Abstract: A method for using speech disfluencies detected in speech input to assist in interpreting the input is provided. The method includes providing access to a set of content items with metadata describing the content items, and receiving a speech input intended to identify a desired content item. The method further includes detecting a speech disfluency in the speech input and determining a measure of confidence of a user in a portion of the speech input following the speech disfluency. If the confidence measure is lower than a threshold value, the method includes determining an alternative query input based on replacing the portion of the speech input following the speech disfluency with another word or phrase. The method further includes selecting content items based on comparing the speech input, the alternative query input (when the confidence measure is low), and the metadata associated with the content items.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides user interface methods of and systems for displaying at least one available action overlaid on an image, comprising displaying an image; selecting at least one action and assigning a ranking weight thereto based on at least one of (1) image content, (2) current device location, (3) location at which the image was taken, (4) date of capturing the image; (5) time of capturing the image; and (6) a user preference signature representing prior actions chosen by a user and content preferences learned about the user; and ranking the at least one action based on its assigned ranking weight.

Abstract: In some aspects, control circuitry may detect a social media interaction associated with a user. Control circuitry may then identify a symbol associated with the interaction, map the symbol to first media asset metadata, and identify a set of media asset metadata. Control circuitry may further compare the identified media asset metadata to a set of attributes of the user's profile, and identifying second media asset metadata and a first field of the second media asset metadata from the set of media asset metadata that matches attributes of the set of attributes of the user's profile. Control circuitry may then search databases to identify collections of media asset for recommendation to the user by identifying media assets that include the second media asset metadata in a field corresponding to the first field. Lastly, control circuitry may perform an action to provide the user with access to the collection.

Abstract: A method of and system for enhanced local-device content discovery is disclosed. A method includes providing a local collection of content items and associated metacontent on a device. The metacontent describes the informational content of the corresponding content items. A remote catalog of metacontent items and information describing relationships between the metacontent items is provided. Input is received from the user for finding at least one desired content item and a search query is formed including at least one metacontent item of the remote catalog based on matching the input from the user with metacontent items of the catalog and further based on the information describing relationships between the metacontent items. A subset of content items of the local collection associated with metacontent that at least partially matches the search query is selected and presented on a display device based on at least one ranking criterion.

Abstract: Methods and systems for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search are provided. A method for selecting items in response to ambiguous keystrokes entered by a user and unambiguous metadata associated with a previously selected search result includes receiving ambiguous keystrokes, selecting and presenting a first subset of items and metadata associated with the items presented based on the ambiguous keystrokes. The method also includes receiving a selection of one of the items from the user, and, in response to a locking operation received from the user, locking in fixed relation at least one of the ambiguous keystrokes to at least one metadata term associated with the selected item. The method further includes, subsequent to receiving the locking operation, selecting and presenting a second subset of items based at least in part on the locked metadata term, and presenting the second subset of items.

Abstract: A method of selecting and presenting content based on learned user preferences is provided. The method includes providing a content system including a set of content items organized by genre characterizing the content items, and wherein the set of content items contains microgenre metadata further characterizing the content items. The method also includes receiving search input from the user for identifying desired content items and, in response, presenting a subset of content items to the user. The method further includes receiving content item selection actions from the user and analyzing the microgenre metadata within the selected content items to learn the preferred microgenres of the user. The method includes, in response to receiving subsequent user search input, selecting and presenting content items in an order that portrays as relatively more relevant those content items containing microgenre metadata that more closely match the learned microgenre preferences of the user.

Abstract: A method of using conversation state information in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring a change of a conversation session during continuous user interaction with an interactive content providing system includes receiving input from the user including linguistic elements intended by the user to identify an item, associating a linguistic element of the input with a first conversation session, and providing a response based on the input. The method also includes receiving additional input from the user and inferring whether or not the additional input from the user is related to the linguistic element associated with the conversation session. If related, the method provides a response based on the additional input and the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session. Otherwise, the method provides a response based on the second input without regard for the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session.

Abstract: A method of disambiguating user intent in conversational interactions for information retrieval is disclosed. The method includes providing access to a set of content items with metadata describing the content items and providing access to structural knowledge showing semantic relationships and links among the content items. The method further includes providing a user preference signature, receiving a first input from the user that is intended by the user to identify at least one desired content item, and determining an ambiguity index of the first input. If the ambiguity index is high, the method determines a query input based on the first input and at least one of the structural knowledge, the user preference signature, a location of the user, and the time of the first input and selects a content item based on comparing the query input and the metadata associated with the content item.

Abstract: A method of inferring user intent in search input in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring user intent in a search input includes providing a user preference signature that describes preferences of the user, receiving search input from the user intended by the user to identify at least one desired item, and determining that a portion of the search input contains an ambiguous identifier. The ambiguous identifier is intended by the user to identify, at least in part, a desired item. The method further includes inferring a meaning for the ambiguous identifier based on matching portions of the search input to the preferences of the user described by the user preference signature and selecting items from a set of content items based on comparing the search input and the inferred meaning of the ambiguous identifier with metadata associated with the content items.

Abstract: Methods and systems for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search are provided. A method for selecting items in response to ambiguous keystrokes entered by a user and unambiguous metadata associated with a previously selected search result includes receiving ambiguous keystrokes, selecting and presenting a first subset of items and metadata associated with the items presented based on the ambiguous keystrokes. The method also includes receiving a selection of one of the items from the user, and, in response to a locking operation received from the user, locking in fixed relation at least one of the ambiguous keystrokes to at least one metadata term associated with the selected item. The method further includes, subsequent to receiving the locking operation, selecting and presenting a second subset of items based at least in part on the locked metadata term, and presenting the second subset of items.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for entering ambiguous text input via a linear character selection display are provided. A system for entering an alphanumeric string includes presentation logic for displaying on a presentation device an alphabet arranged into a row of letters and indication logic for presenting visual cues grouping a series of letters of the row into a cluster. The system also includes navigation logic for receiving user actions to move the visual cues along the row of letters to change the letters grouped into the cluster. The visual cues move along the row of letters in variable offsets based on a rate of input of the user actions. The system further includes selection logic for receiving user actions to select the cluster of letters to cause at least one of the letters of the selected cluster to be displayed in a string field.

Abstract: Methods and systems for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query. A method of incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines is based in part on identifying a set of search engines associated with corresponding metadata, receiving a partial search query entered by the user of a device, inferring after each user keypress a set of potential full queries intended by the user, using the potential full queries and the search engine metadata to identify a set of relevant search engines, and for each of these search engines, providing a direct link to launch a relevant query in the search engine. The user input may be either ambiguous, or erroneous, and may be entered using an input-constrained device.

Abstract: A method of selecting and presenting content based on context-sensitive learned user preferences is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items having descriptive terms. The method includes receiving user input for identifying items and, in response thereto, presenting a subset of items. The method includes receiving user selections of said items and analyzing the descriptive terms of those items to learn the user's content preferences. The method includes determining the context in which the user performed the selections and associating those contexts with the user content preferences learned from the corresponding user selections. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, determining a context of said subsequent input and selecting and ordering a collection of items based on comparing those items' descriptive terms with the user's learned content preferences associated with the determined context in which the user entered the subsequent input.

Abstract: A method of inferring user intent in search input in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring user intent in a search input includes providing a user preference signature that describes preferences of the user, receiving search input from the user intended by the user to identify at least one desired item, and determining that a portion of the search input contains an ambiguous identifier. The ambiguous identifier is intended by the user to identify, at least in part, a desired item. The method further includes inferring a meaning for the ambiguous identifier based on matching portions of the search input to the preferences of the user described by the user preference signature and selecting items from a set of content items based on comparing the search input and the inferred meaning of the ambiguous identifier with metadata associated with the content items.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has one or more associated descriptors. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query is a prefix substring of each of at least two words relating to the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more descriptors matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system outputs identification of the one or more items of the identified group to be displayed on the device operated by the user.

Abstract: A method of and system for presenting enriched video viewing analytics is presented. A method of presenting enriched statistical and analytical information includes receiving a catalog of a plurality of content items. Each content item has associated metacontent characterizing the content item. The method also includes receiving and storing operations of a user for interacting with one or more of the content items. The method further includes determining use and/or viewing statistics for, for example, the content items, metacontent associated with the content items, the numbers and types of devices viewing the content items, subscriber information, household information, and/or viewer demographic information for past and present time periods. The method also, optionally, includes estimating the likelihood of future user interaction operations.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for identifying a television content item desired by a television viewer from a set of television content items. Each of the television content items has one or more associated descriptors. The system receives from the television viewer a reduced text search entry directed at identifying the desired television content item. The search entry is a prefix substring of one or more words relating to the desired television content item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more television content items from the set of television content items having one or more descriptors matching the search entry as the television viewer enters each character of the search entry. The system then transmits the names of the one or more television content items of the identified group to be displayed on a device operated by the television viewer.

Abstract: A method of selecting and presenting content based on a comparison of preference signature from multiple users is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items having associated descriptive terms and receiving search input from users. The method includes presenting a subset of content items, receiving content selection actions, and learning users' preferences, wherein the preferences are weighted based on content items usage so that the user preferences are specified as a set of descriptive terms and associated weights. The method includes identifying users with similar preferences by comparing sets of learned user preferences and presenting content items to at least one user of the plurality of users by identifying for presentation content items selected by users identified as having learned user preferences that are similar to the learned user preferences of said at least one user.

Abstract: A method of selecting and presenting content based on learned user preferences is provided. The method includes providing a content system including a set of content items organized by genre characterizing the content items, and wherein the set of content items contains microgenre metadata further characterizing the content items. The method also includes receiving search input from the user for identifying desired content items and, in response, presenting a subset of content items to the user. The method further includes receiving content item selection actions from the user and analyzing the microgenre metadata within the selected content items to learn the preferred microgenres of the user. The method includes, in response to receiving subsequent user search input, selecting and presenting content items in an order that portrays as relatively more relevant those content items containing microgenre metadata that more closely match the learned microgenre preferences of the user.

Abstract: A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups.