Sentiment mapping in a media content item
A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.
1. A method for associating media content items, the method comprising:
receiving, by an advertisement broker device comprising at least one processor, a first sentiment map mapping delimited segments of a media content item to at least one media content-related sentiment-state keyword, wherein the at least one media content-related sentiment-state keyword has at least one temporal delimitation within said media content item and is mapped to one or more delimited segments based on an overlap with a temporal delimitation of each of the delimited segments within said media content item,
scanning a user's social networking information for personalizing said first sentiment map per user, wherein said first sentiment map is personalized for a user with the at least one media content-related sentiment-state keyword mapped to a respective delimited segment based on the user's social networking information, said media content-related sentiment-state keyword capturing a mood personalized to the user for at least a temporal extent of overlapping temporal delimitations between the media content-related sentiment-state keyword and respective delimited segment;
evaluating, by the advertisement broker device, one or more media content-related sentiment-state keywords for a delimited segment of interest and comparing it to a second sentiment map mapping an offered media content item comprising an advertisement offering to at least one advertisement-related sentiment-state keyword, the at least one advertisement-related second sentiment map comprising a sentiment-state keyword associated with the offered media content item and a temporal delimitation of the offered media content item;
if a result of the evaluating is a favorable result between a first media content-related sentiment-state keyword from the first sentiment map and a first advertisement-related sentiment-state keyword from the second sentiment map, identifying a temporal extent associated with the temporal delimitations of the delimited segment of interest and the offered media content item related to the first advertisement-related sentiment-state keyword and associating, by the advertisement broker device, the offered media content item with the delimited segment,
directing the offered media content item for display on a user's companion device for playback linearly with said delimited segment displayed on a user's primary device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first media content item is selected from a group consisting of: a movie, a television program, a radio program, a segment of video, a segment of audio, a song, a music video, a personal message, a public-service message, a service alert, a health-service recommendation, a web page, an e-mail message, and a telephone call.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement broker device is selected from a group consisting of: a set-top box, a personal communications device, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a tablet computer, a gaming console, a head-end server, a server, and a plurality of servers.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the delimited segment comprises an entirety of the first media content item.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and/or second sentiment map further comprises a confidence value associated with the first temporal delimitation of the delimited segment.
6. The method of claim 1 :
wherein receiving comprises receiving sentiment maps of a plurality of delimited segments of the first media content item; and
wherein at least two delimited segments of the plurality of delimited segments of a first media content item overlap.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sentiment-state keyword is selected from a group consisting of: happy, sad, funny, successful, romantic, exciting, violent, and unknown.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and/or second sentiment map comprises an amplitude value associated with the sentiment-state keyword.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and/or second sentiment map comprises a keyword confidence value associated with the sentiment-state keyword.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and/or second sentiment map comprises a plurality of sentiment-state keywords associated with the delimited segment.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein associating comprises:
sending, by the processor of the advertisement broker device to a provider of the first media content item, a bid for associating the offered media content item with the delimited segment; and
receiving, by the processor of the advertisement broker device from the first media content item provider, an acknowledgement that the bid was accepted.
12. The method of claim 11 :
wherein a user consumes the first media content item on a primary content-consumption device;
wherein the user is associated with a secondary content-consumption device distinct from the primary content-consumption device; and
wherein the bid specifies whether the offered media content item is to appear on the primary content-consumption device or is to appear on the secondary content-consumption device.
13. The method of claim 11 :
wherein the bid specifies an amount to be paid to the first media content item provider if the bid is accepted.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
receiving, by the processor of the advertisement broker device, an updated sentiment map of the delimited segment of the first media content item;
re-evaluating, by the processor of the advertisement broker device, the delimited segment in light of a new comparison of the updated sentiment map and the second sentiment map of the offered media content item; and
if the re-evaluating shows a diminished level of favorability, then requesting, by the processor of the advertisement broker device of the first media content item provider, a refund of at least a portion of an amount paid.
15. An advertisement broker device for associating an offered media content item with a first media content item, the advertisement broker device comprising:
a network interface configured for receiving a first sentiment map mapping delimited segments of the media content item to at least one media content-related sentiment-state keyword, wherein the at least one media content-related sentiment-state keyword has at least one temporal delimitation within said media content item and is mapped to one or more delimited segments based on an overlap with a temporal delimitation of each of the delimited segments within said media content item; and
a processor operatively connected to the network interface, the processor configured for:
scanning a user's social networking information for personalizing said first sentiment map per user, wherein said first sentiment map is personalized for a user with the at least one media content-related sentiment-state keyword mapped to a respective delimited segment based on a user's social networking information, said media content-related sentiment-state keyword capturing a mood personalized to the user for at least a temporal extent of overlapping temporal delimitations between the media content-related sentiment-state keyword and respective delimited segment;
evaluating one or more media content-related sentiment-state keywords for a delimited segment of interest and comparing it to a second sentiment map mapping an offered media content item comprising an advertisement offering to at least one advertisement-related sentiment-state keyword, the at least one advertisement-related second sentiment map comprising a sentiment-state keyword associated with the offered media content item and a temporal delimitation of the offered media content item;
if a result of the evaluating is a favorable result between a first media content-related sentiment-state keyword from the first sentiment map and a first advertisement-related sentiment-state keyword from the second sentiment map, identifying a temporal extent associated with the temporal delimitations of the delimited segment of interest and the offered media content item related to the first advertisement-related sentiment-state keyword and associating the offered media content item with the delimited segment,
directing the offered media content item for display on a user's companion device for playback linearly with said delimited segment displayed on a user's primary device.