Phrase-based communication system
View Patent ↗A client device, such as a digital video recorder, provides a phrase-based communication system in which users are presented with a dynamic messaging interface of selectable phrases and other elements. At least some of the phrases may be selected using algorithms that identify phrases that are likely to be useful to the particular user and/or the context in which the user is creating a message. In this manner, a user is able to generate useful messages quickly, without being limited to stale and fixed canned messages. Popular phrases may be identified by, for example, a server that relays based on messages exchanged between users. These popular phrases may then be harvested for use in the dynamic messaging interface. Moreover, context-sensitive metadata elements may be added to the dynamic messaging interface based on, for example, content that the user is currently viewing or about which the user is currently accessing information.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a network interface configured to send messages;
one or more processors configured to identify media content that has been at least partially played at a media playback device within a recent period of time;
a display mechanism configured to display, within a message composition interface, an arrangement of phrases selected based on the identified media content;
an input mechanism configured to receive selection input that selects a particular phrase from the arrangement;
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to insert the particular phrase into a message being composed within the message composition interface responsive to the input mechanism receiving the selection input;
wherein the network interface is further configured to receive, from a server system, metadata describing the identified media content;
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to select at least one of the phrases for inclusion in the arrangement from the metadata describing the identified media content, including at least one of: a title, actor or actress name, writer name, air date or time, channel, clip, or image.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 :
wherein the input mechanism is further configured to receive, from a remote control device, navigational inputs corresponding to arrow buttons;
wherein the display mechanism is further configured to, responsive to the navigational inputs, change which particular phrase in the arrangement is in focus;
wherein the selection input selects the particular phrase that is in focus.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the network interface is further configured to receive, from a server system, at least a first phrase and an indication that the first phrase has been used in a first message sent by a first user within a certain period of time after a first media playback device associated with the first user played at least a first portion of the identified media content;
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to select the first phrase for inclusion in the arrangement because of the indication.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the network interface is further configured to receive, from a server system, popularity scores for at least a first set of phrases, relative to the identified media content;
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate the arrangement based at least on the popularity scores.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the network interface is further configured to receive, from a server system, data associating at least some of the phrases with the identified media content;
wherein the network interface is further configured to send the message through the server system.
6. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media, storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of:
identifying media content that has been at least partially played at a media playback device within a recent period of time;
presenting, within a message composition interface, an arrangement of phrases selected based on the identified media content;
receiving selection input that selects a particular phrase from the arrangement;
responsive to the selection input, inserting the particular phrase into a message being composed within the message composition interface;
receiving, from a server system, metadata describing the identified media content;
selecting at least one of the phrases for inclusion in the arrangement from the metadata, including at least one of: a title, actor or actress name, writer name, air date or time, channel, clip, or image.
7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause performance of:
receiving, from a remote control device, navigational inputs corresponding to arrow buttons;
responsive to the navigational inputs, changing which particular phrase in the arrangement is in focus;
wherein the selection input selects the particular phrase that is in focus.
8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause performance of:
receiving, from a server system, at least a first phrase and an indication that the first phrase has been used in a first message sent by a first user within a certain period of time after a first media playback device associated with the first user played at least a first portion of the identified media content;
selecting the first phrase for inclusion in the arrangement because of the indication.
9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause performance of:
receiving, from a server system, popularity scores for at least a first set of phrases, relative to the identified media content;
generating the arrangement based at least on the popularity scores.
10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause performance of:
receiving, from a server system, data associating at least some of the phrases with the identified media content;
sending the message through the server system.
11. A method comprising:
identifying media content that has been at least partially played at a media playback device within a recent period of time;
presenting, within a message composition interface, an arrangement of phrases selected based on the identified media content;
receiving selection input that selects a particular phrase from the arrangement;
responsive to the selection input, inserting the particular phrase into a message being composed within the message composition interface;
receiving, from a server system, metadata describing the identified media content;
selecting at least one of the phrases for inclusion in the arrangement from the metadata, including at least one of: a title, actor or actress name, writer name, air date or time, channel, clip, or image.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, from a remote control device, navigational inputs corresponding to arrow buttons;
responsive to the navigational inputs, changing which particular phrase in the arrangement is in focus;
wherein the selection input selects the particular phrase that is in focus.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, from a server system, at least a first phrase and an indication that the first phrase has been used in a first message sent by a first user within a certain period of time after a first media playback device associated with the first user played at least a first portion of the identified media content;
selecting the first phrase for inclusion in the arrangement because of the indication.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, from a server system, popularity scores for at least a first set of phrases, relative to the identified media content;
generating the arrangement based at least on the popularity scores.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, from a server system, data associating at least some of the phrases with the identified media content;
sending the message through the server system.
16. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the popularity scores indicate how frequently phrases within the first set of phrases appear in messages sent in association with the identified media content.
17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the popularity scores indicate how frequently phrases within the first set of phrases appear in messages sent in association with the identified media content.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the popularity scores indicate how frequently phrases within the first set of phrases appear in messages sent in association with the identified media content.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is separate from the media playback device.
20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , wherein the message composition interface is presented at a device that is separate from the media playback device.
21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the message composition interface is presented at a device that is separate from the media playback device.