Systems and methods for causing a user to view secondary content that relates to a media asset from which a user has switched away

1. A method for displaying secondary content that relates to a media asset, the method comprising:

receiving a media asset from a media source;

generating for display the received media asset;

monitoring an engagement of a user with the media asset prior to a break in the media asset;

identifying the break in the media asset;

in response to the monitoring indicating that the user is engaged with the media asset, identifying secondary content that is related to the media asset; and

in response to identifying the secondary content that is related to the media asset, automatically causing the secondary content to be displayed during the break.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media asset is a linear media asset and the media source is a linear media source, the secondary content comprises a linear secondary content, and wherein

in response to identifying the secondary content further comprises buffering the linear secondary content into a buffer and switching to a beginning of the buffer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the secondary content that is related to the media asset comprises:

determining a unique identifier corresponding to the secondary content;

accessing, from metadata corresponding to the media asset, an identifier reference data structure; and

determining, based on information of the identifier reference data structure, that the unique identifier for the secondary content corresponds to an identifier of the media asset.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the secondary content that is related to the media asset comprises:

identifying characteristics of the media asset;

fingerprinting a video frame of the secondary content to create a fingerprint;

comparing characteristics of the fingerprint to the characteristics of the media asset; and

determining, based on the comparing, that a match exists between a characteristic of the characteristics of the fingerprint and a characteristic of the characteristics of the media asset.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the engagement of the user with the media asset prior to the break in the media asset comprises:

monitoring, using a biometric device, a level of attention that the user is paying to the media asset;

determining that the level of attention exceeds a threshold; and

in response to determining that the level of attention exceeds the threshold, determining that the user is engaged in viewing the media asset.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining, during playback of the linear secondary content from the buffer, that transmission of the linear media asset has resumed from the linear media source;

in response to determining, during playback of the linear secondary content from the buffer, that transmission of the linear media asset has resumed from the linear media source, buffering the linear media asset in the buffer;

detecting a conclusion of playback of the linear secondary content; and

in response to detecting the conclusion of playback of the linear secondary content, playing back the linear media asset from the buffer.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the unique identifier corresponding to the secondary content comprises:

accessing auxiliary information corresponding to the secondary content;

determining a subject of the secondary content from the auxiliary information; and

assigning the subject of the secondary content to be the unique identifier.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining, based on information of the identifier reference data structure, that the unique identifier for the secondary content corresponds to the identifier of the media asset comprises:

comparing a subject of the secondary content to the identifier of the media asset; and

determining, based on the comparing of the subject of the secondary content to the identifier of the media asset, that the subject of the secondary content describes the identifier of the media asset.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining that the subject of the secondary content describes the identifier of the media asset comprises:

identifying a title of the media asset; and

determining that the subject of the secondary content is the title of the media asset.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein monitoring the level of attention that the user is paying to the media asset comprises monitoring eyes of the user.

11. A system for displaying secondary content that relates to a media asset, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

receive a media asset from a media source;

generate for display the received media asset;

monitor an engagement of a user with the media asset prior to a break in the media asset;

identify the break in the media asset;

in response to the monitoring indicating that the user is engaged with the media asset, identify secondary content that is related to the media asset; and

in response to the identification of the secondary content that is related to the media asset, automatically cause the secondary content to be displayed during the break.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the media asset is a linear media asset and the media source is a linear media source, the secondary content comprises a linear secondary content, and wherein in response to the identification of the secondary content further comprises buffer the linear secondary content into a buffer and switch to a beginning of the buffer.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein, to identify the secondary content that is related to the media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a unique identifier corresponding to the secondary content;

access, from metadata corresponding to the media asset, an identifier reference data structure; and

determine, based on information of the identifier reference data structure, that the unique identifier for the secondary content corresponds to an identifier of the media asset.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein, to identify the secondary content that is related to the media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

identify characteristics of the media asset;

fingerprint a video frame of the secondary content to create a fingerprint;

compare characteristics of the fingerprint to the characteristics of the media asset; and

determine, based on the comparison, that a match exists between a characteristic of the characteristics of the fingerprint and a characteristic of the characteristics of the media asset.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein, to monitor the engagement of the user with the media asset prior to the break in the media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

monitor, using a biometric device, a level of attention that the user is paying to the media asset;

determine that the level of attention exceeds a threshold; and

in response to the determination that the level of attention exceeds the threshold, determine that the user is engaged in viewing the media asset.

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

determine, during playback of the linear secondary content from the buffer, that transmission of the linear media asset has resumed from the linear media source;

in response to the determination, during playback of the linear secondary content from the buffer, that transmission of the linear media asset has resumed from the linear media source, buffer the linear media asset in the buffer;

detect a conclusion of playback of the linear secondary content; and

in response to the detection of the conclusion of playback of the linear secondary content, play back the linear media asset from the buffer.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein, to determine the unique identifier corresponding to the secondary content, the control circuitry is further configured to:

access auxiliary information corresponding to the secondary content;

determine a subject of the secondary content from the auxiliary information; and

assign the subject of the secondary content to be the unique identifier.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein, to determine, based on information of the identifier reference data structure, that the unique identifier for the secondary content corresponds to the identifier of the media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

compare a subject of the secondary content to the identifier of the media asset; and

determine, based on the comparison of the subject of the secondary content to the identifier of the media asset, that the subject of the secondary content describes the identifier of the media asset.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein, to determine that the subject of the secondary content describes the identifier of the media asset, the control circuitry is further configured to:

identify a title of the media asset; and

determine that the subject of the secondary content is the title of the media asset.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein monitoring the level of attention that the user is paying to the media asset comprises monitoring eyes of the user.