Media content search results ranked by popularity

• US 9,554,193 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Pradhan S., Sloo, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DEBBIE M
• Application Number:
  US15/174,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 707/723
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D01B 1/08 Saw gins
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Media content search results ranked by popularity is described. In embodiment(s), a search request for television media content can be initiated by a viewer, and television media content that is relevant to the search request can be identified. The relevant television media content can then be ranked based on a popularity rating and the relevant television media content can be displayed in an ordered list that is ordered by popularity rankings.

Claims

1. A method for generating search results customized for a user, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user, a request to search for media assets, the request comprising a keyword;

in response to receiving the request, retrieving, from electronic memory, a data structure comprising a plurality of database entries, wherein each database entry comprises an indication of a respective media asset and descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset;

comparing, using a hardware processing circuitry, the keyword to each of the plurality of database entries;

identifying, based on the comparing, a subset of the database entries that include the keyword, wherein the subset of the database entries indicates a plurality of media assets, and wherein the plurality of media assets includes a first media asset, a second media asset, and a third media asset;

retrieving user interaction metadata, wherein the user interaction metadata comprises indications of user interactions of a plurality of users with the plurality of media assets;

determining, from the user interaction metadata, a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset, a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset, and a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset;

determining that the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset is greater than the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset and the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset;

identifying a user interaction of the user performed in relation to the first media asset;

generating a list of the plurality of media assets in an order, wherein the first media asset is placed at a higher position on the list than both a position on the list of the second media asset and a position on the list of the third media asset, and wherein the second media asset is placed at a higher position on the list than the position on the list of the third media asset, the order based on;

the determination that the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset is greater than both the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset and the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset, and

the identification of the user interaction of the user performed in relation to the first media asset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the subset of database entries comprises:

determining, for each of the plurality of database entries, whether the descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset contains the keyword; and

in response to determining that the descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset contains the keyword, adding the respective database entry to the subset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset comprises a volume of previous search requests for the first media asset by the plurality of users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interactions of the plurality of users comprises at least one of:

a volume of selections for viewing, a volume of selections for recording, or a volume of requests for information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a numerical popularity rating for each of the plurality of media assets based on the user interaction metadata, and wherein generating the list of the plurality of media assets comprises increasing the popularity rating of the first media asset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset comprises:

identifying a volume of a first type of user interaction performed in relation to the first media asset;

identifying a volume of a second type of user interaction performed in relation to the first media asset; and

combining the volume of the first type of user interaction and the volume of the second type of user interaction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the volume of the first type of user interaction and the volume of the second type of user interaction are combined using a weighted sum based on the type of user interaction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on a search of the user interaction metadata, that the indications of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset do not correspond to the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the descriptive metadata comprises at least one of:

a title, an identification of actors, a genre, a description of a media asset, and ratings information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating for display the list of the plurality of media assets; and

inserting, at a position in the list, an indication for a media asset that is not indicated in the subset of database entries.

11. A system for generating search results customized for a user, the system comprising:

hardware processing circuitry configured to;

receive, from a user, a request to search for media assets, the request comprising a keyword;

in response to receiving the request, retrieve, from electronic memory, a data structure comprising a plurality of database entries, wherein each database entry comprises an indication of a respective media asset and descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset;

compare the keyword to each of the plurality of database entries;

identify, based on the comparing, a subset of the database entries that include the keyword, wherein the subset of the database entries indicates a plurality of media assets, and wherein the plurality of media assets includes a first media asset, a second media asset, and a third media asset;

retrieve user interaction metadata, wherein the user interaction metadata comprises indications of user interactions of a plurality of users with the plurality of media assets;

determine, from the user interaction metadata, a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset, a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset, and a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset;

determine that the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset is greater than the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset and the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset;

identify a user interaction of the user performed in relation to the first media asset;

generate a list of the plurality of media assets in an order, wherein the first media asset is placed at a higher position on the list than both a position on the list of the second media asset and a position on the list of the third media asset, and wherein the second media asset is placed at a higher position on the list than the position on the list of the third media asset, the order based on;

the determination that the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset is greater than both the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset and the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset, and

the identification of the user interaction of the user performed in relation to the first media asset.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processing circuitry is configured to identify the subset of database entries by:

determining, for each of the plurality of database entries, whether the descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset contains the keyword; and

in response to determining that the descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset contains the keyword, adding the respective database entry to the subset.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset comprises a volume of previous search requests for the first media asset by the plurality of users.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interactions of the plurality of users comprises at least one of:

a volume of selections for viewing, a volume of selections for recording, or a volume of requests for information.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processing circuitry is further configured to calculate a numerical popularity rating for each of the plurality of media assets based on the user interaction metadata, and wherein the hardware processing circuitry is configured to generate the list of the plurality of media assets by increasing the popularity rating of the first media asset.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processing circuitry is configured to determine the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset by:

identifying a volume of a first type of user interaction performed in relation to the first media asset;

identifying a volume of a second type of user interaction performed in relation to the first media asset; and

combining the volume of the first type of user interaction and the volume of the second type of user interaction.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the volume of the first type of user interaction and the volume of the second type of user interaction are combined using a weighted sum based on the type of user interaction.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on a search of the user interaction metadata, that the indications of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset do not correspond to the user.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the descriptive metadata comprises at least one of:

a title, an identification of actors, a genre, a description of a media asset, and ratings information.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processing circuitry is further configured to:

generate for display the list of the plurality of media assets; and

insert, at a position in the list, an indication for a media asset that is not indicated in the subset of database entries.

21. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising memory with instructions encoded thereon for generating search results customized for a user, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving, from a user, a request to search for media assets, the request comprising a keyword;

instructions for in response to receiving the request, retrieving, from electronic memory, a data structure comprising a plurality of database entries, wherein each database entry comprises an indication of a respective media asset and descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset;

instructions for comparing, using a hardware processing circuitry, the keyword to each of the plurality of database entries;

instructions for identifying, based on the comparing, a subset of the database entries that include the keyword, wherein the subset of the database entries indicates a plurality of media assets, and wherein the plurality of media assets includes a first media asset, a second media asset, and a third media asset;

instructions for retrieving user interaction metadata, wherein the user interaction metadata comprises indications of user interactions of a plurality of users with the plurality of media assets;

instructions for determining, from the user interaction metadata, a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset, a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset, and a volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset;

instructions for determining that the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset is greater than the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset and the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset;

instructions for identifying a user interaction of the user performed in relation to the first media asset;

instructions for generating a list of the plurality of media assets in an order, wherein the first media asset is placed at a higher position on the list than both a position on the list of the second media asset and a position on the list of the third media asset, and wherein the second media asset is placed at a higher position on the list than the position on the list of the third media asset, the order based on;

the determination that the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset is greater than both the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset and the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the third media asset, and

the identification of the user interaction of the user performed in relation to the first media asset.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions for identifying the subset of database entries comprise:

instructions for determining, for each of the plurality of database entries, whether the descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset contains the keyword; and

instructions for in response to determining that the descriptive metadata associated with the respective media asset contains the keyword, adding the respective database entry to the subset.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset comprises a volume of previous search requests for the first media asset by the plurality of users.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the user interactions of the plurality of users comprises at least one of:

a volume of selections for viewing, a volume of selections for recording, or a volume of requests for information.

25. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, the instructions further comprising instructions for calculating a numerical popularity rating for each of the plurality of media assets based on the user interaction metadata, and wherein the instructions for generating the list of the plurality of media assets comprises instructions for increasing the popularity rating of the first media asset.

26. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions for determining the volume of user interactions performed in relation to the first media asset comprise:

instructions for identifying a volume of a first type of user interaction performed in relation to the first media asset;

instructions for identifying a volume of a second type of user interaction performed in relation to the first media asset; and

instructions for combining the volume of the first type of user interaction and the volume of the second type of user interaction.

27. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the volume of the first type of user interaction and the volume of the second type of user interaction are combined using a weighted sum based on the type of user interaction.

28. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for determining, based on a search of the user interaction metadata, that the indications of user interactions performed in relation to the second media asset do not correspond to the user.

29. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the descriptive metadata comprises at least one of:

a title, an identification of actors, a genre, a description of a media asset, and ratings information.

30. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for generating for display the list of the plurality of media assets; and

instructions for inserting, at a position in the list, an indication for a media asset that is not indicated in the subset of database entries.