Method of Providing Selected Content Items to a User

• US 20090234784A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Lo Bello, Giuseppe, Buriano, Luca
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/387 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A method for providing selected content items to a user. The selection of content items is based on metadata pre-assigned to content items, typically authored content metadata, and on metadata generated and associated afterwards, called derived content metadata. Additionally, the selection of content items can be based also on context metadata, particularly derived context metadata. Derived metadata are automatically generated on the basis of derivation rules corresponding to algorithms to be applied to, e.g., the content of content items, authored content metadata and context metadata. User profiles can be used for improving the selection quality. A method is also disclosed for building and maintaining user profiles based on machine learning techniques.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method of providing selected content items to a user, comprising the steps of:

A) identifying a first set of content items based on a request by the user, wherein first content metadata are pre-assigned to the content items of said first set;

B) automatically generating second content metadata for the content items of said first set on a basis of at least a first derivation rule, said derivation rule corresponding to an algorithm to be applied to at least the content items of said first set;

C) associating said second content metadata to the content items of said first set; and

D) providing a second set of selected content items from said first set on a basis of said first content metadata and said second content metadata.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said algorithm is to be applied also to at least some of said first content metadata.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein step B) is carried out also on the basis of first context metadata relating to an interaction context of said selected content items in order to automatically generate second context metadata.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein said second content metadata derive from an algorithm to be applied to a plurality of content items.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein step D) is carried out also on the basis of a user profile of said user.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said user profile comprises a predictive model.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein in step D) a ranking to each of the content items of said first set is provided on a basis of said second content metadata and of said predictive model so as to define said second set of content items based on said ranking.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said ranking to each of the content items of said first set provided on the basis of said second content metadata and of said second context metadata and of said user profile, and to select said second set of content items based on said ranking.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein said second set of content items is provided as replies to corresponding requests by said user.

32. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of associating a feedback from said user to at least a content item of said second set.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of recording at least a content item of said second set and a feedback from said user related to said at least a recorded content item.

34. The method according to claim 33, comprising the step of recording at least part of said second metadata used for selecting said at least a content item.

35. The method according to claims 33, comprising the step of recording said user request.

36. The method according to claim 33, comprising the step of building or updating a predictive model of said user based at least on said recorded content item and user feedback.

37. The method according to claims 36, comprising the step of recording at least part of said second metadata and the step of building or updating a predicative model of said user based at least on recorded second metadata.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said predictive model is built or updated through at least one machine learning algorithm applied to at least said second content metadata.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein said machine learning algorithm is applied also to at least some context metadata.

40. The method according to claim 28, wherein the user profile comprises at least two predictive models.

41. The method according to claim 23, wherein said second set of content items is provided by a service provider.

42. The method according to claim 23, wherein said selected content items are provided through a telecommunication network.

43. A computer program product, loadable into the memory of at least one computer and comprising software code portions capable of performing the method of claim 23.

44. A content-based service comprising the steps of collecting content requests from a user and providing selected content items to the user according to the method of claim 23.