IP Library Granted Patent US 12,451,162
Granted Patent B2
US 12,451,162 · App. 18/739,066 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

System and method for providing advanced content interactivity features

Inventors: Stephanie M. Adams Ryan (San Francisco, CA); Reda Harb (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc.
G11B27/036G11B27/34H04N5/278H04N21/4394H04N21/4728G09B7/04G09B7/08G09B19/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,451,162
App. No.
18/739,066
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for interactively engaging consumers of a media asset are disclosed. The methods allow selection and personalization of a media asset character's name, voice, or dialogue while the media asset is being consumed. The personalization may be propagated through the entire media asset or additionally to other episodes, sequels, and related media assets by identifying and replacing associated metatags. The system determines whether the media asset is being consumed as a group watch where its members are consuming the media asset from different IP addresses or being consumed by viewers in the same room to determine the type of changes allowed. The methods also present queries to engage the viewer, such as by the character asking them a question, and provide supplemental videos to aid in responding to the queries. The responses to queries may also determine the path a story takes in the media asset.

Claims (60)

1. A method comprising;

receiving, from a first user, a first preferred name for a first character and, from a second user, a second preferred name for a second character, wherein both the first and second characters are associated with a media asset displayed on a media device;

replacing utterances of names of the first character and the second character in the media asset with a synthesized first preferred name and the second preferred name in a voice of the first user and second user, respectively;

determining that the first and the second user are consuming the media asset in a group watch; and

in response to detecting that the second user has left the group watch, either eliminating or minimizing the second character from the media asset.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring activity associated with the second user;

determining, based on the monitoring, that the second user is not active in the group watch; and

determining that the second user has left the group watch based on the determination that the second user has not been active in the group watch.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating the first character with the first user;

determining that the first user has left the group watch; and

in response to determining that the first user has left the group watch:

determining whether the first character is integral to the media asset; and

in response to determining that the first character is integral to the media asset, not eliminating or minimizing the second character from the media asset.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the determination of whether the first character is integral to the media asset is performed prior to eliminating or minimizing of the second character.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating the first character with the first user;

determining that the first user has left the group watch; and

in response to determining that the first user has left the group watch:

determining whether the first character is integral to the media asset; and

in response to determining that the first character is not integral to the media asset, either eliminating or minimizing the second character from the media asset.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein eliminating or minimizing the second character from the media asset includes eliminating or minimizing the replaced utterances of names of the second character in the synthesized voice of the second user from the media asset.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein minimizing the second character from the media asset relates to minimizing the second character's screen time in the media asset.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein replacing utterances of names of the first character and the second character in the media asset with the synthesized first preferred name and the second preferred name in the voice of the first user and second user, respectively comprises:

determining whether the first preferred name and the second preferred name are restricted in the profiles associated with the first user and the second user; and

replacing the utterances of names of the first character and the second character in the media asset with the synthesized first preferred name and the second preferred name in the voice of the first user and second user, respectively in response to determining that the first preferred name and the second preferred name are not restricted in the profiles associated with the first user and the second user.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the profiles of the first and the second user are populated based on parental control.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the profiles of the first and the second user are populated based on the ages of the first and second users.

11. A system comprising;

communications circuitry to access a media asset; and

control circuitry configured to:

receive, from a first user, a first preferred name for a first character and, from a second user, a second preferred name for a second character, wherein both the first and second characters are associated with a media asset displayed on a media device;

replace utterances of names of the first character and the second character in the media asset with a synthesized first preferred name and the second preferred name in a voice of the first user and second user, respectively;

determine that the first and the second user are consuming the media asset in a group watch; and

in response to detecting that the second user has left the group watch, either eliminate or minimize the second character from the media asset.

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

monitor activity associated with the second user;

determine, based on the monitoring, that the second user is not active in the group watch; and

determine that the second user has left the group watch based on the determination that the second user has not been active in the group watch.

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

associate the first character with the first user;

determine that the first user has left the group watch; and

in response to determining that the first user has left the group watch:

determine whether the first character is integral to the media asset; and

in response to determining that the first character is integral to the media asset, not eliminate or minimize the second character from the media asset.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the determination of whether the first character is integral to the media asset is performed prior to eliminating or minimizing of the second character.

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

associate the first character with the first user;

determine that the first user has left the group watch; and

in response to determining that the first user has left the group watch:

determine whether the first character is integral to the media asset; and

in response to determining that the first character is not integral to the media asset, either eliminate or minimize the second character from the media asset.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein eliminating or minimizing the second character from the media asset by the control circuitry includes eliminating or minimizing the replaced utterances of names of the second character in the synthesized voice of the second user from the media asset.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein minimizing the second character from the media asset by the control circuitry relates to minimizing the second character's screen time in the media asset.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein replacing utterances of names of the first character and the second character in the media asset by the control circuitry with the synthesized first preferred name and the second preferred name in the voice of the first user and second user, respectively comprises, the control circuitry configured to:

determine whether the first preferred name and the second preferred name are restricted in the profiles associated with the first user and the second user; and

replace the utterances of names of the first character and the second character in the media asset with the synthesized first preferred name and the second preferred name in the voice of the first user and second user, respectively in response to determining that the first preferred name and the second preferred name are not restricted in the profiles associated with the first user and the second user.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the profiles of the first and the second user are populated based on parental control.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the profiles of the first and the second user are populated based on the ages of the first and second users.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2025
From: ADEIA INC. (F/K/A XPERI HOLDING CORPORATION); ADEIA HOLDINGS INC.; ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC.; ADEIA IMAGING LLC; ADEIA MEDIA LLC; ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA GUIDES INC.; ADEIA SOLUTIONS LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ADEIA PUBLISHING INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071454/0343 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 4, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069113/0399 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: ADAMS RYAN, STEPHANIE M.; HARB, REDA
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067686/0473 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17526946 · Nov 15, 2021
Related Publication 20240331736A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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