Managing media content with a self-organizing map

• US 7,987,484 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sloo, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US11/821,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20080320515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,493 Days
• Field of Search: 725/45, 725/38, 725/39, 725/43, 725/44, 725/46, 725/53, 715/766, 715/825, 715/848, 707/804
• US Class Current: 725/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Self-organizing media content is described. In embodiment(s), a self-organizing map can be applied to metadata that corresponds to television media content. A media content array of television media content choices can then be generated based on the mapped metadata where the media content array is organized to include n-dimensions that are each based on a different attribute of the metadata. The media content array can then be displayed on a user interface that facilitates dynamic traversal of the media content array for viewer selection of the television media content choices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

applying a self-organizing map to metadata that corresponds to television media content to generate numerical correlations between the television media content;

generating a media content array of the television media content based on the mapped metadata and the numerical correlations, the media content array being organized to include n-dimensions that are each based on a different attribute of the metadata, and the media content array including nodes that each correlate to one of the television media content;

determining, without user interaction, that an additional dimension is to be created for the media content array;

responsive to the determining, creating the additional dimension based on an additional attribute of the metadata; and

displaying, on a display device the media content array on a user interface that facilitates dynamic traversal of the media content array for viewer selection of the television media content.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the self-organizing map is applied to a numerical analysis of the metadata that corresponds to the television media content to generate the media content array.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the television media content is displayed in the media content array as a picture-in-picture.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media content array is initiated for display in response to at least one of power-on of a television client device, a viewer-initiated search request, or a request to display a program guide.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the n-dimensions of the media content array include at least a first dimension based on a first attribute of the metadata and a second dimension based on a second attribute of the metadata, the first dimension and the second dimension being combined to display likely viewer selections of the television media content.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, wherein the n-dimensions further include at least a third dimension based on a third attribute of the metadata, the media content array being displayed as a 3-dimensional array for viewer selection of the television media content from any of the first, second, or third dimensions.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, wherein the first attribute of the metadata is a dynamic attribute and the first dimension is based on a numerical representation of the dynamic attribute, and wherein the second attribute of the metadata is a static attribute and the second dimension is based on a numerical representation of the static attribute.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, wherein the first attribute of the metadata is viewership of the television media content and the first dimension is based on a numerical representation of the viewership, and wherein the second attribute of the metadata is program ratings of the television media content and the second dimension is based on a numerical representation of the program ratings.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the n-dimensions further include at least a third dimension based on a third attribute of the metadata, the third attribute of the metadata being descriptions of the television media content and the third dimension is based on a numerical representation of the descriptions.

10. A television client device, comprising:

at least a memory and a processor configured to generate an n-dimension array that displays television media content for viewer selection, the n-dimension array generated responsive to a self-organizing map applied to metadata that corresponds to the television media content to generate numerical correlations between the television media content, the n-dimension array including;

nodes that each correlate to one of the television media content, wherein proximate nodes each correlate to numerically similar television media content;

a first dimension of the n-dimension array based on a first attribute of the metadata that corresponds to the television media content; and

at least a second dimension of the n-dimension array based on a second attribute of the metadata that corresponds to the television media content.

11. A television client device as recited in claim 10, wherein the n-dimension array includes a third dimension based on a third attribute of the metadata that corresponds to the television media content, the n-dimension array being displayed as a 3-dimensional array for viewer selection of the television media content from any of the first, second, or third dimensions.

12. A television client device as recited in claim 10, wherein the first dimension and the second dimension of the n-dimension array are combined to display likely viewer selections of the television media content.

13. A television client device as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the television media content is displayed as a picture-in-picture.

14. A television client device as recited in claim 10, wherein the first attribute of the metadata is a dynamic attribute and the first dimension of the n-dimension array is based on a numerical representation of the dynamic attribute, and wherein the second attribute of the metadata is a static attribute and the second dimension of the n-dimension array is based on a numerical representation of the static attribute.

15. A television system, comprising:

at least a processor and a memory having instructions executable by the processor to implement;

a program browser module configured to apply a self-organizing map to metadata that corresponds to television media content, and further configured to generate a media content array based on the mapped metadata and numerical correlations between the television media content, the media content array including nodes that each correlate to one of the television media content, wherein proximate nodes each correlate to numerically similar television media content; and

a user interface configured to display the media content array for viewer selection of the television media content, the television media content organized by n-dimensions in the media content array where each dimension is based on a different attribute of the metadata.

16. A television system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a television client device that includes the program browser module to generate the media content array for display on the user interface.

17. A television system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a content distributor that includes the program browser module, and further includes a media content distribution system configured to distribute the television media content and the media content array to one or more television client devices.

18. A television system as recited in claim 15, wherein the n-dimensions of the media content array include at least a first dimension based on a first attribute of the metadata and a second dimension based on a second attribute of the metadata, and wherein the first dimension and the second dimension of the media content array are combined to display likely viewer selections of the television media content.

19. A television system as recited in claim 18, wherein the television media content is organized in the media content array by at least a third dimension based on a third attribute of the metadata, the media content array being displayed as a 3-dimensional array for viewer selection of the television media content from any of the first, second, or third dimensions.

20. A television system as recited in claim 18, wherein the first attribute of the metadata is a dynamic attribute and the first dimension of the media content array is based on a numerical representation of the dynamic attribute, and wherein the second attribute of the metadata is a static attribute and the second dimension of the media content array is based on a numerical representation of the static attribute.