Method and apparatus for generating recommendations based on user preferences and environmental characteristics

A method for recommending an item to a user, comprising the steps of:

• observing one or more environmental characteristics for obtaining information characterizing said one or more environmental characteristics for a given time;
• learning preferences of said user for each item to be recommended while said user is exposed to and affected by said one or more observed environmental characteristics;
• and
• generating a recommendation score for said item based on features of said item, and said learned preferences of said user under said one or more observed environmental characteristics for a given time, wherein said one or more observed environmental characteristics includes at least one of a weather condition and a characteristic of motion of said user and each of the one or more observed environmental characteristics is associated with a weight assigned by the user.

A system for recommending an item to a user, comprising:

• a memory for storing computer readable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to:
• observe one or more environmental characteristics for obtaining information characterizing said one or more environmental characteristics for a given time
• learn preferences of said user for each item to be recommended while exposed to and under said one or more observed environmental characteristics;
• and
• generate a recommendation score for said item based on features of said item and said learned preferences of said user under said one or more observed environmental characteristics, wherein said one or more observed environmental characteristics includes at least one of a weather condition and a characteristic of motion of said user and each of the one or more observed environmental characteristics is associated with a weight assigned by the user.

A system for recommending an item to a user, comprising:

• a memory for storing computer readable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to:
• observe at least one motion characteristic for obtaining information characterizing said one or more environmental characteristics for a given time;
• learn preferences of said user for each item to be recommended while exposed to and under said characteristic of motion;
• obtain information characterizing said characteristic of motion of said user for a given time;
• and
• generate a recommendation score for said item based on features of said item, and said learned preferences of said user under said characteristic of motion of said user and each of the one or more observed environmental characteristics is associated with a weight assigned by the user.

A computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon for recommending an item to a user, said computer readable program code means comprising:

• a step to obtain information characterizing one or more observed environmental characteristics for a given time;
• a step to learn preferences of said user for each item to be recommended by observing said user's personal exposure to one or more observed environmental characteristics;
• and
• a step to generate a recommendation score for said item based on features of said item, and said learned preferences of said user under said one or more observed environmental characteristics for a given time, wherein said one or more observed environmental characteristics includes at least one of a weather condition and a characteristic of motion of said user and each of the one or more observed environmental characteristics is associated with a weight assigned by the user.