IP Library Granted Patent US 6,947,922
Granted Patent B1
US 6,947,922 · App. 09/596,070 · Granted Sep 20, 2005

Recommender system and method for generating implicit ratings based on user interactions with handheld devices

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,947,922
App. No.
09/596,070
Granted
Sep 20, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A recommender system employs implicit ratings generated from monitoring user interaction with an item, such as while listening to a music track on a MP3 player or reading an electronic book. A method for generating item recommendations includes: providing an item to a device having an application for engaging a repetitive activity with the provided item, wherein the repetitive activity occurs primarily during standalone operation of the device; generating a history of user interaction with the provided item, wherein user interaction includes engaging in the repetitive activity with the provided item; transforming the history of user interactions into an implicit rating of the provided item; and using the implicit rating of the provided item to generate recommendations of other items.

Claims (24)

1. A method for generating recommendations, comprising:

providing an item of a particular type to a handheld de having an application for engaging in a repetitive activity with items of the particular type, wherein the repetitive activity comprises displaying or playing items of the particular type to a user;

generating a history of user interaction with the provided item, wherein a user interaction comprises an instance of a user causing the application to display or play the provided item to the user and duration of the display or play, wherein each user interaction occurs during standalone operation of the handheld device disconnected from a network;

wherein the history of user interactions is transformed into recency and frequency of interaction data pertaining to the provided item;

uploading the history of user interactions to a network recommender;

transforming the history into an implicit rating of the provided item, wherein the history of user interactions with the provided item may be used to create more accurate statistical profiles the rating comprising predicted ratings for a user for a plurality of items not rated by the user, having measure of confidence in the prediction and a rationale for the prediction;

using the implicit rating of the provided item to generate recommendations of other items of the particular type; and

wherein an implicit rating is generated in accordance with the relationship: rating(item)=number of interactions (item) since datetime(item acquired)/number of total interactions (item) since datetime(item acquired).

2. A method for generating recommendations, comprising

providing an item of a particular type to a handheld device having an application for engaging in a repetitive activity with items of the particular type, wherein the repetitive activity comprises displaying or playing items of the particular type to a user;

generating a history of user interaction with the provided item, wherein a user interaction comprises an instance of a user causing the application to display or play the provided item to the user and duration of the display or play, wherein each user interaction occurs during standalone operation of the handheld device disconnected from a network;

wherein the history of user interactions is transformed into data pertaining to normalized time spent interacting with the provided item;

uploading the history of user interactions to a network recommender;

transforming the history into an implicit rating of the provided item, wherein the history of user interactions with the provided item may be used to create more accurate statistical profiles the rating comprising predicted ratings for a user for a plurality of items not rated by the user, having a measure of confidence in the prediction and a rationale for the prediction;

using the implicit rating of the provided item to generate recommendations of other items of the particular type; and

wherein an implicit rating is generated in accordance with the relationship: rating(item)=total interaction time(item)/size(item).

3. A method for generating recommendations, comprising:

providing an item of a particular type to a handheld device having an application for engaging in a repetitive activity with items of the particular type, wherein the repetitive activity comprises displaying or playing items of the particular type to a user;

generating a history of user interaction with the provided item, wherein a user interaction comprises an instance of a user causing the application to display or play the provided item to the user and duration of the display or play, wherein each user interaction occurs during standalone operation of the handheld device disconnected from a network;

wherein the history of user interactions is transformed into data pertaining to normalized time spent interacting with the provided item;

uploading the history of user interactions to a network recommender;

transforming the history into an implicit rating of the provided item, wherein the history of user interactions with the provided item may be used to create more accurate statistical profiles the rating comprising predicted ratings for a user for a plurality of items not rated by the user, having a measure of confidence in the prediction and a rationale for the prediction;

using the implicit rating of the provided item to generate recommendations of other items of the particular type; and

wherein an implicit rating is generated in accordance with the relationship: rating(item)=[total interaction time(item)/size(item)*exp(−damping coefficient]*(date−time acquired).

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT R/F 062740/0214 Recorded May 18, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063694/0122 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2022
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062740/0214 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO BANK ONE, N.A.
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061388/0388 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066728/0193 →