System and methods for alerting a user consuming media to the progress of others consuming media
AssigneeRovi Guides, Inc.
InventorAjit Shanware
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided herein for enabling a first user to set up an alert that will notify the first user when the first user has caught up to a second user's progress in consuming media. These systems and methods are used to ensure that the first user is informed, while they are consuming media, that they have caught up to the progress of a second user. By providing an alert while the first user is viewing media, the first user does not have to remember the progress of the second user while viewing the media, alleviating the first user from worrying they will pass the progress made by the second user without realizing they have done so.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- generating, by a server, a user interface for display on a first electronic media consumption device associated with a first user;
- receiving, by the server, a selection made on the user interface, wherein the selection identifies a second user and a first media;
- in response to the received selection, and prior to the first user accessing the first media of a plurality of media using the first electronic media consumption device, receiving, by a control circuitry of the server, a request to generate a notification when progress of the first user in the first media reaches progress of the second user in the first media, wherein the request identifies:
- the second user, and the first media;
- and
- in response to receiving the request to generate the notification, generating for display on the first electronic media consumption device an alert when the first user's progress of consumption of the first media has caught up to the second users progress of consumption of the first media.
A system comprising:
- communications circuitry to access a first electronic media consumption device associated with a first user;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- generate a user interface for display on a first electronic media consumption device associated with a first user;
- receive a selection made on the user interface, wherein the selection identifies a second user and a first media;
- in response to the received selection, and prior to the first user accessing the first media of a plurality of media using the first electronic media consumption device, receive a request to generate a notification when progress of the first user in the first media reaches progress of the second user in the first media, wherein the request identifies:
- the second user, and the first media;
- and
- in response to receiving the request to generate the notification, generate for display on the first electronic media consumption device an alert when the first user's progress of consumption of the first media has caught up to the second users progress of consumption of the first media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.