Systems and methods for automatically performing media actions based on status of external components

Systems and methods for automatically performing a media action based on the status of external components are provided. A media asset is determined to be presented on a user equipment device. Components external to the user equipment device are monitored to obtain status information pertaining to the components. A determination is made as to whether a media action is associated with the status information. The identified media action is performed for the media asset in response to determining that the media asset is associated with the status information.

BACKGROUND

In conventional systems, users have to manually decide to record or play back certain content when they leave or enter their home. Oftentimes, users forget to instruct the system to record content when they leave their home because they are in a hurry or have other distractions. This results in the users missing segments of content they were watching just before they left home.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, methods and systems are disclosed herein for automatically performing media actions based on the status of external components.

In some embodiments, a media asset may be determined to be presented on a user equipment device. For example, a determination may be made that the media asset has been presented for a threshold period of time or that a media asset meeting a content attribute is being presented on a user equipment device. Components external to the user equipment device may be monitored to obtain status information pertaining to the components. In some embodiments, the components may only be monitored if the media asset has been presented for a threshold period of time and matches a user profile.

In some implementations, in response to receiving status information from one or more external components, a determination may be made as to whether a media action is associated with the status information. If a media action is determined, the identified media action may be performed for the media asset. In some embodiments, the status information received from an external component may be cross-referenced with a database of media actions to identify a media action that is associated with the status information. For example, the database may include entries with fields of status information for various external components and corresponding fields for media actions to be taken when matching status information is received. In some embodiments, the external components continue to be monitored to obtain status information in response to determining that the media asset is not associated with the status information.

In some embodiments, the media action corresponding to the received status information may be an action to record. In such circumstances, the media guidance application may initiate recording of the media asset being presented starting from a currently received position that is later than the beginning of the media asset. In some embodiments, a second media action may be determined based on newly received status information. The second media action may be a playback action. In response to determining that the second media action is associated with the status information, the media asset has been recorded based on the first media action may be identified. The recorded media asset may be automatically presented starting from the currently received position that is later than the beginning of the media asset. For example, the media asset that was recorded (e.g., from some middle position because the status information indicated the user left home) may be retrieved and played back automatically starting from the same position at which the media asset started being recorded (e.g., playback may resume from the middle position because the updated status information may indicate that the user has returned home).

In some embodiments, the status information may be received from each external component over a network (e.g., a home network or the Internet). In some embodiments, the external components may include in-home appliances (e.g., refrigerators, ovens, garage doors, doorbells, front doors, etc.). In some embodiments, the media action may be determined to be associated with the status information when a combination of status information from a first and a second external component is indicative of the user leaving or entering a location of the first and second external components (e.g., a home).

It should be noted that the systems and/or methods described above may be applied to, or used in accordance with, other systems, methods and/or apparatuses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for automatically performing media actions based on status of external components. For example, status information of in-home appliances is monitored to identify patterns that indicate that the user is leaving or entering the home. In response to determining, based on the status information, that the user is leaving the home, content that is currently being received and/or presented is recorded automatically. In response to determining, based on the status information, that the user is entering the home, content that was recorded (e.g., because the user left the home) is played back automatically.

As referred to herein, the phrase “external component” should be understood to mean any device that is external to a user equipment device on which media is presented. For example, the user equipment device may be a set-top-box (and/or television) and the external component may be an in-home appliance (e.g., a garage door, an oven, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a stove, a fan, an air conditioner, coffee machine, lights, microwave, washing machine, dryer, shower, etc.). An in-home appliance may be any device that is not used to present media to a user.

As referred to herein, the term “status” or phrase “status information” should be understood to mean a current state of a component or change in a current state of a component. For example, change in a state of a component such as a garage door may indicate that the garage door is opening or closing. The current state of a component such as a garage door may indicate that the garage door is open or closed. Similarly, status of an oven may indicate an oven temperature and/or whether or not the oven is turned on. Status information and/or status may include any data identifying settings of the component (e.g., temperature, time remaining, speed, etc.).

FIG. 1shows illustrative grid program listings display100arranged by time and channel that also enables access to different types of content in a single display. Display100may include grid102with: (1) a column of channel/content type identifiers104, where each channel/content type identifier (which is a cell in the column) identifies a different channel or content type available; and (2) a row of time identifiers106, where each time identifier (which is a cell in the row) identifies a time block of programming. Grid102also includes cells of program listings, such as program listing108, where each listing provides the title of the program provided on the listing's associated channel and time. With a user input device, a user can select program listings by moving highlight region110. Information relating to the program listing selected by highlight region110may be provided in program information region112. Region112may include, for example, the program title, the program description, the time the program is provided (if applicable), the channel the program is on (if applicable), the program's rating, and other desired information.

Grid102may provide media guidance data for non-linear programming including on-demand listing114, recorded content listing116, and Internet content listing118. A display combining media guidance data for content from different types of content sources is sometimes referred to as a “mixed-media” display. Various permutations of the types of media guidance data that may be displayed that are different than display100may be based on user selection or guidance application definition (e.g., a display of only recorded and broadcast listings, only on-demand and broadcast listings, etc.). As illustrated, listings114,116, and118are shown as spanning the entire time block displayed in grid102to indicate that selection of these listings may provide access to a display dedicated to on-demand listings, recorded listings, or Internet listings, respectively. In some embodiments, listings for these content types may be included directly in grid102. Additional media guidance data may be displayed in response to the user selecting one of the navigational icons120. (Pressing an arrow key on a user input device may affect the display in a similar manner as selecting navigational icons120.)

Advertisement124may provide an advertisement for content that, depending on a viewer's access rights (e.g., for subscription programming), is currently available for viewing, will be available for viewing in the future, or may never become available for viewing, and may correspond to or be unrelated to one or more of the content listings in grid102. Advertisement124may also be for products or services related or unrelated to the content displayed in grid102. Advertisement124may be selectable and provide further information about content, provide information about a product or a service, enable purchasing of content, a product, or a service, provide content relating to the advertisement, etc. Advertisement124may be targeted based on a user's profile/preferences, monitored user activity, the type of display provided, or on other suitable targeted advertisement bases.

In some embodiments, user profile information may include biometric state and/or emotional state information. For example, the user profile may include associations of biometric states and emotional states with different categories of information based on user interactions with an application. For example, a media guidance application may store a profile of user interactions with action movies when the user is in an angry emotional state and store a profile of user interactions with drama movies when the user is in a depressed emotional state. The media guidance application may provide recommendations based on a determined biometric state and/or emotional state of a user and the stored user profile. In some embodiments, user profile information may include external components in the home of the user. For example, the user profile information may identify each external component in the user's home or each external component that is associated with the user and may include a communication address (e.g., IP address, e-mail address, etc.) associated with each component. The user equipment device may use the communication address of each external component to monitor the external component and receive status information pertaining to the component.

Another display arrangement for providing media guidance is shown inFIG. 2. Video mosaic display200includes selectable options202for content information organized based on content type, genre, and/or other organization criteria. Selection of option204may return the user to grid102(FIG. 1).

In display200listings206,208,210, and212may provide graphical images including cover art, still images from the content, video clip previews, live video from the content, or other types of content that indicate to a user the content being described by the media guidance data in the listing. Each of the graphical listings may also be accompanied by text to provide further information about the content associated with the listing. For example, listings208,210and212may include more than one portion, including media portion214and text portion216. Media portion214and/or text portion216may be selectable to view content in full-screen or to view information related to the content displayed in media portion214(e.g., to view listings for the channel that the video is displayed on).

The listings in display200are of different sizes (i.e., listing206is larger than listings208,210, and212), but if desired, all the listings may be the same size. Listings may be of different sizes or graphically accentuated to indicate degrees of interest to the user or to emphasize certain content, as desired by the content provider or based on user preferences. Various systems and methods for graphically accentuating content listings are discussed in, for example, Yates, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0153885, filed Dec. 29, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Users may access content and the media guidance application (and its display screens described above and below) from one or more of their user equipment devices.FIG. 3shows a generalized embodiment of illustrative user equipment device300. More specific implementations of user equipment devices are discussed below in connection withFIG. 4. User equipment device300may receive content and data via input/output (hereinafter “I/O”) path302. I/O path302may provide content (e.g., broadcast programming, on-demand programming, Internet content, content available over a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), and/or other content) and data to control circuitry304, which includes processing circuitry306, detecting circuitry320and storage308. Control circuitry304may be used to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable data using I/O path302. I/O path302may connect control circuitry304(and specifically processing circuitry306) to one or more communications paths (described below). I/O functions may be provided by one or more of these communications paths, but are shown as a single path inFIG. 3to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

Control circuitry may also instruct detecting circuitry320, which can be used to detect and/or identify a user or users without requiring the user or users to make any affirmative actions by using any suitable biometric determination technique, such as facial determination, brainwave information, body temperature determination, heart rate determination, odor determination, scent determination, body shape determination, voice determination, behavioral determination, and any other suitable biometric determination technique or any combination thereof.

Detecting circuitry320may include monitoring component316and power management unit318. Monitoring component316may include one or more components (e.g., an EEG, EMG, pulse oximeter, etc.) for monitoring an activity type (e.g., biometric state, location, or brainwave information) of a user. As referred to herein, “location” refers to any relative or absolute identifier of a position, such as a geographical coordinate, vector for direction, street address, name of building, or any other suitable identifier. For example, a location may be indicated by coordinates in a geographic coordinate system (e.g., latitude or longitude), or a global positioning system (GPS).

It should be noted that monitoring component316may, in some embodiments, be located on a separate device in communication with the device upon which a media guidance application (and control circuitry304) is implemented. For example, in some embodiments, monitoring component316may communicate with device300via a communications network (e.g., communications network414(FIG. 4)). In some embodiments, monitoring component316may be a wearable device (e.g., a wristband, headband, watch, etc.).

In some embodiments, monitoring circuitry may monitor the brain activity of a user. Monitoring component316may transmit updates (e.g., associated with brain activity) of a user to control circuitry304. Control circuitry304may compare the updates to data related to brain activity (e.g., threshold ranges, frequency ranges, etc.) of the user and/or other users stored on storage308(e.g., to determine whether or not the brain activity of the user corresponds to a particular threshold range and/or mood, attentiveness level, activity type, a subtitles setting, etc.).

In some embodiments, monitoring component316may include one or more of a temperature sensor, a pulse oximeter, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, an optical sensor, or any other suitable sensor for determining a biometric state of a user. Monitoring component316may include any suitable hardware and/or software to perform biometric detection and determination operations. For example, monitoring component316may include infrared, optical, and/or radio-frequency receivers and/or transmitters. Monitoring component316may additionally, or alternatively, include one or more microphones and/or cameras to detect audible and/or visual information, respectively. The microphone may be capable of receiving sounds within the audible range and/or outside the audible range. The camera may be capable of capturing information within the visual spectrum and/or outside the visual spectrum. For example, the camera may be able to capture infrared information, ultraviolet information, or any other suitable type of information.

In some embodiments, detecting circuitry320may additionally, or alternatively, include palm, fingerprint, and/or retinal readers for detecting and/or identifying users based on biometric information about a user. In some embodiments, detecting circuitry may communicate to processing circuitry306and/or storage308various detection and/or identification mechanisms indicating whether a user is detected and/or identified at a particular device.

As referred to herein, the term “biometric state” should be understood to mean a metric or measure indicative of a physiological state of a user, such as measurements of chemical content in body fluids (e.g., salt electrolyte concentration in perspiration, blood alcohol level, hormonal levels in blood, glucose level in blood, oxygen content of blood), measurements of circulation (e.g., pulse, heart rate), body temperature, brain activity (e.g., measured via electroencephalograms), or any other suitable measurements. As referred to herein, the term “emotional state” should be understood to mean a metric of measure indicative of a psychological state or mental state of a user, such as angry, sad, depressed, happy, agitated, bored, or any other suitable state.

For example, using an infrared camera and light source, processing circuitry306may generate a three-dimensional map of an area. A plurality of IR beams may each be modulated and encoded to be distinguishable, transmitted from the IR light source and directed at various points in an area. Each of the beams may reflect off objects in the room back towards the camera. Depending on the distance traveled by each light beam, the time of flight, or time traveled by each light beam may vary. If the IR camera and light source are placed side by side, travel time of the light beam may correlate to the distance of an object from the light source and camera. The time of flight may be measured as the time between transmission of the encoded beam from the light source and detection of the encoded beam at the camera. By correlating the time of flight of beams, and the initial direction of the beam, processing circuitry306and/or detecting circuitry320may generate the three-dimensional map of the area. Based on the three-dimensional map, control circuitry304may detect and identify distinct bodies of users, and determine distance of the body from the biometric device. Using color cameras and face detection, control circuitry304may detect or identify users.

Using microphones and voice recognition, control circuitry304may detect or identify users based on the physical characteristics of their vocal tract through voice recognition or identification. Using a sound source and an array of microphones, control circuitry304may determine information about the shape of the area surrounding the biometric device through acoustic localization, similar to the time-of-flight method described above in reference to IR light. For example, a sound source may be located near an array of microphones. A sound broadcast from the sound source may propagate as a wave front away from the source. As the wave front impacts an object, portions of the wave front may be reflected toward the sound source and array of microphones. Depending on the position of the object, the reflected sound may arrive at the microphone at different times. For example, the reflected sound may arrive at a closer microphone in a shorter amount of time than it arrives at a farther microphone. Based on the time or phase difference in arrival time at various microphones, total travel time of the sound, and positions of the microphones, it may be possible to generate a spatial areal map. Location of objects may be determined based on the spatial areal map generated via acoustic localization, IR time of flight, and any other suitable mapping method, or any combination thereof. It should be understood that various biometric techniques and devices may be used alone, or in combination, to supplement each other to more accurately identify or detect users.

In some embodiments, voice recognition may be used to determine biometric and/or emotional states. For example, voice recognition may be performed on the speech of a user to find words spoken during certain biometric states. Detecting circuitry320or control circuitry304may correlate spoken words and other biometric states such as heart rate and body temperature for storage in cross-referencing databases. Analysis and correlation of vocal tones may also be performed.

In some embodiments, detecting circuitry320may use any suitable method to determine the distance, trajectory, and/or location of a user in relation to an electronic device. The electronic device may also use, for example, triangulation and/or time-difference-of-arrival determination of appropriate information to determine a user's location in relation to an electronic device. For example, time-difference-of-arrival values of sounds emanating from a user may be determined. In some embodiments, any suitable image processing, video processing, and/or computer vision technique may be used to determine a user's distance, trajectory, and/or location in relation to an electronic device. A user's distance, trajectory, and/or location in relation to an electronic device may be determined using any suitable method.

In some embodiments, detecting circuitry320and/or control circuitry may conduct analysis on information from one or more monitoring components316to determine gestures. For example, movements of a hand, detected by an accelerometer worn on a wrist of a user may be used to determine gestures at certain points in time. The gestures may be correlated with other biometric states, brainwave information, location information, and/or emotional states to determine whether to enable/disable the subtitles setting.

In some embodiments, processing circuitry306may determine a location based on global positioning system (GPS) measurements, or, in the case of cellular telephones, measurements based on cell-tower signals, done by detecting circuitry320. Processing circuitry306may use these measurements to determine location coordinates, which may be transmitted to other electronic devices.

In some embodiments, detecting circuitry may be used to identify a user based on a determined biometric state or biometric information about the user. An identified user may refer to a user who may be recognized sufficiently by a device to associate the user with a user profile. In some embodiments, the user may be associated with a group of users, as opposed to, or in addition to, being associated with a unique user profile. For example, the user may be associated with the user's family, friends, age group, sex, and/or any other suitable group. A detected user may refer to a user whose presence is detected by a device, but who is not yet identified by the device.

Memory may be an electronic storage device provided as storage308that is part of control circuitry304. As referred to herein, the phrase “electronic storage device” or “storage device” should be understood to mean any device for storing electronic data, computer software, or firmware, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, hard drives, optical drives, digital video disc (DVD) recorders, compact disc (CD) recorders, BLU-RAY disc (BD) recorders, BLU-RAY 3D disc recorders, digital video recorders (DVR, sometimes called a personal video recorder, or PVR), solid state devices, quantum storage devices, gaming consoles, gaming media, or any other suitable fixed or removable storage devices, and/or any combination of the same. Storage308may be used to store various types of content described herein as well as media guidance data described above. For example, storage308may be used to store database500that associates different status information of external components with media actions. Specifically, database500may include multiple entries. Each entry may include a status information field and a corresponding media action field. The status information field may represent status of one or more external components and the media action field may indicate the corresponding media action that should be taken for the status of the one or more external components. As referred to herein, the phrase “media action” should be understood to mean any activity the media guidance application can perform for a given media asset. For example, media actions may include scheduling a recording or reminder, tuning to a given media asset, accessing a given media asset, retrieving a media asset from storage, deleting a media asset, performing a playback operation (e.g., fast-forward, rewind, skip ahead, skip back) for a media asset, or any other type of media guidance function. Cloud-based storage, described in relation toFIG. 4, may be used to supplement storage308or instead of storage308.

A user may send instructions to control circuitry304using user input interface310. User input interface310may be any suitable user interface, such as a remote control, mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touchpad, stylus input, joystick, voice recognition interface, or other user input interfaces. Display312may be provided as a stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of user equipment device300. For example, display312may be a touchscreen or touch-sensitive display. In such circumstances, user input interface312may be integrated with or combined with display312. Display312may be one or more of a monitor, a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD) for a mobile device, amorphous silicon display, low temperature poly silicon display, electronic ink display, electrophoretic display, active matrix display, electro-wetting display, electrofluidic display, cathode ray tube display, light-emitting diode display, electroluminescent display, plasma display panel, high-performance addressing display, thin-film transistor display, organic light-emitting diode display, surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), laser television, carbon nanotubes, quantum dot display, interferometric modulator display, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. In some embodiments, display312may be HDTV-capable. In some embodiments, display312may be a 3D display, and the interactive media guidance application and any suitable content may be displayed in 3D. A video card or graphics card may generate the output to the display312. The video card may offer various functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors. The video card may be any processing circuitry described above in relation to control circuitry304. The video card may be integrated with the control circuitry304. Speakers314may be provided as integrated with other elements of user equipment device300or may be stand-alone units. The audio component of videos and other content displayed on display312may be played through speakers314. In some embodiments, the audio may be distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes and outputs the audio via speakers314.

The guidance application may be implemented using any suitable architecture. For example, it may be a stand-alone application wholly implemented on user equipment device300. In such an approach, instructions of the application are stored locally (e.g., in storage308), and data for use by the application is downloaded on a periodic basis (e.g., from an out-of-band feed, from an Internet resource, or using another suitable approach). Control circuitry304may retrieve instructions of the application from storage308and process the instructions to generate any of the displays discussed herein. Based on the processed instructions, control circuitry304may determine what action to perform when input is received from input interface310. For example, movement of a cursor on a display up/down may be indicated by the processed instructions when input interface310indicates that an up/down button was selected.

User equipment device300ofFIG. 3can be implemented in system400ofFIG. 4as user television equipment402, user computer equipment404, wireless user communications device406, or any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing content, such as a non-portable gaming machine. For simplicity, these devices may be referred to herein collectively as user equipment or user equipment devices, and may be substantially similar to user equipment devices described above. User equipment devices, on which a media guidance application may be implemented, may function as a standalone device or may be part of a network of devices. Various network configurations of devices may be implemented and are discussed in more detail below.

A user equipment device utilizing at least some of the system features described above in connection withFIG. 3may not be classified solely as user television equipment402, user computer equipment404, or a wireless user communications device406. For example, user television equipment402may, like some user computer equipment404, be Internet-enabled allowing for access to Internet content, while user computer equipment404may, like some television equipment402, include a tuner allowing for access to television programming. The media guidance application may have the same layout on various different types of user equipment or may be tailored to the display capabilities of the user equipment. For example, on user computer equipment404, the guidance application may be provided as a website accessed by a web browser. In another example, the guidance application may be scaled down for wireless user communications devices406.

In system400, there is typically more than one of each type of user equipment device but only one of each is shown inFIG. 4to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, each user may utilize more than one type of user equipment device and also more than one of each type of user equipment device. System400may also include multiple external components490coupled to one or more of the user equipment devices.

The user equipment devices monitor external components492over communications path492to receive status information from external components492. For example, user television equipment402may monitor one of the external components490(e.g., a garage door) to receive status information (e.g., information indicating whether the garage door is opening, closing, open or closed). User television equipment402may then cross-reference status information received from one or more external components490with database500to determine whether a media action is associated with the status information. For example, user television equipment402may receive status information from a garage door indicating the garage door is opening. User television equipment402may cross-reference database500with this status information and determine that the corresponding media action is to record currently received content. In response, user television equipment402may start recording a media asset currently being received from a current point that may be past the beginning of the media asset. For example, the user may have been watching a show on user television equipment402. At some point in the middle of the show (e.g., 20 minutes past the start time), the user leaves the house by opening the garage door. This status of the garage door is provided to user television equipment402which in response begins recording the show starting from the point that is 20 minute past the start time.

System400includes content source416and media guidance data source418coupled to communications network414via communication paths420and422, respectively. Paths420and422may include any of the communication paths described above in connection with paths408,410,492, and412. Communications with the content source416and media guidance data source418may be exchanged over one or more communications paths, but are shown as a single path inFIG. 4to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, there may be more than one of each of content source416and media guidance data source418, but only one of each is shown inFIG. 4to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. (The different types of each of these sources are discussed below.) If desired, content source416and media guidance data source418may be integrated as one source device. Although communications between sources416and418with user equipment devices402,404, and406are shown as through communications network414, in some embodiments, sources416and418may communicate directly with user equipment devices402,404, and406via communication paths (not shown) such as those described above in connection with paths408,410,492, and412.

In a third approach, users of user equipment devices inside and outside a home can use their media guidance application to communicate directly with content source416to access content. Specifically, within a home, users of user television equipment402and user computer equipment404may access the media guidance application to navigate among and locate desirable content. Users may also access the media guidance application outside of the home using wireless user communications devices406to navigate among and locate desirable content.

In some embodiments, wireless user communications device406may include wearable devices (e.g., monitoring component316) that are positioned on a user. For example, wireless user communications device406may include smart eyewear, smart watches, any other suitable user device that is wearable, or any combination thereof. The type of wearable device may affect the type of biometric state that can be determined. For example, a wearable headset device may include electrodes as part of monitoring component316and may be able to determine and monitor brain activity of a user. For example, a wearable ring device may include a temperature sensor to detect body temperature and may include a pulse oximeter to determine a pulse rate and a blood oxygen level.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may monitor external components490to obtain status information from each external component490. The media guidance application may monitor external components490continuously, periodically, or at any predefined or user-defined interval. To monitor external components490, the media guidance application may transmit a request for status information to each external component490. Alternatively, each external component490may transmit its respective status information to the media guidance application continuously, periodically, or at any predefined or user-defined interval. In some implementations, the media guidance application may maintain a database in storage308of all external components490in a user premises or home. The database may include, for each external component490, the last updated status information received from the given external component along with a timestamp indicating when that status information was received. As the media guidance application receives status information from each external component, the media guidance application may update the corresponding database entry for that external component with the received status information and the timestamp of when the status information was received.

In some embodiments, status information for each external component490may be monitored and obtained without directly requesting status information from a given external component490. For example, external components490may have direct or indirect access to the database of external components maintained by the media guidance application. Whenever a given external component detects a change in status, that external component may automatically communicate that status information to the database along with the timestamp of the status information (e.g., identifying when the status update occurred) and update the corresponding entry for the external component490without involving the media guidance application. In some cases, the external component490may indicate to the media guidance application that an update to the entry for the external component has been made. In response to receiving that indication, the media guidance application may proceed to determine whether a media action needs to be performed.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may only monitor for status updates from external components490that occur within a threshold period of time of each other. For example, the media guidance application may determine whether the timestamp of a given status update from one external component is within a threshold of a timestamp for another status update from another external component. The timestamps may be retrieved for each status update from a database entry corresponding to the external component which stores the timestamp and the status information for each external component. The threshold period of time may be user defined, automatically set, predefined, and/or adjusted dynamically based on time of day and/or adjusted dynamically based on which external component provides the status information. For example, the media guidance application may receive status information from a garage door at a first point in time. Later, the media guidance application may receive status information from a doorbell at a second point in time that is five minutes after the first point in time. In some implementations, the threshold period of time may be ten minutes. As such, because the status information from the doorbell was received five minutes after the status information from the garage door, the media guidance application may determine that the status information from each of the external components was received within the threshold period of time of ten minutes. Accordingly, the media guidance application may generate the query to database500that includes the combination of the status information from each of the components received within the threshold period of time. Specifically, the media guidance application may generate the query to database500that includes the combination of the status information from the garage door and the doorbell. Database500may process the query to determine whether a match for the combination of status information exists in any entry and return to the media guidance application the corresponding media action if a match exists.

In some implementations, the threshold period of time may be three minutes. As such, because the status information from the doorbell was received five minutes after the status information from the garage door, the media guidance application may determine that the status information from each of the external components was not received within the threshold period of time of three minutes. Accordingly, the media guidance application may only query database500with the last received status information (e.g., the status information from the doorbell).

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may determine whether a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device. In some implementations, the media guidance application may initiate monitoring external components490only in response to determining that a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device. In some implementations, the media guidance application may initiate monitoring external components490only in response to determining that a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device of a particular type. For example, if the media asset is being presented on a wireless device, the media guidance application may not monitor external components490. Specifically, if the media asset is being accessed on a wireless device, the user will likely continue accessing the media asset after leaving the home and therefore no appropriate media action may be necessary. However, if the media asset is being presented on a set top box, the media guidance application may monitor external components490to determine whether a media action is needed (e.g., because the user has left the home).

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may determine whether a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device for a threshold period of time. In some implementations, the media guidance application may initiate monitoring external components490only in response to determining that a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device for a threshold period of time. The threshold may be user defined, automatically set, predefined or dynamically adjusted based on content criteria of the media asset being presented or the device type used to present the media asset. In some implementations, the media guidance application may initiate monitoring external components490only in response to determining that a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device of a particular type and for at least the threshold period of time. For example, if the media asset is being presented on a wireless device for more than four minutes, the media guidance application may not monitor external components490. Specifically, if the media asset is being accessed on a wireless device, the user will likely continue accessing the media asset after leaving the home and, therefore, no appropriate media action may be necessary. However, if the media asset is being presented on a set top box for more than six minutes, the media guidance application may monitor external components490to determine whether a media action is needed (e.g., because the user has left home).

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may determine whether a media asset being presented on a user equipment device matches a user profile. In some implementations, the media guidance application may initiate monitoring external components490only in response to determining that a media asset being presented on a user equipment device matches a user profile.

In some embodiments, in response to receiving status information from one or more external components490, the media guidance application may determine whether a media action needs to be performed. Specifically, the media guidance application may determine whether a media action needs to be performed each time the database of external components status information is updated. In some implementations, the media guidance application may determine whether a media action needs to be performed each time new status information is received from one or more external components490. To determine whether a media action needs to be performed, the media guidance application may cross-reference received status information with database500.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may generate an SQL query that includes the external component identifiers and corresponding status information. The media guidance application may transmit the SQL query to database500to determine whether an entry corresponding to the received status information exists. If any of the entries contain a status of external components field that matches the received status information, database500may return to the media guidance application the corresponding entry in the media action field. If none of the entries contains a status of external components field that matches the received status information, database500may return a NULL indication.

For example, the media guidance application may determine that a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device (e.g., a set-top-box). The media guidance application may monitor external components490(e.g., a garage door and lights in the home) to receive status information pertaining to these components. In response to receiving status information from the garage door indicating that the garage door is opening, the media guidance application may store this information in a database entry for the garage door along with a timestamp indicating when the update occurred. The media guidance application may also query database500to determine whether a media action is associated with this status information of the garage door. In some implementations, database500may indicate that no corresponding media action is available for status information indicating that the garage door is opening.

The media guidance application may continue monitoring external components490and may receive status information from lights in the home indicating that the lights are turning off. The media guidance application may store this status information in a database entry for the lights along with the timestamp. Also, the media guidance application may query database500to determine whether a media action is associated with the status information of the combination of the garage door opening and lights turning off. Database500may determine that a matching entry exists and that the associated media action is to record currently received content. For example, this combination of status information may be indicative of the user leaving the home. Accordingly, database500may return to the media guidance application the indication that the corresponding media action that exists is to record currently received content. In response, the media guidance application may initiate recording the currently received media asset starting from a currently received position which may be later than the beginning of the media asset (e.g., because the user was watching the media asset and left home in the middle of the media asset).

The entries in the status of the external components field in database500may include singular external components status or combinations of the status of the external components. For example, one entry in the status of the external components field may include only the dishwasher external component being turned on. This means that any time the status information for the dishwasher indicates that the dishwasher has been turned on, a match will be found in this database entry and a corresponding media action will be performed. Another entry in the status of external components field may include the combination of the status of the doorbell ringing and the front door opening. This means that any time the status information for the doorbell and the front door indicates that the doorbell is ringing and the front door is opening, a match will be found in this database entry and a corresponding media action will be performed. If only the doorbell is ringing and the front door has no change in status or is not opening, a match to this entry in the database will not be found.

In some embodiments, when a given entry includes a combination of status of external components, the different components listed in the entry may be associated with different degrees of weights. These weights may be used to vary the importance of different status change requirements for different components to match entries in database500. This provides more flexibility in terms of matching status in database500.

In some embodiments, when a given entry includes a combination of status of external components, the different components listed in the entry may be associated with different ordering. The ordering may specify that one status change to one component must happen before the status change to another component. For example, doorbell ringing and front door opening may both in a given entry that is associated with a media action for pausing content. Also, the database entry may indicate that the doorbell ringing must happen before the front door opens for the media action to be performed. If the media guidance application identifies a status change of the doorbell indicating the doorbell is ringing and further detects a status change to the front door indicating the front door is opening, the media guidance application may send these updates to database500with the corresponding time stamps. Database500may determine that the entry for the front door opening and doorbell ringing requires a particular order. Accordingly, database500may determine whether the doorbell ringing is associated with an earlier timestamp than the front door opening. In response to determining that the doorbell ringing is associated with an earlier timestamp than the front door opening, database500may return the corresponding media action of pausing to the media guidance application. However, in response to determining that the doorbell ringing is associated with a later timestamp than the front door opening, database500may indicate there are no matching entries for the received external component status changes to the media guidance application and no media action is performed.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may allow the user to modify or add entries to database500using a user interface. For example, the user may input any number of external components and status information for each, along with a corresponding media action to be performed when the status of the specified external components match the user input status information. This allows the user to customize media actions based on a user-specified external component status. For example, the user may notice that he usually turns on the microwave turning on and opens the front door when he is about to leave. In addition, the user may wish to have the user equipment device turn off when the user leaves. Accordingly, the user may store an entry in database500that includes: in the status of external components, the microwave turning on and the front door opening and in the corresponding media action field, turn off the user equipment device. When the media guidance application detects the status information for these two external components that matches the user specified entry, the media guidance application may perform the action of turning off the user equipment device.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may automatically modify or add entries to database500based on monitored user actions. For example, the media guidance application may determine that the user usually reduces the volume of the user equipment device when the dishwasher turns off. Accordingly, the media guidance application may store an entry in database500that includes: in the status of external components, the dishwasher turning off and in the corresponding media action field, reducing the volume of the user equipment device. When the media guidance application detects the status information for this external component that matches the automatically added entry, the media guidance application may perform the action of reducing volume of the user equipment device.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may monitor external components490even when a media asset is not being presented on a user equipment device. For example, the media guidance application may monitor external components490(e.g., a garage door and lights in the home) to receive status information pertaining to these components. In response to receiving status information from the garage door indicating that the garage door is closing, the media guidance application may store this information in a database entry for the garage door. The media guidance application may also query database500to determine whether a media action is associated with this status information of the garage door. In some implementations, database500may indicate that no corresponding media action is available for status information indicating that the garage door is closing.

The media guidance application may continue monitoring external components490and may receive status information from lights in the home indicating that the lights are turning on. The media guidance application may store this status information in a database entry for the lights. Also, the media guidance application may query database500to determine whether a media action is associated with the status information of the combination of the garage door closing and lights turning on. Database500may determine that a matching entry exists and that the associated media action is to play previously recorded content. For example, this combination of status information may be indicative of the user coming back home. Accordingly, database500may return to the media guidance application the indication that the corresponding media action that exists is to play previously recorded content. In response, the media guidance application may initiate playback of content stored on a user equipment device.

In some implementations, the recorded content that the media guidance application may select for playback may be the same content that was recorded as a result of the user leaving the home (e.g., when the status information indicated that the garage door was opening and the lights were turning off). Specifically, the media guidance application may play content that was recorded as a result of a media action being performed based on status information of external components490. In some implementations, the recorded content may be played automatically starting from the point at which the content started being recorded based on the status information of external components490. For example, a show may have started being recorded at a point that is 20 minutes past the beginning because the user left home (e.g., determined based on the garage door opening and the lights being turned off). Upon the user returning home (e.g., determined based on the garage door closing and the lights turning on), the same media asset may be automatically played back from the same position at which it was recorded (e.g., starting from the point that is 20 minutes past the beginning of the show). This allows the user to pick up the show where the user left off just before leaving home.

In some embodiments, the status of external components490may be indicative of a house guest arriving or an interruption at the front door. If the user was accessing content on a user equipment device when this happens, the media guidance application may automatically pause the content the user was accessing so the user does not miss any portion of the show. For example, the media guidance application may receive status information from a doorbell indicating that it is ringing and status information from a front door indicating the front door is opening. This combination may be indicative of a house guest arriving or an interruption at the front door. Accordingly, based on a match for this status information in database500, the media guidance application may perform the media action that includes pausing the currently received content on the user equipment device.

FIG. 6is a diagram of a process600for automatically performing media actions based on status of external components in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. At step610, a determination is made that a media asset is being presented on a user equipment device. For example, the media guidance application may determine that a user equipment device (e.g., a set top box) is presenting a media asset.

At step620, external components are monitored to receive status information pertaining to the external components. For example, the media guidance application may communicate with external components490(FIG. 4) to receive status information from external components490. In some implementations, external components490may transmit status information to the media guidance application whenever there is a status update or change. In some implementations, the media guidance application may poll each external component490at continuous or periodic intervals to obtain the status information.

At step630, a determination is made as to whether a status update was received. In response to determining that a status update was received, the process proceeds to step640; otherwise, the process proceeds to step620. For example, the media guidance application may determine whether status information was received from a given external component490. In some implementations, an external component with a status update may transmit an indication to the media guidance application that a status update is available. In response to receiving this indication, the media guidance application may retrieve from a database entry for that external component the status information pertaining to the external component.

At step640, status information is stored in a database entry corresponding to the external component from which the status information was received. For example, the media guidance application may update an entry for the external component with the received status information. In some implementations, the external component may automatically (independently from the media guidance application) update the status information in the database entry for the external component. The media guidance application may access the database entry to retrieve the status information for the external component.

At step650, a determination is made as to whether the status update was received within a threshold time period of a status update from another external component. In response to determining that the status update was received within the threshold time, the process proceeds to step660; otherwise, the process proceeds to step670. For example, the database entry for each external component may include a field indicating the timestamp of when the status information was last received from the corresponding external component. Upon receiving status information from a given external component, the media guidance application may compare the timestamp of the newly received status information with the timestamp of other status information stored in the database for other external components (e.g., those external components for which status information is stored in the database). The media guidance application may compute whether the timestamp of the newly received status information is within a threshold time period of the timestamp of other previously received status information for other external components.

At step660, a combined query that includes each status update received from an external component within the threshold time period is generated. For example, the media guidance application may generate an SQL query that includes an identification of each external component from which status information was received (e.g., within a threshold time period) and the status information that was received.

At step670, status information is cross-referenced with a database of media actions to identify a corresponding media action. For example, the media guidance application may transmit an SQL query to database500that includes an identification of one or more external components and their corresponding status information.

At step680, a determination is made as to whether a media action corresponds to received status information. In response to determining that the media action corresponds to received status information, the process proceeds to step690; otherwise, the process proceeds to step620. For example, database500may determine whether the external components identified in a received SQL query and their corresponding status information matches any of the status of external component fields. If there is a match, database500may identify and retrieve the corresponding media action.

At step690, the media action is performed on the media asset presented on the user equipment device. For example, a media action to record a currently received media asset may be performed by the media guidance application by recording the currently received content by the user equipment device. In some embodiments, the currently received content may be recorded starting from the current play position which may be later than the beginning of the content.

At step692, an amount of time is measured since the last status update was received. For example, the media guidance may run a timer that restarts each time an update is received from a given external component. This timer may be used to clear out or remove old or stale status updates in the database that maintains status information from various external components. Accordingly, only recently received status updates may be cross-referenced with database500to identify corresponding media actions to be performed.

At step694, a determination is made as to whether the amount of time exceeds the threshold time period. In response to determining that the amount of time exceeds the threshold time period, the process proceeds to step696; otherwise, the process proceeds to step620.

At step696, status information stored in the database for each external component is cleared. For example, the media guidance application may remove all of the status information from each entry for each external component. This may avoid the media guidance application relying on old status updates to identify media actions.