Content Discovery Platform
Encyclopedia
A Content Discovery Platform is an implemented software platform
for consumer
s to search for television
content online
using recommender system tools such as recommendations or TV search engine
. It can be used to deploy new services or enhance existing systems whilst powering EPG
s.
A content discovery platform utilizes television and video on demand
meta-data in order to discover appropriate content, whilst reducing ongoing maintenance and development costs. A Content Discovery Platform delivers personalized content to website
s, mobile devices and set-top boxes. It consists of key individual modules based on a Relevance Engine social search
that suggests appropriate content according to individual preferences. As operators compete to be the gateway to home entertainment, personalized television is a key service differentiator.
is used within a Content Discovery Platform to support traditional TV grid views, and also provide TV search results. Personalization
and recommendation are tools that promote content effectively within a TV guide; these recommendations are either based on a single show, a set of shows, or a full user profile
, and can be used to highlight scheduling, or video On demand
, and pay television content within a TV guide. Bespoke analytical analysis can also be undertaken to understand specific requirements relating to user behaviour and activity.
A variety of algorithms can be used:
On the television set a Content Discovery Platform can be integrated with the network infrastructure and middleware
, but does not sit on the Set-top box
. By integrating with the network, the platform acts as a cloud computing
solution. This means that the solution requires minimal integration, and there are no additional set-top box costs.
connected devices, consumers are projected to have access to content from linear broadcast sources as well as internet television
. Therefore there is a risk that the market could become fragmented, leaving it to the viewer to visit various locations and find what they want to watch in a way that is time-consuming and complicated for them. By using a search and recommendation engine, viewers are provided with a central ‘portal’ from which to discover content from a number of sources in just one location.
UK-based company TV Genius
launched its 3 Screen Content Discovery Platform, in 2005 which provides a content search engine, and consumer recommendation tool.
In 2006, Orca Interactive, a provider of IPTV and OTT middleware, launched COMPASS – a Content Discovery Platform that is personalized and provides recommendations to each individual member of the household rather than to the household as one entity. COMPASS utilizes the power of handheld devices such as tablets and smartphones to create a more personalized user experience of video consumption.
Platform
- Physical objects and features :* Diving platform, used in competitive diving* Jumping platform, naturally occurring platforms, or platforms made in an ad-hoc way for cliff jumping* Oil platform, a structure built for oil production...
for consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
s to search for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
content online
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
using recommender system tools such as recommendations or TV search engine
Search engine
A search engine is an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. Search engines help to minimize the time required to find information and the amount of information...
. It can be used to deploy new services or enhance existing systems whilst powering EPG
Electronic program guide
Electronic program guides and interactive program guides provide users of television, radio, and other media applications with continuously updated menus displaying broadcast programming or scheduling information for current and upcoming programming...
s.
A content discovery platform utilizes television and video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
meta-data in order to discover appropriate content, whilst reducing ongoing maintenance and development costs. A Content Discovery Platform delivers personalized content to website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s, mobile devices and set-top boxes. It consists of key individual modules based on a Relevance Engine social search
Social search
Social search or a social search engine is a type of web search that takes into account the Social Graph of the person initiating the search query...
that suggests appropriate content according to individual preferences. As operators compete to be the gateway to home entertainment, personalized television is a key service differentiator.
Methodology
In order to work with television related content, a search algorithmSearch algorithm
In computer science, a search algorithm is an algorithm for finding an item with specified properties among a collection of items. The items may be stored individually as records in a database; or may be elements of a search space defined by a mathematical formula or procedure, such as the roots...
is used within a Content Discovery Platform to support traditional TV grid views, and also provide TV search results. Personalization
Personalization
Personalization involves using technology to accommodate the differences between individuals. Once confined mainly to the Web, it is increasingly becoming a factor in education, health care Personalization involves using technology to accommodate the differences between individuals. Once confined...
and recommendation are tools that promote content effectively within a TV guide; these recommendations are either based on a single show, a set of shows, or a full user profile
User profile
A user profile is a collection of personal data associated to a specific user. A profile refers therefore to the explicit digital representation of a person's identity...
, and can be used to highlight scheduling, or video On demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
, and pay television content within a TV guide. Bespoke analytical analysis can also be undertaken to understand specific requirements relating to user behaviour and activity.
A variety of algorithms can be used:
- Collaborative filteringCollaborative filteringCollaborative filtering is the process of filtering for information or patterns using techniques involving collaboration among multiple agents, viewpoints, data sources, etc. Applications of collaborative filtering typically involve very large data sets...
of different users’ behaviour, preferences, and ratings - Automatic content analysis and extraction of common patterns
- Social recommendations based on personal choices from other people
On the television set a Content Discovery Platform can be integrated with the network infrastructure and middleware
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
, but does not sit on the Set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
. By integrating with the network, the platform acts as a cloud computing
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
solution. This means that the solution requires minimal integration, and there are no additional set-top box costs.
Evolving landscape
As the connected television landscape continues to evolve, search & recommendation are seen as having even more pivotal role in the discovery of content. With broadbandBroadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
connected devices, consumers are projected to have access to content from linear broadcast sources as well as internet television
Internet television
Internet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
. Therefore there is a risk that the market could become fragmented, leaving it to the viewer to visit various locations and find what they want to watch in a way that is time-consuming and complicated for them. By using a search and recommendation engine, viewers are provided with a central ‘portal’ from which to discover content from a number of sources in just one location.
UK-based company TV Genius
TV Genius
TV Genius is a United Kingdom-based software company that specializes in TV search engines, TV recommendation engines, and EPG development. TV solutions are provided across TV, mobile, web, set top boxes and devices like Playstation and Nintendo Wii. The company works with television operators in...
launched its 3 Screen Content Discovery Platform, in 2005 which provides a content search engine, and consumer recommendation tool.
In 2006, Orca Interactive, a provider of IPTV and OTT middleware, launched COMPASS – a Content Discovery Platform that is personalized and provides recommendations to each individual member of the household rather than to the household as one entity. COMPASS utilizes the power of handheld devices such as tablets and smartphones to create a more personalized user experience of video consumption.
External links
- Official site
- Better content and more innovation by TV Genius managing director Bob Eggington The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
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