Determining an invitational content item type based on predicted user attention

• US 9,426,242 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pitschel, Donald W., Chaudhri, Imran A., Newman, Lucas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US13/753,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20140215086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• 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: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A media channel can include a mix of media items and invitational content items. At some point during the playback of the media channel an invitational content item can be presented. In some cases, the invitational content items eligible for presentation can be of differing types, such as video and audio. In can be advantageous to restrict presentation of video invitational content items to times when a user is likely to view the screen of the client device during playback of the invitational content item. To accomplish this one or more heuristics or rules can be applied to client device data to predict a user attention level. The user attention level can then be correlated to an invitational content item type, which can then be used to select an invitational content item for playback.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

collecting device data comprising one or more data points regarding a state of a device and a state of a media player application associated with the device;

based on the device data, selecting a type of media content for playback within a media channel transmitted to the device, wherein the type of media content is one of video or audio depending on the device data, wherein;

the type of media content selected is video when;

the device data indicates that the device is a portable device and in a stationary state, or

the device data indicates that the device is at least one of connected to a peripheral device, connected to a video display, or propped in a dock as determined based on gyroscope data, or

the device data indicates that a media station type is soundtrack; and

the type of content selected is audio when;

the device data indicates that a media station type is fitness or road trip, and the device data does not indicate that the device is the portable device, is in the stationary state, is connected to the peripheral device, is connected to the video display, or is propped in the dock;

identifying a media content item of the selected type of media content from one or more media content items of the type of media content; and

inserting the media content item into the media channel transmitted to the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the type selected is video when the device data indicates a screen is unlocked and the media player application is open in a foreground.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the type selected is video when the device data indicates that at least one of a media station entry is detected, a new media station is initiated, or a media item skip is detected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of media content is audio when a detected ambient light is below a predefined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a content triggering event comprising at least one of launching a media station application, initiating a new media station, completing playback of a media item, activating a feature of a user interface associated with the device, or a detected movement associated with the device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content is inserted into the media channel after a completion of playback of a first media item associated with the media channel and prior to beginning playback of a second media item associated with the media channel.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

collecting device data comprising one or more data points regarding a state of a device and a state of a media player application associated with the device;

based on the device data and a predefined rule, identifying a type of media content for playback within a media channel transmitted to the device wherein the type of media content is one of video or audio depending on the device data, wherein;

the type of media content selected is video when;

the device data indicates that the device is a portable device and in a stationary state, or

the device data indicates that the device is at least one of connected to a peripheral device, connected to a video display, or propped in a dock as determined based on gyroscope data, or

the device data indicates that at least one of a media station entry is detected, a new media station is initiated, or a media item skip is detected;

the device data indicates that a media station type is soundtrack; and

the type of content selected is audio when;

the device data indicates that a media station type is fitness or road trip, and the device data does not indicate that the device is the portable device, is in the stationary state, is connected to the peripheral device, is connected to the video display, or is propped in the dock;

designating media content of the type for playback within the media channel based on the device data; and

inserting media content of the type into the media channel transmitted to the device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the type of media content occurs in response to detecting a content triggering event during playback of the media stream.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the media content is inserted into the media channel after a completion of playback of a first media item associated with the media channel and prior to beginning playback of a second media item associated with the media channel.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein device data includes at least one of device type, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, compass data, media player state data, media stream state data, ambient light data, device lock state, or device peripheral connection data.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the device data comprises an indication that the media player application is running.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the type of media content is audio when a detected ambient light is below a predefined threshold.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

collecting device data comprising one or more data points regarding a state of a device and a state of a media player application associated with the device;

based on the device data, selecting media content of a particular type between audio and video for playback within a media channel transmitted to the device, wherein;

the particular type of media content selected is video when;

the device data indicates that the device is a portable device and in a stationary state, or

the device data indicates that the device is at least one of connected to a peripheral device, connected to a video display, or propped in a dock as determined based on gyroscope data, or

the device data indicates that a media station type is soundtrack; and

the particular type of content selected is audio when;

the device data indicates that a media station type is fitness or road trip, and the device data does not indicate that the device is the portable device, is in the stationary state, is connected to the peripheral device, is connected to the video display, or is propped in the dock;

identifying a media content item of the particular type of media content from one or more media content items of the particular type of media content; and

inserting the media content item of the particular type into the media channel transmitted to the device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the media content item is identified based on heuristics, wherein the heuristics are assigned a weight, and the particular type is audio when the assigned weight falls below a predefined threshold weight.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the media content item is identified based on a predefined rule.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the media content item is identified based on a media stream preference.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the media content item is identified based on a content preference.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation further:

assigning a confidence score to the identified media content item based on a status associated with the device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation further:

prioritizing a plurality of media content items based on the particular type.

20. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

collecting device data comprising one or more data points regarding a state of a device and a state of a media player application associated with the device;

based on the device data, selecting a type of media content from audio or video for playback within a media channel, wherein;

the type of media content selected is video when;

the device data indicates that the device is a portable device and in a stationary state, or

the device data indicates that the device is at least one of connected to a peripheral device, connected to a video display, or propped in a dock as determined based on gyroscope data, or

the device data indicates that a media station type is soundtrack; and

the type of content selected is audio when;

the device data indicates that a media station type is fitness or road trip, and the device data does not indicate that the device is the portable device, is in the stationary state, is connected to the peripheral device, is connected to the video display, or is propped in the dock;

identifying a media content item of the selected type of media content from one or more media content items of the type of media content; and

inserting the media content item into the media channel.

21. The system of claim 20, the computer-readable storage medium having stored therein additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation comprising:

detecting a content triggering event during playback of a media stream associated with the media channel.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the content triggering event comprises at least one of launching a media station application, initiating a new media station, completing playback of a media item, activating a feature of a user interface associated with the device, or a detected movement associated with the device.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the media content is inserted into the media channel after a completion of playback of a first media item associated with the media channel and prior to beginning playback of a second media item associated with the media channel.

24. A computer-implemented method comprising:

collecting, via a processor, device data comprising one or more data points regarding a state of a device and a state of a media player application associated with the device;

based on the device data, designating a particular type of media content from between video and audio for playback within a media channel, wherein;

the type of media content selected is video when;

the device data indicates that the device is a portable device and in a stationary state, or

the device data indicates that the device is at least one of connected to a peripheral device, connected to a video display, or propped in a dock as determined based on gyroscope data, or

the device data indicates that a media station type is soundtrack; and

the type of content selected is audio when;

the device data indicates that a media station type is fitness or road trip, and the device data does not indicate that the device is the portable device, is in the stationary state, is connected to the peripheral device, is connected to the video display, or is propped in the dock;

selecting a media content item of the selected type of media content from one or more media content items of the type of media content;

analyzing a second set of device data to generate a content type override value; and

selecting media content for inserting into the media channel based at least on the particular type and the override value.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the device data or the second set of device data comprises the at least one of device type, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, compass data, media player state data, media stream state data, device lock state, or device peripheral connection data, and the second set of device data includes at least one of battery level or ambient light.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the override value comprises an indication to override video when the second set of device data includes a battery level below a predefined threshold.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the particular type is audio when detected ambient light is below a predefined threshold.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein selecting the media content further comprises prioritizing media content items based on the particular type.