IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,904,441
Granted Patent B2
US 8,904,441 · App. 13/165,209 · Granted Dec 2, 2014

Systems and methods for providing program suggestions in an interactive television program guide

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,904,441
App. No.
13/165,209
Granted
Dec 2, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user.

Claims (31)

1. A method comprising:

determining that a first media content is potentially of interest to a user;

automatically identifying, using control circuitry, a second media content based on an attribute of the first media content;

generating for display a media content listing of the second media content as a recommendation;

receiving a user selection of an option indicating that the user is not interested in the recommendation of the second media content; and

in response to receiving the user selection, preventing the second media content from being recommended to the user in the future.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first media content is potentially of interest to the user comprises determining that the user has viewed the first media content.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating for display the media content listing of the second media content as the recommendation comprises identifying a suitable time to generate for display the media content listing to the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating for display the media content listing of the second media content as the recommendation further comprises generating for display an option indicating that the user is not interested in the recommendation of the second media content.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating for display a listing of previously viewed media content to the user.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising generating for display an option to add the previously viewed media content to a favorites list associated with the user.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reduce the likelihood that programs similar to the second media content are recommended to the user in the future.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the attribute of the first media content is predetermined by a content provider.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the content provider is a television program distributor.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the attribute is a genre.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing a likelihood that programs similar to the second media content are recommended to the user in the future.

12. A system comprising:

control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

determine that a first media content is potentially of interest to a user;

automatically identify a second media content based on an attribute of the first media content;

generate for display a media content listing of the second media content as a recommendation;

receive a user selection of an option indicating that the user is not interested in the recommendation of the second media content; and

in response to receiving the user selection, prevent the second media content from being recommended to the user in the future.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the user has viewed the first media content.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify a suitable time to generate for display the media content listing of the second media content as the recommendation to the user.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display an option indicating that the user is not interested in the recommendation of the second media content.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a listing of previously viewed media content to the user.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display an option to add the previously viewed media content to a favorites list associated with the user.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the attribute of the first media content is predetermined by a content provider.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the content provider is a television program distributor.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the attribute is a genre.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0270 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0245 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035893/0241 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2011
From: WESTBERG, THOMAS E.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROEPRTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 027178/0456 →