# US 2020/0288208 A1 · Systems and methods for slowing down fast-access playback operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0288208 A1 - Document ID: US20200288208A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/880,688 - Filed: 2020-05-21 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-22 - Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc. - Applicants: Rovi Guides, Inc. - Inventors: Samuel Meyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200288208A1 ## 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)} - G11B 27/005: {Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording (for television signals H04N5/783)} - H04N 21/2387: Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play - H04N 21/4147: PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) - H04N 21/4325: {by playing back content from the storage medium (reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79)} - H04N 21/44226: {on social networks} - 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 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand} - H04N 21/6587: Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection - H04N 21/8455: {involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract Systems and methods for performing fast-access playback operations are provided. A viewing history is stored that includes a plurality of play positions within a media asset that are associated with user interactions. A user request is received to perform a fast-access playback operation while accessing the media asset. While performing the fast-access playback operation at a first rate, it is determined whether a current fast-access playback position is within a threshold distance from a given one of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history. The fast-access playback operation is slowed down from the first rate to a second rate while the current fast-access playback position is within the threshold distance from the given play position. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -51. (canceled) ### Claim 52 A method for performing fast-access playback operations, the method comprising: storing a viewing history that includes a plurality of play positions within a media asset that are associated with user interactions; receiving a user request to perform a fast-access playback operation while accessing the media asset; while performing the fast-access playback operation at a first rate, determining whether a current fast-access playback position is within a threshold distance from a given one of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history; and slowing down the fast-access playback operation from the first rate to a second rate while the current fast-access playback position is within the threshold distance from the given play position. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The method of claim 52, further comprising: monitoring the user interactions with the media asset while the user is accessing the media asset; identifying the plurality of play positions within the media asset that is each associated with one of the monitored user interactions, wherein the viewing history is stored based on the monitored user interactions, computing the threshold distance for slowing down the fast-access playback operation based on the second rate; and while performing the fast-access playback operation: comparing the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, with each of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history; determining whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given one of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history; and while the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position, setting a value indicating a need to slow down the fast-access playback operation, wherein the slowing down of the fast-access playback operation from the first rate to the second rate is performed while the value indicating the need to slow down the fast-access playback operation is set. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein monitoring the user interactions comprises determining whether a user request to perform a media guidance function is received while the user is accessing the media asset, wherein the playback function includes at least one of a fast-access playback operation, sharing the media asset, transmitting a social network communication to another user, and pausing the media asset. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein the fast-access playback operation includes at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and skipping segments. ### Claim 56 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein the threshold distance is proportional to a rate of the fast-access playback operation. ### Claim 57 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein the threshold distance is selected from one of a plurality of threshold distances, further comprising: determining a duration of the media asset; partitioning the media asset duration into a plurality of segments; associating a first threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a first segment of the plurality of segments; and associating a second threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a second segment of the plurality of segments, wherein the second threshold distance is less than the first threshold distance. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57, wherein the first segment corresponds to an earlier play position than a play position of the second segment. ### Claim 59 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, further comprising: receiving a user selection of a duration for slowing down a fast-access playback operation rate; and adjusting the threshold distance based on the duration selected by the user. ### Claim 60 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein computing the threshold distance comprises: determining a number of frames being skipped per second based on the second rate; multiplying the number of frames being skipped per second by a predetermined duration to determine a fast-access buffer amount; and computing the threshold distance based on a function of the fast-access buffer amount. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The method of claim 60, wherein computing the threshold distance comprises dividing the fast-access buffer amount in half, and wherein determining whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position comprises: generating a fast-access playback window for the current fast-access playback position based on the computed threshold distance, wherein a first end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a first amount of frames that precede the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance, and wherein a second end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a second amount of frames that follow the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance; identifying play positions corresponding to the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window; and determining whether the given play position is between the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window to determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position. ### Claim 62 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, further comprising selecting, as the given play position, one of the plurality of play positions corresponding to a latest point in the media asset. ### Claim 63 A system for performing fast-access playback operations, the system comprising: control circuitry configured to: store a viewing history that includes a plurality of play positions within a media asset that are associated with user interactions; receive a user request to perform a fast-access playback operation while accessing the media asset; while performing the fast-access playback operation at a first rate, determining whether a current fast-access playback position is within a threshold distance from a given one of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history; and slow down the fast-access playback operation from the first rate to the second rate while the current fast-access playback position is within the threshold distance from the given play position. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The system of claim 63, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: monitor the user interactions with the media asset while the user is accessing the media asset; identify the plurality of play positions within the media asset that is each associated with one of the monitored user interactions, wherein the viewing history is stored based on the monitored user interactions; compute the threshold distance for slowing down the fast-access playback operation based on the second rate; and while performing the fast-access playback operation: compare the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, with each of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history; determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given one of the plurality of play positions stored in the viewing history; while the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position, set a value indicating a need to slow down the fast-access playback operation, wherein the slowing down of the fast-access playback operation from the first rate to the second rate is performed while the value indicating the need to slow down the fast-access playback operation is set, and wherein the control circuitry, in monitoring the user interactions is further configured to determine whether a user request to perform a media guidance function is received while the user is accessing the media asset, wherein the playback function includes at least one of a fast-access playback operation, sharing the media asset, transmitting a social network communication to another user, and pausing the media asset. ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) The system of claim 64, wherein the fast-access playback operation includes at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and skipping segments. ### Claim 66 (depends on 64) The system of claim 64, wherein the threshold distance is proportional to a rate of the fast-access playback operation. ### Claim 67 (depends on 64) The system of claim 64, wherein the threshold distance is selected from one of a plurality of threshold distances, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: determine a duration of the media asset; partition the media asset duration into a plurality of segments; associate a first threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a first segment of the plurality of segments; and associate a second threshold distance of the plurality of threshold distances with a second segment of the plurality of segments, wherein the second threshold distance is less than the first threshold distance. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The system of claim 67, wherein the first segment corresponds to an earlier play position than a play position of the second segment. ### Claim 69 (depends on 64) The system of claim 64, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a user selection of a duration for slowing down a fast-access playback operation rate; and adjust the threshold distance based on the duration selected by the user. ### Claim 70 (depends on 64) The system of claim 64, wherein the control circuitry configured to compute the threshold distance is further configured to: determine a number of frames being skipped per second based on the second rate; multiply the number of frames being skipped per second by a predetermined duration to determine a fast-access buffer amount; and compute the threshold distance based on a function of the fast-access buffer amount. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) The system of claim 70, wherein the control circuitry configured to compute the threshold distance is further configured to divide the fast-access buffer amount in half, and wherein the control circuitry configured to determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position is further configured to: generate a fast-access playback window for the current fast-access playback position based on the computed threshold distance, wherein a first end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a first amount of frames that precede the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance, and wherein a second end of the fast-access playback window corresponds to a second amount of frames that follow the current fast-access playback position by the computed threshold distance; identify play positions corresponding to the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window; and determine whether the given play position is between the first and second ends of the fast-access playback window to determine whether the current fast-access playback position, as adjusted based on the threshold distance, overlaps the given play position.