WO2017085728A1

WO2017085728A1 - Media content server, user device and method

Info

Publication number: WO2017085728A1
Application number: PCT/IL2016/051244
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronen SHOVAL; David Braginsky; Yair Shapira
Original assignee: Elastic Media Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-11-22
Filing date: 2016-11-20
Publication date: 2017-05-26

Abstract

A media content server and method allows communication with at least one user device and with a database containing for each user device a respective record of media content items previously conveyed to the user device. The database records are updated according to which content is rendered on the user device and which is skipped whereby in subsequent sessions the server conveys a respective subset of media content items from which media content items already watched on the user device are omitted. Typically, the media content items are updateable with some items stored in the server memory after others have been conveyed to the user device. The database may record for each user device one or more media content types that have previously been skipped during use of the user device, whereby the server omits media content items corresponding to such media content types from the respective subset.

Description

MEDIA CONTENT SERVER, USER DEVICE AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to transmission of media content by a server to one or more user devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet is fast becoming the main medium of choice for downloading news. News providers such as online news broadcasting companies such as CNN, BBC and so on stream news over the Internet as do newspapers and other providers. Increasing numbers of people surf these websites and download news to their personal computers or smartphones. The present invention is primarily concerned with video on demand (VOD) streaming of video content and will be described by way of example with regard to streaming of news items.

The reason why this example is of particular relevance is that news items are subject to constant updates while nevertheless retaining some measure of overlap over limited periods of time. Thus, a subscriber downloading the news at 06:00 and then again at 09:00 may expect many of the news items to remain unchanged. In the short period of time that elapses between successive views, there may be some new items of news that have not been presented previously and there may also be some updates to news items that were seen in the 06:00 transmission. However, current approaches to video content delivery constrain the subscriber to watching all items in the order that the content provider presents them. News bulletins are frequently presented in brief as headlines and are followed by more detailed in-depth presentations. When a news program is streamed and viewed, for example, via YouTube® or a similar medium, a timeline is typically displayed that enables a user to skip to a subsequent portion of the video content. Thus, for example, a user who is not interested in the news item currently being presented can skip to a later item simply by dragging the timeline. This is prone to several problems such as how to skip the current item without missing part of the next item, and how to pre-fetch content so as to avoid the hiatus caused by buffering content relating to a successive item only after the item is requested. These are issues that are or will be addressed by the present Applicant in other patent applications, but they are not the main focus of the present application, which addresses the following two problems of redundancy:

(i) A user streams video content at least some of which he has already watched during a previous session;

(ii) A user streams video content at least some of which he has previously indicated is of no interest.

In both cases the user is presented with redundant information that is a priori of no interest and whose streaming is therefore a burden on his time and on the resources of his media player.

It will be borne in mind that frequently and increasingly the media player of choice is a smartphone, whose memory is necessarily limited compared with a PC and whose interface may be less comfortable for skipping unwanted content since their touch screens are typically navigated by means of the user's finger, which is too coarse to allow fine adjustment of the video player's timeline.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved content viewing experience, which avoids the redundancy as described above while requiring minimal interaction on the part of the user.

This object is realized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention by a method and system having the features of the respective independent claims.

In one aspect there is provided a media content server comprising: a communication module adapted to communicate with at least one user device and with a database containing for each user device at least one respective record of media content items previously watched on the user device,

a memory storing at least one media content set comprising a plurality of updateable media content items, and

a processor adapted to receive from each user device information that signifies interest or lack of interest in specified media content items, and to analyze the information to compile preferences associated with the user device or a registered user thereof, to update the respective database record accordingly and thereafter to convey to each user device, via said communication module, a respective subset of media content items of said plurality from which media content items already watched on the respective user device as well as media content items that are signified as being of no interest to the user device are omitted.

In a typical scenario the media content server is connected to multiple user devices and streams successive items of video content in known manner. An applet in the user device allows the user to skip to the next item if the currently played item is of no interest. Preferably, successive items are streamed during the time interval that an earlier item is being played so that when the current item is completed or the user skips to the next item, it is already buffered thus avoiding the need to wait for the next item to be streamed and buffered. However, these enhancements are not essential to the present invention whose essential point of novelty resides in the fact that when the user skips an item, this is registered by the server and a profile of the user is thereby created and stored. For example, if a given user repetitively and consistently skips news items relating to sports, the server will register this and omit sports-related content on subsequent deliveries.

Additionally, the server logs all items of video content streamed to each user device. If the server streams a news bulletin to a user device more than once and the later news bulletin includes many items that were already streamed in an earlier bulletin, then those items that were streamed and watched earlier will be omitted from the later news bulletin. This provides the user with a very simple and effective tool to obtain updates without the overhead of downloading the complete bulletin and sparing the viewer from presenting him the content already consumed. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the user device displays media content received from the server but allows the user to signify interest or lack of interest in the currently displayed item, so as to filter subsequent media content. This may be done by displaying a visual marker for predetermined time period during which a media item is displayed and responsive to a user gesture at the user device and conveyed to the server during the predetermined time period that the visual marker is displayed, determining whether or not the user is interested in the displayed item. In one embodiment, successive headlines or lead items are conveyed by the server and played on the user device. In the absence of a user request received during the predetermined time period when the visual marker is displayed, the server conveys upon completion of the played lead item an expanded item associated with the played lead item. After the transmitted expanded item is played, a subsequent lead item is transmitted and the cycle may be repeated. Thus, in the event where each of the transmitted lead items is a short introductory video describing a news story, the user will watch each news story and tap the visual marker so that the next short video will play upon completion of the current one. If the user wishes to watch the expanded news story, the visual marker is not tapped and the expanded story is played upon completion of the short story. Alternatively, only if the user positively requests the expanded item during the predetermined time period when the visual marker is displayed, does the server convey the associated expanded item after the corresponding lead item finishes playing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a client-server system according to the invention for streaming media content;

Fig. 2 shows schematically details of the server;

Fig. 3 shows schematically details of the user device;

Fig. 4 shows schematically a media content set; and

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the principal operations carried out by the system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows schematically a system 10 comprising a media content server 11 that stores a database 12 or has access thereto either by a direct connection or via a communications network such as a VPN or the Internet 13. The content server 11 may be a single server that stores the database 12 or may include more than one distributed server. The media content server 11 is connected over a communications network such as the Internet 13 to multiple user devices 14, each associated with one or more users 15 who may be registered with the media content server 11.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a detail of the media content server 11, which comprises a transceiver 20 constituting a communication module that communicates with the user devices 14, typically over the Internet although other forms of communication may be employed. The media content server 11 includes a processor 21 coupled to a memory 22, which is shown connected to the database 12. However, the database 12 may be distributed between one or more servers and for the purpose of the invention it is only necessary that the server 11 has read/write access to the database 12.

The memory 22 stores at least one media content set containing media content items described in detail below with reference to Fig. 4. The database 12 contains for each user device (or user) 14 a respective record of media content items previously conveyed to the user device. The processor 21 is responsive to a stored program set for conveying to each user device, via the transceiver 20, a respective subset of media content items of the plurality of stored items from which some of the media content items are omitted. These include items already conveyed to and watched on the respective user device and optionally items that the server 11 has established are of no interest to the user. This may be established by monitoring which media content items streamed to the user device are skipped as will be explained shortly.

Fig. 3 shows schematically a detail of the user device 14, which comprises a transceiver 30 constituting a communication module that communicates with the server 11, typically over the Internet although other forms of communication may be employed. The user device 14 includes a processor 31 coupled to a memory 32 and to a user interface 33. The user interface 33 is used to control the manner in which media content is streamed to the user device and thereby to send feedback to the server 11, which is used to provide customized streaming to the user device. Fig. 4 shows schematically a media content set 40 comprising a plurality of media content items arranged as six news headlines 41a-41f and six expanded news content 42a-42f each relating to the respective headlines. For ease of description the items are labelled so as to depict how they might be presented in a typical news bulletin. Thus, the bulletin might start with an item of important local interest followed by an item of important global interest. After headlines 41a-41f are streamed to the user device they may be followed by the corresponding expanded items 42a-42f. The manner in which the news items are organized is not important. However, in one particular application to which the present invention may be usefully applied, the server does not stream both headlines and expanded news content unless specifically requested to do so by the user. Thus, by default only the headlines are streamed to the user device. During the act of viewing a headline, the user may decide that this item warrants a more detailed presentation. In such case, the user may use the user interface 33 in order to send information to the server identifying that he or she wants to receive the expanded item. In one embodiment, the server includes data with the headline that causes the user device to display an icon, which when touched by the user causes the user device send a signal back to the server to inform the server not to follow the headline with the next headline, as is the default, but to send the expanded item. The processor 31 in the user device 14 is responsive to a stored program for allowing the user to indicate that the current headline should be followed by the respective expanded item. The program also allows the user to skip media items using the user interface 33. This can be done by swiping the currently displayed item so as to advance to the next item; or it can be done by displaying an icon which when touched by the user advances to the next item. When a user skips an item this is communicated to the server 11 and stored in the respective record of the database 12. The server 11 may thereby infer that this item is of no particular interest to the user. For example, if the user skips the fifth item relating to open golf, the server might infer that the user is not interested in golf. The server 11 may be programmed to analyze the data statistically in order to determine whether a skipped item is statistically significant or just a random occurrence, possibly due to lack of time or even unintended action of the user interface. For example, if every time a golf item is streamed the user skips to the next item, the server will conclude that the user is not interested in golf; but this does not necessarily imply that he is not interested in sport since he may evince an interest in baseball or tennis. The manner in which a determination is made by the server 11 to omit certain types of media content from subsequent transmissions to a given user device is not itself important other than to note that it is always based on user feedback via the user interface 33. Thus, the server is adapted to analyze information relating to activity received from the user device when watching and terminating media content, the information permitting the server to determine an identity of the media content and durations of watching thereof, and to update the respective database record accordingly. These operations are summarized in a flow chart shown in Fig. 5.

Within the context of the invention and the appended claims, it is to be understood that skipping a media item is not restricted to a wholesale rejection thereof. For example, a user may start watching a media item, such as a headline or even an expanded item and decide to abort the item prior to its proper termination. The present invention is not concerned with how the server determines whether intermediate termination is to be construed as a lack of interest in the displayed item or media content type; or is merely the result of the user having seen sufficient of the displayed item to serve his or her immediate needs. One simple way of achieving this is to base user interest or the lack thereof on the fraction or duration of content actually viewed. For example, if the user watches more than 25% or 60 seconds of the media content before terminating, this may signal that the reason for termination is lack of time rather than lack of interest; while if the media content is terminated after watching less than 25% or 30 seconds this may be used to signal a lack of interest. Even when a lack of interest in a specific media item is determined, this does not necessarily imply that the user is not interested in the underlying media content type. As noted above, such information may be established by the server by subjecting repeated user interactions to statistical analysis. It could also be based on the display and user selection of a different icon or of some other user interaction such as swiping downwards or pinching the touchscreen of the user device or even providing a setup program that allows the user to disable specified content types via a keyboard or pointing device.

It should also be noted that for the purpose of the above description no distinction is made between "user device" and "user". In the case that only a single user ever uses a user device the distinction is in any case moot. But the invention allows for multiple users to be registered with the same device. In this case, the user may be identified to the server, which will then create and maintain in the database a record pertaining to the user. The content subsequently streamed to the user device will then depend on the identity of the user, which may be established either manually via the user interface 33 or using a camera (not shown) built-in to the user device or via whatever other means. In the case that the database creates user-specific records, these will typically be used to supersede device-specific records so that users who are registered with the server will receive customized media regardless of which device they use to connect to the server.

The description so far has related to user-preferences which result in the server omitting media content of specified type from subsequent sessions. For example, by way of example only, the media content types associated with Fig. 4 may be "local", "finance", "foreign", "celebrities", "sport" and "weather". In practice, media content may be tagged with multiple types in order to provide finer resolution of which content is of interest and which may be suppressed in order to avoid streaming redundant data to the user device.

As noted above, additional savings can be achieved by omitting from a subsequent session those media content items that were streamed in an earlier session. Thus, reverting to Fig. 4 consider the news that Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. Immediately following the first announcement, Bob Dylan was unavailable for comment and for over a week there were substantially no new items of interest to report. Eventually he responded and expressed his delight. This is an example of updatable news items and is of course standard fare in the news industry. After a user streamed the media content item relating to Bob Dylan following the first announcement, there was no need to stream the same item during successive sessions to the same user or device until eventually there was something new to report. The database 12 maintains a current record for each user or user device of which media content items have been streamed and omits the same items from subsequent sessions. On the other hand, when new media content becomes available it does not necessarily replace the previous item relating to the same subject. It may instead be used to create an updated item that both announces the award to Bob Dylan and informs of his reaction. A user who has already streamed the first announcement will then be streamed only the new item relating to Bob Dylan's reaction. But a different user who has not yet streamed the first announcement will receive the updated item that includes both the announcement and the reaction.

The above embodiments relate to news bulletins because news content is constantly updated and successive bulletins therefore contain many identical segments, with later bulletins containing relatively sparse new content. Furthermore, news content is targeted at a broad audience and therefore includes many types of video content, not all of which may be of interest to any one specific user. But it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to news media and will find broader application whenever repetitious streaming of media content containing multiple items or segments that are subject to incremental updates over time is to be avoided. It will also find application where redundant streaming of media content containing multiple items or segments some of which are known to be of no interest to the user is to be avoided.

It should also be noted that features that are described with reference to one or more embodiments are described by way of example rather than by way of limitation to those embodiments. Thus, unless stated otherwise or unless particular combinations are clearly inadmissible, optional features that are described with reference to only some embodiments are assumed to be likewise applicable to all other embodiments also.

It will also be understood that the user device according to the invention may be a suitably programmed computer. In this context, "computer" designates any device having a processor, communications interface and memory. Likewise, the invention contemplates a computer program being readable by a computer for executing the method of the invention. The invention further contemplates a machine -readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for executing the method of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A media content server comprising:

a communication module adapted to communicate with at least one user device and with a database containing for each user device at least one respective record of media content items previously watched on the user device,

2. The media content server according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor is configured to convey successive short media items and to follow the short items by related expanded media content only upon receipt of a request from the user device,

the database records for each user device one or more media content types relating to content in respect of which short media items have been watched but expanded media content has not been requested during use of the user device, and

the processor is adapted to analyze information relating to activity received from the user device when watching and terminating media content, said information permitting the processor to determine an identity of the media content and durations of watching thereof, and to update the respective database record accordingly.

3. The media content server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

at least one user device is registered with the media content server,

the database records for each registered user device one or more media content types that are of interest to the user device, and the processor is adapted to include only media content items corresponding to said media content types in the respective subset.

4. The media content server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

a user of at least one user device is registered with the media content server, the database records for each registered user one or more media content types that are of interest to the user, and

the processor is adapted to identify the user and to include only media content items corresponding to said media content types in the respective subset.

5. A method for conveying media content from a server to at least one user device, said method comprising:

storing in a memory of said server at least one media content set comprising a plurality of updateable media content items;

maintaining a database accessible by the server and containing for each user device a respective record of media content items previously watched on the user device;

receiving from each user device information that signifies interest or lack of interest in specified media content items;

analyzing the information for compiling preferences associated with the user device or a registered user thereof and updating the respective database record accordingly; and

subsequently conveying to each user device a respective subset of media content items of said plurality from which media content items already watched by the respective user device as well as media content items that are signified as being of no interest to the user device are omitted.

6. The method according to claim 5, including:

conveying successive short media items to the user device and subsequently conveying related expanded media content only upon receipt of a request from the user device;

recording in the database for each user device one or more media content types relating to content in respect of which short media items have been watched but expanded media content has not been requested during use of the user device; receiving and analyzing information relating to activity received from the user device when watching and terminating media content said information permitting the processor to determine an identity of the media content and durations of watching thereof, and

updating the respective database record accordingly.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, including:

registering at least one user device with the media content server,

recording in the database for each registered user device one or more media content types that are of interest to the user device; and

including only media content items corresponding to said media content types in the respective subset.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 6, including:

registering a user of at least one user device with the media content server; recording in the database for each registered user one or more media content types that are of interest to the user; and

identifying the user and including only media content items corresponding to each of said media content types in the respective subset.

9. A user device comprising:

a communication module adapted to communicate with a media content server, said media content server having a memory storing at least one media content set comprising a plurality of media content items and a database containing a record of media content items previously conveyed to the user device,

a processor adapted to receive from the media content server, via said communication module, a respective subset of media content items of said plurality from which media content items already watched on the user device are omitted; and a user interface coupled to the processor for allowing a user watching media content to convey to the media content server information that signifies interest or lack of interest in specified media content items.

10. The user device according to claim 9, wherein:

the processor conveys an identity of the user to the media content server and receives from the media content server only media content items corresponding to media content types that have been determined by the server to be of interest to the user.

11. A method for receiving media content conveyed by a media content server to at least one user device, said method comprising:

receiving successive short media items from the server;

conveying to the server information that signifies interest or lack of interest in specified media content items;

receiving from the server related expanded media content only in respect of short media items during the watching thereof the user signified interest; and

receiving from the server only media content items corresponding to media content types that have not been signified as being of no interest during a previous session.

12. The method according to claim 11, including:

identifying a user of the device to the server and receiving only media content items corresponding to media content types determined by the server to be of interest to the user.

13. A machine-readable memory storing computer program code which performs the method of any one of claims 5 to 8 when run on a media content server.

14. A machine-readable memory storing computer program code which performs the method of claim 11 or 12 when run on a user device.