PERSONALIZED USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS TV

Abstract

When a viewer is automatically recognized by an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV using, e.g., a camera, a dialog message is presented on the AVDD indicating that the viewer has been recognized and allowing the viewer to customize AVDD settings by selecting to implement the new viewer's profile, or by combining the new viewer profile with the currently-active profile to create a shared profile, or by ignoring the new viewer altogether.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/473,098, filed Apr. 7, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates generally to user interfaces (UI) for audio video display devices (AVDD) such as televisions (TVs).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

User interfaces for AVDDs that envision customization of certain settings of the AVDD according to a viewer profile typically require a viewer to navigate through a cumbersome system of menus, type in a password or PIN, and then select which one of multiple profiles to use to establish AVDD settings. As understood herein, these types of solutions fail to offer a viewer a way to quickly and easily select a profile with minimal user interface steps, nor do they permit combining any given profile with another profile as might be desired when multiple viewers are watching the same AVDD.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to principles set forth further below, an audio video display device (AVDD) includes a processor, a video display, and computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to determine that a new viewer is recognized to be present in the vicinity of the AVDD. The new viewer is associated with a new viewer profile including at least one setting of the AVDD, and the AVDD is controlled in accordance with settings associated with an existing viewer profile. Responsive to determining that the new viewer is recognized, a recognition notification message is presented on the display. The notification message includes a first selection not to change AVDD settings for the new viewer, and a second selection to change settings to conform to the new viewer profile and only the new viewer profile. Responsive to receiving the first selection, the AVDD settings are not changed. In contrast, responsive to receiving the second selection, AVDD settings are changed to conform to the new viewer profile.

In example embodiments the message also includes a third selection indicating that the new viewer profile is to be combined with the existing viewer profile and AVDD settings altered accordingly. The processor, responsive to receiving the third selection, combines the new viewer profile with the existing viewer profile and alters AVDD settings accordingly. The processor may remove the message from the display responsive to a determination that the message has been presented for greater than a timeout period without viewer response.

In some implementations the processor combines the profiles at least in part by adding overlapping settings characteristics between the new viewer profile and the existing viewer profile to a combined profile (CP). A characteristic is overlapping in that it appears in both profiles. The profiles may also be combined by adding to the CP non-overlapping, non-conflicting settings characteristics of the new viewer profile and existing viewer profile. A characteristic is non-overlapping, non-conflicting in that it appears in one viewer profile and not the other viewer profile and is not mutually exclusive with a setting in the other viewer profile. Non-overlapping setting characteristics may be prioritized according to at least one prioritization rule.

In contrast, responsive to a determination that a setting of a corresponding characteristic in the new viewer profile conflicts with a setting defined by the existing viewer profile, neither profile is used to establish the setting. Instead, a default setting is established.

Non-limiting examples provide for also determining that an object is recognized near the AVDD, and responsive to object recognition an image such as a dialog box that is associated with the object is presented.

In another aspect, an audio video display device (AVDD) includes a processor, a video display, and computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to, responsive to a determination that a new viewer is recognized by the processor, present on the display a notification message naming the new viewer so viewers of the AVDD know who the AVDD thinks it is recognizing. The message queries as to whether a viewer wishes to customize AVDD settings to account for the new viewer. Accordingly, the message includes a decline option and at least one accept option. The processor, responsive to selection of the decline option, does not change any AVDD settings, whereas responsive to Selection of the accept option at least one setting of the AVDD is changed to account for the new viewer.

In another aspect, a method includes automatically sensing, at an audio video display device (AVDD), that a new viewer having a new viewer profile accessible to the AVDD is near the AVDD. The method also includes, responsive to sensing the new viewer, presenting on the AVDD a dialog message indicating that the new viewer has been recognized and allowing the new viewer to customize AVDD settings by selecting to implement the new viewer profile, or by combining the new viewer profile with a currently-active profile to create a combined profile (CP), or by ignoring the new viewer altogether.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting example system in accordance with present principles;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example remote control (RC) that may be used to control the graphical user interfaces (GUI) described herein, schematically showing the processor and wireless transceiver;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a nine panel GUI in a coarse mode suitable for gesture control;

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a nine panel GUI in a fine mode suitable for RC control;

FIG. 5 is a non-limiting flow chart of example recognition notification logic according to present principles;

FIG. 6 is a screen shot of an example notification message;

FIG. 7 is a non-limiting flow chart showing example profile combination logic; and

FIG. 8 is a non-limiting flow chart showing example object recognition and corresponding image presentation logic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a system 10 includes an audio video display device (AVDD) 12 such as a TV including a TV tuner 16 communicating with a TV processor 18 accessing a tangible computer readable storage medium 20 such as disk-based or solid state storage. The AVDD 12 can output audio on one or more speakers 22. The AVDD 12 can receive streaming video from the Internet using a built-in wired or wireless modem 24 communicating with the processor 12 which may execute a software-implemented browser 26. Video is presented under control of the TV processor 18 on a TV display 28 such as but not limited to a high definition TV (HDTV) flat panel display, and may be a touch screen display. User commands to the processor 18 may be wirelessly received from a remote control (RC) 30 using, e.g., rf or infrared. Audio-video display devices other than a TV may be used, e.g., smart phones, game consoles, personal digital organizers, notebook computers and other types of computers, etc.

TV programming from one or more terrestrial TV broadcast sources 32 as received by a terrestrial broadcast antenna 34 which communicates with the AVDD 12 may be presented on the display 28 and speakers 22. The terrestrial broadcast programming may conform to digital ATSC standards and may carry within it a terrestrial broadcast EPG, although the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be received from alternate sources, e.g., the Internet via Ethernet, or cable communication link, or satellite communication link.

TV programming from a cable TV head end 36 may also be received at the TV for presentation of TV signals on the display 28 and speakers 22. When basic cable only is desired, the cable from the wall typically carries TV signals in QAM or NTSC format and is plugged directly into the “F-type connector” 38 on the TV chassis in the U.S., although the connector used for this purpose in other countries may vary. In contrast, when the user has an extended cable subscription for instance, the signals from the head end 36 are typically sent through a STB 40 which may be separate from or integrated within the TV chassis but in any case which sends HDMI baseband signals to the TV. Other types of connections may be used, e.g., MOCA, USB, 1394 protocols, DLNA.

Similarly, HDMI baseband signals transmitted from a satellite source 42 of TV broadcast signals received by an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) 44 associated with a home satellite dish may be input to the AVDD 12 for presentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. Also, streaming video may be received from the Internet 46 for presentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. The streaming video may be received at the computer modem 24 or it may be received at an in-home modem 48 that is external to the AVDD 12 and conveyed to the AVDD 12 over a wired or wireless Ethernet link and received at an RJ45 or 802.11x antenna on the TV chassis.

Also, in some embodiments a video camera 50, which may be integrated in the chassis if desired or mounted separately and electrically connected thereto, may be connected to the processor 16 to provide to the processor 16 video images of viewers looking at the display 28. In some non-limiting embodiments, the processor 16 executes facial recognition using the video images received from the camera 50 to identify particular viewers. The processor 16 also stores images of viewers on the medium 20 in non-limiting embodiments for future determination of whether a viewer is recognized when compared to stored images, or whether a recently received image relates to a new, or non-recognized, viewer. If desired, the processor 16 also creates and/or associates a profile with a user and/or stored images of the user and store the profile on the medium 20. A microphone 52 may also be provided on the chassis or separate therefrom and can be electrically connected to the processor 16 to provide viewer-generated voice commands to the processor 16.

FIG. 2 shows that an example RC 30 may include a power on key 60 that can be toggled to energize and deenergize the AVDD 12. A touch-sensitive pad 62 may be provided against which a user can move his finger to correspondingly move a screen cursor on the display 28. Tapping the pad 62 can generate a “select” signal, it being understood that point-and-click devices other than the touch sensitive pad 62 may be used.

Also, a back key 64 may be provided to cause the display 28 to go back a screen shot, i.e., to present the screen shot immediately prior to the one being displayed when the back signal is generated, so as to enable a user to navigate through the various GUIs shown herein. A home key 66 may be provided to cause the below-described “home” GUI to be presented on the display 28, and an options key 68 may be provided to allow a user to cause a list of GUI options to be presented in the display 28. Volume output by the speakers 22 of the AVDD 12 can be controlled using a volume up/down rocker key 70. Manipulation of a key or the pad 62 on the RC 30 causes a respective signal to be sent to an RC processor 72 in the RC 30, which transmits the corresponding command to the AVDD 12 using a wireless transceiver 74 such as but not limited to an infrared transceiver. In addition, if desired four arrow keys may be arranged on the RC 30 to move a cursor up, down, left, and right on the display 28. Also, channel up/down keys may be provided as well as a microphone for voice input. A full QWERTY keyboard or keypad may be provided if desired. The touch pad 62 may be provided with a buzzer or other device to generate tactile feedback to the user.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example home GUI that may be presented on the display 28 of the AVDD 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, nine information panels arranged as shown in three rows of three panels each present visual content. The panels shown in FIG. 3 are of equal size with each other and are rectangular as shown. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the top left panel 76 of the GUI always shows the currently selected video content, typically either televised content from a selected TV channel or streaming video from a selected website. Information pertaining to available video content is presented in the other eight panels. This information typically includes a photograph or other image, a content source logo indicating the source of the content represented by the panel, and text typically describing the title of the content and other information.

As shown at 78, a numeral may be provided next to each panel, so that the panels may be numbered onscreen from one to nine as shown. This facilitates a user selecting to play video content from a panel by saying the numeral associated with the panel. Also, as shown at 80 a genre indicator may be presented next to each panel. The genre indicator may be an arrow in the case of the first panel 76 indicating that the first panel 76 is presenting the currently selected video. The genre indicator may be a heart (as shown in FIG. 3 for panel 2) indicating the underlying video content has been selected by the user as a “favorite”. Other genre indicators may be presented respectively representing “history”, meaning that the content associated with the panel had been presented previously, “recommended”, meaning that the content associated with the panel is recommended by a recommendation engine executed by the AVDD processor 18, and so on, e.g., “frequently viewed”, “promotional content”. A user can select to present panels associated with content of only a single genre.

Additionally, if desired the GUI shown in FIG. 3 may present gesture hints 82, describing in text and/or animated hand motion a gesture and its associated command that the user may make, which can be captured by the camera 50 and correlated to the respective command by the processor 18 executing image recognition software. Thus, while viewer input may be afforded by making the display 28 a touch-sensitive display that a viewer can touch and thereby enter commands, present principles envision using viewer gestures in free space, i.e., gestures in which the viewer is distanced from the display 28 as would typically be the case for a TV viewer, with the viewer not touching the display but making gestures that are captured by the camera 50 and correlated to commands by the processor 18 executing image recognition software.

Further, a menu of selections may be presented as shown along the bottom of the GUI, including a “just for you” selector 84 to cause the GUI to contain panels with content personalized to a recognized user. A search selector 86 can be selected to cause a search for a user-input term to be executed. Also, a bookmark selector 88 can be selected to bookmark the currently playing video in panel 76 or to bookmark content in a panel over which the screen cursor is positioned.

Still referring to FIG. 3, a settings selector element 90 if selected causes a setting menus to be presented to control settings of the GUI. A queue selector element 92 may be presented to cause a list of enqueued programs to be presented on the display 28, and an inputs selector element 94 may be presented, selection of which causes a list of available input sources, e.g., “disk player, cable, satellite” to be presented on the display 28. A recommendations selector element 96 may be presented and if selected causes a list of recommended programming to be presented on the display 28. The list may be generated by a content recommendation engine such as the “Navi” engine made by Sony Corp. A “what's on” selector element 98 may be provided and if selected causes a list of current and future programs such as an electronic program guide (EPG) to he presented on the display 28. Indeed, an EPG may be presented in one of the panels shown in FIG. 3.

In any case, as mentioned above in the example shown the currently selected video content is always presented in the upper left panel 76 of the GUI. Should the user select another panel by using the RC 30 or by speaking the number of the panel or by the appropriate gesture captured by the camera 50, video content from the source associated with the selected panel automatically replaces the video content which was presented in the upper left panel 76 prior to receiving the new select signal. Indeed, should the user scroll the panels left or right to view additional content the upper left panel 76 remains unmoving as the other panels move on and off the display 28 as they are replaced by previously hidden content panels, with the upper left panel 76 always showing the currently selected video program.

The panel layout shown in FIG. 3 is somewhat coarse in that a visible border space 100 of many pixels width exists between adjacent panels as shown. Such a coarse representation facilitates control using gestures, although navigation by voice and by use of the RC 30 is always preferably enabled regardless of whether the GUI is in the coarse or fine view. FIG. 4 shows that if the user selects the fine view, the border space 100 disappears between adjacent panels, a view more suitable for RC control than gesture control although as stated above all three modes of command input (RC, voice, and gesture) remain enabled simultaneously with each other if desired.

Transition between the two views of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be effected by an appropriate hand gesture (e.g., a vertical motion of the hand) or by an appropriate voice command (e.g., “fine” or “coarse”), or by selecting, using the RC 30, “fine” or “course” from a settings menu accessed by selecting the settings selector element 90 or by pressing a key on the RC 30 or by simply grasping the RC, which is detected by the camera 50 and inferred by the processor 18 to correlate to a command to move to the “fine” screen of FIG. 4. The larger panels in the fine mode of FIG. 4 can be used to present more information than is presented in the panels of FIG. 3.

The GUI shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be removed from the screen and the currently playing video presented on the full display 28 by, e.g., toggling the home key on the RC 30. Voice command input may be enabled by voicing a phrase such as “hello TV”, which is detected by the microphone 52 and using voice recognition software correlated by the processor 18 to a command to enable voice commands. Voice input may also be enabled using the RC 30 to select the “search” selector element 86. To indicate that voice commands are enabled, an icon such as an image of a microphone 102 can be presented on the display 28. Gesture command input may be enabled by waving the hand, which is detected by the camera 50 and using image recognition software correlated by the processor 18 to a command to enable gesture commands. To indicate that gesture commands are enabled, an icon such as an image of a hand 104 can be presented on the display 28.

Non-limiting examples of corresponding RC, voice, and gesture commands that accomplish the same tasks are:

RC COMMAND	VOICE COMMAND	GESTURE
Channel up	“Channel up”	upward motion of hand
Channel down	“Channel down”	downward motion of hand
Volume decrease	“Quieter”	thumb down
Volume increase	“louder”	thumb up

FIG. 5 shows example viewer recognition notification logic. While logic is illustrated herein using flow charts for convenience, it is to be understood that equivalent state logic may be used.

Commencing at block 110, when a new viewer is recognized by, e.g., facial recognition of an image received from the camera 50 or by biometric means input by means of, e.g., a fingerprint reader on the RC 30 or by voice print recognition of signals received by the microphone 52, etc. the logic moves to block 112 to present a recognition notification message on the display 28. Note that viewers may initially input their recognition characteristics during system set up following menu prompts, along with their preferences, which become their “profile” with associated AVDD settings. Thus, multiple viewers may each have their own respective profile which defines settings of the AVDD, such as but not limited to audio settings such as volume, bass, treble, display settings such as brightness and contrast, favorites or other content that may be represented by content panels in FIG. 3, command input mode (voice, gesture, or RC), etc. By “new viewer” is meant a viewer who is not associated with a profile that is currently being used to determine settings of the AVDD.

Decision diamond 114 indicates that if the notification message has been presented for greater than a timeout period, e.g., thirty seconds or sixth seconds, without response the logic ends at block 116 without taking further action. Similarly, if a viewer response is received to the message using, e.g., the RC 30 to select a “no thanks” option at decision diamond 118, the logic also ends at state 116 without further action. Thus, the “no thanks” option gives the viewer the opportunity not to change TV settings for a newly recognized viewer if so desired, and instead maintain the current settings.

On the other hand, if a viewer response is received within the timeout period and it is not a “no thanks” response the logic moves to decision diamond 120, used for exposition purposes to branch to block 122 if a viewer has selected to change settings to those of the individual new viewer profile or to branch to block 124 if a viewer has selected to change settings to a combination of those of the individual new viewer profile and those which are currently implemented by the AVDD 12. More specifically, if a viewer has chosen to alter AVDD settings to match the settings implicated by the profile of the new viewer, the AVDD settings are so altered at block 122. In contrast, if a viewer has chosen to alter AVDD settings to combine profile settings of the newly recognized viewer with the settings currently being used, the logic combines the profiles or settings at block 124. FIG. 7 shows example logic for doing this.

Prior to discussing FIG. 7, however, reference is first made to FIG. 6, which shows an example recognition notification message 126 that can be presented unobtrusively on the display 28 as shown. The message 126 preferably is kept simple, naming the newly recognized viewer as shown so viewers know who the AVDD thinks it is recognizing and giving a viewer only a few selections based on the recognition event of the new viewer. Specifically, in the embodiment shown the viewer may be queried as to whether the viewer wishes to customize the AVDD settings to account for the new viewer. As discussed above the viewer may decline (by selecting “no thanks” in the example GUI shown), or may “change to me”, meaning change to the settings defined by the profile of the viewer named in the message 126, or change to combined settings as discussed above and explicated further below. When “no thanks” is selected the newly recognized viewer may thereafter be ignored by the AVDD 12 and the message 126 not presented when the newly recognized viewer is again recognized until the AVDD is deenergized and then reenergized, which resets the AVDD to not ignore recognizing the same viewer. In this way a viewer who may be in the room but not interested in the AVDD does not keep triggering the message 126 when walking in and out of the room in which the AVDD is disposed. Other GUIs may be presented to affirmatively allow viewers to choose when the notifications 126 are displayed, including setting the AVDD to ignore a specific viewer for the current viewing session, so that the notification 126 can be conditionally suppressed depending on which viewer is recognized.

Accordingly, it may now be appreciated that by the automatic display of a notification message, the AVDD viewer is allowed to quickly and easily decide how he wishes to personalize his experience on the AVDD. Rather than navigating through complicated menu systems, the dialog message 126 brings the available choices up to the viewer, so that the viewer can quickly modify his user experience with little effort.

FIG. 7 shows example profile combination logic. Commencing at block 128, any overlapping settings characteristics between the profile of the new viewer who is the subject of the message 126 and the profile currently being used to define the AVDD settings (“existing viewer profile”) are added to a previously empty combined profile (CP). By “overlapping” is meant settings that agree with each other, so that, for example, if channel A is a favorite of both the new viewer and the existing viewer whose profile currently defines the AVDD settings, channel A is indicated in the CP as being a favorite. Likewise, if both viewers prefer the same audio and video settings, those settings are added to the CP.

Proceeding to block 130 any non-overlapping settings features of the new viewer's profile and existing viewer's profile are added to the CP. This means that, for example, if the new viewer has a volume preference but the existing viewer does not, the volume setting of the new viewer's profile is added to the CP. Likewise, if the new viewer has a favorite channel that is not on the favorites list of the existing viewer, both viewers' favorites are added to a favorites list in the CP.

Recognizing that non-overlapping settings, while not necessarily conflicting, may still require prioritization, the logic may flow to block 132 to give priority to the settings of the new viewer. Thus, for example, the first content panel in FIG. 3 can represent the new viewer's favorite channel while the second content panel may represent the existing viewer's favorite channel. Other heuristics for prioritizing settings may be used.

On the other hand, some settings in the new viewer's profile may conflict with settings from the existing viewer's profile and if so, the CP contains no setting that is mutually inconsistent with those of the other profile. Instead, default settings are added to the CP. Thus, for example, if one viewer profile requires a loud volume setting and the other profile requires a low volume setting, neither setting is added to the CP and the CP instead employs a default volume setting.

When the AVDD employs object recognition, not just face recognition, the logic of FIG. 8 may be used to tailor presentation based on objects in the location at which the AVDD 12 is disposed. If no object is recognized at decision diamond 136 the logic ends at state 138, but otherwise proceeds to block 140 to determine the identity of the recognized object by entering a remote or local database of object IDs and then using the ID as entering argument to a remote or local database correlating object IDs to images or messages or advertisements and the like. The image, etc. corresponding to the object ID is presented at block 142 on the display 28.

Thus, object recognition can be used to display momentary dialog boxes or other images for other purposes than customizing the user interface. For instance, if a child's toy is recognized by the AVDD, the AVDD might periodically display an actionable dialog box promotion for related or competitor toys, depending on the advertisement model. The user interface of the AVDD can display a momentary message with a few simple action buttons.

While the particular PERSONALIZED USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS TV is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.

Claims

1. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising:

processor;

video display; and

computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to:

receive a notification message trigger;

responsive to the trigger, present a notification message on the display, the notification message including at least a first selection and a second selection,

responsive to receiving the first selection, executing first logic; and

responsive to receiving the second selection, executing second logic.

2. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein the notification message trigger is a determination, using a face recognition algorithm on an image provided to the processor, that a new viewer is recognized to be present in the vicinity of the AVDD, the new viewer being associated with a new viewer profile including at least one setting of the AVDD, the AVDD being controlled in accordance with settings associated with an existing viewer profile, the first logic is to change AVDD settings for the new viewer, and the second logic is to change settings to conform to the new viewer profile and only the new viewer profile.

3. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the message also includes a third selection indicating that the new viewer profile is to be combined with the existing viewer profile and AVDD settings altered accordingly.

4. The AVDD of claim 3, wherein the processor, responsive to receiving the third selection, combines the new viewer profile with the existing viewer profile and alters AVDD settings accordingly.

5. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the processor removes the message from the display responsive to a determination that the message has been presented for greater than a timeout period without viewer response.

6. The AVDD of claim 3, wherein the processor combines the profiles at least in part by adding overlapping settings characteristics between the new viewer profile and the existing viewer profile to a combined profile (CP), a characteristic being overlapping in that it appears in both profiles.

7. The AVDD of claim 6, wherein the processor combines the profiles at least in part by adding to the CP non-overlapping, non-conflicting settings characteristics of the new viewer profile and existing viewer profile, a characteristic being non-overlapping, non-conflicting in that it appears in one viewer profile and not the other viewer profile and is not mutually exclusive with a setting in the other viewer profile.

8. The AVDD of claim 7, wherein non-overlapping setting characteristics are prioritized according to at least one prioritization rule.

9. The AVDD of claim 7, wherein the processor, responsive to a determination that a setting of a corresponding characteristic in the new viewer profile conflicts with a setting defined by the existing viewer profile, uses neither profile to establish the setting and instead establishes a default setting.

10. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the processor, responsive to a determination that an object is recognized by the processor near the AVDD, presents on the display at least one image associated with the object.

11. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising:

processor;

video display; and

computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to:

responsive to a determination that a new viewer is recognized by the processor, present on the display a notification message naming the new viewer so viewers of the AVDD know who the AVDD thinks it is recognizing, the message querying as to whether a viewer wishes to customize AVDD settings to account for the new viewer, the message including a decline option and at least one accept option, the processor, responsive to selection of the decline option, not changing any AVDD settings, the processor, responsive to selection of the accept option, changing at least one setting of the AVDD to account for the new viewer.

12. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein responsive to the decline option being selected the processor does not present the message on the display thereafter prior to deeenrgizing the AVDD.

13. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the processor removes the message from the display responsive to a determination that the message has been presented for greater than a timeout period without viewer response.

14. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the message also includes a combine option indicating that a profile associated with the new viewer is to be combined with an existing profile, the processor combining the profiles at least in part by adding overlapping settings characteristics between the new viewer profile and the existing viewer profile to a combined profile (CP), a characteristic being overlapping in that it appears in both profiles.

15. The AVDD of claim 14, wherein the processor combines the profiles at least in part by adding to the CP non-overlapping, non-conflicting settings characteristics of the new viewer profile and existing viewer profile, a characteristic being non-overlapping, non-conflicting in that it appears in one viewer profile and not the other viewer profile and is not mutually exclusive with a setting in the other viewer profile.

16. The AVDD of claim 15, wherein non-overlapping setting characteristics are prioritized according to at least one prioritization rule.

17. The AVDD of claim 15, wherein the processor, responsive to a determination that a setting of a corresponding characteristic in the new viewer profile conflicts with a setting defined by the existing viewer profile, uses neither profile to establish the setting and instead establishes a default setting.

18. The AVDD of claim 11, wherein the processor, responsive to a determination that an object is recognized by the processor near the AVDD, presents on the display at least one image associated with the object.

19. Method, comprising:

automatically sensing, at an audio video display device (AVDD), that a new viewer having a new viewer profile accessible to the AVDD is near the AVDD;

responsive to sensing the new viewer, presenting on the AVDD a dialog message indicating that the new viewer has been recognized and allowing the new viewer to customize AVDD settings by selecting to implement the new viewer profile, or by combining the new viewer profile with a currently-active profile to create a combined profile (CP), or by ignoring the new viewer altogether.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising combining the profiles at least in part by adding to the CP non-overlapping, non-conflicting settings characteristics of the new viewer profile and currently-active profile.