The invention relates to a monitoring module for monitoring streaming media, the module comprising an input port for receiving operation data from a media player including a control unit, a user operated interface forwarding command signals including switching commands for operating the media player, and a display for displaying a media stream received by the control unit.

Monitoring systems are known for monitoring whether or not broadcasted programs are watched by users of a TV system. Further, monitoring systems are known for monitoring human activities, e.g. for tracking a presence of persons in a building, as e.g. disclosed in European patent EP 2 353 153 B1 mentioning the same inventor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for monitoring streaming media. Thereto, according to the invention, the monitoring module further comprises a processor for registering, from the received operation data, a time instant when a switching command signal is received and/or for counting a number of said switching command signals.

By registering a time instant when a switching command signal is received and/or by counting a number of said switching command signals, relevant information about watching behaviour of the resident can be obtained in a relatively easy way, e.g. for early detection of dementia processes so as to apply medical and social interventions in time.

The invention is at least partly based on the insight that timing information and frequency information of switching command signals can be reliably correlated with any day-night rhythm reversal or any cognitive decline of the resident.

The invention is also at least partly based on the insight that specific information of command signals can be received and/or by specifically be interpreted to obtain the highly relevant data about the resident in a cheap, reliable and privacy friendly way.

The invention also relates to a method of monitoring streaming media.

Further, the invention relates to a computer program product. A computer program product may comprise a set of computer executable instructions stored on a data carrier, such as a CD or a DVD. The set of computer executable instructions, which allow a programmable computer to carry out the method as defined above, may also be available for

downloading from a remote server, for example via the Internet.

Further advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the following claims.

It should be noted that the technical features described above or below may each on its own be embodied in a system or method, i.e. isolated from the context in which it is described, separate from other features, or in combination with only a number of the other features described in the context in which it is disclosed. Each of these features may further be combined with any other feature disclosed, in any combination.

The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments and an accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a monitoring module according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention. It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to the invention. In the figures, the same reference numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a monitoring module 1 according to the invention. The module 1 is arranged for monitoring streaming media, and comprises a multiple number of input ports 2a-d and a processor 3.

Figure 1 also shows a media player including a control unit 11, a user operated interface 12 and a display 13. The control unit 11 is connected to a set-top box 14, via a communication line 15, for receiving media streams such as live television content, live video content, time-shifted television content, time-shifted video content or video on demand content data provided by an Internet service provider. The display 13 is arranged for displaying a media stream received and selected by the control unit 11 based on a command signal CS forwarded from the user operated interface 12 towards the control unit 11 for controlling operation of the media player. The interface 12 is operated by a person P watching the display 13.

An input port 2b of the monitoring module 1 is communicately connected, e.g. via a wired or wireless connection, to the control unit 11 of the media player for receiving operation data from said media player, e.g. including command signals CS that have been received from the user operated interface 12 and/or meta data about a media stream that is currently displayed on the display 13. Command signals CS transmitted from the user operated interface 12 may include a switching command signal causing the control unit 11 to control the display 13 such that the display 13 terminates displaying a first media stream and starts displaying a second media stream. As an example, the switching command signal may cause the display 13 to switch from a first TV channel to a second TV channel. Further, a switching command signal may cause the media player to switch on or off.

The processor 3 of the monitoring module 1 is arranged for registering, from the received operation data, a time instant when a switching command signal CS is received by the control unit 11 and/or for counting a number of said switching command signals CS. Preferably, the processor 3 is arranged for registering, from the received operation data, either the time instants of the respective switching command signals CS, either the number of the respective command signals CS, e.g. per evaluation period, or both the time instants and the number of command signals CS, without further data associated with the switching command signals, such as metadata associated with a channel that is selected by the user. Then, only time instants and/or a number of command signals are stored, for further evaluation.

Advantageously, the processor 3 is arranged for identifying a daily time period TP during which time period TP a cluster of switching command signals are regularly received. The identification process may include applying statistical methods to the received operation data. Such time period TP may correspond to a daily pattern of a person P watching the display 13, e.g. for watching a sequence of favorite TV programs. The processor may also be arranged for detecting a shift in the identified daily time period TP. As an example, the time that the person watches TV may shift to nocturnal hours. Such a time shift may be related to a decrease of mental activities or a start of a dementia process of the person daily watching the display 13. If the processor detects an above-mentioned time period shift meeting a set of criteria, such as a shift to nocturnal hours and/or a day-night rhythm reversal, the monitoring module 1 may send an alert signal to a software platform informing relatives and/or professional caregivers about a recognized watching pattern that might be indicative of a mental / physiological process of the person that deserves specific attention of relatives and/or professional caregivers, e.g. via a software service such as an app.

Alternatively or additionally, the processor 3 is arranged for periodically counting a number of switching command signals during a predetermined counting period. As an example, the person P operation the media player may forward a total of 20 or more switching command signals per counting period such as a quarter of an hour. Preferably, the processor 3 is further arranged for determining a trend in the periodically counted switching command signals per counting period. Again, an alert signal can be sent to a software platform informing relatives and/or professional caregivers about a recognized switching behaviour of the person that might be indicative of a cognitive decline of mental / physiological processes of the person that deserves specific attention, e.g. if the periodically counted switching command signals drop below a pre-determined minimum level. Further, inactivity monitoring, e.g. for emergency/fall detection, can thus be improved, because switching activity is not expected during such

emergencies.

Generally, a trend in switching behavior, e.g. concerning a shift in the daily time period that the person typically watches media streams and/or a reduction in a rate of switching commands per counter period, can thus be detected automatically and in a privacy friendly manner, as specific data on individual programs or media streams can be filtered out. By informin a relative and/or professional caregiver about any trend in decreasing switching activity and/or shift in watching periods in an early stage, preventive measures can be taken to the resident. The alert signal can be sent to the software platform via a communication channel connecting the monitoring module 1 to a device on which said software platform is running, such as a local device having Internet connectivity or access to telephone services. The device can be located locally, e.g. in the monitoring module 1, or remotely, e.g. accessible via the Internet.

Optionally, the monitoring module 1 can be arranged for informing the person operating the interface 12 that an alert signal has been transmitted to a relative and/or professional caregiver, e.g. via an optical indicator.

The monitoring module 1 itself may located near the media player or remotely from said media player. In the latter case, the input port 2b may be virtual as the monitoring module 1 may then receive operation data from the media player via a remote network such as the Internet. Optionally, the monitoring module 1 may be arranged for receiving operation data from media players operated by different persons, e.g. residing in different residences. Then, the monitoring module 1 may register and/or count switching commands of said different persons, e.g. for detecting, for each of said persons, a shift in an identified daily time period during which time period a cluster of switching command signals are regularly received.

Generally, the monitoring module 1 can be applied for monitoring streaming media on a media player, using operation data from said media player, e.g. for registering time instants of switching command signals and/or for counting a number of said switching command signals. The media player is provided with a display that is implemented as a TV screen or another display, e.g. a display of a desktop or a display of a mobile communication device such as a labtop, tablet, phablet or smartphone.

The monitoring module 1 as shown in Fig. 1 has multiple input ports 2a-d for receiving operation data from multiple media players. Then, the monitoring module 1 may monitor a multiple number of streaming media, on different media players.

It is noted that the control unit 11 of a single media player may include multiple ports for receiving streaming media such as from the Internet or from a DVD, memory stick, hard disc etc. Then, a person watching the display 13 may switch not only between streaming media from a single port, but also between distinct ports on the control unit 11.

It is further noted that the user operated interface 12 may be implemented as a separate device transmitting command signals via a wired or wireless channel or may be integrated in another device, e.g. in the control unit 11. As an example, the user operated interface can be

integrated in a touchscreen of a portable electronic communication device such as a tablet. Also, the communication line 15 between the control unit ί

11 and the connection set-top box 14 can be wired or wireless. Further, the media player may operate without receiving a media stream from the set top box 14, e.g. when receiving a media stream from a harcldisc. Then, the media player may have or have not Internet connectivity.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention. The method is used for monitoring streaming media. The method 100 comprises a step of providing 110 a media player including a control unit, a user operated interface forwarding command signals including switching commands for operating the media player, and a chsplay for displaying a media stream received by the control unit, a step of providing 120 a monitoring module comprising an input port, a step of receiving 130, at the monitoring module, operation data from the media player, via the input port, and a step of registering 140, from the received operation data, a time instant when a switching command signal is received and/or for counting a number of said switching command signals.

The step of receiving operation data from the media player, and the step registering a time instant when a switching command signal is received and/or for counting a number of said switching command signals, can be performed using dedicated hardware structures, such as FPGA and/or ASIC components. Otherwise, the method can at least partially be performed using a computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processor of a computer system to perform the above described steps. A number of steps can in principle be performed on a single processor. However it is noted that at least one step can be performed on a separate processor, e.g. the step of receiving operation data from the media player.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

It is noted that the streaming media can be interactive.

These and other embodiments will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.