Methods and systems for implementing a locked mode for viewing media assets
Methods and systems that provide an interactive media guidance application having a locked mode for viewing media assets. In the locked mode, the interactive media guidance application may provide media assets suited to a certain audience. The interactive media guidance application may determine suitable media assets for the locked mode based on media assets viewed by other users having characteristics similar to the user of the interactive media guidance application. In the locked mode, the interactive media guidance application may allow access to only certain media assets and/or limit the time period for which the media assets are presented.
1. A method for implementing a locked mode in an interactive media guidance application, comprising:
receiving, using control circuitry, a request to initiate a locked mode for a specified time period on a user equipment device, wherein a specified user of the user equipment device is only allowed access to media assets selected for the locked mode during the specified time period;
receiving, using the control circuitry, first information relating to a first plurality of media assets selected for viewing by a plurality of users having similar characteristics;
receiving, using the control circuitry, second information relating to a second plurality of media assets, the second plurality of media assets being presented to the specified user during a period of time when locked mode is not initiated;
determining, using the control circuitry, a media asset, of the plurality of media assets, that is of interest to the plurality of users based on the received first and second information;
determining, using the control circuitry, whether the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users;
and
during the locked mode and in response to determining that the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users, transmitting, using the control circuitry, an instruction to the interactive media guidance application to present the media asset to the specified user without receiving input from the specified user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request to initiate the locked mode includes at least one of a specified type of content and a parental control rating for media assets transmitted during the specified time period.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information relating to the plurality of media assets includes one or more of a title, a play length, a media source, and parental control rating for each media asset.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specified user is not allowed to access any other functionality on the user equipment device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users comprises:
receiving, using the control circuitry, a first plurality of characteristics for the plurality of users;
receiving, using the control circuitry, a second plurality of characteristics for the specified user;
comparing, using the control circuitry, the first plurality of characteristics and the second plurality of characteristics to determine a number of overlapping characteristics; and
determining, using the control circuitry, whether the number of overlapping characteristics exceeds a threshold.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using the control circuitry, that the media asset of interest has a play length less than or equal to the specified time period; and
in response to determining that the media asset of interest has a play length less than or equal to the specified time period and that the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users:
transmitting, using the control circuitry, the media asset of interest to the specified user; and
decrementing, using the control circuitry, the specified time period by a value equal to the play length of the media asset of interest.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
restricting access to the user equipment device when the specified time period is over.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of users represents children viewing the plurality of media assets under supervision of their respective parents;
the specified user is a child with characteristics similar to the plurality of users; and
the request to initiate the locked mode for the specified time period on the user equipment device is input by a parent of the specified user.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using the control circuitry, an additional media asset of interest to the plurality of users based on the received information; and
generating for display, using the control circuitry, an option for the specified user to select one of the media asset of interest and the additional media asset of interest.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of users represents elderly people viewing the plurality of media assets;
the specified user is an elderly person with characteristics similar to the plurality of users; and
the request to initiate the locked mode for the specified time period on the user equipment device is input by a family member of the specified user.
11. A system for implementing a locked mode in an interactive media guidance application, comprising:
storage circuitry configured to store first information relating to a first plurality of media assets selected for viewing by a plurality of users having similar characteristics; and
store second information relating to a second plurality of media assets, the second plurality of media assets being presented to the specified user during a period of time when locked mode is not initiated;
control circuitry configured to:
receive a request to initiate a locked mode for a specified time period on a user equipment device, wherein a specified user of the user equipment device is only allowed access to media assets selected for the locked mode during the specified time period;
receive the first and second information relating to the plurality of media assets;
determine a media asset, of the plurality of media assets, that is of interest to the plurality of users based on the received information;
determine whether the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users;
and
during the locked mode and in response to determining that the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users, transmit an instruction to the interactive media guidance application to present the media asset to the specified user without receiving input from the specified user.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the request to initiate the locked mode includes at least one of a specified type of content and a parental control rating for media assets transmitted during the specified time period.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the information relating to the plurality of media assets includes one or more of a title, a play length, a media source, and parental control rating for each media asset.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the specified user is not allowed to access any other functionality on the user equipment device.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry configured to determine whether the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users comprises control circuitry configured to:
receive a first plurality of characteristics for the plurality of users;
receive a second plurality of characteristics for the specified user;
compare the first plurality of characteristics and the second plurality of characteristics to determine a number of overlapping characteristics; and
determine whether the number of overlapping characteristics exceeds a threshold.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine that the media asset of interest has a play length less than or equal to the specified time period; and
in response to determining that the media asset of interest has a play length less than or equal to the specified time period and that the specified user has characteristics similar to the plurality of users:
transmit the media asset of interest to the specified user; and
decrement the specified time period by a value equal to the play length of the media asset of interest.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
restrict access to the user equipment device when the specified time period is over.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of users represents children viewing the plurality of media assets under supervision of their respective parents;
the specified user is a child with characteristics similar to the plurality of users; and
the request to initiate the locked mode for the specified time period on the user equipment device is input by a parent of the specified user.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine an additional media asset of interest to the plurality of users based on the received information; and
generate for display an option for the specified user to select one of the media asset of interest and the additional media asset of interest.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of users represents elderly people viewing the plurality of media assets;
the specified user is an elderly person with characteristics similar to the plurality of users; and
the request to initiate the locked mode for the specified time period on the user equipment device is input by a family member of the specified user.