With the overwhelming amount of content we have access to these days, finding what you want can sometimes feel like a game of hide and seek. But thankfully, a breakthrough from Rovi Guides, with patent number US20230315729A1, offers a promising solution to this problem. The patent introduces an innovative way of searching for content using non-character-based inputs - like a picture, for example.
So why does this matter? Consider this common scenario: you come across a memorable scene from a movie or a distinct location while streaming but can't put a name to the actor or place. A text-based search might leave you swarmed with irrelevant results, lacking the critical context you need. This problem gets even more frustrating when there's an abundance of similar content.
How does this patented technology fix that? It’s as if you’re talking to a smarter search engine. You give it a picture, it suggests words based on the picture, and you select the words that you feel best represent what you're looking for. This system then does its magic, looking up things based on your chosen words. It might make you remember a super-smart friend who always seems to know what you're trying to say, even when you can't quite find the right words.
This could revolutionize how we search for content in the future. Imagine being able to snapshot an unfamiliar flower on your walk, and having a search engine provide you relevant information about it in seconds. Or watching an old movie, snapshotting a memorable scene, and instantly finding out what movie it is, who the actors are, and where you can stream it – all without typing a single word. This isn't just more convenient – it could also bring information and entertainment that was previously out of reach into the forefront. The TiVo Entertainment Platform, for example, could look quite different powered by this technology.
However, it is important to remember that patents are just blueprints for what might come. They're a preview of what could happen, not a promise of what will. Whether we’ll see non-character-based search options on our screens any time soon, is something that only time will tell.
P.S: This article is based on a patented technology. It's uncertain whether this product will actually enter the market or remain as an exciting potential glimpsed through documents and diagrams.