Systems and methods for deducing user information from input device behavior

1. A method for providing media asset recommendations, the method comprising:

receiving data that identifies: (a) quantity of user interactions with a first media asset for a group of users, and (b) elapsed time between the user interactions with the first media asset for the group of users;

determining an inactivity threshold for the first media asset based on a) the quantity of the user interactions with the first media asset for the group of users, and (b) the elapsed time between the user interactions with the first media asset for the group of users;

receiving a plurality of time-stamped indicators from a media device, wherein each of the plurality of time-stamped indicators is associated with a corresponding action performed by a user with the media device with respect to the first media asset that is being generated for display;

identifying, based on the plurality of time-stamped indicators and the corresponding user action, periods of user activity and inactivity with respect to the first media asset by comparing frequency of plurality of time-stamped indicators to the inactivity threshold;

determining based on the identified periods of user activity and inactivity whether the user prefers the first media asset, wherein determining whether the user prefers the first media asset further comprises:

determining a behavior pattern of the user based on the plurality of time-stamped indicators received from the media device, wherein determining the behavior pattern of the user further comprises:

calculating a number of time-stamped indicators received over a period of time;

calculating a speed of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators received over the period of time;

determining a type of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators received over the period of time; and

determining the behavior pattern based at least in part on the number of time-stamped indicators, the speed of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators, and the type of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators; and

determining that the behavior pattern indicates a user preference for the characteristic of the first media asset;

in response to determining that the user prefers the first media asset:

retrieving a characteristic of the first media asset;

determining that the characteristic of the first media asset matches a first characteristic associated with a user group among the group of users that is associated with a plurality of predetermined media preferences;

in response to determining that the characteristic of the first media asset matches the first characteristic associated with the user group, adding the user into the user group;

retrieving a second characteristic associated with the user group;

retrieving a second media asset having the second characteristic; and

generating for display, to the user, a media asset recommendation of the second media asset.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining that the behavior pattern indicates a user preference for the characteristic of the first media asset further comprises:

determining, based on metadata associated with the first media asset, a plurality of segments of the first media asset;

determining, based on the time-stamped indicators, that the user action corresponds to a first segment of the plurality of segments; and

determining, based on the behavior pattern, that the user has a preference for a characteristic of the first segment of the plurality of segments.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user action performed with the media device with respect to the first media asset comprises a command to modify playback of the first media asset.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining that the characteristic of the first media asset matches the first characteristic associated with the user group further comprises:

retrieving the first characteristic associated with the user group; and

comparing the characteristic of the first media asset with the first characteristic associated with the user group.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein retrieving the first characteristic associated with the user group further comprises retrieving a characteristic shared by each of a plurality of users in the user group.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second plurality of time-stamped indicators from media devices associated with each of a plurality of users in the user group, wherein each of the second plurality of time-stamped indicators is associated with a corresponding action performed by the user with the media devices with respect to a third media asset;

determining, based on the user action, that the plurality of users in the user group prefer the third media asset; and

assigning a characteristic associated with each of the plurality of users in the user group to the third media asset.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein determining that the plurality of users in the user group prefer the third media asset further comprises:

determining, based on metadata associated with the third media asset, a plurality of segments of the third media asset;

determining, based on the plurality of time-stamped indicators, that the user action corresponds to a first segment of the plurality of segments of the third media asset; and

determining that the user action indicates that the plurality of users in the user group prefer a characteristic of the first segment of the plurality of segments of the third media asset.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising adjusting the inactivity threshold for the first media asset based on a time of day.

9. A system for providing media asset recommendations, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

receive data that identifies: (a) quantity of user interactions with a first media asset for a group of users, and (b) elapsed time between the user interactions with the first media asset for the group of users;

determine an inactivity threshold for the first media asset based on a) the quantity of the user interactions with the first media asset for the group of users, and (b) the elapsed time between the user interactions with the first media asset for the group of users;

receive a plurality of time-stamped indicators from a media device, wherein each of the plurality of time-stamped indicators is associated with a corresponding action performed by a user with the media device with respect to the first media asset that is being generated for display;

identify, based on the plurality of time-stamped indicators and the corresponding user action, periods of user activity and inactivity with respect to the first media asset by comparing frequency of plurality of time-stamped indicators to the inactivity threshold;

determine based on the identified periods of user activity and inactivity whether the user prefers the first media asset, wherein, when determining whether the user prefers the first media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a behavior pattern of the user based on the plurality of time-stamped indicators received from the media device, wherein, when determining the behavior pattern of the user, the control circuitry is further configured to:

calculate a number of time-stamped indicators received over a period of time;

calculate a speed of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators received over the period of time;

determine a type of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators received over the period of time; and

determine the behavior pattern based at least in part on the number of time-stamped indicators, the speed of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators, and the type of the user action corresponding to each of the time-stamped indicators; and

determine that the behavior pattern indicates a user preference for the characteristic of the first media asset;

in response to determining that the user prefers the first media asset:

retrieve a characteristic of the first media asset;

determine that the characteristic of the first media asset matches a first characteristic associated with a user group among the group of users that is associated with a plurality of predetermined media preferences;

in response to determining that the characteristic of the first media asset matches the first characteristic associated with the user group, add the user into the user group;

retrieve a second characteristic associated with the user group;

retrieve a second media asset having the second characteristic; and

generate for display, to the user, a media asset recommendation of the second media asset.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein, when determining that the behavior pattern indicates a user preference for the characteristic of the first media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine, based on metadata associated with the first media asset, a plurality of segments of the first media asset;

determine, based on the time-stamped indicators, that the user action corresponds to a first segment of the plurality of segments; and

determine, based on the behavior pattern, that the user has a preference for a characteristic of the first segment of the plurality of segments.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the user action performed with the media device with respect to the first media asset comprises a command to modify playback of the first media asset.

12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein, when determining that the characteristic of the first media asset matches the first characteristic associated with the user group, the control circuitry is further configured to:

retrieve the first characteristic associated with the user group; and

compare the characteristic of the first media asset with the first characteristic associated with the user group.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein, when retrieving the first characteristic associated with the user group, the control circuitry is further configured to retrieve a characteristic shared by each of a plurality of users in the user group.

14. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a second plurality of time-stamped indicators from media devices associated with each of a plurality of users in the user group, wherein each of the second plurality of time-stamped indicators is associated with a corresponding action performed by the user with the media devices with respect to a third media asset;

determine, based on the user action, that the plurality of users in the user group prefer the third media asset; and

assign a characteristic associated with each of the plurality of users in the user group to the third media asset.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein, when determining that the plurality of users in the user group prefer the third media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine, based on metadata associated with the third media asset, a plurality of segments of the third media asset;

determine, based on the plurality of time-stamped indicators, that the user action corresponds to a first segment of the plurality of segments of the third media asset; and

determine that the user action indicates that the plurality of users in the user group prefer a characteristic of the first segment of the plurality of segments of the third media asset.

16. The system according to claim 9 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to adjust the inactivity threshold for the first media asset based on a time of day.