Control over users through Kinect-like devices: a new Microsoft patent

United States Patent Application: 0120278904

In November 2012, unnoticed by most, Microsoft registered a new patent, which describes, in fact, the future according to Orwell. The link above leads to the USPTO website, the US Patent and Trademark Office, which confirms the authenticity of the news.

So, the patent describes the scheme according to which with the help of a device equipped with a special camera, the system monitors the number of people in the room (by the number of warm bodies) and when exceeding a certain number set by the film distributor company, asks to purchase an extended license. Yes, in the original it is written:

“If you’re licensed by the user’s account, you’re taken.”

The content of the patent does not end there. The following describes the rule that
“The device allows content to be played only a limited number of times at a certain length of time, allowing viewing only a limited number of users, and tracking the number of users throughout the entire viewing.”

And then the most interesting part begins. Surely most readers had time to imagine this technology, built into the next XBOX, besides rumors about Kinect 2.0 have been circulating for a long time. But the company's plans are much broader ...
The application describes that this patent can be applied to head-mounted devices, large-screen devices, game consoles and music players, computers and even mobile phones.

This system is not the only one of its kind, Verizon recently filed a patent application that describes a user surveillance system via infrared cameras and microphones that can determine the number of people in a room and the content of their conversation, for precisely targeted advertising. Quote:
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“If you’ve been on the phone, you’ll find out if you’ve been on the phone.” select an advertisement associated with the one or more words. ”

In addition, the patent states that the system can determine what the user is doing at the moment: for example, playing sports, eating, laughing, singing, playing a musical instrument — and the system's task will be to determine the type of advertisement that suits your mood. In addition, a special kind of parental control is described - the system itself determines if there are small children in the room. She is also able to determine the presence of animals and their species.

The list of devices that are engaged in surveillance, in the Verizon patent are 3D-cameras, thermal imagers and microphones. In addition, the user is offered to connect his phone or tablet to the system so that the surveillance system can increase the sensitivity.

In the patent, this is described as voluntary action, but what if some games or films require that mobile devices be connected to the system in order to launch?

In addition, after analyzing conversations, the system will be able to send the most relevant advertising directly to the tablet or phone of a particular person.

Also in the article about Verizon it is mentioned that a similar patent was issued for Google TV, but no detailed information on this part has been found so far.

upd : Microsoft patent was already discussed on Habré on November 9, thanks to RoboNET : habrahabr.ru/post/83108/#comment_5972533

This post is a partial translation of two articles:
About Verizon Patent: washington.cbslocal.com/2012/12/04/they-can-hear-you-now-verizon-patent-listens-in-on-customers
And Microsoft: www.extremetech.com/gaming/139706-microsofts-new-kinect-patent-goes-big-brother-will-spy-on-you-for-the-mpaa