises: detecting whether the user enters the predetermined region by utilizing at least one infrared (IR) detection device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of detecting whether the at least one user enters the at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player further comprises: detecting whether the user enters the predetermined region by utilizing at least one camera. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one user comprises a plurality of users; and the step of detecting whether the at least one user enters the at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player further comprises: detecting whether the plurality of users enters the predetermined region by utilizing the at least one camera. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: when it is detected that the plurality of users enters the predetermined region, classifying any of the users into one of a plurality of predetermined types, and triggering the multimedia player to play a specific portion of the program, allowing the users to view the specific portion of the program, wherein a plurality of portions of the program respectively correspond to the plurality of predetermined types, and the specific portion corresponds to a specific type having a maximum number of persons within the users. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of triggering the multimedia player to turn on the main power of the multimedia player further comprises: when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region, triggering the multimedia player to turn on the main power, in order to actively play the program in response to appearance of the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: after triggering the multimedia player to turn on the main power, triggering the multimedia player to turn off the main power when it is detected that a predetermined turn on time is expired and that there is nobody within the predetermined region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the program is an advertisement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region, detecting whether the user enters the predetermined region multiple times; and when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region multiple times, triggering the multimedia player to play a second portion of the program, allowing the user to view the second portion of the program, wherein a first portion of the program is played when the user enters the predetermined region at a previous time, and a second start time index of the second portion is different from a first start time index of the first portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the step of detecting whether the user enters the predetermined region multiple times further comprises: detecting whether the user enters the predetermined region multiple times by detecting at least one portion of a face of the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region, classifying the user into a specific type of a plurality of predetermined types, and triggering the multimedia player to play a specific portion of the program, allowing the user to view the specific portion of the program, wherein a plurality of portions of the program respectively correspond to the plurality of predetermined types, and the specific portion corresponds to the specific type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of predetermined types comprises an elder type representing elders, a child type representing children, a man type representing men, and/or a woman type representing women. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for controlling power on/off of a multimedia player, the apparatus comprising: a control circuit arranged to control operations of the multimedia player, wherein the processing circuit comprises: a detection module arranged to detect whether at least one user enters at least one predetermined region near the multimedia player; and a processing module, wherein when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region, the processing module triggers the multimedia player to turn on a main power of the multimedia player, allowing the user to view at least one program provided through the multimedia player. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the detection module is arranged to detect whether the user enters the predetermined region by utilizing optical detection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein when it is detected that the user enters the predetermined region, the processing module triggers the multimedia player to turn on the main power, in order to actively play the program in response to appearance of the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein after triggering the multimedia player to turn on the main power, the processing module triggers the multimedia player to turn off the main power when it is detected that a predetermined turn on time is expired and that there is nobody within the predetermined region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one portion of the multimedia player. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the multimedia player is one or a combination of an optical disc player, a set top box (STB), a television (TV), and/or a TV receiver.