Systems and methods for providing personalized audio content

Abstract

A method for providing audio content to a user device in a movie theater includes the steps of personalizing the audio content for the user device based on an identifier and providing the personalized audio content to the user device. In some embodiments, the identifier is based on demographic information about the user. According to some embodiments, the personalized audio content accompanies additional content that is not provided by the user device. In some embodiments, the personalized audio content accompanies a movie.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing audio content to a user device in a movie theater, comprising:
 personalizing the audio content for the user device based on an identifier, wherein the identifier is based on whether a user associated with the user device belongs to a social network; and   providing the personalized audio content to the user device comprising audio commentary created by members of the social network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content accompanies a movie. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising delaying delivery of the audio commentary to align the commentary with a scene of the movie. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the personalized audio content further comprises at least one of: an alternate or additional dialogue, an alternate or additional sound effect, and an additional musical accompaniment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a group to which the user associated with the user device belongs. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 personalizing the audio content for a different user device based on a different identifier, wherein the personalized audio content for the user device is different from the personalized audio content for the different user device; and   providing the personalized audio content to the different user device;   wherein the personalized audio content for the different user device is based on a different group to which a different user of the different user device belongs.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein members of the group each receive the personalized audio content through their respective user devices, the personalized audio content being the same for each of the members. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content comprises one or more advertisements or offers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more advertisements or offers are related to an in-theater purchase. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more advertisements or offers are for merchandise related to content being viewed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 personalizing the audio content for a different user device based on a different identifier, wherein the personalized audio content for the user device is different from the personalized audio content for the different user device; and   providing the personalized audio content to the different user device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a location in a room. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a location outside a room displaying a movie. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is at a range of audio frequencies different from a range of audio frequencies provided by an external audio source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized audio content is a three-dimensional audio effect. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the three-dimensional audio effect is dependent on a location in a room of the user device. 
     
     
         17 . A system for providing audio content to a user device in a movie theater, the system comprising:
 a content personalizer comprising a processor, the content personalizer configured to:
 personalize the audio content for the user device based on an identifier, wherein the identifier is based on whether a user associated with the user device belongs to a social media network; and 
 provide the personalized audio content to the user device, the personalized audio content comprising audio commentary created by members of the social network. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising delaying delivery of the audio commentary to align the commentary with a scene of a movie. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a group to which the user of the user device belongs. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the content personalizer is further configured to:
 personalize the audio content for a different user device based on a different identifier, wherein the personalized audio content for the user device is different from the personalized audio content for the different user device; and   provide the personalized audio content to the different user device;   wherein the personalized audio content for the different user device is based on a different group to which a different user of the different user device belongs.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on at least one user preference. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the personalization of the audio content is affected by at least one user preference. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the personalized audio content is provided as a result of a ticket purchase. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the identifier is based on a ticket purchase. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the identifier is based on information provided by the user device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the content personalizer is further configured to:
 receive input from a user.   
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions when processed by a processing circuit perform the following:
 personalizing audio content for a user device based on an identifier, wherein the identifier is based on whether a user associated with the user device belongs to a social media network;   providing the personalized audio content to the user device, the personalized content comprising audio commentary created by members of the social media network; and   delaying delivery of the audio commentary to align the commentary with a scene of a movie.   
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the identifier is further based on demographic information about a user. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the identifier is further based on a ticket purchase. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the identifier is further based on information provided by the user device. 
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the identifier is further based on an identity of the user device. 
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the identifier is further based on facial recognition. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 32 , wherein the facial recognition determines demographics of a user. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the personalized audio content is based on a location in a room. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the personalized audio content is at a range of audio frequencies different from a range of audio frequencies provided by an external audio source.