Method and apparatus for recommending media programs

• US 8,782,692 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Wei, Eugene Chuan-Huai, Sargent, Peter E., Zheng, Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Application Number:
  US13/074,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 725/13, 725/38, 725/86, 725/131
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/237 Communication with additional data server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44226 on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product provide the ability to recommend, to a first viewer, alternative programming during playback of a first media program. The first media program is played. A second media program of potential interest to the user is identified. During an advertising break, an interface is presented to the user that identifies the second media program. An indication of interest in the second media program is received from the user. If the indication indicates that the user is interested in the second media program, a reference to the second media program is saved as a viewer recommendation for later playback. If not interested, additional input may be received from the user indicating why the user is not interested.

Claims

1. A method for recommending alternative programming during playback of a first media program having a plurality of advertising breaks to a first viewer, the method comprising:

receiving, from a media player, an indication that the first media program is being played by the first viewer;

dynamically identifying a second media program of a potential interest to the first viewer from a plurality of media programs that are offered by a media program provider;

providing information for the second media program to the media player, wherein the media player provides the information for the second media program to an ad server in a request for an advertisement during an advertising break;

during the advertising break, enabling a presentation on the media player of an interface identifying the second media program instead of an advertisement when the media player receives information for the second media program from the ad server, wherein the ad server dynamically determined the second media program should be identified during the advertising break instead of a set of advertisements available for playing during the advertising break;

accepting an indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program; and

in response to the accepted indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program;

if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is interested in the second media program, saving a reference to the second media program as a first viewer recommendation for later playback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is not interested in the second media program:

enabling a feedback presentation on the media player that accepts a first viewer feedback explaining why the first viewer is not interested in the second media program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media program is identified after playback of the first media program begins.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertising break is a concluding advertising break.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media program is identified based upon one or more factors comprising:

a fraction of first media program viewers evidencing a liking of both the first media program and the second media program.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interface further comprises an indication of at least one of the one or more factors and a metric of the at least one of the one or more factors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the interface is personalized to the first viewer based on the first viewer'"'"'s current viewership and/or preferences.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises:

a playback of a clip of the second media program; and

a viewer interest input interface to indicate first viewer interest in the second media program, the viewer interest input interface being presented concurrently with the playback of the clip of the second media program and permitting interruption of the playback of the clip of the second media program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference is saved as a bookmark.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein playback of the second media program automatically begins upon completion of playback of the first media program.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface identifying the second media program is substituted for an advertisement scheduled to be played during the advertising break.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the scheduled advertisement is an uncompensated advertisement.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the ad server dynamically determined when the presentation identifying the second media program should be played during the advertising break in place of the advertisement by analyzing ad impression information for the set of advertisements available for playing during the advertising break to determine when the presentation identifying the second media program should be played during the advertising break in place of the advertisement.

14. A system for recommending alternative programming during playback of a first media program having a plurality of advertising breaks to a first viewer, in a computer system comprising:

a computer having a memory; and

an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to;

receive, from a media player, an indication that the first media program is being played by the first viewer;

dynamically identify a second media program of a potential interest to the first viewer from a plurality of media programs that are offered by a media program provider;

provide information for the second media program to the media player, wherein the media player provides the information for the second media program to an ad server in a request for an advertisement during an advertising break;

during the advertising break, enable a presentation on the media player of an interface identifying the second media program instead of an advertisement when the media player receives information for the second media program from the ad server, wherein the ad server dynamically determined the second media program should be identified during the advertising break instead of a set of advertisements available for playing during the advertising break;

accept an indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program; and

in response to the accepted indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program;

if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is interested in the second media program, save a reference to the second media program as a first viewer recommendation for later playback.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein, if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is not interested in the second media program:

the application is further configured to enable a feedback presentation on the media player that accepts a first viewer feedback explaining why the first viewer is not interested in the second media program.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the second media program is identified after playback of the first media program begins.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the advertising break is a concluding advertising break.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the second media program is identified based upon one or more factors comprising:

a fraction of first media program viewers evidencing a liking of both the first media program and the second media program.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the interface further comprises an indication of at least one of the one or more factors and a metric of the at least one of the one or more factors.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the interface is personalized to the first viewer based on the first viewer'"'"'s current viewership and/or preferences.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface comprises:

a playback of a clip of the second media program; and

a viewer interest input interface to indicate first viewer interest in the second media program, the viewer interest input interface being presented concurrently with the playback of the clip of the second media program and permitting interruption of the playback of the clip of the second media program.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the reference is saved as a bookmark.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein playback of the second media program automatically begins upon completion of playback of the first media program.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface identifying the second media program is substituted for an advertisement scheduled to be played during the advertising break.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the scheduled advertisement is an uncompensated advertisement.

26. A method for recommending alternative programming during playback of a first media program having a plurality of advertising breaks to a first viewer, the method comprising:

playing the first media program by a media player;

receiving by said media player an identification of a second media program of a potential interest to the first viewer from a plurality of media programs that are offered by a media program provider;

providing from the media player the identification of the second media program to an ad server in a request for an advertisement during an advertising break;

during the advertising break, presenting an interface identifying the second media program instead of an advertisement when receiving information for the second media program from the ad server, wherein the ad server dynamically determined the second media program should be identified during the advertising break instead of a set of advertisements available for playing during the advertising break;

accepting an indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program; and

in response to the accepted indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program;

if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is interested in the second media program, transmitting a reference to the second media program as a first viewer recommendation for later playback.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein, if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is not interested in the second media program:

presenting a feedback interface that accepts a first viewer feedback explaining why the first viewer is not interested in the second media program; and

accepting the viewer feedback.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the second media program is identified after playback of the first media program begins.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the advertising break is a concluding advertising break.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the second media program is identified based upon one or more factors comprising:

a fraction of first media program viewers evidencing a liking of both the first media program and the second media program.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the interface further comprises an indication of at least one of the one or more factors and a metric of the at least one of the one or more factors.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the interface is personalized to the first viewer based on the first viewer'"'"'s current viewership and/or preferences.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the interface comprises:

a playback of a clip of the second media program; and

a viewer interest input interface to indicate first viewer interest in the second media program, the viewer interest input interface being presented concurrently with the playback of the clip of the second media program and permitting interruption of the playback of the clip of the second media program.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the reference is saved as a bookmark.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein playback of the second media program automatically begins upon completion of playback of the first media program.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the interface identifying the second media program is substituted for an advertisement scheduled to be played during the advertising break.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the scheduled advertisement is an uncompensated advertisement.

38. A system for recommending alternative programming during playback of a first media program having a plurality of advertising breaks to a first viewer, in a computer system comprising:

a computer having a memory; and

an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to;

play the first media program with a media player;

receive by the media player an identification of a second media program of a potential interest to the first viewer from a plurality of media programs that are offered by a media program provider;

provide from the media player the identification of the second media program to an ad server in a request for an advertisement during an advertising break;

during an advertising break, present an interface identifying a second media program instead of an advertisement when receiving information for the second media program from the ad server, wherein the ad server dynamically determined the second media program should be identified during the advertising break instead of a set of advertisements available for playing during the advertising break;

accept an indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program; and

in response to the accepted indication of first viewer interest in the identified second media program;

if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is interested in the second media program, transmit a reference to the second media program as a first viewer recommendation for later playback.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein, if the accepted indication of first viewer interest indicates that the first viewer is not interested in the second media program the application is further configured to:

present a feedback interface that accepts a first viewer feedback explaining why the first viewer is not interested in the second media program; and

accept the viewer feedback.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the second media program is identified after playback of the first media program begins.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the advertising break is a concluding advertising break.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the second media program is identified based upon one or more factors comprising:

a fraction of first media program viewers evidencing a liking of both the first media program and the second media program.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the interface further comprises an indication of at least one of the one or more factors and a metric of the at least one of the one or more factors.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the interface is personalized to the first viewer based on the first viewer'"'"'s current viewership and/or preferences.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the interface comprises:

a playback of a clip of the second media program; and

a viewer interest input interface to indicate first viewer interest in the second media program, the viewer interest input interface being presented concurrently with the playback of the clip of the second media program and permitting interruption of the playback of the clip of the second media program.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the reference is saved as a bookmark.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein playback of the second media program automatically begins upon completion of playback of the first media program.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the interface identifying the second media program is substituted for an advertisement scheduled to be played during the advertising break.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the scheduled advertisement is an uncompensated advertisement.