IP Library Granted Patent US 11,068,527
Granted Patent B2
US 11,068,527 · App. 16/152,075 · Granted Jul 20, 2021

Systems and methods for optimizing delivery of content recommendations

Inventors: Michael James Brehm (Allen, TX); Walter John Schmidt (Dallas, TX); Benjamin Harden (Coronado, CA)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
G06F16/435G06F16/24578G06F16/447G06F16/9535
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,068,527
App. No.
16/152,075
Granted
Jul 20, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The system and methods described herein provide content recommendations to user equipment timed to reduce interruption of content. A content recommendation application detects output of first content and determines viewing metrics for the first content. Using the determined viewing metrics, the content recommendation application determines whether output of a content recommendation should be blocked. In response to determining that the viewing metrics indicate output of the content recommendation should be blocked, the content recommendation application blocks the content recommendation. Upon receiving an input changing output of the first content to output of a second content, the content recommendation application unblocks and outputs the content recommendation.

Claims (86)

1. A method for timing content recommendations, the method comprising:

detecting output of first content;

determining viewing metrics for the first content;

determining whether the viewing metrics indicate output of a content recommendation should be blocked;

in response to determining that the viewing metrics indicate output of the content recommendation should be blocked, blocking a content recommendation;

receiving a user input to change output from the first content to second content; and

in response to receiving the user input:

unblocking the content recommendation; and

causing to be outputted for simultaneous display the second content and the content recommendation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the viewing metrics indicate output of the content recommendation should be blocked comprises:

retrieving a timestamp indicating when a content consumption device began outputting the first content;

calculating a time difference between a current time and the timestamp; and

determining the time difference exceeds a time length.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the viewing metrics indicate output of the content recommendation should be blocked comprises:

obtaining attributes associated with the first content item;

retrieving engagement weights corresponding with the attributes;

applying the engagement weights to the corresponding attributes;

generating, using the weighted attributes, an engagement level for the first content; and

determining that the engagement level indicates viewing engagement.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein blocking a content recommendation comprises preventing, at a content consumption device, generation of a recommendation message for a recommended content item.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing to be outputted for simultaneous display the second content and the content recommendation comprises:

generating, for output by a content consumption device, the second content;

generating, for output by the content consumption device, an option to change output from the second content to recommended content, wherein the recommended content is identified by the content recommendation;

receiving a selection of the option to change output from the second content to the recommended content; and

generating, for output by the content consumption device, the recommended content.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a plurality of content items;

obtaining information about real-life events, wherein the real-life events are related to the plurality of content items;

calculating, based on the information about real-life events, interest levels for the plurality of content items; and

selecting, based on the interest levels for the plurality of content items, recommended content from the plurality of content items.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein calculating, based on the information about real-life events, interest levels for the plurality of content items comprises:

obtaining content preferences;

generating weighting values, based on the content preferences, for one or more attributes in the information about real-life events;

summing weighting values for a plurality of attributes associated with each of the real -life events;

assigning the sums of the weighting values for each of the real-life events to corresponding content items in the plurality of content items, wherein each sum represents an interest level for the corresponding content item.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving an update to the information about real-life events;

recalculating, based on the updated information about real-life events, updated interest levels for the plurality of content items; and

updating, based on the updated interest levels for the plurality of content items, the recommended content, wherein the recommended content is changed from a first recommended content item to a second recommended content item based on a second interest level for the second recommended content item rising above a first interest level for the first recommended content item.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving, from a content consumption device, an indication that the content recommendation was rejected; and

modifying, based on receiving the indication that the content recommendation was rejected, the calculation of interest levels for the plurality of content items, wherein the modification of the calculation is performed to lower a calculated interest level for recommended content corresponding with the content recommendation.

10. A system for timing content recommendations, the system comprising:

communication circuitry; and

control circuitry configured to:

detect output of first content;

determine viewing metrics for the first content;

determine whether the viewing metrics indicate output of a content recommendation should be blocked;

in response to determining that the viewing metrics indicate output of the content recommendation should be blocked, block a content recommendation;

receive, via the communication circuitry, a user input to change output from the first content to second content; and

in response to receiving the user input:

unblock the content recommendation; and

cause to be outputted for simultaneous display the second content and the content recommendation.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the viewing metrics indicate output of the content recommendation should be blocked by:

retrieving a timestamp indicating when a content consumption device began outputting the first content;

calculating a time difference between a current time and the timestamp; and

determining the time difference exceeds a time length.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the viewing metrics indicate output of the content recommendation should be blocked by:

obtaining attributes associated with the first content item;

retrieving engagement weights corresponding with the attributes;

applying the engagement weights to the corresponding attributes;

generating, using the weighted attributes, an engagement level for the first content; and

determining that the engagement level indicates viewing engagement.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to block a content recommendation by preventing, at a content consumption device, generation of a recommendation message for a recommended content item.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause to be outputted for simultaneous display the second content and the content recommendation by:

generating, for output by a content consumption device, the second content;

generating, for output by the content consumption device, an option to change output from the second content to recommended content, wherein the recommended content is identified by the content recommendation;

receiving a selection of the option to change output from the second content to the recommended content; and

generating, for output by the content consumption device, the recommended content.

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

identify a plurality of content items;

obtain information about real-life events, wherein the real-life events are related to the plurality of content items;

calculate, based on the information about real-life events, interest levels for the plurality of content items; and

select, based on the interest levels for the plurality of content items, recommended content from the plurality of content items.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to calculate, based on the information about real-life events, interest levels for the plurality of content items by:

obtaining content preferences;

generating weighting values, based on the content preferences, for one or more attributes in the information about real-life events;

summing weighting values for a plurality of attributes associated with each of the real-life events;

assigning the sums of the weighting values for each of the real-life events to corresponding content items in the plurality of content items, wherein each sum represents an interest level for the corresponding content item.

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

receive an update to the information about real-life events;

recalculate, based on the updated information about real-life events, updated interest levels for the plurality of content items; and

update, based on the updated interest levels for the plurality of content items, the recommended content, wherein the recommended content is changed from a first recommended content item to a second recommended content item based on a second interest level for the second recommended content item rising above a first interest level for the first recommended content item.

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

receive, from a content consumption device, an indication that the content recommendation was rejected; and

modify, based on receiving the indication that the content recommendation was rejected, the calculation of interest levels for the plurality of content items, wherein the modification of the calculation is performed to lower a calculated interest level for recommended content corresponding with the content recommendation.

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069106/0164 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2018
From: BREHM, MICHAEL JAMES; SCHMIDT, WALTER JOHN; HARDEN, BENJAMIN
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 047664/0922 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200110810A1 · Apr 9, 2020