Methods and systems for recommending media assets based on scent

1. A method for selecting media assets, the method comprising:

detecting, using a scent detection component, a plurality of scents at a location of a user device;

determining an electronic representation of each of the plurality of scents based on the respective chemical properties of each of the plurality of scents;

retrieving, using control circuitry, from memory a first priority associated with a first of the plurality of scents and a second priority associated with a second of the plurality of scents, wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected from a plurality of candidate priorities, and wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected on the basis of an association between a current time of day and each scent of the plurality of scents;

in response to determining that the first priority is greater than the second priority, automatically selecting the first scent using the control circuitry;

identifying, using a database of scents corresponding to media assets, a media asset associated with the selected first scent, wherein the database has a data structure configured as a lookup table, in which an electronic representation of the first scent is inputted into the database and the media asset is selected based on a correspondence to the electronic representation; and

generating for display the identified media asset on a display screen.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scent detection component measures a change in frequency of a quartz crystal resonator associated with a sample of material from the location, measures spectra of masses of molecules in the sample, or measures different rates at which chemical compounds of the sample travel in a gas stream.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a user corresponding to one of the plurality of scents;

retrieving a user profile associated with the identified user;

receiving a user request for a media recommendation; and

in response to receiving the user request, generating a media recommendation based on the user profile and the selected first scent.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request for an advertisement; and

in response to receiving the request, instructing the user device to detect the scents.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a profile of scents previously detected at the location, wherein the profile of scents records a frequency and a concentration of each of the scents previously detected at the location; and

selecting one scent of the scents based on the frequency and concentration of the one scent at the location.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a concentration associated with the scents;

comparing the concentration to a threshold concentration, wherein the threshold concentration indicates a minimum concentration required in order to access the database; and

in response to the concentration corresponding to the threshold concentration, accessing the database.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

acquiring an atmospheric sample of the location;

processing the atmospheric sample in order to determine proportions of atmospheric gasses in the atmospheric sample;

comparing the proportions to standard proportions, wherein the standard proportion indicates previous proportions of atmospheric gasses at the location at a current time; and

detecting the scents in response to proportions not corresponding to the standard proportions.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inputting one of the scents into a first lookup table to determine an object associated with the one scent;

receiving an output from the first lookup table identifying the object associated with the one scent; and

inputting a description of the object into a second lookup table to determine a plurality of media assets corresponding to the object.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

generating for display on the display screen the object; and

prompting a user for confirmation of the object.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating for display on the display screen a plurality of options related to the object.

11. A system for selecting media assets, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

detect a plurality of scents at a location of a user device;

determine an electronic representation of each of the plurality of scents based on the respective chemical properties of each of the plurality of scents;

retrieve from memory a first priority associated with a first of the plurality of scents and a second priority associated with a second of the plurality of scents, wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected from a plurality of candidate priorities, and wherein the first priority and the second priority are selected on the basis of an association between a current time of day and each scent of the plurality of scents;

in response to determining that the first priority is greater than the second priority, automatically select the first scent;

identify using a database of scents corresponding to media assets a media asset associated with the selected first scent, wherein the database has a data structure configured as a lookup table, in which an electronic representation of the first scent is inputted into the database and the media asset is selected based on a correspondence to the electronic representation; and

generate for display the identified media asset on a display screen.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to measure a change in frequency of a quartz crystal resonator associated with a sample of material from the location, measure spectra of masses of molecules in the sample, or measure different rates at which chemical compounds of the sample travel in a gas stream.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein control circuitry is further configured to:

identify a user corresponding to one of the plurality of scents;

retrieve a user profile associated with the identified user;

receive a user request for a media recommendation; and

in response to receiving the user request, generate a media recommendation based on the user profile and the selected first scent.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a request for an advertisement; and

in response to receiving the request, instruct the user device to detect the scents.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate a profile of scents previously detected at the location, wherein the profile of scents records a frequency and a concentration of each of the scents previously detected at the location; and

select one scent of the scents based on the frequency and concentration of the one scent at the location.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a concentration associated with the scents;

compare the concentration to a threshold concentration, wherein the threshold concentration indicates a minimum concentration required in order to access the database; and

in response to the concentration corresponding to the threshold concentration, accessing the database.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

acquire an atmospheric sample of the location;

process the atmospheric sample in order to determine proportions of atmospheric gasses in the atmospheric sample;

compare the proportions to standard proportions, wherein the standard proportion indicates previous proportions of atmospheric gasses at the location at a current time; and

detect the scent in response to proportions not corresponding to the standard proportions.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

input one of the scents into a first lookup table to determine an object associated with the one scent;

receive an output from the first lookup table identifying the object associated with the one scent; and

input a description of the object into a second lookup table to determine a plurality of media assets corresponding to the object.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate for display on the display screen the object; and

prompt a user for confirmation of the object.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display on the display screen a plurality of options related to the object.