SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING MEDIA ASSET PLAYBACK ON MULTIPLE DEVICES

• US 20170251260A1
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Sanders, Gary
• Application Number:
  US15/056,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20170251260A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• 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 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein for recommending media assets for a group. A media guidance application may generate recommendations for media assets along with indications of other users that may be interested in consuming the media asset. For example, the media guidance application may identify a media asset that matches a media preference of a first user and identify a second user connected to the first user in a social network, wherein the media asset matches at least one media preference associated with the second user. A media recommendation screen may be generated that includes both an indication of the media asset as well as an indication of the second user.

Claims

1. A method for recommending media assets, the method comprising:

retrieving, from a first database, a media preference associated with a first user;

comparing, using control circuitry, the media preference to metadata associated with a plurality of content;

based on the comparison of the media preference to the metadata associated with the plurality of content, determining that a media asset of the plurality of content matches the media preference;

retrieving, from a second database, data indicating connections between users of a social network;

identifying, based on the data, a second user connected to the first user in the social network;

retrieving media preferences associated with the second user;

comparing the media preferences associated with the second user to metadata associated with the media asset;

determining that the media asset matches at least one media preference associated with the second user;

in response to determining that the media asset matches the media preference, and in response to determining that the media asset matches at least one media preference associated with the second user;

comparing calendars of the first user and the second user to determine a recommended time period that is equal to or exceeds a duration of the media asset that the calendars indicate is available for both the first user and the second user; and

generating for display a media recommendation screen including an indication of the media asset an indication of the second user, and an indication of the recommended time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the media preference to the metadata comprises performing a keyword search of the metadata for the media preference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the second user comprises identifying a user that does not have access to the media asset.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data also indicates a respective media preference associated with each respective user of the plurality of users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media preference is one of a genre preference, a preference for a program, a parental rating, and a preference for a timeslot.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a second media asset of the plurality of content that matches the media preference, wherein the media recommendation screen further includes an indication of the second media asset.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication of the media asset is generated for display together with the indication of the second user in a first portion of the media recommendation screen, and wherein the indication of the second media asset is generated for display in a second portion of the media recommendation screen without the indication of the second user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the users of the social network include the first user and the second user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection from the first user of the media asset;

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting a communication indicating the selection to the second user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the media content for simultaneous display on user devices associated with the first user and the second user.

11. A system for recommending media assets, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

retrieve, from a first database, a media preference associated with a first user;

compare the media preference to metadata associated with a plurality of content;

based on the comparison of the media preference to the metadata associated with the plurality of content, determine that a media asset of the plurality of content matches the media preference;

retrieve, from a second database, data indicating connections between users of a social network;

identify, based on the data, a second user connected to the first user in the social network;

retrieve media preferences associated with the second user;

compare the media preferences associated with the second user to metadata associated with the media asset;

determine that the media asset matches at least one media preference associated with the second user;

in response to determining that the media asset matches the media preference, and in response to determining that the media asset matches at least one media preference associated with the second user;

compare calendars of the first user and the second user to determine a recommended time period that is equal to or exceeds a duration of the media asset that the calendars indicate is available for both the first user and the second user; and

generate for display a media recommendation screen including an indication of the media asset, an indication of the second user, and an indication of the recommended time period.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to compare the media preference to the metadata by performing a keyword search of the metadata for the media preference.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify the second user by identifying a user that does not have access to the media asset.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the data also indicates a respective media preference associated with each respective user of the plurality of users.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the media preference is one of a genre preference, a preference for a program, a parental rating, and a preference for a timeslot.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify a second media asset of the plurality of content that matches the media preference, wherein the media recommendation screen further includes an indication of the second media asset.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the indication of the media asset is generated for display together with the indication of the second user in a first portion of the media recommendation screen, and wherein the indication of the second media asset is generated for display in a second portion of the media recommendation screen without the indication of the second user.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the users of the social network include the first user and the second user.

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

receive a selection from the first user of the media asset;

in response to receiving the selection, transmit a communication indicating the selection to the second user.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate the media content for simultaneous display on user devices associated with the first user and the second user.

21-50. -50. (canceled)