Methods and apparatus for using user engagement to provide content presentation

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided. A content providing device is operable to use engagement level information to modify presentation of content. In one aspect, the content providing device may determine a first engagement level of a first user in the presentation environment, compare the first engagement level to an engagement threshold to determine if the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold, and provide the content in the presentation environment using a second set of presentation attributes upon a determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing content, comprising:
 providing content in a presentation environment using a first set of presentation attributes;   determining a first engagement level of a first user in the presentation environment;   comparing the first engagement level to an engagement threshold to determine if the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold, wherein the engagement level is based at least on one or more contextual items associated with presentation of content by a content providing device; and   providing the content in the presentation environment using a second set of presentation attributes upon a determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the first engagement level to the engagement threshold further comprises:
 establishing the engagement threshold based on one or more engagement factors associated with the first user's engagement with the content.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein establishing the engagement threshold further comprises:
 deriving an engagement threshold based on the one or more engagement factors.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more engagement factors comprises at least one of:
 an ambient sound level;   a distraction propensity value based on a type of the content;   a baseline viewing direction for a user; or   an ambient light level, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more contextual items comprises at least one of:
 an ambient sound level;   presence of one or more distraction sounds;   speech detected from one or more users; and   a viewing direction with respect to a user interface for at least one of the one or more users, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a second engagement level is determined for a second user, and wherein the comparing further comprises:
 determining if the second engagement level for the second user is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing a marker associated with the content in storage in response to the determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein storing the marker further comprises at least one of:
 storing the marker in a memory associated with the content providing device; or   storing the marker with an entity that is accessible by one or more other content providing devices from which a user may access the content, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the storing the marker further comprises:
 analyzing a sound profile of the content to identify a lull in the content, wherein the lull persists for a threshold time duration; and   storing the marker at a location associated with the lull in the content.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 a processing system configured to:   provide content in a presentation environment using a first set of presentation attributes;   determine a first engagement level of a first user in the presentation environment;   compare the first engagement level to an engagement threshold to determine if the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold, wherein the engagement level is based at least on one or more contextual items associated with presentation of content by a content providing device; and   provide the content in the presentation environment using a second set of presentation attributes upon a determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 establish the engagement threshold based on one or more engagement factors associated with the first user's engagement with the content.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more engagement factors comprises at least one of:
 an ambient sound level;   a distraction propensity value based on a type of the content;   a baseline viewing direction for a user; or   an ambient light level, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more contextual items comprises at least one of:
 an ambient sound level;   presence of one or more distraction sounds;   speech detected from one or more users; or   a viewing direction with respect to a user interface for at least one of the one or more users, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 determine a second engagement level for a second user; and   determining if the second engagement level for the second user is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 store a marker associated with the content in storage in response to the determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 store the marker in a memory associated with the content providing device; or   store the marker with an entity that is accessible by one or more other content providing devices from which a user may access the content, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 analyze a sound profile of the content to identify a lull in the content, wherein the lull persists for a threshold time duration; and   store the marker at a location associated with the lull in the content.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:
 at least one instruction for causing a computer to provide content in a presentation environment using a first set of presentation attributes; 
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine a first engagement level of a first user in the presentation environment; 
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to compare the first engagement level to an engagement threshold to determine if the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold, wherein the engagement level is based at least on one or more contextual items associated with presentation of content by a content providing device; and 
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide the content in the presentation environment using a second set of presentation attributes upon a determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer-program product of  claim 18 , wherein the engagement threshold is established based on one or more engagement factors associated with the first user's engagement with the content. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-program product of  claim 19 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises:
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to derive an engagement threshold based on the one or more engagement factors.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-program product of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more engagement factors include at least one of:
 an ambient sound level;   a distraction propensity value based on a type of the content;   a baseline viewing direction for a user; or   an ambient light level, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-program product of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more contextual items comprises at least one of:
 an ambient sound level;   presence of one or more distraction sounds;   speech detected from one or more users; or   a viewing direction with respect to a user interface for at least one of the one or more users, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a second engagement level is determined for a second user, and wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine if the second engagement level for the second user is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-program product of  claim 18 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises:
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to store a marker associated with the content in storage in response to the determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-program product of  claim 24 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises:
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to store the marker in a memory associated with the content providing device; or   at least one instruction for causing the computer to store the marker with an entity that is accessible by one or more other content providing devices from which a user may access the content, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-program product of  claim 25 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises:
 at least one instruction for causing the computer to analyze a sound profile of the content for a lull threshold time duration; and   at least one instruction for causing the computer to store the marker at the detected lull in the content presentation.   
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for communications, comprising:
 means for providing content in a presentation environment using a first set of presentation attributes;   means for determining a first engagement level of a first user in the presentation environment;   means for comparing the first engagement level to an engagement threshold to determine if the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold, wherein the engagement level is based at least on one or more contextual items associated with presentation of content by a content providing device; and   means for providing the content in the presentation environment using a second set of presentation attributes upon a determination that the first engagement level is less than the engagement threshold.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the engagement threshold is established based on one or more engagement factors associated with the first user's engagement with the content. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein establishing the engagement threshold further comprises:
 deriving an engagement threshold based on the one or more engagement factors.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more engagement factors comprises at least one of:
 an ambient sound level;   a distraction propensity value based on a type of the content;   a baseline viewing direction for a user; or   an ambient light level, or any combination thereof.