Social media viewing system

• US 9,571,606 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Verance Corporation
• Inventors: Winograd, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eskandarnia, Arvin
• Application Number:
  US13/827,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products are described that facilitate enhanced interactions via social media that can be enabled, at least in-part, by using various content identification techniques. Enhanced viewing of a content can be accomplished by monitoring activities of a user related to the user'"'"'s accessing of a particular content and analyzing information acquired from the monitoring in conjunction with stored data related to additional users. Next, a subset of the additional users that are associated with the user or with the particular content are identified, and enhanced viewing of the particular content is enabled amongst the user and the identified subset of the additional users.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring activities of a user related to the user'"'"'s accessing of a particular primary content;

analyzing information acquired from the monitoring in conjunction with stored data related to additional users;

identifying a subset of the additional users that are associated with the user or with the particular primary content; and

allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content amongst the user and the identified subset of the additional users, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises enabling at least one of the identified subset of additional users to receive the particular primary content through a second type of communication channel while the user simultaneously receives the particular primary content through a first type of communication channel and wherein the monitoring comprises receiving information extracted from embedded watermarks in the particular primary content that enables identification of one or more of;

information specific to the particular primary content, a media distribution channel associated with the particular primary content, or a time of transmission of the particular primary content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

analyzing the information acquired from the monitoring in conjunction with stored data the stored data identifies the particular primary content; and

the identifying comprises identifying users who are currently accessing the particular primary content.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying users who have previously accessed the particular primary content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises:

receiving fingerprints computed from one or more segments of the particular primary content; and

comparing the received fingerprints with information at a fingerprint database, wherein the fingerprint database comprises stored fingerprints associated with previously registered content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activities of the user comprise one or more inputs provided by the user on a user interface of a user device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more inputs is received from one or more of:

a remote control device, a keyboard, a mouse, a physical button, or a virtual button.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing metadata associated with the particular primary content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information acquired from the monitoring comprises information indicative of one or more uniform resource locators (URLs) accessed by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises performing a network data analysis related to the particular primary content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing a program guide information to determine an identity of the particular primary content.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular primary content comprises one or more of:

an audio component, a video component, an image component, a text component, a mark-up language component, or a software component.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises enabling the user and one or more of the identified subset of additional users to communicate with one another.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein communications between the user and the one or more of the identified subset of additional users is effectuated using at least one of:

an instant messaging, a voice chat, a conference call or a video call.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises:

designating a lead user for navigating the particular primary content; and

allowing the lead user to navigate through one or more segments of the particular primary content or an associated content.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises:

designating a lead user for navigating the particular primary content for a first period of time;

allowing the lead user to navigate through one or more segments of the particular primary content or an associated content during the first period of time;

designating a new lead user for navigating the particular primary content for a second period of time; and

allowing the new lead user to navigate through one or more segments of the particular primary content or an associated content during the second period of time.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional users are associated with the user or with the particular primary content based on one or more of the following:

a consensual action by the user and by the additional users,

geographic proximity of the user and the additional users, or

a shared interest between the user and the additional users.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises providing supplemental content to the user and/or to one or more of the identified subset of additional users.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the supplemental content includes at least one of:

a program information, an advertisement, a group purchasing opportunity, additional programming material, alternate programming material, or an interactive feature.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the user accesses the particular primary content on a first device; and

the supplemental content is provided to a second device that is different from the first device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises enabling communication between users who have previously viewed the particular primary content.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular primary content is provided to the user through at least one of:

a broadcast channel, a cable channel, an on-demand delivery service, or playback from a local storage unit.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating one or more groups in a social network, wherein the one or more groups comprise a first group that includes the user and one or more of the additional users whom have previously accessed, or are currently accessing, the particular primary content.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein creating the one or more groups comprises at least one of:

issuing an invitation to the user to join the one or more groups,

allowing the user to request to join the one or more groups, or

allowing the user to browse additional existing groups.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein creating the one or more groups comprises providing privacy controls around the one or more groups to limit visibility of members of the one or more groups or behavior of the members of the one or more groups.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more groups is formed around one or more of:

a particular event, or

a particular media content.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises:

remotely controlling presentation of the particular primary content on a plurality of user devices to allow synchronized presentation of the particular primary content on the plurality of user devices; and

substantially simultaneously changing the presentation of the particular primary content, or an associated content, on the plurality of user devices.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein change of the presentation of the particular primary content or an associated content is effected automatically based on an algorithm.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the algorithm determines the change in the presentation of the particular primary content or an associated content based on one or more of the following:

information about the user and the identified subset of the additional users;

or

input about the particular primary content provided by the user or the identified subset of the additional users.

29. A device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory units comprising processor executable code, the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to;

monitor activities of a user related to the user'"'"'s accessing of a particular primary content and receive information extracted from embedded watermarks in the particular primary content that enables identification of one or more of;

information specific to the particular primary content, a media distribution channel associated with the particular primary content, or a time of transmission of the particular primary content;

analyze information acquired from the monitoring in conjunction with stored data related to additional users;

identify a subset of the additional users that are associated with the user or with the particular primary content; and

generate one or more signals to enable enhanced viewing of the particular primary content amongst the user and the identified subset of the additional users, wherein the one or more signals enables at least one of the identified subset of additional users to receive the particular primary content through a second type of communication channel while the user simultaneously receives the particular primary content through a first type of communication channel.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein:

the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to;

identify the particular primary content upon analysis of the information acquired from monitoring the activities; and

identify users who are currently accessing the particular primary content.

31. The device of claim 30, the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, further configures the device to identify users who have previously accessed the particular primary content.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to:

receive fingerprints computed from one or more segments of the particular primary content; and

compare the received fingerprints with information at a fingerprint database, wherein the fingerprint database comprises stored fingerprints associated with previously registered content.

33. The device of claim 29, wherein activities of the user comprise one or more inputs provided by the user on a user interface of a user device.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the one or more inputs is received from one or more of:

a remote control device, a keyboard, a mouse, a physical button, or a virtual button.

35. The device of claim 29, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to analyze metadata associated with the particular primary content.

36. The device of claim 29, wherein the information acquired from the monitoring comprises information indicative of one or more uniform resource locators (URLs) accessed by the user.

37. The device of claim 29, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to perform a network data analysis related to the particular primary content.

38. The device of claim 29, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to analyze a program guide information to determine an identity of the particular primary content.

39. The device of claim 29, wherein the particular primary content comprises one or more of:

an audio component, a video component, an image component, a text component, a mark-up language component, or a software component.

40. The device of claim 29, wherein one or more signals enable the user and one or more of the identified subset of additional users to communicate with one another.

41. The device of claim 29, wherein the one or more signals:

designate a lead user for navigating the particular primary content for a first period of time;

allow the lead user to navigate through one or more segments of the particular primary content or an associated content during the first period of time;

designate a new lead user for navigating the particular primary content for a second period of time; and

allow the new lead user to navigate through one or more segments of the particular primary content or an associated content during the second period of time.

42. The device of claim 29, wherein the additional users are associated with the user or with the particular primary content based on one or more of the following:

a consensual action by the user and by the additional users,

geographic proximity of the user and the additional users, or

a shared interest between the user and the additional users.

43. The device of claim 29, wherein the one or more signals enable enhanced viewing of the particular primary content by allowing supplemental content to be provided to the user and/or to one or more of the identified subset of additional users.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the supplemental content includes at least one of:

a program information, an advertisement, a group purchasing opportunity, additional programming material, alternate programming material, or an interactive feature.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein the one or more signals enable enhanced viewing of the particular primary content by allowing the supplemental content to be provided to a second device while the user is accessing the particular primary content on a first device.

46. The device of claim 29, wherein the one or more signals enable communication between users who have previously viewed the particular primary content.

47. The device of claim 29, further comprising a communication unit configured to allow communications with the user and with one or more of the additional users.

48. The device of claim 29, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to create one or more groups in a social network, wherein the one or more groups comprise a first group that includes the user and one or more of the additional users whom have previously accessed, or are currently accessing, the particular primary content.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to perform at least one of following:

issuing an invitation to the user to join the one or more groups,

allowing the user to request to join the one or more groups, or

allowing the user to browse additional existing groups.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to provide privacy controls around the one or more groups to limit visibility of members of the one or more groups or behavior of the members of the one or more groups.

51. The device of claim 48, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the device to form at least one of the one or more groups based on one or more of:

a particular event, or

a particular media content.

52. The device of claim 29, wherein the one or more signals:

remotely control presentation of the particular primary content on a plurality of user devices to allow synchronized presentation of the particular primary content on the plurality of user devices; and

substantially simultaneously cause the presentation of the particular primary content, or an associated content, to be changed on the plurality of user devices.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein change of the presentation of the particular primary content or an associated content is effected automatically based on an algorithm.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the algorithm determines the change in the presentation of the particular primary content or an associated content based on one or more of the following:

information about the user and the identified subset of the additional users;

or

input about the particular primary content provided by the user or the identified subset of the additional users.

55. A system comprising the device of claim 29, and further comprising:

a first user device configured to receive at least the one or more signals, and to receive and present the particular primary content; and

a second user device configured to receive at least the one or more signals and the particular primary content, and to present the particular primary content in synchronization with presentation of the particular primary content on the first user device in accordance with the one or more signals.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first or second user devices is further configured to receive a supplemental content to be presented in synchronization with the particular primary content.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the first user device and the second user device are configured to communicate with one another through at least one of:

an instant messaging, a voice chat, a conference call or a video call.

58. The system of claim 55, further comprising a third user device configured to receive a supplemental content, and to present the supplemental content in synchronization with the particular primary content.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first and the second user devices is configured to extract one or more watermarks that are embedded in the particular primary content.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first or the second user devices is configured to compute one or more fingerprints associated with one or more segments of the particular primary content.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first or the second user devices is configured to process a metadata associated with the particular primary content to enable identification of the particular primary content.

62. A computer program product, embodied on one or more non-transitory computer readable media, comprising:

program code for monitoring activities of a user related to the user'"'"'s accessing of a particular primary content;

program code for analyzing information acquired from the monitoring in conjunction with stored data related to additional users;

program code for identifying a subset of the additional users that are associated with the user or with the particular primary content; and

program code for allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content amongst the user and the identified subset of the additional users, wherein allowing enhanced viewing of the particular primary content comprises enabling at least one of the identified subset of additional users to receive the particular primary content through a second type of communication channel while the user simultaneously receives the particular primary content through a first type of communication channel and wherein the monitoring comprises receiving information extracted from embedded watermarks in the particular primary content that enables identification of one or more of;

information specific to the particular primary content, a media distribution channel associated with the particular primary content, or a time of transmission of the particular primary content.