System and method for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9510024-B2
Application number	US-201414485529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2014
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A system and method for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior. In accordance with an embodiment, a client device user interface displays a plurality of media options, each of which is associated with a corresponding media content, for example a media channel or video stream, that can be received from a media server system for playing at the device, or at a controlled device. While the user interacts with the user interface, media content associated with regions of the interface can be buffered in preparation for selection and subsequent playing. The client device can include a user interaction sensor, for example a motion, hand/proximity, or heat sensor, which detects when a user is about to interact with the device. The media server system can be triggered to buffer media content associated with one or more neighboring media options on the user interface, in preparation for selection and playing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior, comprising:
a client device, including a processor;
an application user interface provided at the client device, which displays a plurality of media options as a two-dimensional array of media tiles, including displaying portions of representations of one or more neighboring media items within the two-dimensional array of media tiles that are adjacent a currently selected media option, wherein each media option is associated with a corresponding media content that can be received from a media server system for playing at one or more of the client device, or a controlled device, and wherein a selection of a particular media option is used as an instruction to the media server system to stream or otherwise return a particular item of media content corresponding to the selection;
a user interaction sensor provided at the client device, which detects when a user is about to interact with the client device; and
a user prediction logic provided at the client device, which, in response to receiving an indication from the user interaction sensor that the user is about to interact with the client device, determines that the user may subsequently select one of the media tiles that are adjacent the currently selected media option, and triggers the media server system to buffer media content associated with one or more neighboring media options displayed on the user interface, in preparation for selection by the user, including that
if a determination is made that a user is not about to interact with the client device, then the media server system is instructed to buffer media content associated with a restricted number of the media options displayed on the user interface, including the currently selected media option, and
if a determination is made that the user is about to interact with the client device, then the media server system is instructed to buffer media content associated with both the currently selected media option and one or more additional neighboring media options as displayed on the user interface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the media options is associated with a corresponding media channel or video stream that can be selected and received from the media server system for playing at the client device and/or controlled device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user interaction sensor is one or more of a motion, hand/proximity, or heat sensor, which detects when the user picks up the client device and provides the indication that the user is about to interact with the client device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controlled device includes an output display that displays media content, and wherein the client device operates as a remote control, and is adapted to receive a selection from the user of a selected media option, for subsequent receipt from the media server system and playing at the output display of the controlled device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controlled device displays media channels or video streams on the output display as received from the media server system, and wherein selection from the user of a selected media option is used as a media-change request to change a media channel at the controlled device.

6. A method for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior, comprising:
displaying, at a client device, an application user interface which displays a plurality of media options as a two-dimensional array of media tiles, including displaying portions of representations of one or more neighboring media items within the two-dimensional array of media tiles that are adjacent a currently selected media option, wherein each media option is associated with a corresponding media content that can be received from a media server system for playing at one or more of the client device, or a controlled device, and wherein a selection of a particular media option is used as an instruction to the media server system to stream or otherwise return a particular item of media content corresponding to the selection;
detecting, using a user interaction sensor provided at the client device, that a user is about to interact with the client device; and
in response to receiving an indication from the user interaction sensor that the user is about to interact with the client device, determining that the user may subsequently select one of the media tiles that are adjacent the currently selected media option, and triggering the media server system to buffer media content associated with one or more neighboring media options displayed on the user interface, in preparation for selection by the user, including that
if a determination is made that a user is not about to interact with the client device, then the media server system is instructed to buffer media content associated with a restricted number of the media options displayed on the user interface, including the currently selected media option, and
if a determination is made that the user is about to interact with the client device, then the media server system is instructed to buffer media content associated with both the currently selected media option and one or more additional neighboring media options as displayed on the user interface.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the media options is associated with a corresponding media channel or video stream that can be selected and received from the media server system for playing at the client device and/or controlled device.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the user interaction sensor is one or more of a motion, hand/proximity, or heat sensor, which detects when the user picks up the client device and provides the indication that the user is about to interact with the client device.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the controlled device includes an output display that displays media content, and wherein the client device operates as a remote control, and is adapted to receive a selection from the user of a selected media option, for subsequent receipt from the media server system and playing at the output display of the controlled device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the controlled device displays media channels or video streams on the output display as received from the media server system, and wherein selection from the user of a selected media option is used as a media-change request to change a media channel at the controlled device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform the steps comprising:
displaying, at a client device, an application user interface which displays a plurality of media options as a two-dimensional array of media tiles, including displaying portions of representations of one or more neighboring media items within the two-dimensional array of media tiles that are adjacent a currently selected media option, wherein each media option is associated with a corresponding media content that can be received from a media server system for playing at one or more of the client device, or a controlled device, and wherein a selection of a particular media option is used as an instruction to the media server system to stream or otherwise return a particular item of media content corresponding to the selection;
detecting, using a user interaction sensor provided at the client device, that a user is about to interact with the client device; and
in response to receiving an indication from the user interaction sensor that the user is about to interact with the client device, de

Assignees

• Spotify Ab

Inventors

• Öman Andreas

Classifications

• H04N21/2407

  Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads (arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14) · CPC title

• H04N21/2183

  Cache memory {(caches in web servers or browsers G06F16/9574; intermediate storage and caching in data networks H04L67/568)} · CPC title

• H04L65/60

  Network streaming of media packets · CPC title

• H04N21/47202

  for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand · CPC title

• H04N21/23406 Primary

  involving management of server-side video buffer · CPC title