Systems and methods for enabling quick multi-application menu access to media options

• US 10,540,062 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2019
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tam T
• Application Number:
  US16/396,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20190324601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling quick access to media options are provided. A display of a plurality of icons is generated, wherein each of the plurality of icons represents a different one of a plurality of applications. A user input is detected that identifies a first of the plurality of icons associated with a first of the plurality of applications. In response to determining that the user input corresponds to a quick access operation, first and second media asset identifiers and corresponding media options are retrieved from each of second and third applications. A menu that includes the retrieved first and second media asset identifiers is generated for display with the plurality of icons.

Claims

1. A method for enabling quick access to a media asset, the method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of first interactions with a first application of a plurality of applications;

identifying, based on the monitoring, a playback position of a media asset that is accessible through the first application;

generating, for inclusion in a quick access data structure, a media asset identifier associated with a resume operation for the media asset based on the playback position of the media asset;

receiving a second interaction with a second application of the plurality of applications;

in response to receiving the second interaction, providing the second application for display;

receiving, during the display of the second application, a request to display the quick access data structure;

providing the quick access data structure for display with the second application;

receiving a selection of the media asset identifier from the displayed quick access data structure; and

in response to the receiving the selection of the media asset identifier from the displayed quick access data structure, providing the media asset for display within the first application based on the resume operation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user has completed viewing the media asset;

determining that the media asset is a given episode in a series of media assets;

in response to the determining that the media asset is the given episode in the series of media assets, identifying a media asset identifier associated with a next episode that follows the given episode in the series; and

replacing, in the quick access data structure, the media asset identifier associated with the resume operation for the media asset with the media asset identifier associated with the next episode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a maximum number of media asset identifiers for inclusion in the quick access data structure; and

determining that a number of media asset identifiers currently stored in the quick access data structure is less than the maximum number,

wherein the generating, for inclusion in the quick access data structure, the media asset identifier is performed further in response to the determining that the number of media asset identifiers currently stored in the quick access data structure is less than the maximum number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a maximum number of media asset identifiers for inclusion in the quick access data structure;

comparing a number of media asset identifiers currently stored in the quick access data to the maximum number;

in response to the comparing, computing a relevance value for each media asset identifier in the quick access data structure;

identifying a media asset identifier having a lowest relevance value; and

removing the media asset identifier having the lowest relevance value from the quick access data structure.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein computing the relevance value for each media asset identifier in the quick access data structure comprises:

comparing each media asset identifier to a user profile; and

assigning a relevance value to each media asset identifier based on the comparing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user profile comprises a plurality of interactions of the user with a plurality of applications.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating for display a menu that includes media asset identifiers included in the quick access data structure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the menu is generated for display without performing a startup routine of the first application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the media asset is provided for display within the first application without first launching a landing page of the first application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first interactions and the second interaction comprise a user selection through a touchscreen, a verbal input from the user, or a gesture from the user indicating selection.

11. A system for enabling quick access to a media asset, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

monitor a plurality of first interactions with a first application of a plurality of applications;

identify, based on the monitoring, a playback position of a media asset that is accessible through the first application;

generate, for inclusion in a quick access data structure, a media asset identifier associated with a resume operation for the media asset based on the playback position of the media asset;

receive a second interaction with a second application of the plurality of applications;

in response to the receipt of the second interaction, provide the second application for display;

receive, during the display of the second application, a request to display the quick access data structure;

provide the quick access data structure for display with the second application;

receive a selection of the media asset identifier from the displayed quick access data structure; and

in response to the receipt of the selection of the media asset identifier from the displayed quick access data structure, provide the media asset for display within the first application based on the resume operation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine that the user has completed viewing the media asset;

determine that the media asset is a given episode in a series of media assets;

in response to the determination that the media asset is the given episode in the series of media assets, identify a media asset identifier associated with a next episode that follows the given episode in the series; and

replace, in the quick access data structure, the media asset identifier associated with the resume operation for the media asset with the media asset identifier associated with the next episode.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a maximum number of media asset identifiers for inclusion in the quick access data structure; and

determine that a number of media asset identifiers currently stored in the quick access data structure is less than the maximum number,

wherein the generation, for inclusion in the quick access data structure, of the media asset identifier is performed further in response to the determination that the number of media asset identifiers currently stored in the quick access data structure is less than the maximum number.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a maximum number of media asset identifiers for inclusion in the quick access data structure;

compare a number of media asset identifiers currently stored in the quick access data to the maximum number;

in response to the comparison, compute a relevance value for each media asset identifier in the quick access data structure;

identify a media asset identifier having a lowest relevance value; and

remove the media asset identifier having the lowest relevance value from the quick access data structure.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein, to compute the relevance value for each media asset identifier in the quick access data structure, the control circuitry is further configured to:

compare each media asset identifier to a user profile; and

assign a relevance value to each media asset identifier based on the comparing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user profile comprises a plurality of interactions of the user with a plurality of applications.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a menu that includes media asset identifiers included in the quick access data structure.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the menu is generated for display without performing a startup routine of the first application.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the media asset is provided for display within the first application without first launching a landing page of the first application.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first interactions and the second interaction comprise a user selection through a touchscreen, a verbal input from the user, or a gesture from the user indicating selection.