# US 12,114,047 B1 · Skipping to playback positions in media content using seek guides > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,047 B1 - Document ID: US12114047B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/456,157 - Filed: 2023-08-25 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-08-25 - Assignees: Spotify AB - Applicants: Spotify AB - Inventors: Erik Johan Curcio Lindström - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114047B1 ## CPC - H04N 21/47217: {for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks (specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312)} - H04N 21/8456: {by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Systems and methods for skipping to playback positions in media content using seek guides are provided. Seek guides may be associated with a media content item. Each seek guide may have a position and a radius. When a user skips to a reference position, a seek guide selector may select a seek guide to use in setting a new playback position. The seek guide selector may use a probabilistic distribution positioned based on the reference position to select a seek guide. Probabilities may be calculated for each seek guide using a cumulative distribution function, and the seek guides may be ranked based on the calculated probabilities. A seek guide may be selected based on the ranking, and a new playback position may be set based on the position of the selected seek guide. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining skip positions in media content items, the method comprising: associating one or more seek guides with a media content item, each of the one or more seek guides including a position; defining two or more regions within the media content item; receiving a request from a user to skip within the media content item, the request including a direction to skip; and setting a new playback position based on an initial playback position and the two or more regions, wherein when the initial playback position is within a first region of the two or more regions, the new playback position is set by: calculating a probability for at least one of the one or more seek guides using a probabilistic distribution positioned based on a reference position, wherein the reference position is a predetermined time away from the initial playback position in the direction to skip; ranking the at least one of the one or more seek guides based on the calculated probabilities; selecting a seek guide from the one or more seek guides based on the ranking; and setting the new playback position based on the position of the selected seek guide. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more seek guides further includes a radius. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the probability for a seek guide is calculated using a cumulative distribution function based on the position and the radius of the seek guide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the new playback position is the position of the selected seek guide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selected seek guide has a highest calculated probability from among the calculated probabilities. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein setting the new playback position based on the position of the selected seek guide includes: comparing the probability of a highest ranked seek guide to a predetermined threshold; and when the probability of the highest ranked seek guide is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, setting the new playback position based on the position of the highest ranked seek guide, or when the probability of the highest ranked seek guide is less than the predetermined threshold, setting the new playback position at the reference position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the probabilistic distribution is a normal distribution. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the probabilistic distribution has a mean at the reference position. ### Claim 9 A system for determining skip positions in media content items, the system comprising: one or more processors; and one or more computer-readable storage devices storing data instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to: associate one or more seek guides with a media content item, each of the one or more seek guides including a position; define two or more regions within the media content item; receive a request from a user to skip within the media content item, the request including a direction to skip; and set a new playback position based on an initial playback position and the two or more regions, wherein when the initial playback position is within a first region of the two or more regions, to set a new playback position includes to: calculate a probability for at least one of the one or more seek guides using a probabilistic distribution positioned based on a reference position, wherein the reference position is a predetermined time away from the initial playback position in the direction to skip; rank the at least one of the one or more seek guides based on the calculated probabilities; select a seek guide from the one or more seek guides based on the ranking; and set the new playback position based on the position of the selected seek guide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein when the initial playback position is within a second region of the two or more regions, to set a new playback position includes to: select a seek guide based on a distance between the initial playback position and the position of the seek guide and a direction from the initial playback position to the position of the seek guide; and set the new playback position based on the position of the selected seek guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein when the initial playback position is within a second region of the two or more regions, to set a new playback position includes to: set the new playback position based on the direction to skip; wherein when the direction to skip is forwards, the new playback position is set at an end position of the second region; and wherein when the direction to skip is backwards, the new playback position is set at a beginning position of the second region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein selection of the selected seek guide is further based on the direction to skip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the each of the one or more seek guides further includes a radius. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein each radius is based on a layer to which the seek guide is assigned. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon data instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: associate one or more seek guides with a media content item, each of the one or more seek guides including a position; define two or more regions within the media content item; receive a request from a user to skip within the media content item, the request including a direction to skip; and set a new playback position based on an initial playback position and the two or more regions, wherein when the initial playback position is within a first region of the two or more regions, to set a new playback position includes to: calculate a probability for at least one of the one or more seek guides using a probabilistic distribution positioned based on a reference position, wherein the reference position is a predetermined time away from the initial playback position in the direction to skip; rank the at least one of the one or more seek guides based on the calculated probabilities; select a seek guide from the one or more seek guides based on the ranking; and set the new playback position based on the position of the selected seek guide. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein when the initial playback position is within a second region of the two or more regions, to set a new playback position includes to: select a seek guide based on a distance between the initial playback position and the position of the seek guide and a direction from the initial playback position to the position of the seek guide; and set the new playback position based on the position of the selected seek guide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein when the initial playback position is within a second region of the two or more regions, to set a new playback position includes to: set the new playback position based on the direction to skip; wherein when the direction to skip is forwards, the new playback position is set at an end position of the second region; and wherein when the direction to skip is backwards, the new playback position is set at a beginning position of the second region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein selection of the selected seek guide is further based on the direction to skip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the each of the one or more seek guides further includes a radius. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein each radius is based on a layer to which the seek guide is assigned.