Systems and methods for predicting viewing behavior

Abstract

A method and system for predicting a media asset that the user will consume during a specific timeslot are described herein. The prediction may be made by identifying for a timeslot those media assets that may be of interest to a user. A determination may be made which of those media assets are first run episodes of their respective series. For each series, episodes associated with the previous season of the respective series may be identified and compared with media assets that the user has consumed. Based on that comparison, an amount of first run episodes for the previous season of each respective series the user has consumed may be determined and based on those amounts, a predication may be made of which media asset the user will consume during the timeslot.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for predicting media asset consumption, the method comprising:
 determining, for a timeslot, that each of a plurality of media assets is of interest to a user, wherein each of the plurality of media assets is scheduled to be transmitted to a plurality of users during the timeslot, and is associated with a respective series of media assets;   retrieving, for a first media asset of the plurality of media assets, a release date associated with the first media asset and a season number within a first series that corresponds to the first media asset;   retrieving, for a second media asset of the plurality of media assets, a release date associated with the second media asset and a season number within a second series that corresponds to the second media asset;   comparing the release date associated with the first media asset with a current date, and the release date associated with the second media asset with the current date;   determining, based on the comparing, that both the first media asset and the second media asset are first run episodes of the first series of media assets and the second series of media assets, respectively;   generating a first set of media asset identifiers and a second set of media asset identifiers, wherein the first set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of a previous season of the first series, and the second set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of a previous season of the second series;   comparing each media asset identifier in the first set with media asset identifiers corresponding to media assets consumed by the user, and each media asset identifier in the second set with the media asset identifiers corresponding to the media assets consumed by the user;   generating, based on comparing each media asset identifier in the first set with media asset identifiers corresponding to the media assets consumed by the user, and each media asset identifier in the second set with the media asset identifiers corresponding to the media assets consumed by the user, a third set of media asset identifiers and a fourth set of media assets identifiers, wherein the third set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user consumed, and wherein the fourth set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of the previous season of the second series that the user consumed;   comparing, for each media asset identifier in the third set, a release date associated with a corresponding media asset of the third set with a respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the third set;   determining, based on comparing, for each media asset identifier in the third set, the release date associated with the corresponding media asset of the third set with the respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the third set, a first amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed;   comparing, for each media asset identifier in the fourth set, a release date associated with a corresponding media asset of the fourth set with a respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the fourth set;   determining, based on comparing, for each media asset identifier in the fourth set, the release date associated with the corresponding media asset of the fourth set with the respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the fourth set, a second amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the second series that the user previously consumed;   determining, based on the first amount of first run episodes that the user previously consumed and the second amount of first run episodes that the user previously consumed, whether the user will consume the first media asset or the second media asset;   based on determining that the user will consume the first media asset, generating for display an indicator of the first media asset; and   based on the determining that the user will consume the second media asset, generating for display an indicator of the second media asset.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein retrieving for the first media asset of the plurality of media assets, the release date associated with the first media asset and the season number within the first series that corresponds to the media asset comprises:
 retrieving, from metadata associated with the first media asset, a first media asset identifier associated with the first media asset;   transmitting a query for (1) the release date associated with the first media asset and (2) the season number within the first series that corresponds to the first media asset, wherein the query includes the first media asset identifier; and   receiving, in response to the query the release date associated with the first media asset and the season number within the first series that corresponds to the media asset.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating the first set of media asset identifiers and the second set of media asset identifiers comprises:
 retrieving, from metadata associated with the first media asset, (1) a series identifier corresponding to the first series and (2) a season number within the first series that corresponds to the media asset;   transmitting a request for episode metadata corresponding to episodes of the first series;   receiving, in response to the request, the episode metadata, wherein the episode metadata includes (1) a respective media asset identifier for each episode of the first series and a plurality of season numbers each associated with a corresponding episode of the first series;   determining, based on the season number associated with the first media asset, a previous season number;   comparing the previous season number with each of the plurality of season numbers; and   generating, based on comparing the previous season number with each of the plurality of season numbers, the first set that includes episodes with corresponding season numbers matching the previous season number.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining a first amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed comprises:
 calculating, for each first run episode of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed, a respective portion of a total length of each episode that the user previously consumed; and   determining the first amount of the first run episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed based on the respective portion of the total length of each episode that the user previously consumed.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining whether the user will consume the first media asset or the second media asset comprises:
 determining that the first amount and the second amount are identical; and   in response to determining that the first amount and the second amount are identical:   retrieving a first release date associated with a final episode of the previous season of the first series and a second release date associated with a final episode of the previous season of the second series;   determining a first number of episodes of the first series that the user consumed between the first release date and the current date;   determining a second number of episodes of the second series that the user consumed between the second release date and the current date; and   determining whether the user will consume the first media asset or the second media asset based on the first number of episodes and the second number of episodes.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 detecting that a second user is consuming content with the user using a first device;   determining, based on media asset consumption history associated with the second user, a third amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the first series the second user previously consumed, and a fourth amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the second series that the second user previously consumed; and   modifying, based on the third amount and the fourth amount, the first amount and the second amount, respectively.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining, based on series metadata, a first characteristic associated with the first series and a second characteristic associated with the second series;   retrieving a plurality of characteristics associated with a media asset that the user has consumed last;   determining whether the plurality of characteristics includes the first characteristic or the second characteristic;   based on determining that the plurality of characteristics includes the first characteristic, increasing the first amount of first run episodes; and   based on determining that the plurality of characteristics includes the second characteristic, increasing the second amount of first run episodes.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining, for each media asset corresponding to a respective media asset identifier of the first set, whether the user consumed each respective media asset at transmission time;   calculating, based on determining whether the user consumed each respective media asset at transmission time, a number of media assets corresponding to media asset identifiers in the first set that the user did not consume at transmission time; and   modifying the first amount based on the number of media assets corresponding to media asset identifiers in the first set that the user did not consume at transmission time.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein comparing, for each media asset identifier in the third set, the release date associated with the corresponding media asset of the third set with the respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the third set comprises:
 searching, using a first media asset identifier in the first set, a database that stores media asset consumption history associated with the user, for an entry associated with the first media asset identifier;   retrieving, based on the searching, data of the entry;   locating a field, in the data of the entry, that stores a first consumption date associated with a media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier; and   retrieving the first consumption date from the field; and   comparing the retrieved first consumption date with a release date associated with the media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, based on determining that the user will consume the first media asset, generating for display an indicator of the second media asset, a first criterion used to predict that the user will consume the first media asset during the timeslot, and a second criterion used to predict that the user will not consume the second media asset during the timeslot. 
     
     
         12 . A system for predicting media asset consumption, the system comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:
 determine, for a timeslot, that each of a plurality of media assets is of interest to a user, wherein each of the plurality of media assets is scheduled to be transmitted to a plurality of users during the timeslot, and is associated with a respective series of media assets; 
 retrieve, for a first media asset of the plurality of media assets, a release date associated with the first media asset and a season number within a first series that corresponds to the first media asset; 
 retrieve, for a second media asset of the plurality of media assets, a release date associated with the second media asset and a season number within a second series that corresponds to the second media asset; 
 compare the release date associated with the first media asset with a current date, and the release date associated with the second media asset with the current date; 
 determine, based on the comparing, that both the first media asset and the second media asset are first run episodes of the first series of media assets and the second series of media assets, respectively; 
 generate a first set of media asset identifiers and a second set of media asset identifiers, wherein the first set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of a previous season of the first series, and the second set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of a previous season of the second series; 
 compare each media asset identifier in the first set with media asset identifiers corresponding to media assets consumed by the user, and each media asset identifier in the second set with the media asset identifiers corresponding to the media assets consumed by the user; 
 generate, based on comparing each media asset identifier in the first set with media asset identifiers corresponding to the media assets consumed by the user, and each media asset identifier in the second set with the media asset identifiers corresponding to the media assets consumed by the user, a third set of media asset identifiers and a fourth set of media assets identifiers, wherein the third set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user consumed, and wherein the fourth set of media asset identifiers includes media asset identifiers corresponding to episodes of the previous season of the second series that the user consumed; 
 compare, for each media asset identifier in the third set, a release date associated with a corresponding media asset of the third set with a respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the third set; 
 determine, based on comparing, for each media asset identifier in the third set, the release date associated with the corresponding media asset of the third set with the respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the third set, a first amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed; 
 compare, for each media asset identifier in the fourth set, a release date associated with a corresponding media asset of the fourth set with a respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the fourth set; 
 determine, based on comparing, for each media asset identifier in the fourth set, the release date associated with the corresponding media asset of the fourth set with the respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the fourth set, a second amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the second series that the user previously consumed; 
 determine, based on the first amount of first run episodes that the user previously consumed and the second amount of first run episodes that the user previously consumed, whether the user will consume the first media asset or the second media asset; 
 based on determining that the user will consume the first media asset, generate for display an indicator of the first media asset; and 
 based on the determining that the user will consume the second media asset, generate for display an indicator of the second media asset. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured, when retrieving for the first media asset of the plurality of media assets, the release date associated with the first media asset and the season number within the first series that corresponds to the media asset, to:
 retrieve, from metadata associated with the first media asset, a first media asset identifier associated with the first media asset;   transmit a query for (1) the release date associated with the first media asset and (2) the season number within the first series that corresponds to the first media asset, wherein the query includes the first media asset identifier; and   receive, in response to the query the release date associated with the first media asset and the season number within the first series that corresponds to the media asset.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured, when generating the first set of media asset identifiers and the second set of media asset identifiers, to:
 retrieve, from metadata associated with the first media asset, (1) a series identifier corresponding to the first series and (2) a season number within the first series that corresponds to the media asset;   transmit a request for episode metadata corresponding to episodes of the first series;   receive, in response to the request, the episode metadata, wherein the episode metadata includes (1) a respective media asset identifier for each episode of the first series and a plurality of season numbers each associated with a corresponding episode of the first series;   determine, based on the season number associated with the first media asset, a previous season number;   compare the previous season number with each of the plurality of season numbers; and   generate, based on comparing the previous season number with each of the plurality of season numbers, the first set that includes episodes with corresponding season numbers matching the previous season number.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured, when determining a first amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed, to:
 calculate, for each first run episode of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed, a respective portion of a total length of each episode that the user previously consumed; and   determine the first amount of the first run episodes of the previous season of the first series that the user previously consumed based on the respective portion of the total length of each episode that the user previously consumed.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured, when determining whether the user will consume the first media asset or the second media asset, to:
 determine that the first amount and the second amount are identical; and   in response to determining that the first amount and the second amount are identical:   retrieve a first release date associated with a final episode of the previous season of the first series and a second release date associated with a final episode of the previous season of the second series;   determine a first number of episodes of the first series that the user consumed between the first release date and the current date;   determine a second number of episodes of the second series that the user consumed between the second release date and the current date; and   determine whether the user will consume the first media asset or the second media asset based on the first number of episodes and the second number of episodes.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 detect that a second user is consuming content with the user using a first device;   determine, based on media asset consumption history associated with the second user, a third amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the first series the second user previously consumed, and a fourth amount of first run episodes of the previous season of the second series that the second user previously consumed; and   modify, based on the third amount and the fourth amount, the first amount and the second amount, respectively.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine, based on series metadata, a first characteristic associated with the first series and a second characteristic associated with the second series;   retrieve a plurality of characteristics associated with a media asset that the user has consumed last;   determine whether the plurality of characteristics includes the first characteristic or the second characteristic;   based on determining that the plurality of characteristics includes the first characteristic, increase the first amount of first run episodes; and   based on determining that the plurality of characteristics includes the second characteristic, increase the second amount of first run episodes.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine, for each media asset corresponding to a respective media asset identifier of the first set, whether the user consumed each respective media asset at transmission time;   calculate, based on determining whether the user consumed each respective media asset at transmission time, a number of media assets corresponding to media asset identifiers in the first set that the user did not consume at transmission time; and   modify the first amount based on the number of media assets corresponding to media asset identifiers in the first set that the user did not consume at transmission time.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured, when comparing, for each media asset identifier in the third set, the release date associated with the corresponding media asset of the third set with the respective consumption date when the user consumed the corresponding media asset of the third set, to:
 search, using a first media asset identifier in the first set, a database that stores media asset consumption history associated with the user, for an entry associated with the first media asset identifier;   retrieve, based on the searching, data of the entry;   locate a field, in the data of the entry, that stores a first consumption date associated with a media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier; and   retrieve the first consumption date from the field; and   compare the retrieved first consumption date with a release date associated with the media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, based on determining that the user will consume the first media asset, to generate for display an indicator of the second media asset, a first criterion used to predict that the user will consume the first media asset during the timeslot, and a second criterion used to predict that the user will not consume the second media asset during the timeslot. 
     
     
         22 .- 51 . (canceled)