IP Library Granted Patent US 9,998,793
Granted Patent B2
US 9,998,793 · App. 14/866,052 · Granted Jun 12, 2018

Methods and systems for determining at a present time a date at a future time at which a media asset will become available from the content provider

Inventors: William L. Thomas (Evergreen, CO); Paul T. Stathacopoulos (San Carlos, CA); Walter R. Klappert (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
H04N21/47214G06F17/3056G06F17/30522H04N21/2543H04N21/26283H04N21/278H04N21/45H04N21/4532H04N21/466H04N21/4622H04N21/4722H04N21/482H04N21/4821H04N21/4826H04N21/4882H04N21/8173
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,998,793
App. No.
14/866,052
Granted
Jun 12, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are described for a media guidance application that manages user access to content provided by a plurality of content providers. In particular, the media guidance application may automatically manage and recommend content providers which a user should request access to.

Claims (48)

1. A method of accessing content, the method comprising:

determining, with control circuitry, that a media asset of interest to a user is currently unavailable;

comparing the media asset with a database listing media assets that will become available from various content providers to identify a content provider from which the media asset will be available;

comparing the media asset with a database listing dates at which the media assets will become available from the content provider to determine, at a present time, a date at a future time at which the media asset will become available from the content provider, wherein the media asset is unavailable from the content provider at the present time;

comparing the date in a database listing date ranges associated with different subscription periods for the content provider to determine a subscription period that includes the date;

determining a start date for the subscription period;

determining the user is currently subscribed to the content provider;

determining an end date of a current subscription period of the user; and

generating for display, on the display screen, a reminder to the user to request access to the content provider on the end date.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising requesting access to the content provider on the start date.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reminder notifies the user of the date at which the media asset becomes available from the content provider.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reminder includes a recommendation for an additional media asset that is similar to the media asset and available from the content provider before the date.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reminder includes a recommendation for an additional media asset that is currently available from the content provider.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reminder is generated for display on the display screen on the start date.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a number of days between the date and the start date; and

generating for display, on the display screen, media asset recommendations based on the number of days.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a day of the week between the date and the start date; and

generating for display, on the display screen, a recommendation for an additional media asset based on the day of the week.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a number of media assets that are of interest to the user that become available from the content provider during the subscription period;

comparing the number to a threshold number; and

based on the number exceeding the threshold number, selecting the subscription period.

10. A system for accessing content, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

determine that a media asset of interest to a user is currently unavailable;

compare the media asset with a database listing media assets that will become available from various content providers to identify a content provider from which the media asset will be available;

compare the media asset with a database listing dates at which the media assets will become available from the content provider to determine, at a present time, a date at a future time at which the media asset will become available from the content provider, wherein the media asset is unavailable from the content provider at the present time;

compare the date in a database listing date ranges associated with different subscription periods for the content provider to determine a subscription period that includes the date;

determine a start date for the subscription period; and

determine the user is currently subscribed to the content provider;

determine an end date of a current subscription period of the user; and

generate for display, on the display screen, a reminder to the user to request access to the content provider on the end date.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to request access to the content provider on the start date.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the reminder notifies the user of the date at which the media asset becomes available from the content provider.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the reminder includes a recommendation for an additional media asset that is similar to the media asset and available from the content provider before the date.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the reminder includes a recommendation for an additional media asset that is currently available from the content provider.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the reminder is generated for display on the display screen on the start date.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a number of days between the date and the start date; and

generate for display, on the display screen, media asset recommendations based on the number of days.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a day of the week between the date and the start date; and

generate for display, on the display screen, a recommendation for an additional media asset based on the day of the week.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a number of media assets that are of interest to the user that become available from the content provider during the subscription period;

compare the number to a threshold number; and

based on the number exceeding the threshold number, select the subscription period.

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069085/0715 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2015
From: THOMAS, WILLIAM; STATHACOPOULOS, PAUL; KLAPPERT, WALTER R.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036661/0478 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170094361A1 · Mar 30, 2017