Time-sensitive content update

• US 9,686,577 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tseng, Erick, Moeck, Gregory John, Campbell, Colin Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US14/075,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20140245352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 725 50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes determining available media content from one or more content sources and providing at least a portion of the available media content for display in a programming guide on a display device of a user. The programming guide includes a plurality of entries each associated with one of the available media content. The method further includes determining that an update action button should be displayed on the display device, providing the update action button for display on the display device when it is determined that the update action button should be displayed, and updating the programming guide in response to a user selection of the update action button. The update action button is operable to cause the social-networking system to update the programming guide.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by one or more computing systems of a social-networking system, determining available media content from one or more content sources;

by the one or more computing systems of a social-networking system, accessing a social graph comprising;

a plurality of user nodes that are each associated with a respective user of the social-networking system;

a plurality of concept nodes that are each associated with a respective show or movie; and

a plurality of edges connecting the user nodes and the concept nodes, each particular edge indicating that a particular user corresponding to a particular user node previously watched or liked a particular show or movie corresponding to a particular concept node;

by the one or more computing systems of the social-networking system, determining a plurality of social coefficients for a user by analyzing a number and type of edges of the plurality of edges that connect a particular user node associated with the user and one or more of the concept nodes, the social coefficients indicating the user'"'"'s affinity for other objects on the social-networking system, the social coefficients based at least in part on;

weights assigned to past actions of the user on the social-networking system as determined from the social graph; and

weights assigned to relationships between the user and other objects of the social graph;

by the one or more computing systems of the social-networking system, determining, based on the social coefficients, recommended media content for the user;

by the one or more computing systems of the social-networking system, providing at least a portion of the available media content and at least a portion of the recommended media content for display in a programming guide on a display device of the user, the programming guide comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associated with one of the available media content or one of the recommended media content;

by the one or more computing systems of the social-networking system, determining that an update action button should be displayed on the display device, the update action button operable to cause the social-networking system to update the programming guide;

by the one or more computing systems of the social-networking system, providing the update action button for display on the display device when it is determined that the update action button should be displayed; and

by the one or more computing systems of the social-networking system, updating, in response to pre-defined conditions, the programming guide to display one or more new entries that are each associated with new available media content, the pre-defined conditions comprising;

a user selection of the update action button;

a pre-defined amount of time after a previous update of the programming guide; and

a pre-defined amount of time before each half hour.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

by the one or more computer systems of the social-networking system, querying the social graph for social content associated with the available media content and one or more users of the social-networking system; and

by the one or more computer systems of the social-networking system, providing at least a portion of the queried social content from the social graph for display along with the available media content on the display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection comprises a touch input on the update action button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the update action button comprises a visual indication that the user may select the update action button to update the programming guide.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the social content comprises one or more of:

an indication of a number of other users of the social-networking system who have viewed the available media content;

an indication of a number of other users of the social-networking system who have “

liked”

the available media content;

an indication of a number of other users of the social-networking system who have shared the available media content;

an indication of a number of comments about the available media content;

or

a facepile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the programming guide in response to the user selection comprises:

visually fading the programming guide down while the programming guide is being updated; and

visually fading the programming guide back up after the programming guide has been updated.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content that is displayed in the programming guide is aggregated from a plurality of content sources comprising a plurality of over-the-top (OTT) providers, a plurality of multiple system operators (MSOs), and a plurality of on-demand sources.

8. The method of claim 1, the pre-defined conditions further comprising the user scrolling down in the programming guide a predetermined amount or a predetermined number of entries.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

by the one or more computing systems of the social-networking system, providing a progress bar for display on the display device of the user, the progress bar providing a visual indication of a percentage of how much of a particular show or movie has been viewed or remains to be viewed.

10. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media in one or more computing systems, the one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

determine available media content from one or more content sources;

access a social graph comprising;

a plurality of user nodes that are each associated with a respective user of the social-networking system;

a plurality of concept nodes that are each associated with a respective show or movie; and

a plurality of edges connecting the user nodes and the concept nodes, each particular edge indicating that a particular user corresponding to a particular user node previously watched or liked a particular show or movie corresponding to a particular concept node;

determine a plurality of social coefficients for a user by analyzing a number and type of edges of the plurality of edges that connect a particular user node associated with the user and one or more of the concept nodes, the social coefficients indicating the user'"'"'s affinity for other objects on a social-networking system, the social coefficients based at least in part on;

weights assigned to past actions of the user on the social-networking system as determined from the social graph; and

weights assigned to relationships between the user and other objects of the social graph;

determine, based on the social coefficients, recommended media content for the user;

provide at least a portion of the available media content and at least a portion of the recommended media content for display in a programming guide on a display device of the user, the programming guide comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associated with one of the available media content or one of the recommended media content;

determine that an update action button should be displayed on the display device, the update action button operable to cause the social-networking system to update the programming guide;

provide the update action button for display on the display device when it is determined that the update action button should be displayed; and

update, in response to any one of a plurality of pre-defined conditions, the programming guide to display one or more new entries that are each associated with new available media content, the plurality of pre-defined conditions comprising;

a user selection of the update action button;

a pre-defined amount of time after a previous update of the programming guide; and

a pre-defined amount of time before each half hour.

11. The media of claim 10, the logic further operable to:

query the social graph for social content associated with the available media content and one or more users of the social-networking system; and

provide at least a portion of the queried social content from the social graph for display along with the available media content on the display device.

12. The media of claim 10, wherein the update action button comprises a visual indication that the user may select the update action button to update the programming guide.

13. The media of claim 11, wherein the social content comprises one or more of:

an indication of a number of other users of the social-networking system who have viewed the available media content;

an indication of a number of other users of the social-networking system who have “

liked”

the available media content;

an indication of a number of other users of the social-networking system who have shared the available media content;

an indication of a number of comments about the available media content;

or

a facepile.

14. The media of claim 10, wherein the logic is further operable to update the programming guide in response to the user selection by:

visually fading the programming guide down while the programming guide is being updated; and

visually fading the programming guide back up after the programming guide has been updated.

15. A system, comprising:

one or more memory devices; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the one or more memory devices, the processor operable to;

determine available media content from one or more content sources;

access a social graph comprising;

a plurality of user nodes that are each associated with a respective user of the social-networking system;

a plurality of concept nodes that are each associated with a respective show or movie; and

a plurality of edges connecting the user nodes and the concept nodes, each particular edge indicating that a particular user corresponding to a particular user node previously watched or liked a particular show or movie corresponding to a particular concept node;

determine a plurality of social coefficients for a user by analyzing a number and type of edges of the plurality of edges that connect a particular user node associated with the user and one or more of the concept nodes, the social coefficients indicating the user'"'"'s affinity for other objects on a social-networking system, the social coefficients based at least in part on;

weights assigned to past actions of the user on the social-networking system as determined from the social graph; and

weights assigned to relationships between the user and other objects of the social graph;

determine, based on the social coefficients, recommended media content for the user;

provide at least a portion of the available media content for display in a programming guide on a display device of a user, the programming guide comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associated with one of the available media content or one of the recommended media content;

determine that an update action button should be displayed on the display device, the update action button operable to cause the social-networking system to update the programming guide;

provide the update action button for display on the display device when it is determined that the update action button should be displayed; and

update, in response to any one of a plurality of pre-defined conditions, the programming guide to display one or more new entries that are each associated with new available media content, the plurality of pre-defined conditions comprising;

a user selection of the update action button;

a pre-defined amount of time after a previous update of the programming guide; and

a pre-defined amount of time before each half hour.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein updating the programming guide comprises:

determining that the user has not interacted with the programming guide for a predetermined period of time;

or

determining that a predetermined period of time has passed since a prior update.

17. The system of claim 15, the processor further operable to:

query the social graph of the social-networking system for social content associated with the available media content and one or more users of the social-networking system; and

provide at least a portion of the queried social content from the social graph for display along with the available media content on the display device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein:

updating the programming guide comprises;

visually fading the programming guide down while the programming guide is being updated; and

visually fading the programming guide back up after the programming guide has been updated; and

the update action button comprises a visual indication that the user may select the update action button to update the programming guide.