Patent ID: 12238365

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods and systems are described herein for providing personalized actionable items for content items on a user interface (UI). Methods and systems are also described herein for generating the personalized actionable items for display on the UI.

As used herein, “a content guidance application” (CGA) is a type of application that utilizes functions to generate a landing interface/page; allows the user to navigate through the content items; obtain information on the content items and profile information; and generates actionable items personalized for the content items. The CGA further functions to perform the actionable items selected by the user. In one embodiment, the CGA utilizes attributes of content items and profile information of the user to provide actionable items customized for each of the content items. In one embodiment, the actionable items are provided for display on the landing interface of the CGA application.

In some embodiments, the CGA may be provided as an on-line application (i.e., provided on a website), or as a stand-alone application on a server, user device, etc. Various devices and platforms that may implement the CGA are described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the CGA and/or any instructions for performing any of the embodiments discussed herein may be encoded on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable medium includes any capable of storing instructions and/or data. The computer-readable medium may be transitory, including, but not limited to, propagating electrical or electromagnetic signals, or may be non-transitory, including, but not limited to, volatile and nonvolatile computer memory or storage devices such as a hard disk, floppy disk, USB drive, DVD, CD, card, register memory, processor caches, Random Access Memory (“RAM”), etc.

As referred to herein, the term “content item” should be understood to mean an electronically consumable user asset, such as television programming, as well as pay-per-view programs, on-demand programs (as in video-on-demand (VOD) systems), Internet content (e.g., streaming content, downloadable content, Webcasts, etc.), video clips, audio, playlists, electronic books, social media, applications, games, and/or any other media and/or combination of the same. Content may be recorded, played, displayed, or accessed by devices, but can also be part of a live performance.

FIG.1is an illustrative example of an operation of the CGA performed by e.g., control circuitry204(FIG.2) for providing personalized actionable items for each of the content to a user in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular,FIG.1shows a scenario100where a request is received to display a landing interface102of the CGA on a UI at block110. The UI is on a user's device, e.g., user television equipment, user computer equipment, and/or wireless user communication device (FIG.3). The request is received by a user via, e.g., I/O path204(FIG.2). The landing interface is an interface on a UI where a user arrives or lands when the user first reaches a site. In one embodiment, the landing interface of the CGA is for a content consumption session. The content consumption session is a time when the CGA is insinuated. In one example, the user insinuates the CGA by turning on the user's device. In one example, the user insinuates the CGA by selecting a “home” icon on the user's device. In one embodiment, a request for a search query related to a content item insinuates the CGA.

In some embodiments, the CGA accesses content items database120to identify content items. In one embodiment, the CGA identifies the content item based on a search criterion of the search query. For example, the search query is “Show me an action movie starring Tom Cruise.” The CGA may identify movies of “Mission Impossible” as the content item. The content items database120includes content item metadata. The content item metadata includes content item identifiers, each of which uniquely identifies a respective content item among the content items. In one embodiment, the content item is a media content. The media content may include different types of content such as an audio, image, video, text, augmented reality (AR), visual reality (VR), etc. In one example, the content items include three results of the movie “Mission Impossible (MI)” are “MI1, MI2and MI3.” In one example, the content item identifier includes text uniquely identifying each of first, second and third results respectively of the three MI movies. In another example, the content item identifier includes an image uniquely identifying each of the three MI movies. The image may include a specific character in a specific scene uniquely identifying each of the three MI movies. In a further example, the content item identifier includes a combination of the text and the image. For example, content item identifiers101,102and103for each of the content items, MI1, MI2, and MI3movies respectively are illustrated inFIG.1. The content item metadata also includes one or more attributes assigned to each of the respective content item. The attributes define available content options. Some examples of the attributes include “Recap,” “Rent,” “Purchase,” “Language Subtitles,” “Watch,” “Play,” “Pause,” “Add to Watchlist,” etc. In some embodiments, the content item metadata may also include rating, genre, age relevance etc. In some embodiments, the content items' metadata is updated. In one embodiment, the CGA modifies the content items metadata by deleting content item identifier(s) when corresponding content items are old content. In one embodiment, CGA modifies the content items' metadata by adding new content item identifier(s) upon availability of new content.

In one embodiment, the CGA accesses profile information130corresponding to the content consumption session. In one embodiment, the profile information is a user's profile data. The user's profile data may include preferences associated with a user. For example, user profile data may include content browsing history, user interaction history with different content items, prior content consumption, social media patterns, etc., utilized by the CGA to determine user preferences for particular types of content options. In one example, the user profile data may include one or more preferences for different content options such as “Rent” or “Purchase” for different content items. User profile data may also include predetermined profile preferences. In one embodiment, the user inputs the user profile preference(s). In one embodiment, the CGA determines the user profile preference(s). In some embodiments, the profile information is updated to reflect current user preferences.

In one embodiment, the CGA determines an actionable item based on the attribute of the content item and the profile information. In some embodiments, the CGA correlates the attribute of the corresponding content item with the profile information. Such correlation causes the CGA to determine an actionable item (pre-defined) for each of the content items. In one embodiment, the CGA identifies an attribute of a content item and correlates it with the profile information to determine an actionable item that is relevant to a specific content item. For example, the CGA identifies a “Recap” as one of the attributes for MI1movie and checks on the profile information to determine that the user had previously watched MI1movie about a year ago. The CGA correlates the “Recap” with the user having previously watched MI1movie. Accordingly, the CGA determines that the user may want to watch the recap of MI1movie as an actionable item. The CGA generates “Watch Recap” as an actionable item identifier111for the actionable item for MI1movie. In another example, the CGA identifies “Spanish Subtitles” as one of the attributes for MI2movie. In one embodiment, the CGA checks on the profile information to determine that the user having previously watched MI1movie in Spanish. The CGA correlates the “Spanish Subtitles” with the user having previously watched MI1movie in Spanish. Accordingly, the CGA determines that the user is most likely to watch MI2movie with Spanish Subtitles as the actionable item for MI2movie. The CGA generates “Watch with Spanish Subtitles ON”113as an actionable item identifier for the actionable item for MI2movie.

In one embodiment, the CGA dynamically generates the actionable item based on the attribute and the profile information. In one embodiment, the CGA checks on the profile information to determine that the user is fluent in Spanish. The CGA correlates the “Spanish Subtitles” with the user being fluent in Spanish. Accordingly, the CGA generates an actionable item, which checks with the user whether he/she wishes to watch the media asset in Spanish. For example, the CGA generates “Do you want to watch this in Spanish?” as the actionable item identifier for the generated actionable item for MI2movie.

In a further example, the CGA identifies “Purchase” is one of the attributes for MI3movie and checks on the profile information to determine that the user watched MI1movie after purchasing it from Amazon. The CGA correlates “Purchase” with the user watching MI1movie after purchasing it from Amazon. Accordingly, the CGA determines that the user may wish to purchase again from Amazon as an actionable item for MI3movie in order to watch MI3movie. The CGA generates “Purchase from Amazon”115as an actionable item identifier for the actionable item for MI3movie. Accordingly, each of the actionable items are different for each of the content items and customized to the respective content item.

In one embodiment, the CGA provides, for display on the landing interface102, each of the content item identifiers corresponding to their respective content items. In one example, the content items identifiers101,103and105for content items MI1, MI2and MI3movies respectively, are displayed on the landing interface102illustrated inFIG.1. In one embodiment, proximate to each of the displayed content item identifiers, the CGA provides for display the respective actionable item identifier corresponding to each of the respective actionable items on the landing interface102. In one example, as illustrated inFIG.1, the actionable item identifier “Watch Recap”111is displayed proximate to the content item identifier101, the actionable item identifier “Watch with Spanish Subtitles ON”113is displayed proximate the content item identifier103, and the actionable item identifier “Purchase from Amazon”115is displayed proximate the content item identifier105on the landing interface102. As shown, each actionable item is different for each of the content items. Thus, the actionable items are customized for each content item and displayed on the landing interface102of the UI. Since the actionable items are displayed on the landing interfaces of the UI, the user need not navigate through various interfaces or select generic actionable item(s) in order to reach the actionable item for the content item that is relevant to the user. In this manner, the actionable item customized for the user is provided to the user right at the landing interface from the very beginning of the content consumption session.

In some embodiments, a user may select the actionable item identifier of the desired actionable item, which results in display of the corresponding content item identified by the content item identifier on another interface different from the landing interface. For example, when a touchscreen is being used, a user may press on the screen to select a desired actionable item. As another example, a user may navigate a cursor or pointer to a desired indicator (e.g., using arrow keys or a mouse) and press a button (e.g., a select button or a mouse button) to select it. Such an action may generate a signal that is received and interpreted by the CGA as a selection of the content item with its corresponding personalized actionable item. For example, if the user selects the “Watch with Spanish Subtitles ON”113for the content item identifier103, the movie MI2movie with Spanish subtitles will be displayed on another interface of the UI.

Users may access content from one or more of their devices.FIG.2shows generalized embodiments of a device capable of presenting content on a display212. The display212belongs to a smartphone, tablet, virtual reality headset, television, any electronic device for content consumption, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, display212may belong to a smartphone device. In another example, display212may belong to a user television equipment system. User television equipment system with display212may include a set-top box216. Set-top box216may be communicatively connected to speaker214and display212. In some embodiments, display212may be a television display or a computer display. In some embodiments, set top box216may be communicatively connected to user interface input210. In some embodiments, user interface input210may be a remote control device. Set-top box216may include one or more circuit boards. In some embodiments, the circuit boards may include processing circuitry, control circuitry, and storage (e.g., RAM, ROM, Hard Disk, Removable Disk, etc.). In some embodiments, circuit boards may include an input/output path. More specific implementations of devices are discussed below in connection withFIG.5. Each one of device200and user equipment system201may receive content and data via input/output (hereinafter “I/O”) path202. I/O path202may 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 circuitry204, which includes processing circuitry206and storage208. Control circuitry204may be used to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable data using I/O path202. I/O path202may connect control circuitry204(and specifically processing circuitry206) to one or more communication paths (described below). I/O functions may be provided by one or more of these communications path but are shown as a single path inFIG.2to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

Control circuitry204may be based on any suitable processing circuitry such as processing circuitry206. As referred to herein, processing circuitry should be understood to mean circuitry based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc., and may include a multi-core processor (e.g., dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, or any suitable number of cores) or supercomputer. In some embodiments, processing circuitry may be distributed across multiple separate processors or processing units, for example, multiple of the same type of processing units (e.g., two Intel Core i7 processors) or multiple different processors (e.g., an Intel Core i5 processor and an Intel Core i7 processor). In some embodiments, control circuitry204executes instructions for an application stored in memory (e.g., storage208). Specifically, control circuitry204may be instructed by the application to perform the functions discussed above and below. For example, the application may provide instructions to control circuitry204to monitor words spoken by a user and determine whether they match words in the content that is being output. In some implementations, any action performed by control circuitry204may be based on instructions received from the application.

In client-server based embodiments, control circuitry204may include communications circuitry suitable for communicating with a content application server or other networks or servers. The instructions for carrying out the above-mentioned functionality may be stored on the content application server. Communications circuitry may include a cable modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, Ethernet card, or a wireless modem for communications with other equipment, or any other suitable communications circuitry. Such communications may involve the Internet or any other suitable communications networks or paths (which is described in more detail in connection withFIG.5). In addition, communications circuitry may include circuitry that enables peer-to-peer communication of devices, or communication of devices in locations remote from each other (described in more detail below).

Memory may be an electronic storage device provided as storage208that is part of control circuitry204. 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. Storage208may be used to store various types of content described herein, including, for example, metadata including content item identifier and attribute(s) of the content item. Storage208may also be used to store the actionable item identifiers of the actionable items. Storage208may also be used to store screencaps of the related content items. Storage208may also be used to store memory size of the content items. Storage208may also be used to store profile information corresponding to the content consumption session. Storage208may further be used to store current bandwidth of a user's device on which to download and display the content item and the related content segments. Nonvolatile memory may also be used (e.g., to launch a boot-up routine and other instructions). Cloud-based storage, described in relation toFIG.5, may be used to supplement storage208or instead of storage208. In some embodiments, a database is accessible at the cloud-based storage, where the database stores metadata files of content, a look-up table mapping content segments or timestamped content to characteristics or related content segments, any suitable reference for control circuitry to retrieve when determining a characteristic of a current portion of content or related content segments, or any suitable combination thereof.

Control circuitry204may include video generating circuitry and tuning circuitry, such as one or more analog tuners, one or more MPEG-2 decoders or other digital decoding circuitry, high-definition tuners, or any other suitable tuning or video circuits or combinations of such circuits. Encoding circuitry (e.g., for converting over-the-air, analog, or digital signals to MPEG signals for storage) may also be provided. Control circuitry204may also include scaler circuitry for upconverting and downconverting content into the preferred output format of the user equipment200. Circuitry204may also include digital-to-analog converter circuitry and analog-to-digital converter circuitry for converting between digital and analog signals. The tuning and encoding circuitry may be used by the device to receive and to display, to play, or to record content. The tuning and encoding circuitry may also be used to receive content data. The circuitry described herein, including for example, the tuning, video generating, encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, scaler, and analog/digital circuitry, may be implemented using software running on one or more general purpose or specialized processors. Multiple tuners may be provided to handle simultaneous tuning functions (e.g., watch and record functions, picture-in-picture (PIP) functions, multiple-tuner recording, etc.). If storage208is provided as a separate device from user equipment200, the tuning and encoding circuitry (including multiple tuners) may be associated with storage208.

A user may send instructions to control circuitry204using user input interface210. User input interface210may 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. Display212may be provided as a stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of each one of device200and user equipment system201. For example, display212may be a touchscreen or touch-sensitive display. In such circumstances, user input interface210may be integrated with or combined with display212. Display212may 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, display212may be HDTV-capable. In some embodiments, display212may be a 3D display, and the interactive application and any suitable content may be displayed in 3D. A video card or graphics card may generate the output to the display212. 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 circuitry204. The video card may be integrated with the control circuitry204. Speakers214may be provided as integrated with other elements of each one of device200and user equipment system201or may be stand-alone units. The audio component of videos and other content displayed on display212may be played through speakers214. In some embodiments, the audio may be distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes and outputs the audio via speakers214.

The content application may be implemented using any suitable architecture. For example, it may be a stand-alone application wholly-implemented on each one of device200and user equipment system201. In such an approach, instructions of the application are stored locally (e.g., in storage208), 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 circuitry204may retrieve instructions of the application from storage208and process the instructions to generate any of the displays discussed herein. Based on the processed instructions, control circuitry204may determine what action to perform when input is received from input interface210.

In some embodiments, the application is a client-server based application. Data for use by a thick or thin client implemented on each one of device200and user equipment system201is retrieved on-demand by issuing requests to a server remote to each one of device200and user equipment system201. In one example of a client-server based content application, control circuitry204runs a web browser that interprets web pages provided by a remote server. For example, the remote server may store the instructions for the application in a storage device. The remote server may process the stored instructions using circuitry (e.g., control circuitry204) and generate the displays discussed above and below. The client device may receive the displays generated by the remote server and may display the content of the displays locally on equipment device200. This way, the processing of the instructions is performed remotely by the server while the resulting displays are provided locally on equipment device200.

In some embodiments, the content application is downloaded and interpreted or otherwise run by an interpreter or virtual machine (run by control circuitry204). In some embodiments, the content application may be encoded in the ETV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF), received by control circuitry204as part of a suitable feed, and interpreted by a user agent running on control circuitry204. For example, the content application may be an EBIF application. In some embodiments, the content application may be defined by a series of JAVA-based files that are received and run by a local virtual machine or other suitable middleware executed by control circuitry204. In some of such embodiments (e.g., those employing MPEG-2 or other digital media encoding schemes), the content application may be, for example, encoded and transmitted in an MPEG-2 object carousel with the MPEG audio and video packets of a program.

Each one of device200and user equipment system201ofFIG.2can be implemented in system300ofFIG.3as user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, wireless user communications device306, 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 devices and may be substantially similar to devices described above. Devices, on which an 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 device utilizing at least some of the system features described above in connection withFIG.2may not be classified solely as user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, or a wireless user communications device306. For example, user television equipment302may, like some user computer equipment304, be Internet-enabled allowing for access to Internet content, while user computer equipment304may, like some television equipment302, include a tuner allowing for access to television programming. The 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 equipment304, the content application may be provided as a web site accessed by a web browser. In another example, the content application may be scaled down for wireless user communications devices306.

In system300, there is typically more than one of each type of device but only one of each is shown inFIG.3to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, each user may utilize more than one type of device and also more than one of each type of device.

In some embodiments, a device (e.g., user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, wireless user communications device306) may be referred to as a “second device.” For example, a second device may provide an interface for adjusting settings and display preferences of the first device. In some embodiments, the second device is configured for interacting with other second devices or for interacting with a social network. The second screen device can be located in the same room as the first device, a different room from the first device but in the same house or building, or in a different building from the first device.

The user may also set various settings to maintain consistent application settings across in-home devices and remote devices. For example, if a user enables selection of related content segments on their personal computer at their office, this feature would also be enabled on the user's in-home devices (e.g., user television equipment and user computer equipment) as well as the user's mobile devices, if desired. Therefore, changes made on one device can change the content experienced on another device, regardless of whether they are the same or a different type of device. In addition, the changes made may be based on settings input by a user, as well as user activity monitored by the content application. In addition, two devices can work together to provide functionality for the user. For example, a first device can determine a current portion of the content being output to a user and instruct a second device to determine content segments related to the current portion of the content.

The devices may be coupled to communications network314. Namely, user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, and wireless user communications device306are coupled to communications network314via communications paths308,310, and312, respectively. Communications network314may be one or more networks including the Internet, a mobile phone network, mobile voice or data network (e.g., a 4G or LTE network), cable network, public switched telephone network, or other types of communications network or combinations of communications networks. Paths308,310, and312may separately or together include one or more communications paths, such as, a satellite path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, a path that supports Internet communications (e.g., IPTV), free-space connections (e.g., for broadcast or other wireless signals), or any other suitable wired or wireless communications path or combination of such paths. Path312is drawn with dotted lines to indicate that in the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG.3it is a wireless path and paths308and310are drawn as solid lines to indicate they are wired paths (although these paths may be wireless paths, if desired). Communications with the devices may be provided by one or more of these communications paths but are shown as a single path inFIG.3to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

Although communications paths are not drawn between devices, these devices may communicate directly with each other via communication paths, such as those described above in connection with paths308,310, and312, as well as other short-range point-to-point communication paths, such as USB cables, IEEE 1394 cables, wireless paths (e.g., Bluetooth, infrared, IEEE 502-11x, etc.), or other short-range communication via wired or wireless paths. BLUETOOTH is a certification mark owned by Bluetooth SIG, INC. The devices may also communicate with each other directly through an indirect path via communications network314.

System300includes content source316and content data source318coupled to communications network314via communication paths320and322, respectively. Paths320and322may include any of the communication paths described above in connection with paths308,310, and312. Communications with the content source316and content data source318may be exchanged over one or more communications paths but are shown as a single path inFIG.3to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, there may be more than one of each of content source316and content data source318, but only one of each is shown inFIG.3to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. If desired, content source316and content data source318may be integrated as one source device. Although communications between sources316and318with devices302,304, and306are shown as through communications network314, in some embodiments, sources316and318may communicate directly with devices302,304, and306via communication paths (not shown) such as those described above in connection with paths308,310, and312.

Content source316may include one or more types of content distribution equipment including a television distribution facility, cable system headend, satellite distribution facility, programming sources (e.g., television broadcasters), intermediate distribution facilities and/or servers, Internet providers, on-demand content servers, and other content providers. Content source316may be the originator of content (e.g., a television broadcaster, a Webcast provider, etc.) or may not be the originator of content (e.g., an on-demand content provider, an Internet provider of content of broadcast programs for downloading, etc.). Content source316may include cable sources, satellite providers, on-demand providers, Internet providers, over-the-top content providers, or other providers of content. Content source316may also include a remote content server used to store different types of content (including video content selected by a user), in a location remote from any of the devices. Systems and methods for remote storage of content and providing remotely stored content to user equipment are discussed in greater detail in connection with Ellis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,761,892, issued Jul. 20, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Content data source318may provide data related to the content. Content data may be provided to the devices using any suitable approach. In some embodiments, the content application may be a stand-alone interactive television program guide that receives program guide data via a data feed (e.g., a continuous feed or trickle feed). Program schedule data and other content data may be provided to the user equipment on a television channel sideband, using an in-band digital signal, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data transmission technique. Program schedule data and other content data may be provided to user equipment on multiple analog or digital television channels.

In some embodiments, content data from content data source318may be provided to user's equipment using a client-server approach. For example, a user equipment device may pull content data from a server, or a server may push content data to a user equipment device. In some embodiments, a content application client residing on the user's equipment may initiate sessions with source318to obtain content data when needed, e.g., when the content data is out of date or when the device requests the data. Content data may be provided to the user equipment with any suitable frequency (e.g., continuously, daily, a user-specified period of time, a system-specified period of time, in response to a request from user equipment, etc.). Content data source318may provide devices302,304, and306the application itself or software updates for the application.

In some embodiments, the content data may include viewer data. For example, the viewer data may include current and/or historical user activity information (e.g., what content the user typically watches, what times of day the user watches content, whether the user interacts with a social network, at what times the user interacts with a social network to post information, what types of content the user typically watches (e.g., pay TV or free TV), mood, brain activity information, etc.). The content data may also include subscription data. For example, the subscription data may identify to which sources or services a given user subscribes and/or to which sources or services the given user has previously subscribed but later terminated access (e.g., whether the user subscribes to premium channels, whether the user has added a premium level of services, whether the user has increased Internet speed). In some embodiments, the viewer data and/or the subscription data may identify patterns of a given user for a period of less or more than one year. The content data may include a model (e.g., a survivor model) used for generating a score that indicates a likelihood a given user will terminate access to a service/source. For example, the application may monitor a user's engagement with content to generate a value or score that indicates a likelihood of whether the given user will terminate access to a particular service or source. In particular, a higher score may indicate a higher level of confidence that the user will terminate access to a particular service or source. Based on the score, the application may generate promotions that entice the user to keep the particular service or source indicated by the score as one to which the user will likely terminate access. The content data may include metadata files pertaining to the content items e.g., attributes of the content items, characteristics of content portions, content item identifiers associated with respective content items; actionable item(s) for the content item and actionable item identifiers of the actionable items, screencaps of the content items; memory size of the content item. The content data may also include profile information, e.g., user profile data corresponding to content consumption session. The user profile data may be used to determine likelihood of the actionable item for the content item. The user profile data may be used to determine likelihoods of the user navigating away from or to a content portion or segment. For example, content data may include information characterizing content such as the director, producer, actors, activities occurring during the content, locations the content was created, any description of the content context or the content production, or any suitable combination thereof.

Applications may be, for example, stand-alone applications implemented on devices. For example, the application may be implemented as software or a set of executable instructions which may be stored in storage208and executed by control circuitry204of each one of device200and user equipment system201. In some embodiments, applications may be client-server applications where only a client application resides on the device, and server application resides on a remote server. For example, applications may be implemented partially as a client application on control circuitry204of each one of device200and user equipment system201and partially on a remote server as a server application (e.g., content data source318) running on control circuitry of the remote server. When executed by control circuitry of the remote server (such as content data source318), the application may instruct the control circuitry to generate the content displays and transmit the generated displays to the devices. The server application may instruct the control circuitry of the content data source318to transmit data for storage on the device. The client application may instruct control circuitry of the receiving user equipment to generate the content displays.

Content and/or content data delivered to devices302,304, and306may be over-the-top (OTT) content. OTT content delivery allows Internet-enabled user devices, including any device described above, to receive content that is transferred over the Internet, including any content described above, in addition to content received over cable or satellite connections. OTT content is delivered via an Internet connection provided by an Internet service provider (ISP), but a third party distributes the content. The ISP may not be responsible for the viewing abilities, copyrights, or redistribution of the content, and may only transfer IP packets provided by the OTT content provider. Examples of OTT content providers include YOUTUBE, NETFLIX, and HULU, which provide audio and video via IP packets. YouTube is a trademark owned by Google Inc., Netflix is a trademark owned by Netflix Inc., and Hulu is a trademark owned by Hulu, LLC. OTT content providers may additionally or alternatively provide content data described above.

Content output system300is intended to illustrate a number of approaches, or network configurations, by which devices and sources of content and content data may communicate with each other for the purpose of accessing content and providing the ability generate for simultaneous display the content item identifier associated with the content items and the actionable item identifiers associated with the actionable items personalized for the respective content items proximate their corresponding content item identifiers. The embodiments described herein may be applied in any one or a subset of these approaches, or in a system employing other approaches for downloading and displaying the content. The following four approaches provide specific illustrations of the generalized example ofFIG.3.

In one approach, devices may communicate with each other within a home network. Devices can communicate with each other directly via short-range point-to-point communication schemes described above, via indirect paths through a hub or other similar device provided on a home network, or via communications network314. Each of the multiple individuals in a single home may operate different devices on the home network. As a result, it may be desirable for various content application information or settings to be communicated between the different devices. For example, it may be desirable for users to maintain consistent application settings on different devices within a home network, as described in greater detail in Ellis et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0251827, filed Jul. 11, 2005. Different types of devices in a home network may also communicate with each other to transmit content. For example, a user may use content navigation button on one device while the content is transmitted to a second device to be generated for display.

In a second approach, users may have multiple types of user equipment by which they access content. For example, some users may have home networks that are accessed by in-home and mobile devices. Users may control in-home devices via an application implemented on a remote device. For example, users may access an online application on a website via a personal computer at their office, or a mobile device such as a PDA or web-enabled mobile telephone. The user may set various settings (e.g., recordings, reminders, timelines and the locations of the content item identifiers and their respective actionable item identifiers display enablement, or other settings) on the online content application to control the user's in-home equipment. The online application may control the user's equipment directly, or by communicating with an application on the user's in-home equipment. Various systems and methods for devices communicating, where the devices are in locations remote from each other, is discussed in, for example, Ellis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,046,801, issued Oct. 25, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In a third approach, users of devices inside and outside a home can use their application to communicate directly with content source316to access content. Specifically, within a home, users of user television equipment302and user computer equipment304may access the application to navigate among and locate desirable content. Users may also access the application outside of the home using wireless user communications devices306to navigate among and locate desirable content.

In a fourth approach, devices may operate in a cloud computing environment to access cloud services. In a cloud computing environment, various types of computing services for content sharing, storage or distribution (e.g., video sharing sites or social networking sites) are provided by a collection of network-accessible computing and storage resources, referred to as “the cloud.” For example, the cloud can include a collection of server computing devices, which may be located centrally or at distributed locations, that provide cloud-based services to various types of users and devices connected via a network such as the Internet via communications network314. These cloud resources may include one or more content sources316and one or more content data sources318. In addition, or in the alternative, the remote computing sites may include other devices, such as user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, and wireless user communications device306. For example, the other devices may provide access to a stored copy of a video or a streamed video. In such embodiments, devices may operate in a peer-to-peer manner without communicating with a central server.

The cloud provides access to services, such as content storage, content sharing, or social networking services, among other examples, as well as access to any content described above, for devices. Services can be provided in the cloud through cloud computing service providers, or through other providers of online services. For example, the cloud-based services can include a content storage service, a content sharing site, a social networking site, or other services via which user-sourced content is distributed for viewing by others on connected devices. These cloud-based services may allow a device to store content to the cloud and to receive content from the cloud rather than storing content locally and accessing locally-stored content.

Cloud resources may be accessed by a device using, for example, a web browser, an application, a desktop application, a mobile application, and/or any combination of access applications of the same. The device may be a cloud client that relies on cloud computing for application delivery, or the device may have some functionality without access to cloud resources. For example, some applications running on the device may be cloud applications, i.e., applications delivered as a service over the Internet, while other applications may be stored and run on the device. In some embodiments, a user device may receive content from multiple cloud resources simultaneously. For example, a user device can stream audio from one cloud resource while downloading content from a second cloud resource. Or a user device can download content from multiple cloud resources for more efficient downloading. In some embodiments, devices can use cloud resources for processing operations such as the processing operations performed by processing circuitry described in relation toFIG.2.

Any one or more of device200and user equipment system201ofFIG.2and user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, and wireless user communications device306ofFIG.3can be used to provide a thorough and efficient content consumption experience. For example, the devices of the present disclosure can generate for simultaneous display content item identifiers associated with the plurality of content items, respectively; and least one respective actionable item identifier associated with the at least one respective actionable item proximate to each of the content identifiers, respectively. Further details of the present disclosure are discussed below in connection with the flowcharts ofFIGS.4-6.

FIG.4depicts an illustrative flowchart of a process400for generating personalized actionable items for content items on a user interface, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be noted that the steps of process400can be performed by control circuitry204ofFIG.2. Control circuitry204may be part of a device having a display212(e.g., a device that may have any or all of the functionality of user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, and/or wireless communications device306ofFIG.3), part of a remote server separated from the user equipment by way of a communications network (e.g., communication network314ofFIG.3), or distributed over a combination of both.

At step402, the system receives a request for a search query related to a content item. In one embodiment, the content item is a media content. As discussed above, in one example, the search query is “Show me an action movie starring Tom Cruise.” The content items database120includes content item metadata. The metadata includes a content item identifier and attribute(s) corresponding to each content item. At step404, the system identifies the content item based on a search criterion and a corresponding attribute. As discussed above, the attribute defines the content options. The system may identify movies of “Mission Impossible” as the content item and “Spanish Subtitles” as the attribute. At step406, the system accesses a profile information. As discussed above, the profile information is a user's profile data, which include preferences associated with a user. In one example, the system accesses the user's profile data to determine that the user is fluent in Spanish. At step408, the system dynamically generates an actionable item based on the attribute and the profile information. The CGA generates an actionable item, which checks with the user whether he/she wishes to watch the movie in Spanish. For example, the CGA generates “Do you want to watch this in Spanish?” as actionable item/actionable item identifier.

FIG.5depicts an illustrative flowchart of a process500for providing personalized actionable items for content items on a user interface, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be noted that the steps of process500can be performed by control circuitry204ofFIG.2. Control circuitry204may be part of a device having a display212(e.g., a device that may have any or all of the functionality of user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, and/or wireless communications device306ofFIG.3), part of a remote server separated from the user equipment by way of a communications network (e.g., communications network314ofFIG.3), or distributed over a combination of both.

At step502, the system receives a request for a search query related to content items. In one embodiment, the content item is a media content. In one example, the search query is “Show all action movies starring Tom Cruise.” The content items database120includes content item metadata. The metadata includes a content item identifier and attribute(s) corresponding to each content item. At step504, the system identifies the content items based on a search criterion and corresponding attributes. As discussed above, the attribute defines the content options. The system may identify three MI1, MI2, and MI3movies of “Mission Impossible” as the content items and “Watch Recap,” “Spanish Subtitles,” and “Purchase” as the attributes, respectively. At step506, the system accesses profile information. As discussed above, the profile information is a user's profile data, which include preferences associated with a user. In one example, the system accesses the user's profile data to determine that the user purchased the movie MI1movie on Amazon to watch it in Spanish about a year ago. At step508, the system correlates the attributes with the profile information. For example, the system links the “Watch Recap” with the user having previously watched the movie MI1. In another example, the system links “Spanish Subtitles” with the user having previously watched the MI1movie with Spanish subtitles. In a further example, the system links “Purchase” with user having previously purchased the MI1movie on Amazon. At step510, the system determines actionable items based on the correlation. Accordingly, the system determines an actionable items to watch the recap for the MI1movie, to watch the movie MI2with Spanish subtitles and to purchase the MI3movie from Amazon. At step512, the system causes to be displayed the actionable items for each of the content items. In one embodiment, the system causes to be displayed the actionable item identifiers (e.g.,111,113and115ofFIG.1) corresponding to the actionable items for each of the content items (e.g.,101,103and105ofFIG.1). The system causes to be displayed content on a display212including LCD and OLED displays used for mobile devices, 3D displays, video projectors, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. Display is not limited to visual content, as content may have an audio and visual component or only one of either audio or visual components. Display may further include transmission of audio content for listening through a speaker214such as stereo speakers, headphones, portable speakers, or any other suitable device that outputs audio.

FIG.6depicts an illustrative flowchart of a process600for providing personalized actionable items for content items on a user interface, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be noted that the steps of process600can be performed by control circuitry204ofFIG.2. Control circuitry204may be part of a device having a display212(e.g., a device that may have any or all of the functionality of user television equipment302, user computer equipment304, and/or wireless communications device306ofFIG.3), part of a remote server separated from the user equipment by way of a communications network (e.g., communications network314ofFIG.3), or distributed over a combination of both.

At step602, the system receives a request to display a landing interface of a content guidance application. As discussed above, the landing interface is an interface on a UI where a user arrives or lands when the user first reaches a site. At step604, the system identifies a plurality of content items, each of which is associated with at least one attribute. As discussed above, the attribute defines the content options. In one example, plurality of content items is different MI1, MI2, MI3iterations of the movie “Mission Impossible” (MI) as illustrated and discussed above with respect toFIG.1. Each of the MI movies has a respective attribute. For example, attribute of the MI1movie is “Watch Recap”, the attribute of the for MI2movie is “Spanish subtitles” and the attribute of MI2movie is “Purchase from Amazon.” At step606, the system accesses profile information associated with the content consumption session. As discussed above, the profile information is user profile data which provides preferences of the user. In one example, the user profile data includes that the user purchased MI1movie from Amazon to watch it about a year ago with Spanish subtitles.

At step608, for each of the plurality of content items, the system determines at least one respective actionable item based on the at least one attribute and on the profile information. The actionable items for a first content item of the plurality of content items are different from actionable items of a second content item of the plurality of content items. So, for the example discussed above, the system determines that for the MI1movie, the user will like to watch the recap; for MI2movie, the user may like to watch it in Spanish subtitles; and for MI3movie, the user may like to purchase it from Amazon.

At step610, the system causes to be displayed the landing interface including a plurality of simultaneously displayed content item identifiers associated with the plurality of content items, respectively. For example, the content identifiers101,103and105are generated for MI1, MI2and MI3movies respectively, as shown inFIG.1. At step612, proximate to each of the displayed content item identifiers, the system causes to be displayed at least one respective actionable item identifier associated with the at least one respective actionable item, respectively. For example, the actionable item identifiers111,113and115are displayed proximate to the content item identifiers101,103and105, respectively, as shown inFIG.1. The system causes to be displayed content on a display212including LCD and OLED displays used for mobile devices, 3D displays, video projectors, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. Display is not limited to visual content, as content may have an audio and visual component or only one of either audio or visual components. Display may further include transmission of audio content for listening through a speaker214such as stereo speakers, headphones, portable speakers, or any other suitable device that outputs audio.

The systems and processes discussed above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the actions of the processes discussed herein may be omitted, modified, combined, and/or rearranged, and any additional actions may be performed without departing from the scope of the invention. More generally, the above disclosure is meant to be exemplary and not limiting. Only the claims that follow are meant to set bounds as to what the present disclosure includes. Furthermore, it should be noted that the features and limitations described in any one embodiment may be applied to any other embodiment herein, and flowcharts or examples relating to one embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment in a suitable manner, done in different orders, or done in parallel. In addition, the systems and methods described herein may be performed in real time. It should also be noted that the systems and/or methods described above may be applied to, or used in accordance with, other systems and/or methods.

The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present disclosure is limited only by the claims that follow. Furthermore, it should be noted that the features and limitations described in any one embodiment may be applied to any other embodiment herein, and flowcharts or examples relating to one embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment in a suitable manner, done in different orders, or done in parallel. In addition, the systems and methods described herein may be performed in real time. It should also be noted, the systems and/or methods described above may be applied to, or used in accordance with, other systems and/or methods.