System and method for automatically presenting a media file on a mobile device based on relevance to a user

• US 9,405,752 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Collins, Maura, Goulart, Valerie, Small, Andrea, Temple, Sinclair, Carney, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Huen
• Application Number:
  US12/371,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,727 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information

Abstract

A system and method for automatically presenting a media file on a mobile device based on an analysis of metadata associated with the media file. The system evaluates a media file'"'"'s metadata to determine whether the media file is relevant to a mobile device user based on time, date, location, subject matter, or other criteria. If the media file is relevant to the user, the system automatically displays the media file on the mobile device. By presenting the media file to a mobile device user, the system reminds the user of fond memories associated with past dates, people, events, or places. In some embodiments, the system may also prompt a user of the mobile device to take an action related to the media file presented on the mobile device, such as prompting the user to place a telephone call to a person pictured in the image.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of identifying a media file that is relevant to a user of a first mobile device and presenting the media file to the user of the first mobile device and a user of a second mobile device, the method comprising:

automatically formulating a search query to identify a plurality of media files that are relevant to a user of a first mobile device,

wherein the search query includes a temporal limitation to seek only media files having an associated month and day that are equal to the present month and day, but have a different year than the present year, and

wherein the search query is formulated without receiving user search criteria;

applying the search query to stored media files to identify a plurality of media files that satisfy the search query,

wherein each of the plurality of media files have associated metadata that characterizes the media file;

determining for each of the identified plurality of media files a relevancy score that reflects a relevance of the associated media file to the user of the first mobile device,

wherein the relevancy score is based on two or more criteria and determined by;

calculating, for each of the two or more criteria, an individual criteria score that is higher for identified media files having greater relevance to the user of the first mobile device and lower for identified media files having less relevance to the user of the first mobile device; and

summing the two or more individual criteria scores to determine the relevancy score;

selecting only a single one of the identified plurality of media files to present to the user of the first mobile device and the user of the second mobile device,

wherein the single selected media file has the highest determined relevancy score;

automatically presenting the single selected media file to the user of the mobile device; and

sending a message to the second mobile device to cause the selected media file to be presented to the user of the second mobile device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising presenting to the user of the mobile device an option to take an action in conjunction with the presentation of the single selected media file.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of sending a textual message, making a phone call, sending a voice note, sending a poke, forwarding the selected media file, or viewing another media file.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the present month and day corresponds to an anniversary.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the anniversary is a yearly anniversary.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a criteria is content of descriptive tags, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether a descriptive tag associated with a media file is reflective of an event or person.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the evaluation includes comparison of the descriptive tag with at least one of an address book, a calendar, a playlist, or a note.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a criteria is location, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether a location associated with a media file is related to a current physical location of the mobile device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a criteria is prior use, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether an associated media file has been previously used.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the evaluation to determine whether an associated media file has been previously used further includes evaluating a frequency and a type of use.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a criteria is rating, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether an associated media file has been positively rated.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the media file is selected from the group consisting of a picture file, a video file, an audio file, or a text file.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selected media file is related to the user of the second mobile device.

13. A computing system that identifies a media file that is relevant to a user of a mobile device and automatically presents the media file to the user, the computing system comprising:

an analysis component that is configured to;

automatically formulate a search query to identify a plurality of media files that are relevant to a user of a mobile device,

the search query including a temporal limitation to seek only media files having an associated month and day that are equal to the present month and day, but have a different year than the present year,

the search query formulated without input from the user;

apply the search query to stored media files to identify a plurality of media files that satisfy the search query,

each of the plurality of media files having associated metadata that characterizes the media file;

determine for each of the identified plurality of media files a relevancy score that reflects a relevance of the associated media file to the user,

the relevancy score being based on two or more criteria and determined by;

calculating, for each of the two or more criteria, an individual criteria score that is higher for identified media files having greater relevance to the user and lower for identified media files having less relevance to the user; and

combining the two or more individual criteria scores to determine the relevancy score;

select only a single one of the identified plurality of media files to present to the user of the mobile device,

the single selected media file having the highest determined relevancy score; and

a user interface component that is coupled to the analysis component,

the user interface component being configured to automatically present the single selected media file to the user of the mobile device.

14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the user interface component further presents to the user of the mobile device an option to take an action in conjunction with the presentation of the single selected media file.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of sending a textual message, making a phone call, sending a voice note, sending a poke, forwarding the selected media file, or viewing another media file.

16. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the present month and day corresponds to an anniversary.

17. The computing system of claim 16, wherein the anniversary is a yearly anniversary.

18. The computing system of claim 13, wherein a criteria is content of descriptive tags, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether a descriptive tag associated with a media file is reflective of an event or person.

19. The computing system of claim 18, wherein the evaluation includes comparison of the descriptive tag with at least one of an address book, a calendar, a playlist, or a note.

20. The computing system of claim 13, wherein a criteria is location, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether a location associated with a media file is related to a current physical location of the mobile device.

21. The computing system of claim 13, wherein a criteria is prior use, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether an associated media file has been previously used.

22. The computing system of claim 21, wherein the evaluation to determine whether an associated media file has been previously used further includes evaluating a frequency and a type of use.

23. The computing system of claim 13, wherein a criteria is rating, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether an associated media file has been positively rated.

24. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the media file is selected from the group consisting of a picture file, a video file, an audio file, or a text file.

25. The computing system of claim 13, the analysis component further sends a message to another user to cause the selected media file to be presented to the other user on a mobile device.

26. A non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for identifying a media file that is relevant to a user of a first mobile device and presenting the media file to the user of the first mobile device and a user of a second mobile device, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

automatically formulate a search query to identify a plurality of media files that are relevant to a user of a first mobile device,

the search query including a temporal limitation to seek only media files having an associated month and day that are equal to the present month and day, but have a different year than the present year, the search query formulated without input from the user;

apply the search query to stored media files to identify a plurality of media files that satisfy the search query,

each of the plurality of media files having associated metadata that characterizes the media file;

determine for each of the identified plurality of media files a relevancy score that reflects a relevance of the associated media file to the user of the first mobile device,

the relevancy score being based on two or more criteria and determined by;

calculating, for each of the two or more criteria, an individual criteria score that is higher for identified media files having greater relevance to the user of the first mobile device and lower for identified media files having less relevance to the user of the first mobile device; and

combining the two or more individual criteria scores to determine the relevancy score;

select only a single one of the identified plurality of media files to present to the user of the first mobile device and the user of the second mobile device,

the single selected media file having the highest determined relevancy score;

automatically resent the single selected media file to the user of the mobile device; and

send a message to the second mobile device to cause the selected media file to be presented to the user of the second mobile device.

27. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

present to the user of the mobile device an option to take an action in conjunction with the presentation of the single selected media file.

28. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of sending a textual message, making a phone call, sending a voice note, sending a poke, forwarding the selected media file, or viewing another media file.

29. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the present month and day corresponds to an anniversary.

30. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the anniversary is a yearly anniversary.

31. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein a criteria is content of descriptive tags, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether a descriptive tag associated with a media file is reflective of an event or person.

32. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the evaluation includes comparison of the descriptive tag with at least one of an address book, a calendar, a playlist, or a note.

33. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein a criteria is location, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether a location associated with a media file is related to a current physical location of the mobile device.

34. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein a criteria is prior use, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether an associated media file has been previously used.

35. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the evaluation to determine whether an associated media file has been previously used further includes evaluating a frequency and a type of use.

36. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein a criteria is rating, and the metadata is evaluated to determine whether an associated media file has been positively rated.

37. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the media file is selected from the group consisting of a picture file, a video file, an audio file, or a text file.

39. The non-transitory durable computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the selected media file is related to the user of the second mobile device.