Recommendation engine apparatus and methods

摘要

Recommendation engine apparatus and associated methods provide content compiled from various sources and selected to match user preferences. In one embodiment, the recommendation apparatus comprises a headend entity; in another, it is co-located on a user's CPE. In one embodiment, the recommendation engine creates content records from content metadata for comparison to a user profile. The user profile is pre-programmed; however has the ability to dynamically shift toward a user's preferences as the user takes actions regarding content. Client applications are utilized to compile and present content; feedback mechanisms are utilized to enable “learning” from user activities to generate more precise recommendations as well as to “unlearn” stale preferences. Recommended content is displayed in the form of a playlist, or as a continuous stream on a virtual channel, or presented in an electronic program guide. A business rules “engine” useful in implementing operational or business goals is also disclosed.

主权项

1. For use in a content delivery network, a recommendation apparatus comprising:
a storage device adapted to:
store a plurality of information regarding a plurality of content elements expressed as n×1 column vectors, said n×1 column vectors each comprising a number, n, of aspects;store a plurality of user profiles expressed as n×1 column vectors, said n×1 column vectors each comprising a number, n, of aspects; andstore an n×1 column reference vector configured to define each of said n aspects as expressed in said plurality of content element vectors and said plurality of user profile vectors, where n is more than one; and a digital processor in data communication with said storage device and adapted to run a computer program thereon, said computer program adapted to:
compare said plurality of content element column vectors to individual ones of said plurality of user profile column vectors; andbased at least in part on said comparison, produce at least one list of a plurality of content elements, said each of said plurality of content elements bearing a relationship to at least one of said plurality of user profiles.