Systems and methods for identifying and storing a portion of a media asset

• US 9,392,324 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Maltar, Paul, Gong, Yong, Patel, Milan
• Primary Examiner(s): Idowu, Olugbenga
• Application Number:
  US14/673,493
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 725/88
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/739 in form of a video summary, e.g. the video summary being a video sequence, a composite still image or having synthesized frames
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/10 using distance or distortion measures between unknown speech and reference templates
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• 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 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein for a media guidance application that can cause a specific portion of a media asset to be stored based on a user command. For example, if the user requests the closing scene from a given movie, the media guidance application may detect the command, determine that it comprises an instruction to store a portion of a media asset, identify a source of the portion of the media asset, and cause the portion of the media asset to be stored. The media guidance application may also cause the entirety of the media asset to be stored and initiate playback at the start of the requested portion. This may allow users to store and watch portions of particular interest without requiring that the users seek through the entire media asset on their own.

Claims

1. A method for storing media content comprising:

receiving a voice command from a user;

determining that the voice command comprises an instruction to store a portion of a media asset, wherein the voice command comprises a received media asset identifier corresponding to the media asset, and wherein the portion is less than the entire media asset;

in response to determining that the voice command comprises the instruction to store the portion of the media asset corresponding to the received media asset identifier, accessing a database comprising a plurality of known media asset identifiers;

comparing the received media asset identifier with each known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

determining, based on the comparing, that the received media asset identifier does not match any known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

calculating a set of similarity metrics for each known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers, wherein each respective similarity metric of the set corresponds to a degree of similarity between the received media asset identifier and a respective known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

determining that a similarity metric of the set of similarity metrics exceeds a threshold similarity metric;

based on determining that the similarity metric of the set of similarity metrics exceeds the threshold similarity metric, selecting a suggested media asset identifier;

providing to the user an option to confirm that the suggested media asset identifier corresponds to the received media asset identifier;

identifying a source of the portion of the media asset; and

causing the portion of the media asset to be stored.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing of the portion of the media asset to be stored comprises:

determining that the voice command comprises an indication of a duration of the portion of the media asset;

determining a starting position and an ending position of the portion of the media asset based on the indication;

causing the portion of the media asset that elapses between the starting position and the ending position to be stored.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the starting position of the portion of the media asset further comprises:

determining an initial source corresponding to the instruction;

determining a run time of the media asset;

determining a starting time of the media asset as presented by the initial source corresponding to the instruction;

determining a time at which the command was detected; and

determining the starting position of the portion of the media asset based on the run time, the starting time, and the time at which the command was detected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the source of the portion of the media asset comprises:

detecting a signal associated with the media asset;

determining a fingerprint associated with the media asset based on the signal;

accessing a database comprising a plurality of known fingerprints;

comparing the fingerprint with the plurality of known fingerprints; and

determining the identity of the source of the portion of the media asset based on the comparing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the portion of the media asset to be stored comprises:

retrieving the portion of the media asset from a remote database; and

storing the portion of the media asset at a user equipment of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the portion of the media asset to be stored comprises recording the portion of the media asset from a broadcast of the media asset.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a device identifier in the instruction;

determining which device the identifier corresponds to based on a user profile; and

causing the portion of the media asset to be stored at the device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating for display a storage confirmation message when the source of the portion of the media asset has been identified and the device has been determined.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the portion of the media asset has been partially played at an initial source corresponding to the instruction; and

in response to the determining, identifying a secondary source for the portion of the media asset.

10. A system for storing media content, the system comprising:

communications circuitry;

storage circuitry; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive, using the communications circuitry, a voice command from a user;

determine that the voice command comprises an instruction to store a portion of a media asset, wherein the voice command comprises a received media asset identifier corresponding to the media asset, and wherein the portion is less than the entire media asset;

in response to determining that the voice command comprises the instruction to store the portion of the media asset corresponding to the received media asset identifier, access a database comprising a plurality of known media asset identifiers;

compare the received media asset identifier with each known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

determine, based on the comparing, that the received media asset identifier does not match any known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

calculate a set of similarity metrics for each known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers, wherein each respective similarity metric of the set corresponds to a degree of similarity between the received media asset identifier and a respective known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

determine that a similarity metric of the set of similarity metrics exceeds a threshold similarity metric;

based on determining that the similarity metric of the set of similarity metrics exceeds the threshold similarity metric, select a suggested media asset identifier;

provide to the user an option to confirm that the suggested media asset identifier corresponds to the received media asset identifier;

identify a source of the portion of the media asset; and

cause, using the storage circuitry, the portion of the media asset to be stored.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when causing the portion of the media asset to be stored, to:

determine that the voice command comprises an indication of a duration of the portion of the media asset;

determine a starting position and an ending position of the portion of the media asset based on the indication of the duration;

cause the portion of the media asset that elapses between the starting position and the ending position to be stored.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when determining the starting position of the portion of the media asset, to:

determine an initial source corresponding to the instruction;

determine a run time of the media asset;

determine a starting time of the media asset as presented by the initial source corresponding to the instruction;

determine a time at which the command was detected; and

determine the starting position of the portion of the media asset based on the run time, the starting time, and the time at which the command was detected.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when identifying the source of the portion of the media asset, to:

detect a signal associated with the media asset;

determine a fingerprint associated with the media asset based on the signal;

access a database comprising a plurality of known fingerprints;

compare the fingerprint with the plurality of known fingerprints; and

determine the identity of the source of the portion of the media asset based on the comparing.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when causing the portion of the media asset to be stored, to:

retrieve the portion of the media asset from a remote database; and

store the portion of the media asset at a user equipment of the user.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when causing the portion of the media asset to be stored, to record the portion of the media asset from a broadcast of the media asset.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

detect a device identifier in the instruction;

determine which device the identifier corresponds to based on a user profile; and

cause the portion of the media asset to be stored at the device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a storage confirmation message when the source of the portion of the media asset has been identified and the device has been determined.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine that the portion of the media asset has been partially played at an initial source corresponding to the instruction; and

in response to the determining, identify a secondary source for the portion of the media asset.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions encoded thereon for storing media content, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a voice command from a user;

instructions for determining that the voice command comprises an instruction to store a portion of a media asset, wherein the voice command comprises a received media asset identifier corresponding to the media asset, and wherein the portion is less than the entire media asset;

instructions for, in response to determining that the voice command comprises the instruction to store the portion of the media asset corresponding to the received media asset identifier, accessing a database comprising a plurality of known media asset identifiers;

instructions for comparing the received media asset identifier with each known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

instructions for determining, based on the comparing, that the received media asset identifier does not match any known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

instructions for calculating a set of similarity metrics for each known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers, wherein each respective similarity metric of the set corresponds to a degree of similarity between the received media asset identifier and a respective known media asset identifier of the plurality of known media asset identifiers;

instructions for determining that a similarity metric of the set of similarity metrics exceeds a threshold similarity metric;

instructions for, in response to determining that the similarity metric of the set of similarity metrics exceeds the threshold similarity metric, selecting a suggested media asset identifier;

instructions for providing to the user an option to confirm that the suggested media asset identifier corresponds to the received media asset identifier;

instructions for identifying a source of the portion of the media asset; and

instructions for causing the portion of the media asset to be stored.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions for the causing of the portion of the media asset to be stored comprise:

instructions for determining that the voice command comprises an indication of a duration of the portion of the media asset;

instructions for determining a starting position and an ending position of the portion of the media asset based on the indication;

instructions for causing the portion of the media asset that elapses between the starting position and the ending position to be stored.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions for determining the starting position of the portion of the media asset further comprise:

instructions for determining an initial source corresponding to the instruction;

instructions for determining a run time of the media asset;

instructions for determining a starting time of the media asset as presented by the initial source corresponding to the instruction;

instructions for determining a time at which the command was detected; and

instructions for determining the starting position of the portion of the media asset based on the run time, the starting time, and the time at which the command was detected.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions for identifying the source of the portion of the media asset comprise:

instructions for detecting a signal associated with the media asset;

instructions for determining a fingerprint associated with the media asset based on the signal;

instructions for accessing a database comprising a plurality of known fingerprints;

instructions for comparing the fingerprint with the plurality of known fingerprints; and

instructions for determining the identity of the source of the portion of the media asset based on the comparing.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions for causing the portion of the media asset to be stored comprise:

instructions for retrieving the portion of the media asset from a remote database; and

instructions for storing the portion of the media asset at a user equipment of the user.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions for causing the portion of the media asset to be stored comprise instructions for recording the portion of the media asset from a broadcast of the media asset.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for detecting a device identifier in the instruction;

instructions for determining which device the identifier corresponds to based on a user profile; and

instructions for causing the portion of the media asset to be stored at the device.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for generating for display a storage confirmation message when the source of the portion of the media asset has been identified and the device has been determined.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for determining that the portion of the media asset has been partially played at an initial source corresponding to the instruction; and

instructions for, in response to the determining, identifying a secondary source for the portion of the media asset.