IP Library Granted Patent US 12666100
Granted Patent B2
US 12666100 · App. 18/887,470 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Methods and systems for managing media subscriptions

Inventors: William L. Thomas (Evergreen, CO); Paul T. Stathacopoulos (San Carlos, CA); Walter R. Klappert (North Hollywood, CA)
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc.
H04N21/2543H04N21/252H04N21/25883H04N21/25891H04N21/2665H04N21/4532H04N21/4826
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12666100
App. No.
18/887,470
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are described for a media guidance application that manages media subscriptions between a user and a content provider. In particular, the media guidance application may automatically identify subscription terms that are beneficial for both a user and for a content provider.

Claims (52)

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, using control circuitry, based at least in part on a user profile associated with a device, a first media asset to be recommended;

determining, using the control circuitry, that the first media asset is unavailable for the user profile from a content provider until a future date;

determining, using the control circuitry, a preferred time slot based at least in part on the user profile, wherein the preferred time slot comprises at least one of: a day of week preference that is preferred for consumption of media assets or a time of the day of the week preference that is preferred for the consumption of the media assets;

identifying, using the control circuitry, based at least in part on metadata of the first media asset, a second media asset that is both related to the first media asset and available from the content provider during the preferred time slot, wherein the preferred time slot occurs before the future date; and

generating for display, at the device associated with the user profile, a combined user interface recommendation indicating both the first media asset for the future date and the second media asset for the preferred time slot.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, using the control circuitry, a second-preferred time slot based on the user profile, wherein the second-preferred time slot comprises a day of the week preference or a time of the day of the week preference that is second-preferred for consumption of the media assets, wherein the media assets are less likely to be consumed during the second-preferred time slot than during the preferred time slot;

identifying, using the control circuitry, based at least in part on the metadata of the first media asset, a third media asset that is both related to the first media asset and available for the user profile from the content provider during the second-preferred time slot;

determining that the second-preferred time slot occurs before the future date; and

generating for display, at the device, the combined user interface recommendation indicating both the first media asset for the future date and the third media asset for the second-preferred time slot.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a genre of the first media asset, wherein the determining the preferred time slot comprises determining a preference for the genre in the preferred time slot.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the content provider where the first media asset will be available for the user profile on the future date;

wherein the combined user interface recommendation indicates that the first media asset will be available on the future date from the content provider and the second media asset will be available during the preferred time slot from the content provider.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the combined user interface recommendation indicates that the second media asset is available from the content provider between a start of a subscription period with the content provider and the future date, and indicates an end date of a second subscription period prior to the subscription period.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more user interface notifications include a recommendation for a third media asset relevant to the user profile and that is both currently available from the content provider and available from the content provider after a start of a subscription period.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that a gap day exists between a start of a subscription period with the content provider and the future date; and

wherein the combined user interface recommendation comprises a notification that a third media asset relevant to the first media asset is available on the gap day from the content provider.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that a gap day exists between a start of a subscription period with the content provider and the future date; and

identifying, using the control circuitry, a third media asset relevant to the user profile and available from the content provider during the gap day; and

causing display, at the device associated with the user profile, of a reminder to acquire a subscription to the content provider, wherein the reminder indicates the first media asset for the future date and the third media asset for the gap day.

9 . A system comprising:

a memory; and

control circuitry configured:

to determine by accessing the memory, based at least in part on a user profile associated with a device, a first media asset to be recommended;

to determine that the first media asset is unavailable for the user profile from a content provider until a future date;

to determine a preferred time slot based at least in part on the user profile, wherein the preferred time slot comprises at least one of: a day of week preference that is preferred for consumption of media assets or a time of the day of week preference that is preferred for consumption of the media assets;

to identify based at least in part on metadata of the first media asset, a second media asset that is both related to the first media asset and available from the content provider during the preferred time slot, wherein the preferred time slot occurs before the future date; and

to generate for display, at the device associated with the user profile, a combined user interface recommendation indicating both the first media asset for the future date and the second media asset for the preferred time slot.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured:

to determine a second-preferred time slot based on the user profile, wherein the second-preferred time slot comprises a day of the week preference or a time of the day of the week preference that is second-preferred for the consumption of the media assets, wherein the media assets are less likely to be consumed during the second-preferred time slot than during the preferred time slot;

to identify based at least in part on the metadata of the first media asset, a third media asset that is both related to the first media asset and available for the user profile from the content provider during the second-preferred time slot;

to determine that the second-preferred time slot occurs before the future date; and

to generate for display, at the device, the combined user interface recommendation indicating both the first media asset for the future date and the third media asset for the second-preferred time slot.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured:

to determine a genre of the first media asset, wherein the determining the preferred time slot comprises determining a preference for the genre in the preferred time slot.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured:

to determine the content provider where the first media asset will be available for the user profile on the future date;

wherein the combined user interface recommendation indicates that the first media asset will be available on the future date from the content provider and the second media asset will be available during the preferred time slot from the content provider.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the combined user interface recommendation indicates that the second media asset is available from the content provider between a start of a subscription period with the content provider and the future date, and indicates an end date of a second subscription period prior to the subscription period.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein one or more user interface notifications include a recommendation for a third media asset relevant to the user profile and that is both currently available from the content provider and available from the content provider after a start of a subscription period.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured:

to determine that a gap day exists between a start of a subscription period with the content provider and the future date; and

wherein the combined user interface recommendations comprises a notification that a third media asset relevant to the first media asset is available on the gap day from the content provider.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured:

to determine that a gap day exists between a start of a subscription period with the content provider and the future date; and

to identify a third media asset relevant to the user profile and available from the content provider during the gap day; and

to cause display, at the device associated with the user profile, of a reminder to acquire a subscription to the content provider, wherein the reminder indicates the first media asset for the future date and the third media asset for the gap day.