US-12627860-B2 - Optimization of content representation in a user interface

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for providing optimal representations of content. A user interface may present content based on one or more images representing the content. User interactions associated with the content may be tracked based on which of the one or more images was used to represent the content. Statistical information may be tracked to determine which groups of users respond to particular images used to represent content. The statistical information may be used to select which images are used to represent the content for additional users.

Inventors

• James Cahill

Assignees

• COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240926

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method comprising: determining, for a content asset accessible via a user interface, a first image of a plurality of candidate images associated with representing the content asset on the user interface; determining a timing characteristic associated with a user device accessing the user interface; determining, based on the timing characteristic and statistical information associated with the plurality of candidate images, to use the first image to represent the content asset, wherein the statistical information categorizes responses of users to the content asset according to a plurality of timing characteristics; and causing, based on determining to use the first image, the user device to output, via the user interface, the first image.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the timing characteristic comprises one or more of a time of day, a time of month, or a season.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical information comprises a count of a number of times any user associated with the timing characteristic requested the content asset when the first image was used in the user interface to represent the content asset.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a response to the first image via the user interface, and updating, based on the response, the statistical information.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to use the first image is further based on a device characteristic comprising one or more of a type of device, a hardware characteristic, a software characteristic, an operating system of the user device, a power level of the user device, or a user interface version operating on the user device.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to use the first image is further based on a user interface context comprising one or more of a type of interface element, a category associated with the interface element, or a genre associated with the interface element.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to use the first image is further based on a user characteristic comprising one or more of an age, an income bracket, an occupation, a location, or a user affinity group.
8. 8 . A device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to: determine, for a content asset accessible via a user interface, a first image of a plurality of candidate images associated with representing the content asset on the user interface; determine a timing characteristic associated with a user device accessing the user interface; determine, based on the timing characteristic and statistical information associated with the plurality of candidate images, to use the first image to represent the content asset, wherein the statistical information categorizes responses of users to the content asset according to a plurality of timing characteristics; and cause, based on determining to use the first image, the user device to output, via the user interface, the first image.
9. 9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the timing characteristic comprises one or more of a time of day, a time of month, or a season.
10. 10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the statistical information comprises a count of a number of times any user associated with the timing characteristic requested the content asset when the first image was used in the user interface to represent the content asset.
11. 11 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the device to: determine a response to the first image via the user interface, and update, based on the response, the statistical information.
12. 12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine to use the first image comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine to use the first image further based on a device characteristic comprising one or more of a type of device, a hardware characteristic, a software characteristic, an operate system of the user device, a power level of the user device, or a user interface version operating on the user device.
13. 13 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine to use the first image comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine to use the first image further based on a user interface context comprising one or more of a type of interface element, a category associated with the interface element, or a genre associated with the interface element.
14. 14 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine to use the first image comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine to use the first image further based on a user characteristic comprising one or more of an age, an income bracket, an occupation, a location, or a user affinity group.
15. 15 . A system comprising: a storage device configured to store a plurality of candidate images associated with representing a content asset on a user interface; and a computing device configured to: determine, for the content asset, a first image of the plurality of candidate images; determine a timing characteristic associated with a user device accessing the user interface; determine, based on the timing characteristic and statistical information associated with the plurality of candidate images, to use the first image to represent the content asset, wherein the statistical information categorizes responses of users to the content asset according to a plurality of timing characteristics; and cause, based on determining to use the first image, the user device to output, via the user interface, the first image.
16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the timing characteristic comprises one or more of a time of day, a time of month, or a season.
17. 17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the statistical information comprises a count of a number of times any user associated with the timing characteristic requested the content asset when the first image was used in the user interface to represent the content asset.
18. 18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the computing device is further configured to determine a response to the first image via the user interface, and update, based on the response, the statistical information.
19. 19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the computing device is configured to determine to use the first image further based on a device characteristic comprising one or more of a type of device, a hardware characteristic, a software characteristic, an operating system of the user device, a power level of the user device, or a user interface version operating on the user device.
20. 20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the computing device is configured to determine to use the first image further based on a user interface context comprising one or more of a type of interface element, a category associated with the interface element, or a genre associated with the interface element.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/352,927, filed Jul. 14, 2023, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,137,269, issued Nov. 5, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/858,651, filed Jul. 6, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,750,885, issued Sep. 5, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/681,980, filed Aug. 21, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,412,299 issued Aug. 9, 2022, which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for any and all purposes. BACKGROUND Content systems, such as those associated with streaming content systems, DVRs, fiber and cable systems and the like, typically use graphical user interfaces to allow users to navigate, review and select content. Often, content creators such as a movie or television (TV) studio will supply multiple images to represent particular content, such as a movie or TV show. These images can have different sizes and include different cast members and the like. The media presentation provider will then select an image to represent the content, typically based on background or size. However, improvements in the selection and display of images via graphical user interfaces are needed. SUMMARY In a user interface, content, such as a movie or television show, may be represented by one or more images along with text describing the content. Some users may respond differently based on which of the one or more images are used to represent the content. The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for determining an optimal image (e.g., or preferred image) to represent content to engage user interest. The optimal image may be determined based on user information, such as statistical information, demographics, viewing history, and other information. The present methods and systems can be used to determine the optimal image to represent content for a particular member of a characteristic group, such as a demographic group. A variety of images may be provided to different members of a characteristic group (e.g., a statistical group). Navigation data related to the selection of content and associated images may be collected for members of the characteristic group to determine which images are more likely to engage interest in content for members of the characteristic group. The navigation data can then be used to determine optimal or preferred images for other members of the characteristic group. The navigation data may be collected in response to user interactions with a user interface, such as selecting an image tile representing the content in a menu, or requesting to access the content. Indications of the user interactions associated with the image in the user interface and associated user information can be stored. The stored indications can be used to determine an optimal image to represent content for other members of the characteristic group. The optimal image may then be supplied to other members of this characteristic group. Such a determination of an optimal image using these operations can be done for multiple characteristic groups. Providing an optimal image to members of a characteristic group can result in increased consumer usage of a content system since users will find more content that looks interesting. Such increased consumer usage can result in improved customer loyalty and retention. Additional advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows or may be learned by practice. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an example system. FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating another example system. FIG. 2A shows an example user interface with an image. FIG. 2B shows an example wither with an alternate image. FIG. 3A is a flow diagram illustrating an example method. FIG. 3B is a flow diagram illustrating another example method. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating another example method. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating another example method. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating another example method. FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating another example method. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Providing images that specifically appeal to the members of a group (e.g., demographic group), rather than users as a whole, allows for different demographic groups to be given different preferred images. This approach provides for a more personalized and appealing content user interface to the members of the different cha