US-20260129263-A1 - METHODS AND TECHNIQUES FOR ADAPTIVE SEARCH

Abstract

A method and system are provided for a prefix-based search system. The system stores a first data structure for a prefix. The system stores a second data structure for a second prefix that is a sub-prefix of the first prefix. As search results containing the first prefix are displayed by the system, the system track interactions with the search results and updates both data structures. When the system detected a search for a second prefix, the system uses the second updated data structure to provide search results.

Inventors

• Shelly Glennon
• Brian Beach
• James Cheng
• Richard Lee
• Kimberly Paluch
• ROBERT PONIATOWSKI
• Margret Schmidt

Assignees

• ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250617

Claims (20)

1. 1 . (canceled)
2. 2 . A method comprising: determining, at a first time, that a first current episode of a series is a current episode in consumption of the series by a user; receiving, from a device associated with the user, a first request to display a user interface that comprises a content identifier corresponding to the series; based at least in part on receiving the first request, selecting a first image selected based at least in the part on the first current episode being the current episode in consumption of the series by the user; generating for display the content identifier for the series, that comprises at least the selected first image; determining, at a second time, that a second current episode of the series is a current episode in consumption of the series by the user, the second current episode being different from the first current episode; receiving, from the device associated with the user, a second request to display a user interface that comprises the content identifier corresponding to the series; based at least in part on receiving the second request, selecting a second image selected based at least in part on the second current episode being the current episode in consumption of the series by the user, wherein the second image is different from the first image; and generating for display the content identifier for the series, that comprises at least the selected second image.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein selecting the first image further comprises: determining at least one of a popularity or relevancy metric associated with the first image; and selecting the first image based at least in part on the at least one of the popularity or the relevancy metric.
4. 4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising: a database comprising a plurality of images, wherein each image corresponds to a particular episode associated with the series, and wherein the plurality of images comprises the first image; and based at least in part on the selection of the first image, retrieving the first image from the database.
5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising: determining, at a third time, a third current episode of the series, the third current episode being different from the first current episode and second episode; receiving a third request to display the content identifier corresponding to the series; based at least in part on receiving the third request, referencing the database to identify one or more images corresponding to the third current episode; determining that the database does not comprise an image corresponding to the third current episode; and based on the determination, generating for display the content identifier including a fallback image.
6. 6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the fallback image is an image related to the series.
7. 7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises the content identifier corresponding to the series based at least in part on the series being a recommended content item.
8. 8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the content identifier is a selectable identifier to access more information about a plurality of episodes corresponding to the series.
9. 9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the content identifier is a selectable identifier to access more information about the particular current episode.
10. 10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the content identifier comprises series metadata including at least one of a rating associated with the series, a genre associated with the series, or dates of broadcast associated with the series.
11. 11 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the content identifier comprises a graphical indicator indicating content consumption options, wherein the content consumption options include at least one of a watch now option, a record option, a rent option, a purchase option, a pre-order option, or a free download option.
12. 12 . A system comprising: control circuitry configured to: determine, at a first time, that a first current episode of a series is a current episode in consumption of the series by a user; input/output circuitry configured to: receive, from a device associated with the user, a first request to display a user interface that comprises a content identifier corresponding to the series; wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: based at least in part on receiving the first request, select a first image selected based at least in the part on the first current episode being the current episode in consumption of the series by the user; generate for display the content identifier for the series, that comprises at least the selected first image; determine, at a second time, that a second current episode of the series is a current episode in consumption of the series by the user, the second current episode being different from the first current episode; wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to: receive, from the device associated with the user, a second request to display a user interface that comprises the content identifier corresponding to the series; wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: based at least in part on receiving the second request, select a second image selected based at least in part on the second current episode being the current episode in consumption of the series by the user, wherein the second image is different from the first image; and generate for display the content identifier for the series, that comprises at least the selected second image.
13. 13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry configured to select the first image is further configured to: determine at least one of a popularity or relevancy metric associated with the first image; and select the first image based at least in part on the at least one of the popularity or the relevancy metric.
14. 14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising: a database comprising a plurality of images, wherein each image corresponds to a particular episode associated with the series, and wherein the plurality of images comprises the first image; and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: based at least in part on the selection of the first image, retrieve the first image from the database.
15. 15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: determine, at a third time, a third current episode of the series, the third current episode being different from the first current episode and second episode; receive a third request to display the content identifier corresponding to the series; based at least in part on receiving the third request, reference the database to identify one or more images corresponding to the third current episode; determine that the database does not comprise an image corresponding to the third current episode; and based on the determination, generate for display the content identifier including a fallback image.
16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the fallback image is an image related to the series.
17. 17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises the content identifier corresponding to the series based at least in part on the series being a recommended content item.
18. 18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the content identifier is a selectable identifier to access more information about a plurality of episodes corresponding to the series.
19. 19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the content identifier is a selectable identifier to access more information about the particular current episode.
20. 20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the content identifier comprises series metadata including at least one of a rating associated with the series, a genre associated with the series, or dates of broadcast associated with the series.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/591,553, filed Feb. 29, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/586,004, filed Jan. 27, 2022, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/169,508, filed Oct. 24, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,265,610, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/650,534, filed Dec. 30, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,158,823, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/142,193, filed Dec. 31, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to digital video recorders (“DVRs”). BACKGROUND The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. The introduction of the DVR to the consumer world has revolutionized the way users watch and record television programs. DVRs eliminate many of the complications of VCRs and the need for video tapes. DVRs record television programs on a hard drive that is capable of storing a large number of television programs. Because DVRs are usually box-like in shape, and are often found sitting on top of the television sets to which they are connected, DVRs typically are included in the broad category of devices now called “set-top boxes.” Much like VCRs, DVRs receive one or more television signals (which may represent television programs and/or movies) as input from cables or satellite dishes, (or, in some cases, unlike VCRs, from broadband network connections) and also output television signals to a television set or other display. A DVR's user can instruct the DVR to schedule, for recording, specified content that may be broadcasted or otherwise transmitted to the DVR at some future time. Thus, the user can schedule the automatic recording of the content in advance of the time that the DVR will receive the content. For example, the user can instruct the DVR to record unspecified content that will be broadcasted on a specified channel beginning at a specified date and time and ending at another specified time. For another example, the user can instruct the DVR to record a specified showing (on a specified channel, and beginning at a specified date and time) of a specified movie, specified event, or specified episode of a multi-episode television series. For another example, the user can instruct the DVR to record the next to-be-broadcasted instance of a specified movie, specified event, or specified episode of a multi-episode television series without specifying the date, time, or channel on which that instance will be broadcasted. For another example, the user can instruct the DVR to record all (or all first-run) episodes of a multi-episode television series on a specified channel without specifying the dates or times at which those episodes will be broadcasted. For another example, the user can instruct the DVR to record all (or all first-run) instances of movies, events, or episodes of a multi-episode television series that are associated with a specified keyword, a specified actor, and/or a specified director without specifying the titles, channels, or broadcasting times of those instances. Other consumer electronics devices also allow for the recording and viewing of content not based upon traditional broadcast or cable delivery. For example, devices might obtain content via broadband network connections. Apple TV® is an example of this type of device. Users may purchase content over the network and have the content be delivered based upon IP or any other communications protocol. Devices that employ Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) may also be used. IPTV is a system where a digital television service is delivered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure. Rather than using broadcast or cable, all content is exclusively delivered over an IP network architecture. An example of such a service is U-Verse® by AT&T®. Devices may also use a hybrid of IPTV and standard delivery. Verizon FiOS TV®, for example, delivers Video On Demand (VOD) content and interactive features, over IP but the vast majority of content, including Pay Per View (PPV), is provided over a standard broadcast video signal which carries both analog and digital content. Other devices may act as a receiver to deliver content from a number of different delivery devices, such as DVRs, DVD players, IPTV, etc. that are connected to the device. Because of the wide variety of content that is available for viewing with DVRs and any other device capable of storing and displaying content, searching for particular media or digital content has