GENERATION OF HOME NETWORK USE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON COLLECTED METADATA OF PRIOR CONNECTED ITEMS

• US 20100076997A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Smyers, Scott, Koike, Motoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

Particular embodiments provide home network use recommendations to a user. The home network use recommendations may involve recommendations on items, which may include devices, applications, and/or services. When users connect an item (e.g., a device) to a home network, information associated with the item may be received. Metadata for the information is generated that describes the information. The metadata may be stored in storage in a user profile for the user. The user profile may then be analyzed to determine home network use recommendations. For example, recommendations may be how to use or configure the home network.

Claims

1. A method for providing recommendations to a user, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with one or more items connected to a home network for a user;

generating metadata for the information, the metadata describing configuration information for the one or more items connected to the home network;

storing the metadata in storage in a user profile for the user; and

generating a home network use recommendation based on an analysis of the user profile, the home network use recommendation being based on using the home network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the recommendation comprises:

receiving an identifier for a new item; and

analyzing the metadata to determine the recommendation for the new item in real-time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the recommendation comprises recommending a second item different from the new item, the second item being considered more compatible with the home network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifier is received through a network from a device outside of the home network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the recommendation comprises a recommendation to change a configuration of the home network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more items comprise items connected to or previously connected to the home network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata is stored in a central database, the central database being accessible by a recommendation generator to generate the recommendation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving metadata for one or more other users; and

generating the recommendation based on the metadata for the one or more users, the recommendation based on configurations of one or more items in the one or more other users home networks.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more items comprises items outside of the home network.

10. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;

receive information associated with one or more items connected to a home network for a user;

generate metadata for the information, the metadata describing configuration information for the one or more items connected to the home network;

store the metadata in storage in a user profile for the user; and

generate a home network use recommendation based on an analysis of the user profile, the home network use recommendation being based on using the home network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein logic operable to generate the recommendation comprises logic when executed that is further operable to:

receive an identifier for a new item; and

analyze the metadata to determine the recommendation for the new item in real-time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to recommend a second item different from the new item, the second item being considered more compatible with the home network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the identifier is received through a network from a device outside of the home network.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the recommendation comprises a recommendation to change a configuration of the home network.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more items comprise items connected to or previously connected to the home network.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the metadata is stored in a central database, the central database being accessible by a recommendation generator to generate the recommendation.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

receive metadata for one or more other users; and

generate the recommendation based on the metadata for the one or more users, the recommendation based on configurations of one or more items in the one or more other users'"'"' home networks.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more items comprises items outside of the home network.