Trending analysis, notification, and control in a network

Abstract

A data analyzer engine receives content consumption feedback associated with multiple subscribers in a cable network environment. In accordance with one embodiment, the data analyzer engine provides notification of popularly consumed content. In accordance with another embodiment, the data analyzer engine generates control information to control content consumption by one or more devices in the cable network environment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving feedback of content selection events in a network environment, the feedback indicating different content selected for playback by multiple users in the network environment;   analyzing the feedback of content selection events that occur within a moving window of time to identify a current content consumption trend by the multiple users for the moving window of time; and   notifying a given user in the network environment of the current content consumption trend.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 as a result of analyzing the feedback, detecting a rate at which the multiple users in the network environment tune to a channel to view playback of particular content in the moving window of time; and 
 utilizing the detected rate of tuning as a basis to determine a popularity of the particular content. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2  further comprising:
 in response to detecting that the rate is above a threshold value, producing the notification to the given user to indicate that the particular content available on the channel is popularly retrieved amongst the multiple users. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 initiating display of a notification as an overlay message on content currently played back on a display screen operated by the given user, the notification specifying a popular title of content currently consumed amongst the multiple users in the moving window of time, the popular title of content different than the content currently played back on the display screen. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the feedback includes producing a popularity ranking of the different content, the popularity ranking indicating which of the different content is currently most popular amongst the multiple users in the moving window of time; and
 wherein notifying the given user in the network environment of the current content consumption trend includes notifying the given user of the ranking.   
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 notifying a given user in the network environment of the current content consumption trend by the multiple users. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein the window of time occurs at a beginning of broadcasting multiple different titles of content in a timeslot, the current content consumption trend indicating popularity of the multiple different titles of content at the beginning of broadcasting the multiple different titles of content in the timeslot. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein notifying the given user further comprises operations of: providing notification of the current content consumption trend during the broadcast of the multiple different titles of content in the timeslot. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 2  further comprising:
 analyzing a rate of channel switching amongst the multiple users to identify the current content consumption trend. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the moving window of time is a predetermined range of time including multiple most recent minutes of time with respect to present time. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 9 , wherein the moving window of time is defined by a past predetermined amount of time with respect to present time, the moving window of time moving in a time slot during which the particular content is available for tuning to the multiple users. 
     
     
         12 . A computer system comprising:
 computer processor hardware; and   a hardware storage resource coupled to communicate with the computer processor hardware, the hardware storage resource storing instructions that, when executed by the computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to:
 receive feedback of content selection events, the feedback indicating different content selected for playback by multiple users in a network environment; 
 analyze the feedback of content selection events that occur within a moving window of time to identify a current content consumption trend by the multiple users for the moving window of time; and 
 notify a given user in the network environment of the current content consumption trend for the moving window of time. 
   
     
     
         13 . The computer system as in  claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the computer processor to:
 as a result of analyzing the feedback, detect a rate at which the multiple users in the network environment tune to a channel to view playback of particular content in the moving window of time; and   utilize the detected rate of tuning as a basis to determine a popularity of the particular content during the moving window of time.   
     
     
         14 . The computer system as in  claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the computer processor to:
 in response to detecting that the rate is above a threshold value, produce the notification to the given user to indicate that the particular content available on the channel is popularly retrieved amongst the multiple users.   
     
     
         15 . The computer system as in  claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the computer processor to:
 initiate display of a notification as an overlay message on content currently played back on a display screen operated by the given user, the notification specifying a popular title of content currently consumed amongst the multiple users in the moving window of time, the popular title of content different than the content currently played back on the display screen.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system as in  claim 12 , wherein analyzing the feedback includes producing a popularity ranking of the different content, the popularity ranking indicating which of the different content is currently most popular amongst the multiple users in the moving window of time; and
 wherein notifying the given user in the network environment of the current content consumption trend includes notifying the given user of the ranking.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system as in  claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the computer processor to:
 notify a given user in the network environment of the current content consumption trend by the multiple users.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system as in  claim 17 , wherein the window of time occurs at a beginning of broadcasting multiple different titles of content in a timeslot, the current content consumption trend indicating popularity of the multiple different titles of content at the beginning of broadcasting the multiple different titles of content in the timeslot. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system as in  claim 18 , wherein notifying the given user further comprises: providing notification of the current content consumption trend during the broadcast of the multiple different titles of content in the timeslot. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system as in  claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the computer processor to:
 analyze a rate of channel switching amongst the multiple users to identify the current content consumption trend.   
     
     
         21 . The computer system as in  claim 12 , wherein the moving window of time is a predetermined range of time including multiple most recent minutes of time with respect to present time. 
     
     
         22 . The computer system as in  claim 20 , wherein the moving window of time is defined by a latest predetermined amount of time with respect to present time. 
     
     
         23 . Computer-readable hardware storage having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when carried out by computer processor hardware, operable to:
 receive feedback of content selection events, the feedback indicating different content selected for playback by multiple users in a network environment;   analyze the feedback of content selection events that occur within a moving window of time to identify a current content consumption trend by the multiple users for the moving window of time; and   notify a given user in the network environment of the current content consumption trend for the moving window of time.