Systems and methods for summarizing missed portions of storylines

1. A method for summarizing missed portions of storylines in a single content item, the method comprising:

tracking the presence of a user during presentation of the single content item, wherein the single content item comprises a plurality of storylines, each storyline being a narrative that, along with other narratives, makes up a plot in the single content item, wherein each storyline comprises a plurality of portions, each of the plurality of portions comprising a part of the narrative of the storyline that is interwoven throughout the single content item with other portions of other storylines;

detecting that the user was not consuming the single content item for a period of time;

detecting missed content of the single content item, wherein the missed content comprises a plurality of portions of the single content item that were generated for presentation during the period of time and each portion comprises a different storyline;

in response to detecting the missed content:

accessing metadata corresponding to the single content item, the metadata including a plurality of storyline identifiers, each corresponding to a portion of the single content item;

identifying, based on the metadata, a storyline of a portion of the single content item currently being generated for presentation;

retrieving a storyline-specific summary of only those portions of the missed content of the single content item that comprise the identified storyline, wherein the missed content includes portions that comprise a second storyline different from the identified storyline; and

generating, for presentation, the retrieved storyline-specific summary.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving a storyline-specific summary of a portion of the missed content comprising the identified storyline comprises:

identifying, based on the metadata, a plurality of storyline-specific portions in the missed content, each of the plurality of storyline-specific portions associated with the storyline identifier;

retrieving summaries for the plurality of storyline-specific portions in the missed content; and

concatenating the summaries for the plurality of storyline-specific portions in the missed content to generate the storyline-specific summary of a portion of the missed content comprising the identified storyline.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying the plurality of portions in the missed content;

identifying, for each of the plurality of portions, a plurality of segments, wherein each of the plurality of segments is associated with a segment summary; and

wherein retrieving the storyline-specific summary of only those portions of the missed content that comprise the identified storyline comprises:

retrieving a plurality of segment summaries, wherein each of the plurality of segment summaries is for a segment in the plurality of portions in the missed content; and

concatenating the plurality of segment summaries.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an ancillary storyline that is indicated as being precedent to the storyline of content being generated for presentation;

identifying portions of the ancillary storyline that were missed;

retrieving a second storyline-specific summary of the missed portions of the ancillary storyline; and

generating, for presentation, the retrieved second storyline-specific summary.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein retrieving a second storyline-specific summary of the missed portions of the ancillary storyline comprises:

determining a detail level for the second storyline-specific summary;

identifying a plurality of summaries for the ancillary storyline; and

selecting one of the plurality of summaries for the ancillary storyline based on the determined detail level.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying watched content related to the identified storyline;

determining the watched content should be refreshed based on when the watched content was consumed;

retrieving a second storyline-specific summary of the watched content; and

generating, for presentation, the retrieved second storyline-specific summary.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a summary endpoint in the storyline of content being generated for presentation, wherein the summary endpoint is a point at which the presentation of the retrieved storyline-specific summary will complete; and

modifying the storyline-specific summary to include a summary for the content being generated for presentation between a current point in the storyline and the summary endpoint.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating, for presentation, the retrieved storyline-specific summary comprises:

identifying a secondary display from a plurality of display, wherein the secondary display is available to display the storyline-specific summary and is not presenting the storyline of content; and

directing the secondary display to present the storyline-specific summary.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating, for presentation, the retrieved storyline-specific summary further comprises:

identifying a primary display from a plurality of display, wherein the primary display is presenting the storyline of content; and

directing the primary display to pause presentation of the storyline of content during presentation of the retrieved storyline-specific summary.

10. A system for summarizing missed portions of storylines in a single content item, the system comprising:

communication circuitry; and

control circuitry configured to:

track the presence of a user during presentation of the single content item, wherein the single content item comprises a plurality of storylines, each storyline being a narrative that, along with other narratives, makes up a plot in the single content item, wherein each storyline comprises a plurality of portions, each of the plurality of portions comprising a part of the narrative of the storyline that is interwoven throughout the single content item with other portions of other storylines;

detect that the user was not consuming the single content item from a period of time;

detect missed content of the single content item, wherein the missed content comprises a plurality of portions of the single content item that were generated for presentation during the period of time and each portion comprises a different storyline;

in response to detecting the missed content:

access metadata corresponding to the single content item, the metadata including a plurality of storyline identifiers, each corresponding to a portion of the single content item;

identify, based on the metadata, a storyline of a portion of the single content item currently being generated for presentation;

retrieve a storyline-specific summary of only those portions of the missed content of the single content item that comprise the identified storyline, wherein the missed content includes portions that comprise a second storyline different from the identified storyline; and

generate, for presentation, the retrieved storyline-specific summary.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to retrieve a storyline-specific summary of a portion of the missed content comprising the identified storyline by:

identifying, based on the metadata, a plurality of storyline-specific portions in the missed content, each of the plurality of storyline-specific portions associated with the storyline identifier;

retrieving summaries for the plurality of storyline-specific portions in the missed content; and

concatenating the summaries for the plurality of storyline-specific portions in the missed content to generate the storyline-specific summary of a portion of the missed content comprising the identified storyline.

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

identify the plurality of portions in the missed content;

identify, for each of the plurality of portions, a plurality of segments, wherein each of the plurality of segments is associated with a segment summary; and

wherein the control circuitry configured to retrieve the storyline-specific summary of only those portions of the missed content that comprise the identified storyline is further configured to:

retrieve a plurality of segment summaries, wherein each of the plurality of segment summaries is for a segment in the plurality of portions in the missed content; and

concatenate the plurality of segment summaries.

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

identify an ancillary storyline that is indicated as being precedent to the storyline of content being generated for presentation;

identify portions of the ancillary storyline that were missed;

retrieve a second storyline-specific summary of the missed portions of the ancillary storyline; and

generate, for presentation, the retrieved second storyline-specific summary.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to retrieve a second storyline-specific summary of the missed portions of the ancillary storyline by:

determining a detail level for the second storyline-specific summary;

identifying a plurality of summaries for the ancillary storyline; and

selecting one of the plurality of summaries for the ancillary storyline based on the determined detail level.

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

identify watched content related to the identified storyline;

determine the watched content should be refreshed based on when the watched content was consumed;

retrieve a second storyline-specific summary of the watched content; and

generate, for presentation, the retrieved second storyline-specific summary.

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

determine a summary endpoint in the storyline of content being generated for presentation, wherein the summary endpoint is a point at which the presentation of the retrieved storyline-specific summary will complete; and

modify the storyline-specific summary to include a summary for the content being generated for presentation between a current point in the storyline and the summary endpoint.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate, for presentation, the retrieved storyline-specific summary by:

identifying a secondary display from a plurality of display, wherein the secondary display is available to display the storyline-specific summary and is not presenting the storyline of content; and

directing the secondary display to present the storyline-specific summary.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate, for presentation, the retrieved storyline-specific summary by:

identifying a primary display from a plurality of display, wherein the primary display is presenting the storyline of content; and

directing the primary display to pause presentation of the storyline of content during presentation of the retrieved storyline-specific summary.

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

detect a storyline transition from storyline of content being generated for presentation to a second storyline;

identify the second storyline;

retrieve a second storyline-specific summary of a second portion of the missed content comprising the identified second storyline; and

generate, for presentation, the retrieved second storyline-specific summary.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a storyline transition from storyline of content being generated for presentation to a second storyline;

identifying the second storyline;

retrieving a second storyline-specific summary of a second portion of the missed content comprising the identified second storyline; and

generating, for presentation, the retrieved second storyline-specific summary.