U.S. patent application number 17/728277 was filed with the patent office on 2022-08-04 for method and apparatus for content curation.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. Invention is credited to Lee Begeja, David Crawford Gibbon, Raghuraman Gopalan, Zhu Liu, Bernard S. Renger, Behzad Shahraray, Tan Xu, Eric Zavesky.
Application Number | 20220248073 17/728277 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006284688 |
Filed Date | 2022-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220248073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu; Zhu ; et al. |
August 4, 2022 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTENT CURATION
Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example,
modifying a user profile associated with a user associated with a
content service to generate an updated user profile according to
consumption of media content by the user and user feedback
information associated with the consumption of the media content,
determining a user context according to information associated with
user device, where the user context includes current activity of
the user, modifying a set of media content according to the user
context that is determined to generate an updated set of media
content, where a type of media content is eliminated from the set
of media content in the updated set of media content according to
the user context, and presenting the updated set of content at a
presentation device of the user via a personal media channel of the
user associated with the content service. Other embodiments are
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Liu; Zhu; (Marlboro, NJ)
; Zavesky; Eric; (Austin, TX) ; Renger; Bernard
S.; (New Providence, NJ) ; Shahraray; Behzad;
(HOLMDEL, NJ) ; Gibbon; David Crawford; (Lincroft,
NJ) ; Xu; Tan; (Bridgewater, NJ) ; Begeja;
Lee; (Gillette, NJ) ; Gopalan; Raghuraman;
(Dublin, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AT&T Intellectual Property I,
L.P.
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
1000006284688 |
Appl. No.: |
17/728277 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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17084149 |
Oct 29, 2020 |
11350148 |
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17728277 |
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|
15951595 |
Apr 12, 2018 |
10856028 |
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17084149 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/25891 20130101;
H04N 21/44218 20130101; H04N 21/251 20130101; H04N 21/44204
20130101; H04N 21/4668 20130101; G06F 16/437 20190101; H04N 21/6582
20130101; H04N 21/437 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/258 20060101
H04N021/258; H04N 21/25 20060101 H04N021/25; H04N 21/658 20060101
H04N021/658; H04N 21/466 20060101 H04N021/466; G06F 16/435 20060101
G06F016/435; H04N 21/442 20060101 H04N021/442 |
Claims
1. A device, comprising: a processing system including a processor;
and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when
executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of
operations, the operations comprising: selecting a set of media
content for a personal media channel associated with a user
according to a user profile; determining a user context according
to information associated with a user device of the user, wherein
the user context includes current activity of the user; determining
neighbors having a similar context; applying machine learning to
the user context of the neighbors having the similar context to
infer a preference of the user; modifying the set of media content
according to the preference of the user to generate an updated set
of viewable media content, wherein a type of media content is
eliminated from the set of media content in the updated set of
viewable media content according to the user context, and wherein
the type of media content eliminated from the set of media content
corresponds to a format of the type of media content, a delivery
scheme of the type of media content, or a combination thereof; and
presenting the updated set of viewable media content at a
presentation device of the user via the personal media channel of
the user.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the current activity of the user
includes skipping a portion of the updated set of viewable media
content.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the modifying of the set of media
content is further according to a change in the user context.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise
updating the user profile based on an explicit user reaction to the
updated set of viewable media content.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the set of media content includes
full length content, segments of content, content clips, personally
generated content, or any combination thereof.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the user context further includes
a user location, a time at the user location, environmental
characteristics of the user location, capabilities of the user
device, or any combination thereof, and wherein the neighbors are
located close to the user location.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise
updating the user profile based on tuning to regular channels while
the updated set of viewable media content is being played.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the user context further includes
a user mood.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the set of media content includes
a first media content item that is selected based on a presentation
limitation.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the presentation limitation is
associated with a capability of the user device.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein the presentation limitation is
associated with the current activity of the user.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the set of media content is
further modified by adding advertising according to the user
context.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is the
user device, wherein the personal media channel is a television
channel provided to the user device.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise
identifying an event associated with a social media service,
wherein the set of media content is further modified by adding a
second media content item according to the event responsive to the
identifying of the event.
15. A method, comprising. selecting, by a processing system
including a processor, a set of media content for a personal media
channel associated with a user according to a user profile;
determining, by the processing system, a user context according to
information associated with user device, wherein the user context
includes current activity of the user; determining, by the
processing system, neighbors having a similar context; applying
machine learning, by the processing system, to the user context and
the neighbors having the similar context to infer a preference of
the user; modifying, by the processing system, the set of media
content according to the preference of the user to generate an
updated set of media content, wherein a type of media content is
eliminated from the set of media content in the updated set of
media content according to the user context, and wherein the type
of media content eliminated from the set of media content
corresponds to a format of the type of media content, a delivery
scheme of the type of media content, or a combination thereof; and
presenting, by the processing system, the updated set of media
content at a presentation device of the user via the personal media
channel of the user.
16. The method of claim 15, comprising: monitoring, by the
processing system, viewing of the updated set of media content by
the user; and accessing, by the processing system, user feedback
information associated with the viewing of the updated set of media
content, wherein the user feedback information is based on an
implicit user reaction to the updated set of media content.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the implicit user reaction
includes skipping a portion of the updated set of media content,
and wherein the modifying of the set of media content is further
according to a change in the user context.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the set of media content
includes a first media content item that is selected based on a
presentation limitation associated with the current activity of the
user.
19. A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising
executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system
including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the
operations comprising: determining a user context according to
information associated with a user device, wherein the user context
includes current activity of a user; determining neighbors having a
similar context; applying machine learning to the user context and
the neighbors having the similar context to infer a preference of
the user; modifying a set of media content according to the
preference of the user to generate an updated set of media content,
wherein a type of media content is eliminated from the set of media
content in the updated set of media content according to the user
context, and wherein the type of media content eliminated from the
set of media content corresponds to a format of the type of media
content, a delivery scheme of the type of media content, or a
combination thereof; and presenting the updated set of media
content at a presentation device of the user via a personal media
channel of the user.
20. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 19,
wherein the modifying of the set of media content is further
according to a change in the user context, and wherein the personal
media channel is a television channel provided to the user device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 17/084,149 filed on Oct. 29, 2020, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/951,595 filed
on Apr. 12, 2018, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,856,028. The
contents of each of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by
reference into this application as if set forth herein in full.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The subject disclosure relates to a method and system for
content curation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Modern telecommunications systems allow consumers to utilize
telephony capabilities while accessing a large variety of content.
Consumers are no longer bound to specific locations when
communicating with others or when enjoying content, including video
programming Network capabilities have expanded and have created
additional interconnections and new opportunities for using mobile
communication devices in a variety of situations. Intelligent
devices offer new means for the enjoyment of network interactions
in ways that anticipate consumer desires. With hundreds of TV
channels and virtually unlimited amount of online media,
subscription content consumers may be frustrated at the difficulty
of locating their favorite content and looking for an alternative
to actively selecting between channels or finding content via
guides or text searches. Consumers may traverse different devices,
locations, or activities and find that their content preferences
change with these differing contexts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 depicts illustrative embodiments of a system that can
be utilized for customer specific content curation;
[0006] FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a scenario for
content curation via user profiles;
[0007] FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used
in portions of the system described in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5;
[0008] FIGS. 4-5 depict illustrative embodiments of communication
systems that provide media services illustrated in FIGS. 1-3;
[0009] FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal
for interacting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2 and
4-5;
[0010] FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication
device; and
[0011] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the
form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when
executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the
methods described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The subject disclosure describes, among other things,
illustrative embodiments for media content curation. A media
content curator can modify a user profile associated with a user
associated with a content service to generate an updated user
profile according to consumption of media content and user feedback
information. The media content curator can determine a user context
according to information associated with user device. The media
content curator can modify a set of media content according to the
user context to generate an updated set of media content. The media
content curator can present the updated set of content at a
presentation device of the user via a personal media channel of the
user associated with the content service. Other embodiments are
described in the subject disclosure.
[0013] One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a
device, including a processing system including a processor and a
memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by
the processing system, facilitate performance of operations. The
operations can include monitoring consumption of media content by a
user associated with a content service. The operations can also
include accessing user feedback information associated with the
consumption of the media content. The user feedback information can
be based on an implicit user reaction to the media content. The
operations can further include modifying a user profile associated
with the user to generate an updated user profile according to the
consumption of the media content and the user feedback information
associated with the consumption of the media content. The
operations can include selecting set of media content for a
personal media channel associated with the user according to the
updated user profile. The operations can include determining a user
context according to information associated with user device, and,
in turn, modifying the set of media content according to the user
context that is determined to generate an updated set of media
content. The user context can include current activity of the user
and a type of media content be eliminated from the set of media
content in the updated set of media content according to the user
context. The operations can also include presenting the updated set
of media content at a presentation device of the user via a
personal media channel of the user associated with the content
service.
[0014] One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a
method. The method can include modifying, by a processing system
including a processor, a user profile associated with a user
associated with a content service to generate an updated user
profile according to consumption of media content by the user and
user feedback information associated with the consumption of the
media content. The method can also include selecting, by the
processing system, set of media content for a personal media
channel associated with the user according to the updated user
profile. The method can further include determining, by the
processing system, a user context according to information
associated with user device, and, in turn, modifying, by the
processing system, the set of media content according to the user
context that is determined to generate an updated set of media
content. The user context can include current activity of the user.
A type of media content can be eliminated from the set of media
content in the updated set of media content according to the user
context. The method can include presenting, by the processing
system, the updated set of media content at a presentation device
of the user via a personal media channel of the user associated
with the content service.
[0015] One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a
non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable
instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a
processor, facilitate performance of operations. The operations can
include modifying a user profile associated with a user associated
with a content service to generate an updated user profile
according to consumption of media content by the user and user
feedback information associated with the consumption of the media
content. The operations can also include determining a user context
according to information associated with user device, and, in turn,
modifying a set of media content according to the user context that
is determined to generate an updated set of media content. A type
of media content can be eliminated from the set of media content in
the updated set of media content according to the user context. The
user context can include current activity of the user. The
operations can include presenting the updated set of media content
at a presentation device of the user via a personal media channel
of the user associated with the content service.
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 100
that can be utilized for providing media content to communication
devices 116, computer devices 118, or other devices 108 via a
communication network 150. In one or more embodiments, the system
100 can include a communication network 150. For example, the
system 100 can include a subscription telecommunication service,
such as an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network for
providing cellular/mobile communications, Internet access, and
content to mobile communication devices 116, computer devices 118,
or media display devices 108 (such as televisions) via a mobility
network of mobile base stations 117. The system can include a media
content service 160 for providing media content to subscribers. The
communication network can be part of a cable, satellite, or
DSL-based media content delivery system. The media content can be
any type of viewable content, such as broadcast television, cable
or premium television, streaming video on demand, and/or
pay-per-view services. The media content service 160 can provide
media content to media processing devices 106 and media display
devices 108 at subscriber locations via gateway devices 104. In one
or more embodiments, the system 100 can include computer devices
118 that are connected to the communication network 150 in wireless
or wired configuration. For example, a wireless computer device 118
can be coupled to the communication network 150 via a gateway
device 104.
[0017] In one or more embodiments, the system 100 can provide wired
and wireless access to communication services and media services
for mobile communication devices 116, computer devices 118, and
media processor devices 106. For example, a mobile communication
device 116 can communicate through the network 150 via a cellular
network including base stations 117 and/or a gateway device 104
using wireless communications. In various embodiments, the mobile
communication device 116 can access Internet-based services via the
network 150. In another example, a media presentation device 108
can communicate, via a media processor device 106, with the network
150 or with a communication satellite 115 via a satellite receiving
device 129. In one or more embodiments, communication devices 116,
118, or 108 can access the first application 174 and/or a second
application 176. The first and second application 174 and 176 can
be third-party services, such as social media sites, news sites,
streaming media sites, service providers, service carriers, and/or
search sites.
[0018] In one or more embodiments, the system 100 can incorporate
functions of a service provider and/or network carrier for offering
services of the provider/carrier and/or services from third
parties. The system 100 can provide databases 165, which include a
set of parameters for each user and/or subscriber to the system
100. For example, the system 100 can include a user profile
database 165. The user profile database 165 can include subscriber
and/or user profile information of a variety of types. These types
can include personal identification information, demographic
information, location information, subscription service
information, device configuration information, and/or preference
information. The user profile information that is stored in the
user profile database 165 that can be used by the system 100 to
provide consumer-specific performance of the system 100 as user
communication devices 116, 118, and 106 access services from and/or
through the system 100. For example, when a mobile communication
device 116 is powered on and registers to the network 150, the
network 150 can access a user profile database 165 obtain profile
information that is associated with the mobile communication device
116 and/or a user of the device 116. In addition, the network 150
can access the user profile database 165 for profile information as
the communication device 116 accesses the services of the network
150.
[0019] In one or more embodiments, the system 100 can include a
media content curator 130. The media content curator 130 can manage
one or more personal media channels for users and/or subscribers of
the media content service 160. In one embodiment, the media content
curator 130 can select media content that will be included on the
personal channel. The media content 130 can access user profile
information from the user profile database 165 and can analyze
explicit and implicit user preferences. For example, a user can
provide the media content service 160 with explicit preferences via
a list of media content that the user prefers, such as by
indicating a rating of current or previous content that the user
has viewed. In another example, the media content curator can infer
content preferences by analyzing the user's historic viewing
patterns, interactions with the content, such as fast forwarding,
and/or interactions on social media.
[0020] In one embodiment, implicit information can be used by the
media content curator for determining selections and/or
recommendations without accessing explicit user preferences. That
is, the media content curator can analyze historic viewing
patterns, social media interactions, and/or user interactions with
the content, such as fast forwarding, to make inferences as to the
user's implicit opinions regarding media content and can use these
inferences without referring to data, where the user has provided
explicit likes/dislikes or media types/titles. The media content
curator can thereby move entirely away from the need for direct
user expressions and toward an implicit-only model of the user's
preferences.
[0021] In one embodiment, the media content curator 130 can use the
user's preferences to select content that will be presented to the
user on one or more personalized channels. In one example, the
personalized channel can be presented to the user as part of a
subscription television service. The personalized channel can be a
default channel that appears whenever a user activates her
television 108. The personalized channel can appear as a choice on
an electronic program guide (EPG) or as an overlay on another
channel. In one example, the personalized channel can be presented
to the user via an application, such as an Internet accessible site
for viewing media content.
[0022] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can receive information describing a user's current context. In one
embodiment, user interactions with a communication device 116 can
be used to determine a current user context. The current context
can be determined at the user device 116, the media content service
160, and/or the media content curator 130. For example, the
location of the user device, time of usage, and/or calendar
information can allow the system 100 to determine that the user is
on vacation. The media content curator 130 can use this information
to update the set of media content that is chosen for the
personalized channel to reflect differences in content types that
reflect user preferences in the vacation setting as opposed to a
normal work week setting.
[0023] With hundreds of TV channels and virtually unlimited amount
of online media, user can be overwhelmed at the available choices
while experiencing difficulty in locating their favorite content.
In one or more embodiments, rather than relying on the user to
actively tune to various channels and/or to search through
programming guides, the system 100 can provide a personalized
channel that provides the user with the media content that they
truly want. Further, as a user's context changes--using different
devices, moving between locations and activities--their preferences
for media content are likely to change. Rather than asking the user
to juggle between playlists based on location or preference, the
system can automatically adjust for these contextual changes for
the user and can acquire and apply similar contextual patterns of
other users to make personalized channel choices that reflect deep
human contexts.
[0024] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can create a personalized channel for each customer. The
personalized channel can be a compilation of video clips from live
content, video on demand, recorded content, as well as online
videos. In one embodiment, a program list in the personalized
channel can be updated in real time according to one or more
factors. For example, the program list can be updated to reflect a
user's context, such as the current time, the user's location,
viewing preference, viewing habit/history, user mood or sentiment,
and social media trends. For example, if the user tunes to her
personal channel at 6:30 pm on her set top box at home, the
personal channel can show her the NBC Nightly News based on past
viewing history and user preferences. If the same user tunes to the
personal channel at 10:00 am using her mobile device at the office,
the personal channel may show her breaking news or short video
clips from the prior evening's late night talk shows.
[0025] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator can
include targeted advertisements in the personal channel. For
example, a targeted advertisement can be inserted into selected
media content. The targeted advertisement can be based on the media
content and/or the user's context. For example, the media content
curator 130 can access a user's viewing history and/or trending
topics on a social media application 174 in which the user
participates. The media content curator 130 can apply advanced
machine learning and multimedia analytics technologies to the user
preference and context information to infer user moods and desires
that can be useful in determining advertising that may make
successful consumer impressions on the user.
[0026] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can provide passive content recommendations via one or more
sub-channels displayed at the personal channel or on one or more
personal channels. The media content curator 130 can be constructed
to provide diversity (e.g., many video streams and/or channels)
along with pre-planned, long-running streams (e.g. programming for
a whole day that may be dynamically shuffled).
[0027] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can deeply understand the ever-changing user context and can update
the personal channel programming and targeted ads in real time. The
media content curator 130 can use properties, characteristics,
and/or patterns in the user's location, profile, and/or social
media, to select and to update media content recommended in the
personal channel or channels. The recommendations can vary over
time (e.g. more news focused in the morning or more drama focused
in evening) as the user's context changes. For example, the media
content curator can make its selections/recommendations to account
for the fact that the user tends to consume different media content
in different locations or pastimes (e.g., workweek vs. vacation).
In one or more embodiments, the media content curator can link user
context and media content using machine learning. The machine
learning can deduce connections between historical viewership and
media content consumption by this user, or other users, particular
with respect to types of media content (e.g., image, audio, or
keyword).
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can provide an effortless and personalized experience to the user
via the personalized channel. Content cab consumed in a
user-friendly environment without a need for searching out content
by searching programming guides or channel surfing. As a result,
the user may not accidently miss any media content that the user
finds interesting or important. In one or more embodiments, the
media content curator 130 can use context sensitivity to enables
the customer to consume content easily in different situations. For
example, while driving, the personal channel can provide the user
with audio-only choices. While at the office, the personal channel
can provide headline news in a text-only format. While at home, the
personal channel can provide a set of media content choices for
full-4K, video playback.
[0029] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can enable users to share their personal channels with one other.
Users can select multiple other users, who are given access to the
user's personal channel. Likewise, the user can view multiple
personal channels from other users. In one or more embodiments, the
media content service 160 can enable the insertion of
highly-directed advertisements, improved customer retention, and/or
enhanced content value. In one or more embodiments, the media
content curator 130 can provide recommendations that tap into older
content from a content catalog, including historical segments that
can provide additional revenue.
[0030] FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a scenario for
content curation via user profiles. An exemplary flow diagram is
shown, where a media content curator 130 adapts a personal channel
via user profile and user context information. At data flow 1, a
new user can subscribe to a person channel (e.g., "my channel")
service offered by the media content service 160. At flow 1.1, the
user can provide to the media content service 160 certain profile
information, including keywords and historical background. In one
embodiment, the user can provide social media connections to social
media sites 174 or other vendor sites 176, which can be accessed by
media content curator 130. The user can provide information
regarding prior viewership data or relationships with other
vendors, which can be used for marketing and/or determining subject
preferences. The resulting, initial user profile can represent a
combined "active plus passive" user profile that can form a "user
model" for understanding both the user's media content consumption
and their potential consumer interests. At flow 1.2, view history
information of the user can be accessed. Viewing feedback
information can be extracted from this history. For example,
explicit viewing reactions (e.g., I like or don't like this
content) can be obtained. In another example, implicit reactions
(e.g., I watched this content, I repeatedly watched the content or
sections of the content, I laughed at this content) may also be
obtained.
[0031] In one or more embodiments, at flow 2, the user can begin to
consume media content through that has been recommended to user
based on the initial user profile and viewing history of the user
and the system refines the user profile. At flow 2.1, the media
content curator 130 can observe a user's media consumption to and
can log varying locations, times, genres, and content types. At
flow 2.2, the media content curator 130 can include these media
consumption variations while learning preferences of the user that
are included in the user profile. The user can also explicitly
influence the user profile via suggestions (e.g., I like
documentaries).
[0032] In one or more embodiments, at flow 3, the media content
curator 130 can suggest new sub-channels in the personal channel,
or new personal channels, based on user context information, such
as the time of day, the location, and/or the user mood. At flow
3.1, the media content curator 130 can intelligently couple media
content, such as live broadcasts, unwatched content that the user
has queued/preferred before, and/or historical content that is
recommended by other contexts. For example, the media content
curator 130 can use recommendations from social posts, content
sources (e.g., CNN), and/or world events. At flow 3.2, the media
content curator 130 may always maintains one or more channels, and
may, optionally, expose a full playlist of selected media content
(e.g. a traditional program guide) for long-term review. At flow
3.3, the media content curator 130 can observe one or more playback
devices utilized by the user for reproduction of the content. For
example, the user's mobile communication device 116, computer
device 118, media processor device 106, and/or media display device
108 can provide information to the media content curator 130
regarding interactions of the user with playback applications. The
playback information can be used to correlate recommendations to
active content.
[0033] In one or more embodiments, at flow 4, the media content
curator 130 can, optionally, send one or more "alerts" to the
user's presentation device, such as a mobile communication device
116. The "alerts" may preempt the personal channel at the
communication device 116 with time-sensitive media content and
relevant recommendations based on that media content. The media
content curator 130 can further analyze a viewing duration and a
syntax of media content (e.g. long-form drama or short-form joke
segment) and the location of the device. At flow 4.1, the user
profile can be modified to include user consumption patterns at
these times. At flow 4.2, as an optional feature, the media content
curator 130 can provide relevant advertising via location-content
bridges for the user to consume.
[0034] In one or more embodiments, at flow 5, the media content
curator 130 can determine that the user is viewing media content at
an unusual device and/or location. For example, the user may have
gone on vacation. At flow 5.1, the media content curator 130 can
update the set of media content that is recommended at one or more
personal channels. The update recommendation can correspond with
similarly-pooled and/or similarly-filtered recommendations for
users in this location. For example, the media content curator can
bootstrap a recommendation from a location-based crowd and/or from
neighbors within a similar context. At flow 5.2, the media content
curator 130 may, optionally, determine user context from the user's
federated services (e.g. calendar application and/or social media
viewing) and may create an event that modifies the recommendations
of the personal channel. At flow 5.3, the media content curator 130
may, optionally, provide alternate recommendations, such as
recommending a short-form joke segment in the morning, even where
the user's typical genre/format differs from short-form joke
segments. At flow 5.4, multiple personal channels can be selected
or reviewed, which can indicate a feedback/preference to
system.
[0035] In one or more embodiments, at flow 6, the media content
curator 130 can also feed information from the individual back to
the user device as aggregated data insights. At flow 6.1, the media
content curator 130 can offer preferences, location, and/or
consumption information as an insight suite to advertisers, system
planners, and/or content creators. At flow 6.2, the media content
curator 130 can generate an "ad-words" type of formulation, which
can be offered to advertisers, who are bidding richer exposure to
users. At flow 6.3, the media content curator 130 may, optionally,
include an opt-in provision, where users are compensated for
providing preference insights.
[0036] In one or more embodiments, the system 100 can determine
which online videos may be of interest to the user. For example,
the media content curator 130 can search online video aggregation
collects based on keywords, derived from the user profile, that
correspond to matters of interested to the user. The media content
curator 130 can also create social connections with other users,
who have proven to exhibit viewing habits similar to those of the
user. The media content curator 130 can mine these social media
resources for postings or references to media content that may well
prove to be of interest to the user. In another embodiment, the
media content curator 130 can recommend, within the personal
channel, content that is not owned or available to the user via the
subscription agreement. The media content curator 130 can offer to
procure media content that should be of interest to the user, based
on the user profile and context.
[0037] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can recommend media content at the personal channel that is highly
location dependent. For example, if the user is traveling in New
York City, then the media content curator 130 can anticipated that
the user may be very interested in local news/events in the New
York City area. In another example, the media content curator 130
can insert advertising based on the location context as the user
nears a location of a store or restaurant.
[0038] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can incorporate into the personal channel home video or other
content that is generated by the user. For example, the user can
provide the media content curator 130 with access to home videos
from a recent vacation. The media content curator 130 can generate
a highlight or summary of the videos and insert these generated
version into the personal channel as a viewing option. In one
embodiment, during a playback of media content, the media content
curator 130 can provide recommendations for alternative content,
particularly, if the user's context changes. For example, if the
user's location changes or if the user changes to a different
device, the media content curator 130 can provide a new
recommendation, media playback, of one or more media content items
that may be a better fit for the new context.
[0039] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can continuously collect the user's feedback, including explicit
feedback (e.g., voting for like or dislike) and/or implicit
feedback (e.g., fast forward, skipping content, tune to regular
channels while certain content is being played, etc.). The media
content curator 130 can use the feedback information to
continuously update and improve the user profile and preference
modeling associated with the user. In one embodiment, the media
content at the personal channel can include dynamic content. For
example, clips of breaking news videos or of interesting new videos
just uploaded by the user's friends may be inserted into the
personal channel even as the customer is viewing another media
content item.
[0040] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can aggregate and recommend media content at various levels or
lengths. For example, the media content curator 130 can recommend
the program level media content (e.g. the entire 1 hour episode)
and/or sub-program level media content (e.g., the 10 minute
monologue at the beginning of a talk show). In one embodiment, the
media content curator 130 can segment long form content (e.g. half
hour news program) into a series of stories. The media content
curator 130 can select for the personal channel only those stories
or video clips (e.g., 5 minutes report to a specific news) that the
user profile and context indicate as being of interest.
[0041] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can combine related content from multiple channels (e.g., reports
of a breaking news from ABC and CBS) together at the personal
channel to form a more complete coverage for the user. In one
embodiment, the media content curator 130 can use the context of
the user (e.g., location, mood, time, device, surrounding
environment, etc.) to determine when to present the selection on
the personal channel or when to schedule presentation of the item.
The media content curator 130 can also use the content for
determining a format and/or a delivery scheme. For example, if the
context indicates that the user is currently using a mobile
communication device while jogging, then the media content curator
130 can determine that the best format for a media content item is
audio only (e.g., a podcast). Similarly, if the context indicates
some limitations with respect to network connectivity and/or
bandwidth, then the media content curator 130 may select a media
content item that is pre-loaded onto the current user device.
[0042] In one or more embodiments, the media content curator 130
can provide a "just missed" channel. The "just missed" channel can
feature "live" content that the media content curator 130 had
highlighted for the user's attention at a particular time, but that
the user had not viewed during live broadcast. For example some
events, such as a sporting or a talent show contests, are broadcast
as co-watching events, where most users want to enjoy
viewing/participation at the time of broadcast. However, the user
may be unavailable during the time of broadcast, or maybe viewing a
different selection (e.g., another live event). In such a case, the
user will miss a live event that was featured by the media content
curator 130. The media content curator 130 can respond to this
situation by offering the user another opportunity to enjoy items
that the user has missed. For example, the media content curator
130 can direct a digital video recorder (DVR) at a user's device,
such as a set-top box, or at a network or cloud-based system to
automatically capture the live content during original broadcast.
The media content curator 130 can then offer the formerly live
content to the user via the personal channel or via an additional
personal "just missed" channel.
[0043] FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method
operating in or using portions of the system described in FIGS. 1
and 2. Method 300 can begin with step 304, in which media content
curator 130 can monitor media content consumption of a user. In
step 307, the media content curator 130 can access user feedback
from the media consumption. The feedback can be explicit or
implicit. In step 312, the media content curator 130 can update the
user profile based on the content consumption and the user
feedback.
[0044] In step 316, the media content curator 130 can select a set
of media content for a personal media channel based on the updated
user profile. In step 320, the media content curator 130 can
determine a user context based on information from a user device.
In step 324, the media content curator 130 can update the set of
media content to reflect the user context and, in step 328, present
the updated set of media content at the personal media channel.
[0045] While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the
respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks
in FIG. 3, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed
subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some
blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other
blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not
all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods
described herein.
[0046] FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication
system 400 for providing various communication services, such as
delivering media content. The communication system 400 can
represent an interactive media network, such as an interactive
television system (e.g., an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)
media system). Communication system 400 can be overlaid or operably
coupled with [refer to system 100 of FIG. 1 as another
representative embodiment of communication system 400. For
instance, one or more devices illustrated in the communication
system 400 of FIG. 4 can modify a user profile associated with a
user associated with a content service to generate an updated user
profile according to consumption of media content and user feedback
information, determine a user context according to information
associated with user device, modify a set of media content
according to the user context to generate an updated set of media
content, and present the updated set of content at a presentation
device of the user via a personal media channel of the user
associated with the content service.
[0047] In one or more embodiments, the communication system 400 can
include a super head-end office (SHO) 410 with at least one super
headend office server (SHS) 411 which receives media content from
satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the present
context, media content can represent, for example, audio content,
moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual
reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof. The
SHS server 411 can forward packets associated with the media
content to one or more video head-end servers (VHS) 414 via a
network of video head-end offices (VHO) 412 according to a
multicast communication protocol. The VHS 414 can distribute
multimedia broadcast content via an access network 418 to
commercial and/or residential buildings 402 housing a gateway 404
(such as a residential or commercial gateway).
[0048] The access network 418 can represent a group of digital
subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central
office or a service area interface that provide broadband services
over fiber optical links or copper twisted pairs 419 to buildings
402. The gateway 404 can use communication technology to distribute
broadcast signals to media processors 406 such as Set-Top Boxes
(STBs) which in turn present broadcast channels to media devices
408 such as computers or television sets managed in some instances
by a media controller 407 (such as an infrared or RF remote
controller).
[0049] The gateway 404, the media processors 406, and media devices
408 can utilize tethered communication technologies (such as
coaxial, powerline or phone line wiring) or can operate over a
wireless access protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi),
Bluetooth.RTM., Zigbee.RTM., or other present or next generation
local or personal area wireless network technologies. By way of
these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invoked
between the media processors 406 and subsystems of the IPTV media
system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an
electronic programming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure
services.
[0050] A satellite broadcast television system 429 can be used in
the media system of FIG. 4. The satellite broadcast television
system can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV
system as another representative embodiment of communication system
400. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 415
that include media content can be received by a satellite dish
receiver 431 coupled to the building 402. Modulated signals
received by the satellite dish receiver 431 can be transferred to
the media processors 406 for demodulating, decoding, encoding,
and/or distributing broadcast channels to the media devices 408.
The media processors 406 can be equipped with a broadband port to
an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 432 to enable
interactive services such as VoD and EPG as described above.
[0051] In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable
broadcast distribution system such as cable TV system 433 can be
overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or
the satellite TV system as another representative embodiment of
communication system 400. In this embodiment, the cable TV system
433 can also provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media
services. System 400 enables various types of interactive
television and/or services including IPTV, cable and/or
satellite.
[0052] The subject disclosure can apply to other present or next
generation over-the-air and/or landline media content services
system.
[0053] Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be
coupled to one or more computing devices 430, a portion of which
can operate as a web server for providing web portal services over
the ISP network 432 to wireline media devices 408 or wireless
communication devices 416.
[0054] Communication system 400 can also provide for all or a
portion of the computing devices 430 to function as a media content
curator 130 described in FIG. 1. The media content curator 430 can
use computing and communication technology to perform function 462,
which can include among other things, the media content curation
techniques described by method 300 of FIG. 3. For instance,
function 462 of server 430 can be similar to the functions
described for the media content curator 130 of FIG. 1 in accordance
with method 300. The media processors 406 and wireless
communication devices 416 can be provisioned with software
functions 464 and 466, respectively, to utilize the services of
media content curator 430. For instance, functions 464 and 466 of
media processors 406 and wireless communication devices 416 can be
similar to the functions described for the communication devices
116. 118, 106, and 108 of FIG. 1 in accordance with method 300.
[0055] Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media
devices over landline technologies such as those described above.
Additionally, media services can be offered to media devices by way
of a wireless access base station 417 operating according to common
wireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile or GSM,
Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA, Time Division Multiple
Access or TDMA, Universal Mobile Telecommunications or UMTS, World
interoperability for Microwave or WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or
SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and so on. Other present and next
generation wide area wireless access network technologies can be
used in one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure.
[0056] FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication
system 500 employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network
architecture to facilitate the combined services of
circuit-switched and packet-switched systems. Communication system
500 can be overlaid or operably coupled with system 100 of FIG. 1
and communication system 400 as another representative embodiment
of communication system 400, which can modify a user profile
associated with a user associated with a content service to
generate an updated user profile according to consumption of media
content and user feedback information, determine a user context
according to information associated with user device, modify a set
of media content according to the user context to generate an
updated set of media content, and present the updated set of
content at a presentation device of the user via a personal media
channel of the user associated with the content service.
[0057] Communication system 500 can comprise a Home Subscriber
Server (HSS) 540, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 530, and
other network elements of an IMS network 550. The IMS network 550
can establish communications between IMS-compliant communication
devices (CDs) 501, 502, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
CDs 503, 505, and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway
Control Function (MGCF) 520 coupled to a PSTN network 560. The MGCF
520 need not be used when a communication session involves IMS CD
to IMS CD communications. A communication session involving at
least one PSTN CD may utilize the MGCF 520.
[0058] IMS CDs 501, 502 can register with the IMS network 550 by
contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which
communicates with an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn,
communicates with a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with
the HSS 540. To initiate a communication session between CDs, an
originating IMS CD 501 can submit a Session Initiation Protocol
(SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF 504 which
communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF 506. The
originating S-CSCF 506 can submit the SIP INVITE message to one or
more application servers (ASs) 517 that can provide a variety of
services to IMS subscribers.
[0059] For example, the application servers 517 can be used to
perform originating call feature treatment functions on the calling
party number received by the originating S-CSCF 506 in the SIP
INVITE message. Originating treatment functions can include
determining whether the calling party number has international
calling services, call ID blocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit
dialing, and/or is requesting special telephony features (e.g., *72
forward calls, *73 cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID
blocking, and so on). Based on initial filter criteria (iFCs) in a
subscriber profile associated with a CD, one or more application
servers may be invoked to provide various call originating feature
services.
[0060] Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 506 can submit queries
to the ENUM system 530 to translate an E.164 telephone number in
the SIP INVITE message to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)
if the terminating communication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP
URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 507 to submit a
query to the HSS 540 to identify a terminating S-CSCF 514
associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference 502. Once
identified, the I-CSCF 507 can submit the SIP INVITE message to the
terminating S-CSCF 514. The terminating S-CSCF 514 can then
identify a terminating P-CSCF 516 associated with the terminating
CD 502. The P-CSCF 516 may then signal the CD 502 to establish
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services, thereby
enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or
data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,
one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various
call terminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not
disturb, music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing,
etc.
[0061] In some instances the aforementioned communication process
is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms "originating" and
"terminating" in FIG. 5 may be interchangeable. It is further noted
that communication system 500 can be adapted to support video
conferencing. In addition, communication system 500 can be adapted
to provide the IMS CDs 501, 502 with the multimedia and Internet
services of communication system 400 of FIG. 4.
[0062] If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD
such as CD 503 or CD 505 (in instances where the cellular phone
only supports circuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM
system 530 can respond with an unsuccessful address resolution
which can cause the originating S-CSCF 506 to forward the call to
the MGCF 520 via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF) 519.
The MGCF 520 can then initiate the call to the terminating PSTN CD
over the PSTN network 560 to enable the calling and called parties
to engage in voice and/or data communications.
[0063] It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 5 can operate
as wireline or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 5 can
be communicatively coupled to a cellular base station 521, a
femtocell, a Wi-Fi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless
Telecommunications (DECT) base unit, or another suitable wireless
access unit to establish communications with the IMS network 550 of
FIG. 5. The cellular access base station 521 can operate according
to common wireless access protocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS,
WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on. Other present and next generation
wireless network technologies can be used by one or more
embodiments of the subject disclosure. Accordingly, multiple
wireline and wireless communication technologies can be used by the
CDs of FIG. 5.
[0064] Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched
voice and packet-switched data communications and thus may operate
as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular
base station 521 may communicate directly with the IMS network 550
as shown by the arrow connecting the cellular base station 521 and
the P-CSCF 516.
[0065] Alternative forms of a CSCF can operate in a device, system,
component, or other form of centralized or distributed hardware
and/or software. Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as a
respective CSCF system having one or more computers or servers,
either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server
may be configured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any
method, step, or functionality described herein in accordance with
a respective CSCF. Likewise, other functions, servers and computers
described herein, including but not limited to, the HSS, the ENUM
server, the BGCF, and the MGCF, can be embodied in a respective
system having one or more computers or servers, either centralized
or distributed, where each computer or server may be configured to
perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or
functionality described herein in accordance with a respective
function, server, or computer.
[0066] The media content curator 430 of FIG. 4 can be operably
coupled to communication system 500 for purposes similar to those
described above. Media content curator 430 can perform function 462
and thereby provide media curation services to the CDs 501, 502,
503 and 505 of FIG. 5 similar to the functions described for server
130 of FIG. 1 in accordance with method 300 of FIG. 3. CDs 501,
502, 503 and 505, which can be adapted with software to perform
function 572 to utilize the services of the media content curator
430 similar to the functions described for communication devices
116 of FIG. 1 in accordance with method 300 of FIG. 3. Media
content curator 430 can be an integral part of the application
server(s) 517 performing function 574, which can be substantially
similar to function 464 and adapted to the operations of the IMS
network 550.
[0067] For illustration purposes only, the terms S-CSCF, P-CSCF,
I-CSCF, and so on, can be server devices, but may be referred to in
the subject disclosure without the word "server." It is also
understood that any form of a CSCF server can operate in a device,
system, component, or other form of centralized or distributed
hardware and software. It is further noted that these terms and
other terms such as DIAMETER commands are terms can include
features, methodologies, and/or fields that may be described in
whole or in part by standards bodies such as 3.sup.rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP). It is further noted that some or all
embodiments of the subject disclosure may in whole or in part
modify, supplement, or otherwise supersede final or proposed
standards published and promulgated by 3GPP.
[0068] FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal
602 of a communication system 600. Communication system 600 can be
overlaid or operably coupled with system 100 of FIG. 1,
communication system 400, and/or communication system 500 as
another representative embodiment of system 100 of FIG. 1,
communication system 400, and/or communication system 500. The web
portal 602 can be used for managing services of system 100 of FIG.
1 and communication systems 400-500. A web page of the web portal
602 can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with an
Internet browser using an Internet-capable communication device
such as those described in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4-5. The web portal 602
can be configured, for example, to access a media processor 406 and
services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a
Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, an Electronic Programming Guide
(EPG), or a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures,
audio recordings, etc.) stored at the media processor 406. The web
portal 602 can also be used for provisioning IMS services described
earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioning cellular
phone services, and so on.
[0069] The web portal 602 can further be utilized to manage and
provision software applications 462-466, and 572-574 to adapt these
applications as may be desired by subscribers and/or service
providers of system 100 of FIG. 1, and communication systems
400-500. For instance, users of the services provided by media
content curator 130 or server 430 can log into their on-line
accounts and provision the servers 130 or server 430 with a feature
that a user may want to program such as user profiles, provide
contact information to server to enable it to communication with
devices described in FIGS. 1 and 4-5, and so on. Service providers
can log onto an administrator account to provision, monitor and/or
maintain the system 100 of FIG. 1 or server 430.
[0070] FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication
device 700. Communication device 700 can serve in whole or in part
as an illustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIG. 1,
and FIGS. 4-5 and can be configured to perform portions of method
300 of FIG. 3.
[0071] Communication device 700 can comprise a wireline and/or
wireless transceiver 702 (herein transceiver 702), a user interface
(UI) 704, a power supply 714, a location receiver 716, a motion
sensor 718, an orientation sensor 720, and a controller 706 for
managing operations thereof. The transceiver 702 can support
short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as
Bluetooth.RTM., ZigBee.RTM., Wi-Fi, DECT, or cellular communication
technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth.RTM. and ZigBee.RTM.
are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth.RTM. Special Interest
Group and the ZigBee.RTM. Alliance, respectively). Cellular
technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA,
GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next
generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The
transceiver 702 can also be adapted to support circuit-switched
wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched
wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and
combinations thereof.
[0072] The UI 704 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive
keypad 708 with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a
joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations
of the communication device 700. The keypad 708 can be an integral
part of a housing assembly of the communication device 700 or an
independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline
interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting
for example Bluetooth.RTM.. The keypad 708 can represent a numeric
keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with
alphanumeric keys. The UI 704 can further include a display 710
such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED
(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology
for conveying images to an end user of the communication device
700. In an embodiment where the display 710 is touch-sensitive, a
portion or all of the keypad 708 can be presented by way of the
display 710 with navigation features.
[0073] The display 710 can use touch screen technology to also
serve as a user interface for detecting user input. As a touch
screen display, the communication device 700 can be adapted to
present a user interface with graphical user interface (GUI)
elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger.
The touch screen display 710 can be equipped with capacitive,
resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect how much
surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of the
touch screen display. This sensing information can be used to
control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of
the user interface. The display 710 can be an integral part of the
housing assembly of the communication device 700 or an independent
device communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline
interface (such as a cable) or a wireless interface.
[0074] The UI 704 can also include an audio system 712 that
utilizes audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as
audio heard in proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio
(such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system
712 can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals
of an end user. The audio system 712 can also be used for voice
recognition applications. The UI 704 can further include an image
sensor 713 such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for
capturing still or moving images.
[0075] The power supply 714 can utilize common power management
technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply
regulation technologies, and/or charging system technologies for
supplying energy to the components of the communication device 700
to facilitate long-range or short-range portable applications.
Alternatively, or in combination, the charging system can utilize
external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical
interface such as a USB port or other suitable tethering
technologies.
[0076] The location receiver 716 can utilize location technology
such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of
assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device
700 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS
satellites, which can be used for facilitating location services
such as navigation. The motion sensor 718 can utilize motion
sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other
suitable motion sensing technology to detect motion of the
communication device 700 in three-dimensional space. The
orientation sensor 720 can utilize orientation sensing technology
such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the
communication device 700 (north, south, west, and east, as well as
combined orientations in degrees, minutes, or other suitable
orientation metrics).
[0077] The communication device 700 can use the transceiver 702 to
also determine a proximity to a cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.RTM., or
other wireless access points by sensing techniques such as
utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal
time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF) measurements. The
controller 706 can utilize computing technologies such as a
microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable gate
arrays, application specific integrated circuits, and/or a video
processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM,
SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executing computer
instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by the
aforementioned components of the communication device 700.
[0078] Other components not shown in FIG. 7 can be used in one or
more embodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the
communication device 700 can include a reset button (not shown).
The reset button can be used to reset the controller 706 of the
communication device 700. In yet another embodiment, the
communication device 700 can also include a factory default setting
button positioned, for example, below a small hole in a housing
assembly of the communication device 700 to force the communication
device 700 to re-establish factory settings. In this embodiment, a
user can use a protruding object such as a pen or paper clip tip to
reach into the hole and depress the default setting button. The
communication device 700 can also include a slot for adding or
removing an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module
(SIM) card. SIM cards can be used for identifying subscriber
services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so
forth.
[0079] The communication device 700 as described herein can operate
with more or less of the circuit components shown in FIG. 7. These
variant embodiments can be used in one or more embodiments of the
subject disclosure.
[0080] The communication device 700 can be adapted to perform the
functions of devices of FIG. 1, the media processor 406, the media
devices 408, or the portable communication devices 416 of FIG. 4,
as well as the IMS CDs 501-502 and PSTN CDs 503-505 of FIG. 5. It
will be appreciated that the communication device 700 can also
represent other devices that can operate in system of FIG. 1,
communication systems 400-500 of FIGS. 4-5 such as a gaming console
and a media player. In addition, the controller 706 can be adapted
in various embodiments to perform the functions 462-466 and
572-574, respectively.
[0081] Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be
evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said
embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing
from the scope of the claims described below. For example, in one
embodiment, the system can train a model using one or more elements
of a viewing history, an electronic program guide, metadata
extracted from content, and social media data. A machine learning
algorithm can process geolocation, calendars, real-time broadcast
feeds, and specifics of user devices to create recommendations,
targeted channel list, and/or specific indexes or streams. In one
embodiment, the system can summarize a video or a trailer based on
knowledge of the user's social preferences (e.g., personalized
curation). The system can summarize further generated summarized
video for a group of viewers, such as a family, where all of the
social preferences of the entire group are aggregated across all
the individual user preferences.
[0082] In one embodiment, the system can create connections between
related media content. For example, if a news event happens in one
area of interest, then this event may give rise to a related
happening in a different (but somehow related) field interest. Once
the system has established (from past trends) that the viewer is
interested in both fields, then the system can present media
content from both fields in a linked fashion upon the occurrence of
the event in the first field. In one embodiment, the system can
provide smart television scheduling through the personal media
channel. The system can schedule an order in which programs, clips,
or sub-channels are shown to a user according to the user's
interests. Other embodiments can be used in the subject
disclosure.
[0083] It should be understood that devices described in the
exemplary embodiments can be in communication with each other via
various wireless and/or wired methodologies. The methodologies can
be links that are described as coupled, connected and so forth,
which can include unidirectional and/or bidirectional communication
over wireless paths and/or wired paths that utilize one or more of
various protocols or methodologies, where the coupling and/or
connection can be direct (e.g., no intervening processing device)
and/or indirect (e.g., an intermediary processing device such as a
router).
[0084] FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a
machine in the form of a computer system 800 within which a set of
instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any
one or more of the methods described above. One or more instances
of the machine can operate, for example, as the media content
curator 430, the media processor 106, the mobile communication
device 116, the media presentation device 108, the computer device
118, and other devices of FIGS. 1, and 4-5. In some embodiments,
the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network 826) to other
machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the
capacity of a server or a client user machine in a server-client
user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer
(or distributed) network environment.
[0085] The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user
computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet, a smart phone, a
laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network
router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set
of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to
be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a
communication device of the subject disclosure includes broadly any
electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.
Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine"
shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that
individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of
instructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed
herein.
[0086] The computer system 800 may include a processor (or
controller) 802 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics
processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory 804 and a static
memory 806, which communicate with each other via a bus 808. The
computer system 800 may further include a display unit 810 (e.g., a
liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state
display). The computer system 800 may include an input device 812
(e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 814 (e.g., a mouse), a
disk drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818 (e.g., a
speaker or remote control) and a network interface device 820. In
distributed environments, the embodiments described in the subject
disclosure can be adapted to utilize multiple display units 810
controlled by two or more computer systems 800. In this
configuration, presentations described by the subject disclosure
may in part be shown in a first of the display units 810, while the
remaining portion is presented in a second of the display units
810.
[0087] The disk drive unit 816 may include a tangible
computer-readable storage medium 822 on which is stored one or more
sets of instructions (e.g., software 824) embodying any one or more
of the methods or functions described herein, including those
methods illustrated above. The instructions 824 may also reside,
completely or at least partially, within the main memory 804, the
static memory 806, and/or within the processor 802 during execution
thereof by the computer system 800. The main memory 804 and the
processor 802 also may constitute tangible computer-readable
storage media.
[0088] Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not
limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable
logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed
to implement the methods described herein. Application specific
integrated circuits and programmable logic array can use
downloadable instructions for executing state machines and/or
circuit configurations to implement embodiments of the subject
disclosure. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems
of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and
computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or
more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with
related control and data signals communicated between and through
the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated
circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software,
firmware, and hardware implementations.
[0089] In accordance with various embodiments of the subject
disclosure, the operations or methods described herein are intended
for operation as software programs or instructions running on or
executed by a computer processor or other computing device, and
which may include other forms of instructions manifested as a state
machine implemented with logic components in an application
specific integrated circuit or field programmable gate array.
Furthermore, software implementations (e.g., software programs,
instructions, etc.) including, but not limited to, distributed
processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel
processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed
to implement the methods described herein. Distributed processing
environments can include multiple processors in a single machine,
single processors in multiple machines, and/or multiple processors
in multiple machines. It is further noted that a computing device
such as a processor, a controller, a state machine or other
suitable device for executing instructions to perform operations or
methods may perform such operations directly or indirectly by way
of one or more intermediate devices directed by the computing
device.
[0090] While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 822 is
shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term
"tangible computer-readable storage medium" should be taken to
include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or
distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that
store the one or more sets of instructions. The term "tangible
computer-readable storage medium" shall also be taken to include
any non-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding a
set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the
machine to perform any one or more of the methods of the subject
disclosure. The term "non-transitory" as in a non-transitory
computer-readable storage includes without limitation memories,
drives, devices and anything tangible but not a signal per se.
[0091] The term "tangible computer-readable storage medium" shall
accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state
memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or
more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or
other re-writable (volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical
medium such as a disk or tape, or other tangible media which can be
used to store information. Accordingly, the disclosure is
considered to include any one or more of a tangible
computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein and including
art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the
software implementations herein are stored.
[0092] Although the present specification describes components and
functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to
particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited
to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet
and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP,
UDP/IP, HTML, and HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art.
Such standards are from time-to-time superseded by faster or more
efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions.
Wireless standards for device detection (e.g., RFID), short-range
communications (e.g., Bluetooth.RTM., Wi-Fi, Zigbee.RTM.), and
long-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used
by computer system 800. In one or more embodiments, information
regarding use of services can be generated including services being
accessed, media consumption history, user preferences, and so
forth. This information can be obtained by various methods
including user input, detecting types of communications (e.g.,
video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams, and
so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring of this
information can be responsive to an authorization provided by the
user. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be
subject to authorization from user(s) associated with the data,
such as an opt-in, an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements,
notifications, selective authorization based on types of data, and
so forth.
[0093] The illustrations of embodiments described herein are
intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of
various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a
complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus
and systems that might make use of the structures described herein.
Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the
art upon reviewing the above description. The exemplary embodiments
can include combinations of features and/or steps from multiple
embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived
therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of this
disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be
drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated,
while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and
drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a
restrictive sense.
[0094] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement
which achieves the same or similar purpose may be substituted for
the embodiments described or shown by the subject disclosure. The
subject disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or
variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above
embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described
herein, can be used in the subject disclosure. For instance, one or
more features from one or more embodiments can be combined with one
or more features of one or more other embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, features that are positively recited can also be
negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or without
replacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The
steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the
subject disclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or
functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject
disclosure can be performed alone or in combination with other
steps or functions of the subject disclosure, as well as from other
embodiments or from other steps that have not been described in the
subject disclosure. Further, more than or less than all of the
features described with respect to an embodiment can also be
utilized.
[0095] Less than all of the steps or functions described with
respect to the exemplary processes or methods can also be performed
in one or more of the exemplary embodiments. Further, the use of
numerical terms to describe a device, component, step or function,
such as first, second, third, and so forth, is not intended to
describe an order or function unless expressly stated so. The use
of the terms first, second, third and so forth, is generally to
distinguish between devices, components, steps or functions unless
expressly stated otherwise. Additionally, one or more devices or
components described with respect to the exemplary embodiments can
facilitate one or more functions, where the facilitating (e.g.,
facilitating access or facilitating establishing a connection) can
include less than every step needed to perform the function or can
include all of the steps needed to perform the function.
[0096] In one or more embodiments, a processor (which can include a
controller or circuit) has been described that performs various
functions. It should be understood that the processor can be
multiple processors, which can include distributed processors or
parallel processors in a single machine or multiple machines. The
processor can be used in supporting a virtual processing
environment. The virtual processing environment may support one or
more virtual machines representing computers, servers, or other
computing devices. In such virtual machines, components such as
microprocessors and storage devices may be virtualized or logically
represented. The processor can include a state machine, application
specific integrated circuit, and/or programmable gate array
including a Field PGA. In one or more embodiments, when a processor
executes instructions to perform "operations", this can include the
processor performing the operations directly and/or facilitating,
directing, or cooperating with another device or component to
perform the operations.
[0097] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the
understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the
scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing
Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are
grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of
streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be
interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments
require more features than are expressly recited in each claim.
Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter
lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.
Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the
Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a
separately claimed subject matter.
* * * * *