Method and apparatus for identifying a user of an electronic device using bioelectrical impedance

Abstract

A method for identifying a user of an electronic device is presented. In the method, for each of a plurality of users, a bioelectrical impedance of the user is measured, a value based on the measurement is generated, and the value is associated with information corresponding to the user. A bioelectrical impedance of a current user of the electronic device is also measured, and a value based on this measurement is generated. The value associated with the current user is compared with at least one of the values associated with the plurality of users. In response to the comparison, the electronic device is operated based on the information corresponding to one of the plurality of users in response to the current user interacting with the electronic device if the value associated with the current user indicates the current user is the one of the plurality of users.

1 . A method of identifying a user of an electronic device, the method comprising:
 measuring a bioelectrical impedance of the user;   generating a value based on the measured bioelectrical impedance of the user; and   measuring a bioelectrical impedance of a current user of the electronic device;   generating a value based on the measured bioelectrical impedance of the current user;   comparing the value associated with the current user with the value associated with the user; and   replacing the value associated with the user with the value associated with the current user when the value associated with the current user indicates that the current user is the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 measuring the bioelectrical impedance of the user comprises measuring a resistance of the user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 measuring the bioelectrical impedance of the user comprises measuring a reactance of the user.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 measuring the bioelectrical impedance of the user comprises measuring a bioelectrical impedance across two locations on a hand of the user.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating the value with information corresponding to the user, and wherein:
 the electronic device comprises a media content receiver.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the user comprises a favorite channels list associated with the user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the user comprises programming recommendations for the user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the user comprises parental control information associated with the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the user comprises purchase information associated with the user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the user comprises peer group information associated with the user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the value associated with the current user indicates the current user is the user if the value associated with the current user is within one of a predetermined difference and a predetermined percentage of the value of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the value associated with the current user indicates that the current user is the one of the plurality of users if the value associated with the current user is closer to the value associated with the user than to another value associated with any other of a plurality of users that include the user.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 re-measuring the bioelectrical impedance of the user if the value associated with the user resides outside a predetermined range.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 re-measuring the bioelectrical impedance of the current user if the value associated with the current user resides outside a range associated with values associated with a plurality of users that includes the user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication from the current user that the current user is not one of a plurality of users of the electronic device; and   in response to receiving the indication, associating the value associated with the current user with information corresponding to the current user.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to the comparison, operating the electronic device based on default information in response to the current user interacting with the electronic device if the value associated with the current user indicates the current user is not the user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to the comparison, associating the value associated with the current user with information corresponding to the current user if the value associated with the current user indicates the current user is not the user.   
     
     
         19 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a memory;   a communication interface configured to receive values based on measured bioelectrical impedances a user of the electronic device, and to receive user commands for the electronic device; and   control logic configured to:
 identify a current user based on a measured bioelectrical impedance from the communication interface; 
 and 
 in response to the identification, control the operation of the electronic device based on peer group information corresponding to the user in response to user commands initiated by the current user. 
   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a content input interface configured to receive media content; and   a content output interface configured to present the received media content to the user;   wherein the control logic is further configured to control the content input interface and the content output interface based on the information corresponding to the current user when the current user is interacting with the electronic device.