Systems and methods for slowing down fast-access playback operations

1. A method for performing fast-access playback operations, the method comprising:

monitoring user interactions with a media asset while the user is accessing the media asset;

identifying a plurality of play positions within the media asset that is each associated with one of the monitored user interactions;

storing, based on the monitored user interactions, a viewing history that includes the identified plurality of play positions within a media asset;

receiving a user request to perform a fast-access playback operation while accessing the media asset;

performing the fast-access playback operation at a first rate;

computing a threshold distance for slowing down the fast-access playback operation based on a second rate; and

while performing the fast-access playback operation:

comparing a current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, with each of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history;

determining whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps a given one of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history;

while the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position, setting a value indicating a need to slow down the fast-access playback operation; and

slowing down the fast-access playback operation from the first rate to the second rate while the value indicating the need to slow down the fast-access playback operation is set.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the user interactions comprises determining whether a user request to perform a media guidance function is received while the user is accessing the media asset, wherein the playback function includes at least one of a fast-access playback operation, sharing the media asset, transmitting a social network communication to another user, and pausing the media asset.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fast-access playback operation includes at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and skipping segments.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold distance is proportional to a rate of the fast-access playback operation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold distance is selected from one of a plurality of threshold distances, further comprising:

determining a duration of the media asset;

partitioning the media asset duration into a plurality of segments;

associating a first threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a first segment of the plurality of segments; and

associating a second threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a second segment of the plurality of segments, wherein the second threshold distance is less than the first threshold distance.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first segment corresponds to an earlier play position than a play position of the second segment.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a duration for slowing down a fast-access playback operation rate; and

adjusting the threshold distance based on the duration selected by the user.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the threshold distance comprises:

determining a number of frames being skipped per second based on the second rate;

multiplying the number of frames being skipped per second by a predetermined duration to determine a fast-access buffer amount; and

computing the threshold distance based on a function of the fast-access buffer amount.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein computing the threshold distance comprises dividing the fast-access buffer amount in half, and wherein determining whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position comprises:

generating a fast-access playback window for the current fast-access playback position based on the computed threshold distance, wherein a first end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a first amount of frames that precede the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance, and wherein a second end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a second amount of frames that follow the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance;

identifying play positions corresponding to the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window; and

determining whether the given play position is between the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window to determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting, as the given play position, one of the plurality of play positions corresponding to a latest point in the media asset.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to select, as the given play position, one of the plurality of play positions corresponding to a latest point in the media asset.

12. A system for performing fast-access playback operations, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

monitor user interactions with a media asset while the user is accessing the media asset;

identify a plurality of play positions within the media asset that is each associated with one of the monitored user interactions;

store, based on the monitored user interactions, a viewing history that includes the identified plurality of play positions within a media asset;

receive a user request to perform a fast-access playback operation while accessing the media asset;

perform the fast-access playback operation at a first rate;

compute a threshold distance for slowing down the fast-access playback operation based on a second rate; and

while performing the fast-access playback operation:

compare a current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, with each of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history;

determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps a given one of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history;

while the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position, set a value indicating a need to slow down the fast-access playback operation; and

slow down the fast-access playback operation from the first rate to the second rate while the value indicating the need to slow down the fast-access playback operation is set.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry configured to monitor the user interactions is further configured to determine whether a user request to perform a media guidance function is received while the user is accessing the media asset, wherein the playback function includes at least one of a fast-access playback operation, sharing the media asset, transmitting a social network communication to another user, and pausing the media asset.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the fast-access playback operation includes at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and skipping segments.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the threshold distance is proportional to a rate of the fast-access playback operation.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the threshold distance is selected from one of a plurality of threshold distances, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a duration of the media asset;

partition the media asset duration into a plurality of segments; associate a first threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a first segment of the plurality of segments; and

associate a second threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a second segment of the plurality of segments, wherein the second threshold distance is less than the first threshold distance.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first segment corresponds to an earlier play position than a play position of the second segment.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further receive a user selection of a duration for slowing down a fast-access playback operation rate; and

adjust the threshold distance based on the duration selected by the user.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry configured to compute the threshold distance is further configured to:

determine a number of frames being skipped per second based on the second rate;

multiply the number of frames being skipped per second by a predetermined duration to determine a fast-access buffer amount; and

compute the threshold distance based on a function of the fast-access buffer amount.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry configured to compute the threshold distance is further configured to divide the fast-access buffer amount in half, and wherein the control circuitry configured to determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position is further configured to:

generate a fast-access playback window for the current fast-access playback position based on the computed threshold distance, wherein a first end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a first amount of frames that precede the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance, and wherein a second end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a second amount of frames that follow the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance;

identify play positions corresponding to the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window; and

determine whether the given play position is between the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window to determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position.