METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PASSIVELY MONITORING ONLINE VIDEO VIEWING AND VIEWER BEHAVIOR

• US 20130339523A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tubemogul Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: LOPATECKI, Jason, ROSE, Adam, HUGHES, John, WILSON, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 9,485,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/44226 on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

Various user behaviors are passively monitored and recorded when a user/viewer interacts with a network video player, e.g. a web video player, while watching an online video clip. For one embodiment, a data collection agent (DCA) is loaded to the player and/or to a web page that displays the video clip. The DCA passively collects detailed viewing and behavior information without requiring any specific input or actions on the part of the user. Indications of user preferences are inferred by user actions leading up to viewing the video, while viewing the video, and just after and still related to viewing the video. The DCA periodically sends this information to a central server where it is stored in a central database and where it is used to determine preference similarities among different users. Recorded user preference information may also be used to rate a video itself.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating a viewer preference score for a viewer relative to a particular video clip without requiring a viewer to assign a score, comprising the steps of:

recording parameters respective of the viewer'"'"'s actions relating to the video clip, the recording taking place without requesting the viewer for a specific input for rating the video clip;

determining, based on the recorded viewer'"'"'s actions, a viewer preference score relative to the video clip;

recording the viewer preference score in a database of viewer preference scores respective of the viewer;

associating the viewer preference score with the viewer; and

wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions prior to playing the video clip comprise at least;

enduring a pre-roll advertisement.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions prior to playing the video clip further comprise:

accessing the video clip by a particular method comprising any of;

authenticating, logging-in, and being incentivized to see the video.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions prior to playing the video clip further comprise:

adjusting a bit rate for streaming or downloading the video prior to playing the video, said bit rate adjustment indicating whether the viewer increased or decreased the bit rate.

4. A computer implemented method for generating a viewer preference score for a viewer relative to a particular video clip without requiring a viewer to assign a score, comprising the steps of:

recording parameters respective of the viewer'"'"'s actions relating to the video clip, the recording taking place without requesting the viewer for a specific input for rating the video clip;

determining, based on the recorded viewer'"'"'s actions, a viewer preference score relative to the video clip;

recording the viewer preference score in a database of viewer preference scores respective of the viewer;

associating the viewer preference score with the viewer; and

wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip comprise at least;

viewing the video clip for a recorded duration and percent completion.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

viewing the video clip in full-screen mode.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

adjusting volume level, muting, or un-muting the video clip.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

pausing or un-pausing the video clip.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

fast-forwarding or rewinding the video clip.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

adjusting the bit rate for streaming or downloading the video clip while playing it, including whether the viewer increased or decreased the bit rate.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

clicking-through on an overlay image or on the video clip itself to be taken to another webpage or website.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

spending time viewing certain segments of the video clip that are judged to have higher value based on actions of previous viewers.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

enduring a mid-roll advertisement.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions while playing the video clip further comprise:

replaying the video clip, how many times the video clip was replayed, and what portion of the video clip was replayed.

14. A computer implemented method for generating a viewer preference score for a viewer relative to a particular video clip without requiring a viewer to assign a score, comprising the steps of:

recording parameters respective of the viewer'"'"'s actions relating to the video clip, the recording taking place without requesting the viewer for a specific input for rating the video clip;

determining, based on the recorded viewer'"'"'s actions, a viewer preference score relative to the video clip;

recording the viewer preference score in a database of viewer preference scores respective of the viewer;

associating the viewer preference score with the viewer; and

wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip comprise at least;

sharing the video via a social network.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip further comprise:

sharing the video via an embed code.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip further comprise:

sharing the video via e-mail.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip further comprise:

sharing the video in multiple separate events where the number of separate sharing events the viewer initiated to share the video clip are recorded.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip further comprise:

waiting for a time duration between viewing the video clip and initiating a sharing event, wherein said time duration is recorded.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip further comprise:

bookmarking the video clip for later viewing.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip further comprise:

downloading and saving the video for later viewing.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein recorded parameters reflecting viewer actions after playing the video clip further comprise:

subscribing to a channel or feed for the video content producer or artist.