Systems and methods for implementing a degree of separation game in an interactive media application
View Patent ↗Methods and systems of providing a game in an interactive media application based on information stored in a database are provided. The game is provided in part by using a database to select a source individual and a destination individual. Based on the source individual and information stored in a database and associated therewith, a plurality of associated candidates are selected, each of which has a defined relationship with the source individual. Representations of the source individual, the destination individual, and the first plurality of candidates are provided on a display. Based on user input, one candidate of the first plurality of candidates is selected, and it is determined whether the database defines a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual. If such a relationship exists, a user is alerted. If no such relationship exists, then a new set of candidates is retrieved based on the selected candidate.
1. A method of providing a game in an interactive media application, comprising:
accessing a database to identify a source individual, a destination individual, and a first plurality of candidates, wherein the first plurality of candidates is identified based on information that defines a relationship between the source individual and each of the first plurality of candidates;
retrieving media elements representative of the source individual, the destination individual, and each of the first plurality of candidates;
generating a display including each of the retrieved media elements;
receiving, by user input, a selection of a media element representing one of the first plurality of candidates;
determining whether the database defines a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual; and
identifying a second plurality of candidates using the database based on information that defines a relationship between the selected candidate and each of the second plurality of candidates when the database does not define a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a media asset associated with the relationship between the source individual and the selected candidate; and
generating a selectable opportunity associated with the identified media asset.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one selectable opportunity comprises at least one of:
a link to view the identified media asset,
an advertisement related to the identified media asset, and
a link to view media content associated with the identified media asset.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a media asset associated with the relationship between the source individual and the selected candidate;
bookmarking the identified media asset; and
generating a representation of the bookmarked media asset for the display.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
generating a list of bookmarked media assets;
receiving, by user input, an indication; and
generating a display that provides the list of bookmarked media assets in response to receiving the indication.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first plurality of candidates by:
retrieving metadata associated with the source individual from the database;
comparing the identified metadata associated with the source individual with metadata associated with each of a plurality of prospective candidates;
determining whether the metadata associated with the source individual matches the metadata associated with each of the plurality of prospective candidates.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the database does not define a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual, the method further comprising:
replacing the source individual with the selected candidate.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the game is played by two or more users, the method further comprising:
providing each user with a respective source individual, destination individual, and plurality of candidate individuals;
receiving, from each user by user input, a selection of a media element representing one of the plurality of candidates provided to each respective user; and
generating an alert indicating which user has won the game.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first plurality of candidates by:
generating a first list of prospective candidates associated with the source individual;
generating a second list of prospective candidates associated with the destination individual;
determining one-hop matching prospective candidates by comparing the first list and the second list;
selecting one one-hop matching prospective candidate as a first candidate of the first plurality of candidates.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
generating a third list of prospective candidates associated with one non-matching prospective candidate;
determining two-hop matching prospective candidates by comparing the second list and the third list;
selecting one two-hop matching prospective candidate as a second candidate of the first plurality of candidates.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an alert indicating victory when the database defines a relationship.
12. A system for providing a game in an interactive media application, comprising:
a database;
a processor configured to:
access the database to identify a source individual, a destination individual, and a first plurality of candidates, wherein the first plurality of candidates is identified based on information that defines a relationship between the source individual and each of the first plurality of candidates;
retrieve, from the database, media elements representative of the source individual, the destination individual, and each of the first plurality of candidates;
generate a display including each of the retrieved media elements;
receive, by user input, a selection of a media element representing one of the first plurality of candidates;
determine whether the database defines a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual; and
identify a second plurality of candidates using the database based on information that defines a relationship between the selected candidate and each of the second plurality of candidates when the database does not define a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual.
13. The system of claim 12 , the processor further configured to:
identify a media asset associated with the relationship between the source individual and the selected candidate; and
generate a selectable opportunity associated with the identified media asset.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one selectable opportunity comprises at least one of:
a link to view the identified media asset,
an advertisement related to the identified media asset, and
a link to view media content associated with the identified media asset.
15. The system of claim 12 , the processor further configured to:
identify a media asset associated with the relationship between the source individual and the selected candidate;
bookmark the identified media asset; and
generate a representation of the bookmarked media asset for the display.
16. The system of claim 15 , the processor further configured to:
generate a list of bookmarked media assets;
receive, by a user input, an indication; and
generate a display that provides the list of bookmarked media assets in response to receiving the indication.
17. The system of claim 12 , the processor further configured to determine the first plurality of candidates by:
retrieving metadata associated with the source individual from the database;
comparing the identified metadata associated with the source individual with metadata associated with each of a plurality of prospective candidates;
determining whether the metadata associated with the source individual matches the metadata associated with each of the plurality of prospective candidates.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the database does not define a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual, the processor further configured to:
replace the source individual with the selected candidate.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the game is played by a first user and a second user, the processor further configured to:
provide each user with a respective source individual, destination individual, and plurality of candidate individuals;
receive, from each user by user input, a selection of a media element representing one of the plurality of candidates provided to each respective user; and
generate an alert indicating which user has won the game.
20. The system of claim 12 , the processor further configured to determine the first plurality of candidates by:
generating a first list of prospective candidates associated with the source individual;
generating a second list of prospective candidates associated with the destination individual;
determining one-hop matching prospective candidates by comparing the first list and the second list;
selecting one one-hop matching prospective candidate as a first candidate of the first plurality of candidates.
21. The system, of claim 20 , the processor further configured to:
generate a third list of prospective candidates associated with one non-matching prospective candidate;
determine two-hop matching prospective candidates by comparing the second list and the third list;
select one two-hop matching prospective candidate as a second candidate of the first plurality of candidates.
22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate an alert indicating victory when the database defines a relationship.
23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use in providing a game in an interactive media application, the computer-readable medium having computer program instructions recorded thereon for:
accessing a database to identify a source individual, a destination individual, and a first plurality of candidates, wherein the first plurality of candidates is identified based on information that defines a relationship between the source individual and each of the first plurality of candidates;
retrieving media elements representative of the source individual, the destination individual, and each of the first plurality of candidates;
generating a display including each of the retrieved media elements;
receiving, by user input, a selection of a media element representing one of the first plurality of candidates;
determining whether the database defines a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual; and
identifying a second plurality of candidates using the database based on information that defines a relationship between the selected candidate and each of the second plurality of candidates when the database does not define a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual.
24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising instructions recorded thereon for:
identifying a media asset associated with the relationship between the source individual and the selected candidate; and
generating a selectable opportunity associated with the identified media asset.
25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising instructions recorded thereon for:
identifying a media asset associated with the relationship between the source individual and the selected candidate;
bookmarking the identified media asset; and
generating a representation of the bookmarked media asset for the display.
26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25 , further comprising instructions recorded thereon for:
generating a list of bookmarked media assets;
receiving, by user input, an indication; and
generating a display that provides the list of bookmarked media assets in response to receiving the indication.
27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising instructions recorded thereon for:
retrieving metadata associated with the source individual from the database;
comparing the identified metadata associated with the source individual with metadata associated with each of a plurality of prospective candidates;
determining whether the metadata associated with the source individual matches the metadata associated with each of the plurality of prospective candidates.
28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the game is played by two or more users, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions recorded thereon for:
providing each user with a respective source individual, destination individual, and plurality of candidate individuals;
receiving, from each user by user input, a selection of a media element representing one of the plurality of candidates provided to each respective user; and
generating an alert indicating which user has won the game.
29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising instructions recorded thereon for determining the first plurality of candidates by:
generating a first list of prospective candidates associated with the source individual;
generating a second list of prospective candidates associated with the destination individual;
determining one-hop matching prospective candidates by comparing the first list and the second list;
selecting one one-hop matching prospective candidate as a first candidate of the first plurality of candidates.
30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising instructions recorded thereon for:
generating an alert indicating victory when the database defines a relationship.