US 9,542,395 B2Granted

Systems and methods for determining alternative names

AssigneeRovi Guides, Inc.

InventorsVineet Agarwal, Sashikumar Venkataraman

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Abstract

Systems and methods described herein provide for determining alternative names for a target name. A plurality of candidate alternative names is retrieved. For example, if the target name is “bush”, the candidate alternative names may include “George W. Bush”, “George H. W. Bush”, “Jeb Bush”, “Bush, Illinois (location)”, and “Bush (plant)”. A plurality of information sources associated with the target name are identified (e.g., documents, media assets or other information associated with “bush”). A first value and a second value are computed for a first candidate name (e.g., “George W. Bush”) and second candidate name (“George H. W. Bush”), respectively, based on how many of the identified information sources refer to the first and second candidate names, respectively. In response to determining that the first value exceeds the second value, the first candidate name, instead of the second candidate name, is assigned as an alternative name for the target name.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for determining alternative names, the method comprising:

retrieving, based on input from a user, a plurality of candidate alternative names for a target name;
storing the plurality of candidate alternative names;
identifying a plurality of media assets associated with the target name, wherein each of the plurality of media assets is provided by a source other than the user;
generating a first classification group that includes each of the plurality of media assets that refers to a first candidate name;
generating a second classification group that includes each of the plurality of media assets that refers to a second candidate name;
computing a first value representing a first number of media assets in the first classification group;
computing a second value representing a second number of media assets in the second classification group;
in response to determining that the first value exceeds the second value, assigning the first candidate name, instead of the second candidate name, as an alternative name for the target name;
and
in response to determining that the second value exceeds the first value, assigning the second candidate name, instead of the first candidate name, as the alternative name for the target name.

7 more elements

A system for determining alternative names, the system comprising:

storage circuitry configured to:
store a plurality of candidate alternative names for a target name, wherein the plurality of candidate alternative names;
control circuitry configured to:
retrieve, based on input from a user, the plurality of candidate names;
identify a plurality of media assets associated with the target name, wherein each of the plurality of media assets is provided by a source other than the user;
generate a first classification group that includes each of the plurality of media assets that refers to a first candidate name;
generate a second classification group that includes each of the plurality of media assets that refers to a second candidate name;
compute a first value representing a first number of media assets in the first classification group;
compute a second value representing a second number of media assets in the second classification group;
assign the first candidate name, instead of the second candidate name, as an alternative name for the target name responsive to a determination that the first value exceeds the second value;
and
assign the second candidate name, instead of the first candidate name, as the alternative name for the target name responsive to a determination that the second value exceeds the first value.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/473,609Filed 29 Aug 2014
Published: US 2016/0062994 A13 Mar 2016
Granted: 10 Jan 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06F 16/48
Of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data: retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not…
G06F 16/24578
With adaptation to user needs: using ranking
G06F 16/3323
Using system suggestions: using document space presentation or visualization, e.g. category, hierarchy or range presentation and selection
G06F 16/9535
Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines: search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation