Methods of and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user content interaction

Abstract

A method of selecting and presenting content based on learned user preferences is provided. The method includes receiving search input from the user for identifying desired content items and receiving content selection actions from the user. The method further includes analyzing the date, day, and time of content selection actions by the user and analyzing descriptive terms associated with the selected content items to learn a periodicity of user selections of similar content items. In response to subsequent searches by the user, the method calls for selecting and ordering a collection of content items for presentation to the user based on comparing the user's search input to descriptive terms associated with content items and based on the learned periodicities of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for selecting content, the method comprising:
 determining a geographic location of a first mobile device associated with a user;   transforming the geographic location to generate a transformed geographic location data; and   transmitting the transformed geographic location data for storage on a server, remote from the mobile device, wherein the transformed geographic location data stored on the server is used to select a content item for display on a second mobile device associated with the user.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein transforming the geographic location to generate the transformed geographic location data comprises:
 logging a plurality of geographic locations of the first mobile device; and   generating, based on the logging, a probabilistic geographic location model for the first mobile device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the logging of the plurality of geographic locations of the first mobile device further comprises, determining a respective discrete time segment, of a plurality of discrete time segments in a cyclical time period, associated with each respective geographic location. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein generating, based on the logging, the probabilistic model for the geographic location of the first mobile device further comprises determining, for each discrete time segment of the plurality of discrete time segments, a probability of the first user device being in each geographic location of the plurality of geographic locations. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the transforming the geographic location to generate the transformed geographic location data comprises:
 computing a probability of the first user device being at the geographic location during a portion of the cyclical time period;   wherein the content item is selected based on the probability exceeding the threshold during the portion of the cyclical time period.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein transforming the geographic location to generate the transformed geographic location data, comprises:
 retrieving a plurality of stored geographic locations associated with the first mobile device;   determining whether the geographic location of the first mobile device matches a stored geographic location of the plurality of stored geographic locations; and   in response to determining that the geographic location of the first mobile device matches the stored geographic location of the plurality of stored geographic locations, incrementing an frequency associated with the stored geographic location.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising modifying the transformed geographic location data in response to determining that a threshold amount of time has passed. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein modifying the transformed geographic location data comprises:
 identifying an oldest geographic location associated with the transformed geographic location data;   decrementing a weighting associated with the oldest geographic location; and   generating the modified transformed geographic location data based on the decremented weighting associated with the oldest geographic location.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein using the transformed geographic location data to select the content item for display on the second mobile device associated with the user comprises:
 determining that metadata associated with the content item matches the transformed geographic location data; and   in response to determining that the metadata associated with the content item matches the transformed geographic location data, causing for display on the second mobile device the content item.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 detecting an action requested by a user of the first mobile device;   transforming the action request to generate a transformed action request data;   transmitting the transformed action request data for storage on a server; and   storing, at the server, the transformed geographic location data and the transformed action request data in a hierarchical structure.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein using the transformed geographic location data to select the content item for display on the second mobile device associated with the user comprises:
 receiving a recommendation request comprising a level of specificity;   in response to determining that the level of specificity exceeds a threshold level, selecting the content item, based on the transformed geographic location data and the transformed action request data in the hierarchical structure; and   in response to determining that the level of specificity does not exceed the threshold level, selecting the content item based on the transformed geographic location data.   
     
     
         34 . A system for selecting content, the system comprising:
 input/output circuitry configured to determine a geographic location of a first mobile device associated with a user; and   control circuitry configured to:
 transform the geographic location to generate a transformed geographic location data; and 
 transmit the transformed geographic location data for storage on a server, remote from the mobile device, wherein the transformed geographic location data stored on the server is used to select a content item for display on a second mobile device associated with the user. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when transforming the geographic location to generate the transformed geographic location data, to:
 log a plurality of geographic locations of the first mobile device; and   generate, based on the logging, a probabilistic geographic location model for the first mobile device.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when logging of the plurality of geographic locations of the first mobile device, to determine a respective discrete time segment, of a plurality of discrete time segments in a cyclical time period, associated with each respective geographic location. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when generating, based on the logging, the probabilistic model for the geographic location of the first mobile device, to determine, for each discrete time segment of the plurality of discrete time segments, a probability of the first user device being in each geographic location of the plurality of geographic locations. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when transforming the geographic location to generate the transformed geographic location data, to:
 compute a probability of the first user device being at the geographic location during a portion of the cyclical time period;   wherein the content item is selected, by the control circuitry, based on the probability exceeding the threshold during the portion of the cyclical time period.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when transforming the geographic location to generate the transformed geographic location data, to:
 retrieve a plurality of stored geographic locations associated with the first mobile device;   determine whether the geographic location of the first mobile device matches a stored geographic location of the plurality of stored geographic locations; and   in response to determining that the geographic location of the first mobile device matches the stored geographic location of the plurality of stored geographic locations, increment a frequency associated with the stored geographic location.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to modify the transformed geographic location data in response to determining that a threshold amount of time has passed. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when modifying the transformed geographic location data, to:
 identify an oldest geographic location associated with the transformed geographic location data;   decrement a weighting associated with the oldest geographic location; and   generate the modified transformed geographic location data based on the decremented weighting associated with the oldest geographic location.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when using the transformed geographic location data to select the content item for display on the second mobile device associated with the user, to:
 determine that metadata associated with the content item matches the transformed geographic location data; and   in response to determining that the metadata associated with the content item matches the transformed geographic location data, cause for display on the second mobile device the content item.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 detect an action requested by a user of the first mobile device;   transform the action request to generate a transformed action request data;   transmit, using the input/output circuitry, the transformed action request data for storage on a server; and   store, at the server, the transformed geographic location data and the transformed action request data in a hierarchical structure.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when using the transformed geographic location data to select the content item for display on the second mobile device associated with the user, to:
 receive a recommendation request comprising a level of specificity;   in response to determining that the level of specificity exceeds a threshold level, select the content item, based on the transformed geographic location data and the transformed action request data in the hierarchical structure; and   in response to determining that the level of specificity does not exceed the threshold level, select the content item based on the transformed geographic location data.