IP Library Granted Patent US 11,310,547
Granted Patent B2
US 11,310,547 · App. 17/346,571 · Granted Apr 19, 2022

Systems and methods for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices

Inventor: Sean Matthews (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
H04N21/25875H04N21/25841H04N21/4532H04N21/4668H04N21/47H04N21/4788
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,310,547
App. No.
17/346,571
Granted
Apr 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are described for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices. A media guidance application may determine that a first user has entered an environment (e.g., his/her mother's home) and may determine a frequency with which the first user enters the environment (e.g., daily). In response to determining that the first user visits frequently, the media guidance application may identify a second device in the environment (e.g., a smart TV) that a second user (e.g., the first user's mother) is authorized to grant access rights for. The media guidance application may determine a likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on interaction data between the first user and the second user. In response to determining a high likelihood, the media guidance application may transmit the access rights.

Claims (60)

1. A method comprising:

determining that a first device has entered an environment in which a second device is located;

determining whether a media asset comprises content featuring an individual related to the second device;

determining a length of the media asset;

determining an amount of time that the individual is featured in the content of the media asset, with respect to the length of the media asset;

determining whether the amount of time is greater than a prominence threshold; and

in response to determining that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, automatically initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a type of the media asset;

wherein determining the length of the media asset is based on the determined type of the media asset.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the amount of time is not greater than the prominence threshold, monitoring for a request from the second device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset is performed without receiving a user input.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the media asset created is created by an individual related to the first device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the media asset is created at a time within a threshold period of time from the present time; and

automatically initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, is based on determining that the media asset is created at the time within the threshold period of time from the present time.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

subsequent to determining that that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, transmitting a discovery message to identify devices in the environment; and

identifying the second device in the environment based on the discovery message.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining that the individual related to the second device is authorized to grant access rights for the second device.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving interaction data between the first device and the second device;

determining a degree of interaction between the first device and the second device based on the interaction data; and

determining a likelihood that the individual related to the first device will grant the access rights for the first device to an individual related to the second device in order to view the media asset, based on the degree of interaction.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than a threshold, transmitting the access rights for the first device to the second device; and

generating for display the media asset on the second device.

11. A system comprising:

input/output circuitry;

control circuitry configured to:

determine that a first device has entered an environment in which a second device is located;

determine whether a media asset comprises content featuring an individual related to the second device;

determine a length of the media asset;

determine an amount of time that the individual is featured in the content of the media asset, with respect to the length of the media asset;

determine whether the amount of time is greater than a prominence threshold; and

in response to determining that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, automatically initiate, using the input/output circuitry, a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a type of the media asset;

wherein determining the length of the media asset is based on the determined type of the media asset.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

in response to determining that the amount of time is not greater than the prominence threshold, monitor for a request from the second device.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset is performed without receiving a user input.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine that the media asset created is created by an individual related to the first device.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the media asset is created at a time within a threshold period of time from the present time; and

automatically initiate a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, is based on determining that the media asset is created at the time within the threshold period of time from the present time.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

subsequent to determining that that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, transmit a discovery message to identify devices in the environment; and

identify the second device in the environment based on the discovery message.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the individual related to the second device is authorized to grant access rights for the second device.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

retrieve interaction data between the first device and the second device;

determine a degree of interaction between the first device and the second device based on the interaction data; and

determine a likelihood that the individual related to the first device will grant the access rights for the first device to an individual related to the second device in order to view the media asset, based on the degree of interaction.

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

in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than a threshold, transmit the access rights for the first device to the second device; and

generate for display the media asset on the second device.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069106/0129 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2023
From: ADEIA GUIDES INC.; ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC; ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063707/0884 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2021
From: MATTHEWS, SEAN
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 056533/0454 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16857412 · Apr 24, 2020
Continuation 16444688 · Jun 18, 2019
Continuation 15997975 · Jun 5, 2018
Related Publication 20210314641A1 · Oct 7, 2021