# US 11,310,547 B2 · Systems and methods for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices

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- Number: US 11,310,547 B2
- Document ID: US11310547B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/346,571
- Filed: 2021-06-14
- Published: 2021-10-07
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-05
- Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Applicants: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Inventors: Sean Matthews
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310547B2

## 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 comprising:
determining that a first device has entered an environment in which a second device is located;
determining whether a media asset comprises content featuring an individual related to the second device;
determining a length of the media asset;
determining an amount of time that the individual is featured in the content of the media asset, with respect to the length of the media asset;
determining whether the amount of time is greater than a prominence threshold; and
in response to determining that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, automatically initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a type of the media asset;
wherein determining the length of the media asset is based on the determined type of the media asset.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in response to determining that the amount of time is not greater than the prominence threshold, monitoring for a request from the second device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset is performed without receiving a user input.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining that the media asset created is created by an individual related to the first device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether the media asset is created at a time within a threshold period of time from the present time; and
automatically initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, is based on determining that the media asset is created at the time within the threshold period of time from the present time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
subsequent to determining that that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, transmitting a discovery message to identify devices in the environment; and
identifying the second device in the environment based on the discovery message.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising determining that the individual related to the second device is authorized to grant access rights for the second device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
retrieving interaction data between the first device and the second device;
determining a degree of interaction between the first device and the second device based on the interaction data; and
determining a likelihood that the individual related to the first device will grant the access rights for the first device to an individual related to the second device in order to view the media asset, based on the degree of interaction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than a threshold, transmitting the access rights for the first device to the second device; and
generating for display the media asset on the second device.

### Claim 11

A system comprising:
input/output circuitry;
control circuitry configured to:
determine that a first device has entered an environment in which a second device is located;
determine whether a media asset comprises content featuring an individual related to the second device;
determine a length of the media asset;
determine an amount of time that the individual is featured in the content of the media asset, with respect to the length of the media asset;
determine whether the amount of time is greater than a prominence threshold; and
in response to determining that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, automatically initiate, using the input/output circuitry, a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a type of the media asset;
wherein determining the length of the media asset is based on the determined type of the media asset.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
in response to determining that the amount of time is not greater than the prominence threshold, monitor for a request from the second device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein initiating a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, on the second device, the media asset is performed without receiving a user input.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine that the media asset created is created by an individual related to the first device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine whether the media asset is created at a time within a threshold period of time from the present time; and
automatically initiate a request at the first device to connect and generate for display, is based on determining that the media asset is created at the time within the threshold period of time from the present time.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
subsequent to determining that that the amount of time is greater than the prominence threshold, transmit a discovery message to identify devices in the environment; and
identify the second device in the environment based on the discovery message.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the individual related to the second device is authorized to grant access rights for the second device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
retrieve interaction data between the first device and the second device;
determine a degree of interaction between the first device and the second device based on the interaction data; and
determine a likelihood that the individual related to the first device will grant the access rights for the first device to an individual related to the second device in order to view the media asset, based on the degree of interaction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than a threshold, transmit the access rights for the first device to the second device; and
generate for display the media asset on the second device.