Methods and apparatus for an enhanced media content rating system

• US 9,178,632 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Grob, Matthew S., Achour, Baaziz, Butler, Brian K., Carson, Peter, Jha, Sanjay K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US12/203,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20100058377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,618 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/13, 725/24, 725/32, 725/34, 725/35, 725 44- 46, 725/50, 725/105, 725/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/44204 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 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products are provided for an improved media content rating system. The rating system herein disclosed is highly-granular in nature, in that, the rating system allows for ratings to be based on the number of times that portions, segments, clips of the media file are played or otherwise executed, as opposed to basing the media content rating solely on the number of times that the media file is played. In this regard, the aspects herein described may further provide for ratings of the portions, segments, clips of the media content as opposed to limiting the rating to a rating for the overall media content file.

Claims

1. A method for rating media content on a wireless communication device, comprising:

playing a selected media content on the wireless communication device in response to user input;

logging an amount of the playing of one or more portions of the selected media content automatically without other user input, including logging a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content, each of the one or more portions comprising less than the entire selected media content;

creating, by a user, a prioritized list having an entry that corresponds to said selected media content and having further entries that respectively correspond to further media content;

changing, by a user, a priority rank of said entry in the prioritized list;

automatically, without other user input, rating the selected media content based on the logged amount of the playing of said one or more portions of the selected media content and further based on an amount of said changing said priority rank of said entry and on said time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content;

providing rating metrics associated with said rating of the selected media content automatically, without other user input; and

sending the rating metrics to a receiving entity via wireless electronic transmission;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rating metrics estimate a user preference for playing the selected media content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein rating the media content further comprises rating the one or more portions of the media content based on the logged amount of the playing of said one or more portions of the media content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the rating metrics are associated with the rating of the one or more portions of the media content.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the rating metrics estimate a user preference for playing the one or more portions of the media content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the rating metrics on an output mechanism associated with the wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the rating metrics to at least one of a network entity or a user selected group of media content users.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein communicating the rating metrics further comprises communicating the rating metrics based on a user selected preference.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving content recommendations based on communicating the rating metrics to the network entity or the user selected group of media content users.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving advertising for output presentation on the wireless communication device based on communicating the rating metrics to the network entity, wherein the advertising is selected for the wireless communication device based on the rating metrics.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein rating the media content comprises rating the media content based on said time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the media content.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging an amount of sharing the media content with other media content users and rating the media content based on the amount of sharing the media content with other media content users.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging an amount of transferring the media content to other communication devices and rating the media content based on the amount of transferring the media content to other communication devices.

14. At least one processor that rates media content on a wireless communication device, the processor comprising:

a first module for playing a selected media content on the wireless communication device in response to user input;

a second module for logging an amount of the playing of one or more portions of the selected media content automatically, without other user input, including logging a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content, wherein each of the one or more portions comprises less than the entire selected media content, for creating, by user input, a prioritized list having an entry that corresponds to said selected media content and having further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, and for changing, by user input, a priority rank of said entry in the prioritized list; and

a third module for automatically, without other user input, rating the selected media content based on the logged amount of the playing of said one or more portions of the selected media content and further based on an amount of said changing said priority rank of said entry and on said time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content, and for providing rating metrics associated with said rating of the selected media content automatically, without other user input;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to;

play a selected media content on the wireless communication device in response to user input;

log an amount of the playing of one or more portions of the selected media content automatically, without other user input, including logging a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content, each of the one or more portions comprising less than the entire selected media content;

create, by user input, a prioritized list having an entry that corresponds to said selected media content and having further entries that respectively correspond to further media content;

change, by user input, a priority rank of said entry in the prioritized list;

automatically, without other user input, a rating the selected media content based on the logged amount of the playing of said one or more portions of the selected media content and further based on an amount of said changing said priority rank of said entry and on said time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content; and

provide rating metrics associated with said rating of the selected media content automatically, without other user input;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

means for playing a selected media content on a wireless communication device in response to user input;

means for logging an amount of the playing of one or more portions of the selected media content automatically, without other user input, including logging a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content, each of the one or more portions comprising less than the entire selected media content;

means for creating, by user input, a prioritized list having an entry that corresponds to said selected media content and having further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, and for changing, by user input, a priority rank of said entry in the prioritized list; and

means for automatically, without other user input, rating the selected media content based on the logged amount of the playing of said one or more portions of the selected media content and further based on an amount of said changing said priority rank of said entry and on said time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content, and for providing rating metrics associated with said rating of the selected media content automatically, without other user input;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

17. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a computer platform including at least one processor and a memory in communication with the processor;

a media content player stored in the memory and in communication with the processor, wherein the media content player is operable to play selected media content in response to user input; and

a media content ratings module stored in the memory and in communication with the processor, wherein the media content ratings module is operable to log an amount of the playing of one or more portions of the selected media content automatically, without other user input, including to log a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content, wherein each of the one or more portions comprises less than the entire selected media content, to create, by user input, a prioritized list having an entry that corresponds to said selected media content and having further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, to change, by user input, a priority rank of said entry in the prioritized list, to rate the selected media content automatically, without other user input, based on the logged amount of the playing of said one or more portions of the selected media content and on said time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content and further based on an amount of said changing said priority rank of said entry, and to provide rating metrics associated with said rating of the selected media content automatically, without other user input;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the rating metrics estimate a user preference for playing the selected media content.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the media content ratings module is further operable to rate the one or more portions of the selected media content based on the logged amount of the playing of the one or more portions of the selected media content.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the rating metrics are associated with the rating of the one or more portions of the selected media content.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further comprising a rating metrics presentation module stored in the memory and in communication with the processor, wherein the rating metrics presentation module is operable to present the rating metrics on an output mechanism associated with the wireless communication device.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further comprising a communications module operable to communicate the rating metrics to at least one of a network entity or a user selected group of media content users.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 22 wherein the communications module is further operable to communicate the rating metrics based on a user selected preference.

24. The wireless communication device of claim 22, further comprising a media content recommendation module stored in the memory and in communication with the processor, wherein the media content recommendation module is operable to receive content recommendations based on communicating the rating metrics to the network entity or the user selected group of media content users.

25. The wireless communication device of claim 22, further comprising an advertising module stored in the memory and in communication with the processor, wherein the advertising module is operable to receive advertising for presentation on the wireless communication device based on communicating the rating metrics to the network entity, wherein the advertising is selected for the wireless communication device based on the rating metrics.

26. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the media content ratings module is further operable to rate the selected media content based on the time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content.

27. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the media content ratings module is further operable to log an amount of sharing said one or more portions of the selected media content with other media content users and rate the selected media content based on the amount of sharing said one or more portions of the selected media content with other media content users.

28. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the media content ratings module is further operable to log an amount of transferring said one or more portions of the selected media content to other communication devices and rate the selected media content based on the amount of transferring said one or more portions of the selected media content to other communication devices.

29. A method for managing media content ratings metrics at a network entity, comprising:

receiving media content ratings metrics from a wireless communication device, wherein the ratings metrics rate media content based on an amount that one or more portions of the media content play on the wireless communication device in response to user input, wherein each of the one or more portions comprises less than the entire media content, wherein the ratings metrics rate the media content further based on an amount of changing a priority rank of an entry in a prioritized list, wherein said entry corresponds to the media content, wherein said prioritized list has further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, wherein said prioritized list is created by a user, wherein said priority rank of said entry is changed by a user, and wherein the ratings metrics are produced by the wireless communication device automatically, without other user input, and wherein the ratings metrics rate the media content further based on a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the selected media content; and

performing a media content ratings-related task based on the received media content rating metrics;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

30. The method of claim 29, performing a media content ratings-related task further comprises providing information to the wireless communication device based on the media content ratings metrics.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein providing information to the wireless communication device further comprises providing media content recommendations to the wireless communication device based on the media content ratings metrics.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein providing information to the wireless communication device further comprises providing advertising to the wireless communication device, wherein the advertising is selected based on the media content ratings metrics.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the ratings metrics rate said one or more portions of the media content based on the amount of playing of said one or more portions of the media content on the wireless communication device.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein performing a media content ratings-related task further comprises determining advertisement rates for products or services in the media content based on the media content ratings metrics.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the ratings metrics rate the media content based on at least one of an amount of sharing said one or more portions of the media content with other users, or an amount of transferring said one or more portions of the media content to other devices.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the network entity includes one of a network operator, a content provider or a content source.

37. At least one processor that manages media content ratings metrics at a network entity, comprising:

a first module for receiving media content ratings metrics from a wireless communication device, wherein the ratings metrics rate media content based on an amount that one or more portions of the media content play on the wireless communication device in response to user input, wherein each of the one or more portions comprises less than the entire media content, wherein the ratings metrics rate the media content further based on a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the media content, and further based on an amount of changing a priority rank of an entry in a prioritized list, wherein said entry corresponds to the media content, wherein said prioritized list has further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, wherein said prioritized list is created by a user, wherein said priority rank of said entry is changed by a user, and wherein the ratings metrics are produced by the wireless communication device automatically, without other user input; and

a second module for performing a media content ratings-related task based on the received media content ratings metrics;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

38. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to;

receive media content ratings metrics from a wireless communication device, wherein the ratings metrics rate media content based on an amount that one or more portions of the media content play on the wireless communication device in response to user input, wherein each of the one or more portions comprises less than the entire media content, wherein the ratings metrics rate the media content further based on a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the media content, and further based on an amount of changing a priority rank of an entry in a prioritized list, wherein said entry corresponds to the media content, wherein said prioritized list has further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, wherein said prioritized list is created by a user, wherein said priority rank of said entry is changed by a user, and wherein the ratings metrics are produced by the wireless communication device automatically, without other user input; and

perform a media content ratings-related task based on the received media content ratings metrics;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

39. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving media content ratings metrics from a wireless communication device, wherein the ratings metrics rate media content based on an amount that one or more portions of the media content play on the wireless communication device in response to user input, wherein each of the one or more portions comprises less than the entire media content, wherein the ratings metrics rate the media content further based on a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the media content, and further based on an amount of changing a priority rank of an entry in a prioritized list, wherein said entry corresponds to the media content, wherein said prioritized list has further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, wherein said prioritized list is created by a user, wherein said priority rank of said entry is changed by a user, and wherein the ratings metrics are produced by the wireless communication device automatically, without other user input; and

means for performing a media content ratings-related task based on the received media content ratings metrics;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

40. A network apparatus, comprising:

a computer platform including at least one processor and a memory in communication with the processor;

a media content ratings metric module stored in the memory and in communication with the processor, wherein the media content ratings metric module is operable to receive media content ratings metrics from a wireless communication device, wherein the ratings metrics rate media content based on an amount that one or more portions of the media content play on the wireless communication device in response to user input, wherein each of the one or more portions comprises less than the entire media content, wherein the ratings metrics rate the media content further based on a time between playbacks of said one or more portions of the media content, and further based on an amount of changing a priority rank of an entry in a prioritized list, wherein said entry corresponds to the media content, wherein said prioritized list has further entries that respectively correspond to further media content, wherein said prioritized list is created by a user, wherein said priority rank of said entry is changed by a user, and wherein the ratings metrics are produced by the wireless communication device automatically, without other user input; and

a media content ratings manager module stored in the memory and in communication with the processor, wherein the media content ratings manager module is operable to perform a media content ratings-related task based on the received media content ratings metrics;

wherein said time between playbacks is a time difference between a relatively earlier point in time corresponding to one said playback and a relatively later point in time corresponding to another said playback.

41. The network apparatus of claim 40, wherein the media content ratings manager module is further operable to provide information to the wireless communication device based on the media content ratings metrics.

42. The network apparatus of claim 41, wherein the media content ratings manager module is further operable to provide media content recommendations to the wireless communication device based on the media content ratings metrics.

43. The network apparatus of claim 41, wherein the media content ratings manager module is further operable to provide advertising to the wireless communication device, wherein the advertising is selected based on the media content ratings metrics.

44. The network apparatus of claim 40, wherein the media content ratings metrics rate said one or more portions of the media content based on the amount of playing of said one or more portions of the media content on the wireless communication device.

45. The network apparatus of claim 40, wherein the media content ratings manager module is further operable to determine advertisement rates for products or services in the media content based on the media content ratings metrics.

46. The network apparatus of claim 40, wherein the media content ratings metrics rate the media content based on at least one of an amount of sharing said one or more portions of the media content with other users, or an amount of transferring said one or more portions of the media content to other devices.