Systems and methods for resolving ambiguous terms in social chatter based on a user profile

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016226984-A1
Application number	US-201514610793-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide information to a user based on a symbol with a plurality of interpretations. Each candidate interpretation for the symbol is identified and compared to an attribute of a user profile. The meaning of the symbol is determined and the user profile is updated with the meaning of the symbol. This meaning may be used to provide relevant information to the user.

First claim

1 . A method for providing information to a user comprising:
receiving a communication from a user; identifying a symbol of the communication that is subject to a plurality of candidate interpretations; identifying each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations; retrieving a profile of the user; comparing an attribute of the profile to each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations; determining a meaning of the symbol based on the comparison; and updating the profile to include information based on the determined meaning.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a media asset recommendation to the user based on the determined meaning.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the meaning of the symbol based on the comparison comprises:
determining a correlation between an attribute of each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations and the attribute of the profile of the user; and identifying the candidate interpretation with a highest correlation of the plurality of candidate interpretations.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the attribute of the profile of the user further comprises:
accessing a database comprising a plurality of attributes of the profile, and cross-referencing each attribute of the plurality of attributes with each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations; and wherein determining a meaning of the symbol based on the comparison comprises assigning a meaning to the symbol based on the cross-referencing.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the profile of the user comprises at least one of user interests, user favorites, user preferences, user demographics, user search history, user media asset access history, and user information.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations corresponds to a media asset.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is sent to a second user, and the communication comprises at least one of a Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), chat message, social media update, voice message, video, and e-mail.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a location of the user; identifying a vendor within a threshold distance of the user; determining whether the vendor has inventory related to the media asset; and providing information about the vendor to the user.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the profile to include the information further comprises providing the information in response to the user sending the communication.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the information in at least one of an overlay, a pop-up, an embedded link, a commercial, a notification, a page, and an advertisement.

11 . A system for providing information to a user comprising:
communications circuitry; and
control circuitry configured to:
receive, using the communications circuitry, a communication from a user;
identify a symbol of the communication that is subject to a plurality of candidate interpretations;
identify each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations;
retrieve a profile of the user;
compare an attribute of the profile to each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations;
determine a meaning of the symbol based on the comparison; and
update the profile to include information based on the determined meaning.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide a media asset recommendation to the user based on the determined meaning.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine the meaning of the symbol based on the comparison is configured to:
determine a correlation between an attribute of each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations and the attribute of the profile of the user; and identify the candidate interpretation with a highest correlation of the plurality of candidate interpretations.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to compare the attribute of the profile of the user is further configured to:
access a database comprising a plurality of attributes of the profile, and cross-reference each attribute of the plurality of attributes with each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations; and wherein control circuitry configured to determine a meaning of the symbol based on the comparison is configured to assign a meaning to the symbol based on the cross-referencing.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the profile of the user comprises at least one of user interests, user favorites, user preferences, user demographics, user search history, user media asset access history, and user information.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each candidate interpretation of the plurality of candidate interpretations corresponds to a media asset.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the communication is sent to a second user, and the communication comprises at least one of a Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), chat message, social media update, voice message, video, and e-mail.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a location of the user; identify a vendor within a threshold distance of the user; determine whether the vendor has inventory related to the media asset; and provide information about the vendor to the user.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide the information in response to the user sending the communication.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide the information in at least one of an overlay, a pop-up, an embedded link, a commercial, a notification, a page, and an advertisement.

21 - 50 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Rovi Guides Inc

Inventors

• Kelly Timothy Christensen
• Maughan Benjamin
• Peterson Brian
• Yon David
• Klappert Walter R

Classifications

• H04L67/306 Primary

  User profiles · CPC title

• H04L67/22 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L67/535 Primary

  Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34) · CPC title