# US 12,008,036 B2 · Methods and apparatuses for preventing spoilers in autocompleted search queries > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,008,036 B2 - Document ID: US12008036B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/589,338 - Filed: 2022-01-31 - Published: 2023-08-03 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-31 - Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc. - Applicants: Rovi Guides, Inc. - Inventors: Charishma Chundi; Reda Harb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008036B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/735: Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles - H04N 21/4828: {for searching programme descriptors (retrieval of video data G06F16/739)} - G06F 16/45: Clustering; Classification - G06F 16/732: Query formulation - G06F 16/738: Presentation of query results - G06F 16/783: using metadata automatically derived from the content - G06F 16/90324: {using system suggestions} - H04N 21/454: Content {or additional data} filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)} - H04N 21/8549: Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer {(retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for preventing spoilers in autocompleted search queries. One example method includes, in response to detecting a user interaction at a computing device associated with a search query, identifying a media content history comprising one or more media content items. A predicted search query based on the user interaction and the media content history is generated, and the predicted search query is generated for output, at the computing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: in response to detecting a user interaction at a computing device associated with a search query: identifying a media content history comprising an episode of a first series; identifying a second series having episodes, wherein the second series is: not in the media content history, and of the same genre as the first series; identifying, in a structured data item, main event data that describes content of one or more portions of (a) the first series identified in the media content history and (b) the second series; generating a plurality of predicted search queries based on the user interaction, and for each query of the plurality of predicted search queries: comparing the main event data with the query to identify whether the query comprises a spoiler for the second series; and in response to identifying that the query comprises a spoiler for the second series, removing the spoiler; and generating for display, at the computing device, the plurality of predicted search queries with the identified spoilers removed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the plurality of predicted search queries further comprises generating the plurality of predicted search queries based on the media content history. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media content history is aggregated from a plurality of media content sources. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media content history is associated with the computing device, and wherein generating the predicted search query further comprises generating the predicted search query based on the computing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media content history is associated with a user profile, and wherein: generating the predicted search query further comprises: generating, based on the media content history, a likelihood score of an episode of the second series being accessed via the user profile, and if the likelihood score is higher than a threshold value: identifying whether the predicted search query comprises a spoiler for the episode associated with the generated likelihood score; and generating a filtered predicted search query by removing or altering any spoilers in the predicted search query; and generating the predicted search query for output comprises generating the filtered predicted search query for output. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a first advertisement; identifying whether the first advertisement comprises a spoiler for the second series by comparing content of the first advertisement to the main event data, and if the first advertisement comprises a spoiler: generating a filtered advertisement by altering the first advertisement to remove any spoilers or requesting a second advertisement; and generating, at the computing device, the altered, or second, advertisement for output. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first series comprises a first television series; and the second series comprises a second television series. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each query of the plurality of predicted search queries: comparing the main event data with the query to identify whether the query comprises a spoiler for episodes of the first series that are not in the media content history; and in response to identifying that the query comprises a spoiler for the episodes of the first series that are not in the media content history, removing the spoiler. ### Claim 9 A system comprising: input/output circuitry configured to: detect a user interaction at a computing device associated with a search query; and processing circuitry configured to, in response to detecting a user interaction at a computing device associated with a search query: identify a media content history comprising an episode of a first series; identifying a second series having episodes, wherein the second series is: not in the media content history, and of the same genre as the first series; identify, in a structured data item, main event data that describes content of one or more portions of (a) the first series identified in the media content history and (b) the second series; generate a plurality of predicted search queries based on the user interaction, and for each query of the plurality of predicted search queries: compare the main event data with the query to identify whether the query comprises a spoiler for the second series; and in response to identifying that the query comprises a spoiler for the second series, remove the spoiler; and generate for display, at the computing device, the plurality of predicted search queries with the identified spoilers removed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry configured to generate a plurality of predicted search queries is further configured to generate the plurality of predicted search queries based on the media content history. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to aggregate the media content history from a plurality of media content sources. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to associate the media content history with the computing device, and wherein the processing circuitry configured to generate the predicted search query is further configured to generate the predicted search query based on the computing device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to associate the media content history with a user profile, and wherein: the processing circuitry configured to generate the predicted search query is further configured to: generate, based on the media content history, a likelihood score of an episode of the second series being accessed via the user profile, and if the likelihood score is higher than a threshold value: identify whether the predicted search query comprises a spoiler for the episode associated with the generated likelihood score; and generate a filtered predicted search query by removing or altering any spoilers in the predicted search query; and the processing circuitry configured to generate the predicted search query for output is further configured to generate the filtered predicted search query for output. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: identify a first advertisement; identify whether the first advertisement comprises a spoiler for the second series by comparing content of the first advertisement to the main event data, and if the first advertisement comprises a spoiler: generate a filtered advertisement by altering the first advertisement to remove any spoilers or requesting a second advertisement; and generate, at the computing device, the altered, or second, advertisement for output.