IP Library Granted Patent US 9,361,374
Granted Patent B2
US 9,361,374 · App. 13/904,505 · Granted Jun 7, 2016

Facilitating media content search

Inventors: Edwin Seng Eng Ong (San Francisco, CA); Aleksandra R. Vikati (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: CastTV Inc.
G06F17/30858G06F17/30817
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,361,374
App. No.
13/904,505
Granted
Jun 7, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of facilitating media content search is disclosed. A rating data associated with the media content is found, at least in part programmatically, in a location other than a display page that includes a media content or a link to the media content. A search result ranking for one or both of the media content and the display page is determined at least in part using the rating data.

Claims (46)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a media data associated with an online video on a display page, wherein the online video is to be indexed for media content search;

matching the online video to a unique offline television show episode by querying an episode database, wherein the querying is based at least in part on the media data;

automatically seeking a first television rating associated with the unique offline television show episode, wherein the first television rating is a function of an estimate of the number of viewing households for the unique offline television show episode;

determining a first offline relevancy score based at least in part on the first television rating;

automatically seeking a second television rating associated with the unique offline television show episode, wherein the second television rating is a function of airplay data for the unique offline television show episode;

determining a second offline relevancy score based at least in part on the second television rating;

calculating an offline relevancy score based at least in part on adding the first offline relevancy score to a relative weighting of the second offline relevancy score, wherein the relative weighting reflects a difference between a first rating system associated with the estimate of the number of viewing households and a second rating system associated with the airplay data; and

using the offline relevancy score to determine at least in part a search result ranking for the online video and the display page.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising automatically seeking a fourth television rating, wherein the fourth television rating comprises one or more of: review data, sales data, attendance data, and industry rating data.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the review data comprises one or more of: a movie review, a video review, a sports review, and a performance review.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the sales data comprises one or more of: box office sales data, audio sales data, and retail sales data.

5. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the industry rating data comprises one of: an MPAA rating, a Billboard rating, an Academy Awards nomination, an Academy Awards award, an Emmy Awards nomination, an Emmy Awards award, and a Nielsen rating.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising automatically seeking a third television rating associated with the unique offline television show episode, wherein the third television rating is a function of user rating statistics for the unique offline television show episode; and wherein the user rating statistics comprises one or more of: an online community aggregate rating and an online community average rating.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the relevancy score is calculated by in part by using a weighted sum based at least in part on the relative weight of each television rating.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein automatically seeking includes associating the online video with an offline show or other event or content and finding a rating data for the offline show or other event or content.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein automatically seeking includes automatically matching the online video to an offline counterpart.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein matching the online video to an offline counterpart comprises parsing media data.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the offline counterpart comprises one of: an airing of a television show, a musical, a play, a motion picture, a sports match, a game, and a performance.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein using the relevancy score comprises incorporating television ratings into a ranking algorithm used to determine the search result ranking.

13. A system, comprising

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

receive a media data associated with an online video on a display page, wherein the online video is to be indexed for media content search;

match the online video to a unique offline television show episode by querying an episode database, wherein the querying is based at least in part on the media data;

seek a first television rating associated with the unique offline television show episode, wherein the first television rating is a function of an estimate of the number of viewing households for the unique offline television show episode;

determine a first offline relevancy score based at least in part on the first television rating;

seek a second television rating associated with the unique offline television show episode, wherein the second television rating is a function of airplay data for the unique television show episode;

determine a second offline relevancy score based at least in part on the second television rating;

calculate an offline relevancy score based at least in part on adding the first offline relevancy score to a relative weighting of the second offline relevancy score, wherein the relative weighting reflects a difference between a first rating system associated with the estimate of the number of viewing households and a second rating system associated with the airplay data; and

use the offline relevancy score to determine at least in part a search result ranking for the online video and the display page.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein to seek includes matching the video to an offline counterpart.

15. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein to seek includes associating the video with an offline show or other event or content and finding a rating data for the offline show or other event or content.

16. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to seek a fourth television rating, wherein the fourth television rating comprises one or more of: review data, sales data, attendance data, and industry rating data.

17. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a media data associated with an online video on a display page, wherein the online video is to be indexed for media content search;

matching the online video to a unique offline television show episode by querying an episode database, wherein the querying is based at least in part on the media data;

seeking a first television rating associated with the unique offline television show episode, wherein the first television rating is a function of an estimate of the number of viewing households for the unique offline television show episode;

determining a first offline relevancy score based at least in part on the first television rating;

seeking a second television rating associated with the unique offline television show episode, wherein the second television rating is a function of airplay data for the unique offline television show episode;

determining a second offline relevancy score based at least in part on the second television rating;

calculating an offline relevancy score based at least in part on adding the first offline relevancy score to a relative weighting of the second offline relevancy score, wherein the relative weighting reflects a difference between a first rating system associated with the estimate of the number of viewing households and a second rating system associated with the airplay data; and

using the offline relevancy score to determine at least in part a search result ranking for the online video and the display page.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 17 , wherein seeking includes matching the video to an offline counterpart.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 17 , wherein seeking includes associating the video with an offline show or other event or content and finding a rating data for the offline show or other event or content.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 17 , further comprising computer instructions for seeking a fourth television rating, wherein the fourth television rating comprises one or more of: review data, sales data, attendance data, and industry rating data.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 29, 2020
From: CASTTV INC.
To: GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 053076/0338 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 8, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; CASTTV INC.; TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041656/0804 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 12, 2016
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; CASTTV, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039667/0565 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 23, 2014
From: TRIBUNE COMPANY; CASTTV INC.; CHICAGO TRIBUNE COMPANY, LLC; CHICAGOLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC; LOS ANGELES TIMES COMMUNICATIONS LLC; SUN-SENTINEL COMPANY, LLC; THE BALTIMORE SUN COMPANY, LLC; THE HARTFORD COURANT COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC; TRIBUNE INTERACTIVE, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE TELEVISION NEW ORLEANS, INC.; WDCW, LLC; WGN CONTINENTAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032125/0204 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 11891303 · Aug 8, 2007
Provisional Application 60821706 · Aug 8, 2006
Related Publication 20140006392A1 · Jan 2, 2014