Methods and systems for recommending media assets based on scent

• US 9,852,441 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ford, Robin, Ward, Daniel Thomas, Jensen, Paul, Nichols, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sigmond, Bennett M
• Application Number:
  US13/956,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 705 144, 705 1449, 705 145
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for selecting media assets based on a scent detected at a location of a user device. For example, a media guidance application implemented on a user device may incorporate or have access to a scent detection component, which may determine one or more scents at the location of the user device. The media guidance application may then select a media asset that corresponds to the determined one or more scents.

Claims

1. A method for selecting media assets, the method comprising:

detecting, using a scent detection component, a plurality of scents at a location of a user device;

determining an electronic representation of each of the plurality of scents based on the respective chemical properties of each of the plurality of scents;

retrieving, using control circuitry, from memory a first priority associated with a first of the plurality of scents and a second priority associated with a second of the plurality of scents, wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected from a plurality of candidate priorities, and wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected on the basis of an association between a current time of day and each scent of the plurality of scents;

in response to determining that the first priority is greater than the second priority, automatically selecting the first scent using the control circuitry;

identifying, using a database of scents corresponding to media assets, a media asset associated with the selected first scent, wherein the database has a data structure configured as a lookup table, in which an electronic representation of the first scent is inputted into the database and the media asset is selected based on a correspondence to the electronic representation; and

generating for display the identified media asset on a display screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scent detection component measures a change in frequency of a quartz crystal resonator associated with a sample of material from the location, measures spectra of masses of molecules in the sample, or measures different rates at which chemical compounds of the sample travel in a gas stream.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a user corresponding to one of the plurality of scents;

retrieving a user profile associated with the identified user;

receiving a user request for a media recommendation; and

in response to receiving the user request, generating a media recommendation based on the user profile and the selected first scent.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request for an advertisement; and

in response to receiving the request, instructing the user device to detect the scents.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a profile of scents previously detected at the location, wherein the profile of scents records a frequency and a concentration of each of the scents previously detected at the location; and

selecting one scent of the scents based on the frequency and concentration of the one scent at the location.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a concentration associated with the scents;

comparing the concentration to a threshold concentration, wherein the threshold concentration indicates a minimum concentration required in order to access the database; and

in response to the concentration corresponding to the threshold concentration, accessing the database.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

acquiring an atmospheric sample of the location;

processing the atmospheric sample in order to determine proportions of atmospheric gasses in the atmospheric sample;

comparing the proportions to standard proportions, wherein the standard proportion indicates previous proportions of atmospheric gasses at the location at a current time; and

detecting the scents in response to proportions not corresponding to the standard proportions.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inputting one of the scents into a first lookup table to determine an object associated with the one scent;

receiving an output from the first lookup table identifying the object associated with the one scent; and

inputting a description of the object into a second lookup table to determine a plurality of media assets corresponding to the object.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

generating for display on the display screen the object; and

prompting a user for confirmation of the object.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating for display on the display screen a plurality of options related to the object.

11. A system for selecting media assets, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

detect a plurality of scents at a location of a user device;

determine an electronic representation of each of the plurality of scents based on the respective chemical properties of each of the plurality of scents;

retrieve from memory a first priority associated with a first of the plurality of scents and a second priority associated with a second of the plurality of scents, wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected from a plurality of candidate priorities, and wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected on the basis of an association between a current time of day and each scent of the plurality of scents;

in response to determining that the first priority is greater than the second priority, automatically select the first scent;

identify using a database of scents corresponding to media assets a media asset associated with the selected first scent, wherein the database has a data structure configured as a lookup table, in which an electronic representation of the first scent is inputted into the database and the media asset is selected based on a correspondence to the electronic representation; and

generate for display the identified media asset on a display screen.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to measure a change in frequency of a quartz crystal resonator associated with a sample of material from the location, measure spectra of masses of molecules in the sample, or measure different rates at which chemical compounds of the sample travel in a gas stream.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein control circuitry is further configured to:

identify a user corresponding to one of the plurality of scents;

retrieve a user profile associated with the identified user;

receive a user request for a media recommendation; and

in response to receiving the user request, generate a media recommendation based on the user profile and the selected first scent.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a request for an advertisement; and

in response to receiving the request, instruct the user device to detect the scents.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate a profile of scents previously detected at the location, wherein the profile of scents records a frequency and a concentration of each of the scents previously detected at the location; and

select one scent of the scents based on the frequency and concentration of the one scent at the location.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a concentration associated with the scents;

compare the concentration to a threshold concentration, wherein the threshold concentration indicates a minimum concentration required in order to access the database; and

in response to the concentration corresponding to the threshold concentration, accessing the database.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

acquire an atmospheric sample of the location;

process the atmospheric sample in order to determine proportions of atmospheric gasses in the atmospheric sample;

compare the proportions to standard proportions, wherein the standard proportion indicates previous proportions of atmospheric gasses at the location at a current time; and

detect the scent in response to proportions not corresponding to the standard proportions.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

input one of the scents into a first lookup table to determine an object associated with the one scent;

receive an output from the first lookup table identifying the object associated with the one scent; and

input a description of the object into a second lookup table to determine a plurality of media assets corresponding to the object.

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

generate for display on the display screen the object; and

prompt a user for confirmation of the object.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display on the display screen a plurality of options related to the object.