# US 10,375,432 B1 · Systems and methods for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices

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- Number: US 10,375,432 B1
- Document ID: US10375432B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/997,975
- Filed: 2018-06-05
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-05
- Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Applicants: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Inventors: Sean Matthews
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375432B1

## CPC

- H04N 5/445: for displaying additional information (H04N5/50 takes precedence)
- H04N 21/25875: {involving end-user authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)}
- H04N 21/25841: {involving the geographical location of the client (retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00)}
- H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)}
- H04N 21/4668: {for recommending content, e.g. movies}
- H04N 21/47: End-user applications
- H04N 21/4788: communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)}
- H04W 12/084: using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
- H04W 12/61: Time-dependent
- H04W 12/63: Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
- H04W 12/65: Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
- H04W 12/66: {Trust-dependent, e.g. using trust scores or trust relationships}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Systems and methods are described for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices. A media guidance application may determine that a first user has entered an environment (e.g., his/her mother's home) and may determine a frequency with which the first user enters the environment (e.g., daily). In response to determining that the first user visits frequently, the media guidance application may identify a second device in the environment (e.g., a smart TV) that a second user (e.g., the first user's mother) is authorized to grant access rights for. The media guidance application may determine a likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on interaction data between the first user and the second user. In response to determining a high likelihood, the media guidance application may transmit the access rights.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for seamlessly connecting a user's device to an environment device based on the user's frequency of visitation to the environment and relationship with the owner of the environment device, the method comprising:
determining that a first user, carrying a first device comprising profile information of the first user, has entered an environment of a second user;
in response to determining that the first user has entered the environment, determining, based on the profile information of the first user, a frequency with which the first user enters the environment;
determining whether the frequency is greater than a frequency threshold;
in response to determining that the frequency is greater than the frequency threshold, transmitting a discovery message to identify devices in the environment;
identifying a second device in the environment based on the discovery message;
determining that the second user is authorized to grant access rights for the second device;
retrieving interaction data of the first user and the second user;
determining a degree of interaction between the first user and the second user based on the interaction data;
determining a likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on the degree of interaction and the frequency; and
in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than a threshold, transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency threshold is a first frequency threshold associated with a first level of access to the second device, and wherein transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device further comprises:
determining that the frequency is less than a second frequency threshold associated with a second level of access to the second device, wherein the second level of access is greater than the first level of access;
in response to determining that the frequency is less than the second frequency threshold, transmitting the access rights associated with the first level of access for the second device to the first device and restricting the first device from the access rights associated with the second level of access.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device further comprises:
determining, based on the profile information of the first user, that an event is occurring in the environment, wherein both the first user and the second user are participants of the event; and
in response to determining that the event is occurring in the environment, transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the degree of interaction between the first user and the second user based on the interaction data further comprises:
determining, based on the interaction data, a communication frequency between the first user and the second user, wherein the communication frequency represents how often the first user and the second user have communicated using electronic communications; and
based on the communication frequency, determining the degree of interaction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein determining, based on the interaction data, the communication frequency between the first user and the second user further comprises:
identifying, from the interaction data, the electronic communications exchanged between the first user and the second user in a period of time;
determining a length of each electronic communication of the electronic communications exchanged;
determining a set of electronic communications, wherein the set of electronic communications comprises electronic communications whose respective lengths are greater than a length threshold;
determining a number of electronic communications in the set of electronic communications; and
based on the number of electronic communications, determining the communication frequency.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on the degree of interaction and the frequency, further comprises:
retrieving a connection history of the second device that lists previous devices and their respective users that have either been granted or denied access rights to the second device;
generating a probabilistic model that estimates likelihoods using, as training data, respective degrees of interaction and frequencies associated with the respective users that have either been granted or denied access rights to the second device; and
estimating, using the probabilistic model, the likelihood based on the degree of interaction and the frequency.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device further comprises:
automatically establishing a peer-to-peer connection between the first device and the second device;
retrieving the access rights for the second device, wherein the access rights allow access to media content on the second device; and
sending the access rights to the first device through the peer-to-peer connection.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first user has entered the environment of the second user, further comprises:
determining, using sensor circuitry, a first location of the first user;
determining, using the sensor circuitry, a second location of the second user;
determining that the second location of the second user corresponds to a location of the environment;
determining that the first location of the first user and the second location of the second user are within a threshold proximity; and
in response to determining that the first location and the second location are within the threshold proximity, determining that the first location corresponds to the location of the environment.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device further comprises:
prompting the second user with both a first selectable option to transmit the access rights for the second device to the first device and a second selectable option to block the first device;
in response to receiving a selection of the first selectable option, transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device; and
in response to receiving a selection of the second selectable option, blocking the first device from connecting to the second device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
retrieving profile information of the second user; and
determining that both the environment and the second device are owned by the second user, based on the profile information of the second user.

### Claim 11

A system for seamlessly connecting a user's device to an environment device based on the user's frequency of visitation to the environment and relationship with the owner of the environment device, the system comprising:
control circuitry configured to:
determine that a first user, carrying a first device comprising profile information of the first user, has entered an environment of a second user;
in response to determining that the first user has entered the environment, determine, based on the profile information of the first user, a frequency with which the first user enters the environment;
determine whether the frequency is greater than a frequency threshold;
in response to determining that the frequency is greater than the frequency threshold, transmit a discovery message to identify devices in the environment;
identify a second device in the environment based on the discovery message;
determine that the second user is authorized to grant access rights for the second device;
retrieve interaction data of the first user and the second user;
determine a degree of interaction between the first user and the second user based on the interaction data;
determine a likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on the degree of interaction and the frequency; and
in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than a threshold, transmit the access rights for the second device to the first device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the frequency threshold is a first frequency threshold associated with a first level of access to the second device, and wherein the control circuitry, when transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device, is further configured to:
determine that the frequency is less than a second frequency threshold associated with a second level of access to the second device, wherein the second level of access is greater than the first level of access;
in response to determining that the frequency is less than the second frequency threshold, transmit the access rights associated with the first level of access for the second device to the first device and restricting the first device from the access rights associated with the second level of access.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry, when transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device, is further configured to:
determine, based on the profile information of the first user, that an event is occurring in the environment, wherein both the first user and the second user are participants of the event; and
in response to determining that the event is occurring in the environment, transmit the access rights for the second device to the first device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry, when determining the degree of interaction between the first user and the second user based on the interaction data, is further configured to:
determine, based on the interaction data, a communication frequency between the first user and the second user, wherein the communication frequency represents how often the first user and the second user have communicated using electronic communications; and
based on the communication frequency, determine the degree of interaction.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry, when determining, based on the interaction data, the communication frequency between the first user and the second user, is further configured to:
identify, from the interaction data, the electronic communications exchanged between the first user and the second user in a period of time;
determine a length of each electronic communication of the electronic communications exchanged;
determine a set of electronic communications, wherein the set of electronic communications comprises electronic communications whose respective lengths are greater than a length threshold;
determine a number of electronic communications in the set of electronic communications; and
based on the number of electronic communications, determine the communication frequency.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry, when determining the likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on the degree of interaction and the frequency, is further configured to:
retrieve a connection history of the second device that lists previous devices and their respective users that have either been granted or denied access rights to the second device;
generate a probabilistic model that estimates likelihoods using, as training data, respective degrees of interaction and frequencies associated with the respective users that have either been granted or denied access rights to the second device; and
estimate, using the probabilistic model, the likelihood based on the degree of interaction and the frequency.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry, when transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device, is further configured to:
automatically establish a peer-to-peer connection between the first device and the second device;
retrieve the access rights for the second device, wherein the access rights allow access to media content on the second device; and
send the access rights to the first device through the peer-to-peer connection.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry, when determining that the first user has entered the environment of the second user, is further configured to:
determine, using sensor circuitry, a first location of the first user;
determine, using the sensor circuitry, a second location of the second user;
determine that the second location of the second user corresponds to a location of the environment;
determine that the first location of the first user and the second location of the second user are within a threshold proximity; and
in response to determining that the first location and the second location are within the threshold proximity, determine that the first location corresponds to the location of the environment.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry, when transmitting the access rights for the second device to the first device, is further configured to:
prompt the second user with both a first selectable option to transmit the access rights for the second device to the first device and a second selectable option to block the first device;
in response to receiving a selection of the first selectable option, transmit the access rights for the second device to the first device; and
in response to receiving a selection of the second selectable option, block the first device from connecting to the second device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
retrieve profile information of the second user; and
determine that both the environment and the second device are owned by the second user, based on the profile information of the second user.