SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EARLY MEDIA BUFFERING USING DETECTION OF USER BEHAVIOR

• US 20170048563A1
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Original Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Inventors: man, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 10,425,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/722 at the destination endpoint, e.g. reservation of terminal resources or buffer space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2183 Cache memory caches in web servers or browsers G06F16/9574; intermediate storage and caching in data networks H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications

Abstract

A system and method for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior. In accordance with an embodiment, a client device user interface displays a plurality of media options, each of which is associated with a corresponding media content, for example a media channel or video stream, that can be received from a media server system for playing at the device, or at a controlled device. While the user interacts with the user interface, media content associated with regions of the interface can be buffered in preparation for selection and subsequent playing. The client device can include a user interaction sensor, for example a motion, hand/proximity, or heat sensor, which detects when a user is about to interact with the device. The media server system can be triggered to buffer media content associated with one or more neighboring media options on the user interface, in preparation for selection and playing.

Claims

1. A system for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior, comprising:

a client device, including a processor;

an application user interface provided at the client device, which displays a plurality of media options in various regions of the user interface, each of which media options is associated with a corresponding media content that can be received from a media server system for playing at one or more of the client device, or a controlled device;

a user interaction sensor provided at the client device, which detects when a user is about to interact with the client device; and

a user prediction logic provided at the client device, which, in response to receiving an indication from the user interaction sensor that the user is about to interact with the client device, determines a predicted user interaction, and triggers the media server system to buffer media content associated with one or more neighboring media options displayed on the user interface, in preparation for selection by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the media options is associated with a corresponding media channel or video stream that can be selected and received from the media server system for playing at the client device and/or controlled device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interaction sensor is one or more of a motion, hand/proximity, or heat sensor, which detects when the user picks up the client device and provides the indication that the user is about to interact with the client device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlled device includes an output display that displays media content, and wherein the client device operates as a remote control, and is adapted to receive a selection from the user of a selected media option, for subsequent receipt from the media server system and playing at the output display of the controlled device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controlled device displays media channels or video streams on the output display as received from the media server system, and wherein selection from the user of a selected media option is used as a media-change request to change a media channel at the controlled device.

6. A method for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior, comprising:

providing, at a client device, an application user interface which displays a plurality of media options in various regions of the user interface, each of which media options is associated with a corresponding media content that can be received from a media server system for playing at one or more of the client device, or a controlled device;

detecting, using a user interaction sensor provided at the client device, that a user is about to interact with the client device; and

in response to receiving an indication from the user interaction sensor that the user is about to interact with the client device, determining a predicted user interaction, and triggering the media server system to buffer media content associated with one or more neighboring media options displayed on the user interface, in preparation for selection by the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the media options is associated with a corresponding media channel or video stream that can be selected and received from the media server system for playing at the client device and/or controlled device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the user interaction sensor is one or more of a motion, hand/proximity, or heat sensor, which detects when the user picks up the client device and provides the indication that the user is about to interact with the client device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlled device includes an output display that displays media content, and wherein the client device operates as a remote control, and is adapted to receive a selection from the user of a selected media option, for subsequent receipt from the media server system and playing at the output display of the controlled device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controlled device displays media channels or video streams on the output display as received from the media server system, and wherein selection from the user of a selected media option is used as a media-change request to change a media channel at the controlled device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform the steps comprising:

providing, at a client device, an application user interface which displays a plurality of media options in various regions of the user interface, each of which media options is associated with a corresponding media content that can be received from a media server system for playing at one or more of the client device, or a controlled device;

detecting, using a user interaction sensor provided at the client device, that a user is about to interact with the client device; and

in response to receiving an indication from the user interaction sensor that the user is about to interact with the client device, determining a predicted user interaction, and triggering the media server system to buffer media content associated with one or more neighboring media options displayed on the user interface, in preparation for selection by the user.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein each of the media options is associated with a corresponding media channel or video stream that can be selected and received from the media server system for playing at the client device and/or controlled device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user interaction sensor is one or more of a motion, hand/proximity, or heat sensor, which detects when the user picks up the client device and provides the indication that the user is about to interact with the client device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the controlled device includes an output display that displays media content, and wherein the client device operates as a remote control, and is adapted to receive a selection from the user of a selected media option, for subsequent receipt from the media server system and playing at the output display of the controlled device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the controlled device displays media channels or video streams on the output display as received from the media server system, and wherein selection from the user of a selected media option is used as a media-change request to change a media channel at the controlled device.