IP Library Granted Patent US 9,191,719
Granted Patent B2
US 9,191,719 · App. 14/557,077 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

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

Inventor: Thomas E. Westberg (Stow, MA)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
H04N21/4826H04N5/44543H04N7/163H04N21/4135H04N21/44222H04N21/4532H04N21/4756H04N21/4821
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,191,719
App. No.
14/557,077
Filed
Dec 1, 2014
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2424
USPC
725/46
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 (33)

1. A method comprising:

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

generating for display a media content listing of the first media content;

receiving a user selection of the media content listing indicating that the user wishes to remove the media content listing;

cross-referencing an attribute of the first media content with a database of media contents;

identifying from the database, based on the cross-referencing, a second media content associated with the attribute; and

reducing a likelihood that the second media content is recommended to the user in the future based on the user selection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the likelihood that the second media content is recommended to the user in the future comprises preventing the second media content from being recommended.

3. 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.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating for display the media content listing comprises identifying a suitable time to display the media content listing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating for display the media content listing further comprises generating for display an option to remove the media content listing.

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

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

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. A system comprising:

display circuitry configured to generate for display a media content listing of a first media content;

user input circuitry configured to receive a user selection of the media content listing indicating that a user wishes to remove the media content listing; and

control circuitry configured to:

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

cross-reference an attribute of the first media content with a database of media contents;

identify from the database, based on the cross-referencing, a second media asset associated with the attribute; and

reduce a likelihood that the second media content is recommended to the user in the future based on the user selection.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to prevent the second media content from being recommended.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the user has viewed the first media content.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify a suitable time to display the media content listing.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the display circuitry is further configured to generate for display an option to remove the media content listing.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the display circuitry is further configured to generate for display a second media content listing of a media content previously viewed by the user.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the display 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 11 , 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 (9)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 Apr 2, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035319/0069 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 2, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035319/0120 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 2, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035319/0091 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2015
From: WESTBERG, THOMAS E.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035319/0088 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13165209 · Jun 21, 2011
Continuation 10703989 · Nov 6, 2003
Related Publication 20150089543A1 · Mar 26, 2015