Temporally Sequenced Recommendations and Associated Explanations in Subscription-based Systems

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system for temporally sequenced recommendations and associated explanations in subscription-based systems delivers to users of a subscription-based system multiple recommended objects that are arranged in a temporal sequence. The delivered recommended objects are in accordance with user subscriptions and inferences of preferences that are based, at least in part, on usage behaviors. Variations of the system and method include delivering recommended objects in accordance with the contents of the objects and user direct feedback with regard to the objects. Information as to why objects were delivered to users is provided to the users.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 generating through execution of a computer-implemented function on a processor-based device a plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects for delivery to a user, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with an inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on a plurality of usage behaviors, wherein one behavior of the plurality of usage behaviors is a subscription; and   providing to the user through execution of a computer-implemented function a reason for the delivery of at least one object of the plurality of recommended objects.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the contents of at least one object of the plurality of recommended objects.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with a user-controlled tuning function.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with an inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on a physiological response.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with an inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on a direct feedback behavior.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects for delivery to a user, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the inference of the preference that is based, at least in part, on the plurality of usage behaviors, wherein the one behavior of the plurality of usage behaviors is the subscription, wherein the subscription is to a user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the reason to the user, wherein providing the reason to the user comprises providing additional explanatory information upon request by the user.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented system, comprising:
 a recommendation-generating function executed on a processor-based device that generates a plurality of recommended objects and temporally sequences the plurality of objects for delivery to a user, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with an inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on a plurality of usage behaviors, wherein one behavior of the plurality of usage behaviors is a subscription; and   a computer-implemented explanatory function that provides a reason to the user for the delivery of at least one object of the plurality of recommended objects.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the recommendation-generating function that generates the plurality of recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the contents of at least one object of the plurality of recommended objects.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the recommendation-generating function that generates the plurality of recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with a user-controlled tuning function.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the recommendation-generating function that generates the plurality of recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on a physiological response.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the recommendation-generating function that generates the plurality of recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on a direct feedback behavior.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the recommendation-generating function that generates the plurality of recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on the plurality of usage behaviors, wherein the one behavior of the plurality of usage behaviors is a subscription, wherein the subscription is to a user.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an explanatory function that provides additional explanatory information upon request by the user.   
     
     
         16 . An article comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for enabling a processor-based system to:
 generate a plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects for delivery to a user, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with an automatic inference of a preference that is based, at least in part, on a plurality of usage behaviors, wherein one behavior of the plurality of usage behaviors is a subscription; and   provide to the user a computer-generated reason for the delivery of at least one object of the plurality of recommended objects.   
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16 , further storing instructions for enabling a processor-based system to:
 generate the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the contents of at least one object of the plurality of recommended objects.   
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 16 , further storing instructions for enabling a processor-based system to:
 generate the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with a user-controlled tuning function.   
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 16 , further storing instructions for enabling a processor-based system to:
 generate the plurality of temporally-sequenced recommended objects for delivery to the user, wherein the recommended objects are generated in accordance with the automatic inference of the preference that is based, at least in part, on the plurality of usage behaviors, wherein the one behavior of the plurality of behaviors is the subscription, wherein the subscription is to a user.   
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 16 , further storing instructions for enabling a processor-based system to:
 provide the reason to the user, wherein providing the reason to the user comprises providing additional explanatory information upon request by the user.