# US 9,520,957 B2 · Group recognition and profiling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,957 B2 - Document ID: US9520957B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/213,408 - Filed: 2011-08-19 - Published: 2013-02-21 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-19 - Assignees: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: Axel Ramirez Flores; Mark Charles Davis; Bradley Park Strazisar; Scott Edwards Kelso; Steven Richard Perrin; Yi Zhou; Howard J. Locker; Jian Li; Jianbang Zhang; Jennifer Greenwood Zawacki - Inventors: Axel Ramirez Flores; Mark Charles Davis; Bradley Park Strazisar; Scott Edwards Kelso; Steven Richard Perrin; Yi Zhou; Howard J. Locker; Jian Li; Jianbang Zhang; Jennifer Greenwood Zawacki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520957B2 ## CPC - H04H 60/45: for identifying users - H04H 60/46: for recognising users' preferences - H04H 60/65: for using the result on users' side - H04N 21/42202: {environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes} - H04N 21/4223: Cameras (H04N23/00 takes precedence) - 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 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A system can include storage for identification data for individuals; an interface configured to receive image data; recognition circuitry configured to recognize individuals using received image data and stored identification data; grouping circuitry configured to define groups based on recognized individuals; assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups; and output circuitry configured to output preferred media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: storage for identification data for individuals; an interface configured to receive image data; recognition circuitry configured to recognize individuals using received image data and stored identification data; location circuitry configured to spatially locate recognized individuals in an environment and to determine an arrangement of spatial locations of the recognized individuals with respect to each other in the environment; assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to a defined group based at least in part on a determined arrangement of spatial locations of recognized individuals in the defined group; and output circuitry configured to output preferred media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the storage for identification data for individuals comprises storage for facial data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the interface configured to receive image data comprises a wired or a wireless interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the interface configured to receive image data comprises one or more camera interfaces configured to receive still images, to receive video images, or to receive still images and video images. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences comprises blending circuitry configured to blend media consumption preferences for combinations of defined groups. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 comprising circuitry to determine environmental information for an environment wherein the environmental information comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of natural lighting, artificial lighting, noise, temperature, and humidity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the recognition circuitry comprises facial recognition circuitry. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises circuitry configured to locate a remote control and to associate a remote control with an individual. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising input circuitry configured to receive input of information for individuals and to receive input of information for groups of individuals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences comprises circuitry configured to access one or more remote databases that comprise media information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the output circuitry configured to output media information comprises an output interface configured to output selectable preferred media for rendering to a screen for consumption by the defined group. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: identifying a group of individuals located in front of a screen using a camera and facial recognition circuitry; determining an arrangement of spatial locations of the individuals with respect to each other as located in front of the screen; associating the group with media consumption preferences based at least in part on the arrangement of spatial locations of the individuals with respect to each other as located in front of the screen; and based on the associating, rendering selectable preferred media choices to the screen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising identifying a new group of individuals located in front of the screen; associating the new group with media consumption preferences; and, based on the associating, rendering selectable preferred media choices to the screen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising, based on the associating, automatically rendering preferred media to the screen for consumption by the group. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing environmental information for an environment in which the screen is located wherein the environmental information comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of natural lighting, artificial lighting, noise, temperature, and humidity. ### Claim 16 One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to: define a group based on a list of individuals; assign media consumption preferences to defined groups of individuals based at least in part on spatial arrangements of individuals with respect to each other in the defined groups; and responsive to recognition of individuals that define a group and determination of a spatial arrangement of the individuals with respect to each other in the group, output preferred media choices, the preferred media choices selectable, via a graphical user interface, for rendering to a display for consumption by the group. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to receive media selections from a group and, based thereon, to assign revised media consumption preferences to the group. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to restrict preferred media choices for a group based on age of an individual in a list of individuals that define the group. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to recognize individuals that define a group and to determine a spatial arrangement of the individuals in the group. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to sense environmental information for an environment in which recognized individuals are located and to output preferred media choices based at least in part on the sensed environmental information wherein the environmental information comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of natural lighting, artificial lighting, noise, temperature, and humidity.