IP Library › Granted Patent US 12671871

Granted Patent B2

US 12671871 · App. 18/932,404 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Systems and methods for providing timeline of content items on a user interface

Inventors: Vikram Makam Gupta (Bangalore, IN); Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah (Karnataka, IN)

Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc.

H04N21/47217 H04N21/4882 H04N21/8456

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12671871
App. No.: 18/932,404
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

The methods and systems described herein provide timelines of content segments on a user interface. In one example, the methods and systems generate for display a first content item, determine a current portion of the first content item and determine a related content segment that is related to the current portion of the first content item such that the related segment is from a second content item. The methods and systems also generate for simultaneous display a first timeline of the first content item, an indicator that indicates a location of the current portion on the first timeline, a second time of the second content item and a segment indicator that indicates location of the related content segment on the second timeline. The methods and systems further receive a selection of the related content segment.

Claims (74)

1 . A method comprising:

generating for display a first media asset;

receiving a user interface request to view media content portions related to a currently displayed content portion of the first media asset;

determining, by control circuitry, that a second media asset comprises one or more second content portions related to the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset;

generating, by the control circuitry, for concurrent display:

a first timeline of the first media asset;

a first indicator that indicates a first location of the currently displayed content portion on the first timeline of the first media asset;

a second timeline of the second media asset; and

one or more second portion indicators, wherein each second portion indicator indicates on the second timeline a respective location of a respective second content portion of the one or more second content portions of the second media asset,

wherein the concurrent display excludes display of indicators of content portions of the second media asset that are unrelated to the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each second portion indicator of the one or more second portion indicators comprises a respective screencap based at least in part on the respective second content portion of the one or more second content portions indicated by the respective second portion indicator.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

based at least in part on receiving a selection of one second content portion of the one or more second content portions, displaying the selected one second content portion of the one or more second content portions.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein each second portion indicator of the one or more second portion indicators comprises the respective screencap based at least in part on the respective second content portion of the one or more second content portions indicated by the respective second portion indicator, and

wherein the selection of the one second content portion is made based at least in part on a user interface interaction with the respective screencap indicating the respective second content portion.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating for the concurrent display, by the control circuitry, a third indicator that indicates on the first timeline a location of another content portion of the first media asset, wherein the other content portion of the first media asset is related to the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

based at least in part on determining that a second content portion of the first media asset is currently being displayed:

determining, by the control circuitry, one or more third content portions related to the currently displayed second content portion of the first media asset;

generating, by the control circuitry, for concurrent display:

the first timeline of the first media asset;

a new indicator that indicates a second location of the displayed second content portion on the first timeline of the first media asset;

the second timeline of the second media asset; and

one or more third portion indicators that indicate, on the second timeline of the second media asset, locations of respective third content portions of the one or more third content portions of the second media asset, wherein the concurrent display excludes display of indicators of content portions of the second media asset that are unrelated to the currently displayed second content portion of the first media asset.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

predicting a duration of the first media asset being played at a specific speed;

determining a time to download the one or more second content portions, based at least in part on the predicted duration; and

downloading for display, based at least in part on the time to download, each of the one or more second content portions.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

determine a probability of receiving a second user interface request to navigate to a target content portion of the one or more of the second content portions;

compare the probability with a probability threshold;

based at least in part on determining that the probability of the receiving the second user interface request is less than the probability threshold, determine a confidence score for multiple durations in the first timeline that a third user interface request will be received to navigate away from the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset;

determine a number of content portions of the one or more second content portions corresponding to each of the multiple durations in the first timeline of the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset; and

based at least in part on the confidence score, download the determined number of content portions of the one or more second content portions.

9 . A system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

generate for display a first media asset;

receive a user interface request to view media content portions related to a currently displayed content portion of the first media asset; and

determine that a second media asset comprises one or more second content portions related to the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset; and

a memory, wherein a respective location in the second media asset of each second content portion of the one or more second content portions is stored in the memory; and

the control circuitry is configured to:

generate for concurrent display:

a first timeline of the first media asset;

a first indicator that indicates a first location of the currently displayed content portion on the first timeline of the first media asset;

a second timeline of the second media asset; and

one or more second portion indicators, wherein each second portion indicator indicates on the second timeline the respective location of a respective second content portion of the one or more second content portions of the second media asset,

wherein the concurrent display excludes display of indicators of content portions of the second media asset that are unrelated to the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein each second portion indicator of the one or more second portion indicators comprises a respective screencap based at least in part on the respective second portion of the one or more second content portions indicated by the respective second portion indicator.

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

based at least in part on receiving a selection of one second content portion of the one or more second content portions, display the selected one second content portion of the one or more second content portions.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each second portion indicator of the one or more second portion indicators comprises the respective screencap based at least in part on the respective second portion of the one or more second content portions indicated by the respective second portion indicator, and

wherein a selection of the one second content portion is made based at least in part on a user interface interaction with the respective screencap indicating the respective second portion.

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

generate, by the control circuitry, for the concurrent display a third indicator that indicates on the first timeline a second location of another content portion of the first media asset, wherein the other content portion of the first media asset is related to the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset.

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

based at least in part on determining that a second content portion of the first media asset is currently being displayed:

determine, by the control circuitry, one or more third content portions related to the currently displayed second content portion of the first media asset;

generate, by the control circuitry, for concurrent display:

the first timeline of the first media asset;

a new indicator that indicates a second location of the displayed second content portion on the first timeline of the first media asset;

the second timeline of the second media asset; and

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

predict a duration of the first media asset being played at a specific speed;

determine a time to download the one or more second content portions related to the currently displayed content portion, based at least in part on the predicted duration; and

download for display, based at least in part on the time to download, each of the one or more second content portions related to the currently displayed content portion.

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

determine a probability of receiving a second user interface request to navigate to a target second content portion of the one or more second content portions;

compare the probability with a probability threshold;

based at least in part on determining that the probability is less than the probability threshold, determine a confidence score for multiple durations in the first timeline that a third user interface request will be received to navigate away from the currently displayed content portion of the first media asset;

determine a number of content portions of the one or more second content portions related to the currently displayed content portion corresponding to each of the multiple durations in the first timeline of the first media asset item;

and

based at least in part on the confidence score, download the determined number of content portions of the one or more second content portions.