IP Library Granted Patent US 10,735,790
Granted Patent B2
US 10,735,790 · App. 15/605,412 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Systems and methods for recommending content

Inventor: David John Wheatley (Tower Lakes, IL)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
H04N21/251H04N21/25891H04N21/4223H04N21/42221H04N21/44218H04N21/4532H04N21/4821H04N21/4826
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,735,790
App. No.
15/605,412
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for recommending content to a user are described. A user equipment device may be equipped with a built-in or separately connected image capturing device which may be used to pinpoint the location of the remote control when it is activated, thereby defining the specific location of the remote and the user. The relative location of the user in the room where the television is located may be associated with that particular user and used to automatically log in and access their user profile. This information may be used to enhance the television experience for the user by, e.g., recommending content.

Claims (65)

1. A method for recommending content, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment device, input from a remote control device positioned in a viewing area;

in response to receiving the input, receiving, from an image capturing device, a first image of the viewing area;

retrieving data mapping respective profiles to each respective seating position of a plurality of seating positions in the viewing area;

identifying, based on the first image of the viewing area, a first seating position of the plurality of seating positions within which the remote control device is positioned;

identifying, based on the identified first seating position and the data mapping respective profiles to each respective seating position, a first profile corresponding to the identified first seating position;

retrieving the first profile;

determining, based on the first profile, a media content recommendation; and

generating for display the media content recommendation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing, from a storage device, the first profile, wherein the first profile includes a viewing history of media content selected when the remote control device was positioned within the first seating position in the viewing area.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the viewing history includes at least one of (i) media content selected in a vicinity of a particular time and (ii) media content selected on a particular day.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first seating position within which the remote control device is positioned comprises:

receiving a signal from the remote control device that is captured in the first image;

identifying a location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the signal from the remote control device; and

determining which seating position of the plurality of seating positions in the viewing area corresponds to the identified location.

5. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving two signals simultaneously from the remote control device;

identifying a first location of one or more pixels and a second location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the two signals from the remote control device;

retrieving a distance associated with the two signals;

calculating a distance of the remote control device from a display device in the viewing area based on the identified first and second locations and the retrieved distance; and

identifying the first seating position within which the remote control device is positioned based on the identified first and second locations and the distance.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the two signals are received simultaneously from two infrared (IR) devices included in the remote control device.

7. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

in response to identifying the first seating position within which the remote control device is positioned, identifying a second seating position of the plurality of seating positions in which a user is positioned; and

retrieving, from a storage device, a second profile of the second seating position,

wherein determining the media content recommendation comprises determining the media content recommendation based on the first profile and the second profile.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein identifying the second seating position in which the user is positioned comprises:

receiving a second image of the viewing area;

analyzing the received second image to detect silhouettes corresponding to one or more users;

retrieving, from the storage device, a silhouette for the user;

comparing the retrieved silhouette for the user to the silhouettes detected in the second image; and

identifying the second seating position based on the comparison.

9. A system for recommending content, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

receive, at a user equipment device, input from a remote control device positioned in a viewing area;

in response to receiving the input, receive, from an image capturing device, a first image of the viewing area;

retrieve data mapping respective profiles to each respective seating position of a plurality of seating positions in the viewing area;

identify, based on the first image of the viewing area, a first seating position of the plurality of seating positions within which the remote control device is positioned;

identify, based on the identified first seating position and the data mapping respective profiles to each respective seating position, a first profile corresponding to the identified first seating position;

retrieve the first profile;

determine, based on the first profile, a media content recommendation; and

generate for display the media content recommendation.

10. The system of claim 9 , where the control circuitry is further configured to access, from a storage device, the first profile, wherein the first profile includes a viewing history of media content selected when the remote control device was positioned within the first seating position in the viewing area.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the viewing history includes at least one of (i) media content selected in a vicinity of a particular time and (ii) media content selected on a particular day.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify the first seating position within which the remote control device is positioned by:

receiving a signal from the remote control device that is captured in the first image;

identifying a location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the signal from the remote control device; and

determining which seating position of the plurality of seating positions in the viewing area corresponds to the identified location.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive two signals simultaneously from the remote control device;

identify a first location of one or more pixels and a second location of one or more pixels that are activated in the first image due to the two signals from the remote control device;

retrieve a distance associated with the two signals;

calculate a distance of the remote control device from a display device in the viewing area based on the identified first and second locations and the retrieved distance; and

identify the first seating position within which the remote control device is positioned based on the identified first and second locations and the distance.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the two signals are received simultaneously from two infrared (IR) devices included in the remote control device.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

in response to identifying the first seating position within which the remote control device is positioned, identify a second seating position of the plurality of seating positions in which a user is positioned; and

retrieve, from a storage device, a second profile of the second seating position,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the media content recommendation by determining the media content recommendation based on the first profile and the second profile.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify the second seating position in which the user is positioned by:

receiving a second image of the viewing area;

analyzing the received second image to detect silhouettes corresponding to one or more users;

retrieving, from the storage device, a silhouette for the user;

comparing the retrieved silhouette for the user to the silhouettes detected in the second image; and

identifying the second seating position in the viewing area based on the comparison.

Assignments (12)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 27, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ROVI PRODUCT CORPORATION (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ROVI GUIDES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 061786/0768 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 23, 2022
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 061746/0981 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2022
From: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
To: ROVI PRODUCT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061747/0001 →
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 May 25, 2017
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042584/0799 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2017
From: WHEATLEY, DAVID JOHN
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042510/0889 →
MERGER Recorded May 25, 2017
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 042584/0805 →
MERGER Recorded May 25, 2017
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 042510/0911 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14070708 · Nov 4, 2013
Related Publication 20170264931A1 · Sep 14, 2017