How a System Ranks Content Based on Friend Recommendations
This patent describes a system that recommends content, like TV shows, by tracking how many friends accept social media recommendations and then ranking content based on how fast those acceptances are growing.
Original patent title: “Content Recommendation System”
This patent describes a system that recommends content, like TV shows, by tracking how many friends accept social media recommendations and then ranking content based on how fast those acceptances are growing. Owned by Comcast Cable Communications with 23 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2043.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system tracks how often users accept social media recommendations for various content items, such as TV shows or movies, over different periods (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). It then creates a list of these content items, ordering them based on how quickly the number of accepted recommendations is changing (Claim 1). For example, if a new show suddenly gets a lot more accepted recommendations from friends, it would move higher on the list. When a user selects an item from this list, the system makes that content available to them (Claim 1). The system can also send a social media recommendation to a friend if a user is watching something, and grant a 'recommendation credit' to the user if their friend accepts it (Claim 7, Claim 9).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Recommendations not based on 'social media recommendations' (e.g., editorial picks or recommendations based solely on individual viewing history).
- Ranking content purely by the total number of recommendations, rather than the 'rate of change' in accepted recommendations (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Systems that do not involve sending a 'list of the content items' ordered by a specific metric (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Recommendations that do not involve a 'friends list' or social network connections (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 7).
- Content delivery systems that do not track or respond to social media recommendations at all.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in ranking content not just by the total number of social media recommendations accepted, but by the *rate at which those acceptances are increasing* within a social network. This prioritizes rapidly trending content over merely popular content, making recommendations feel more current.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Social features in streaming services like Netflix or Hulu
Content sharing features on platforms like Facebook Watch
Gaming platforms that show what friends are currently playing
Recommendation sections on media aggregators that highlight trending items
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent focuses on leveraging social proof and network effects for content discovery. It aims to make content recommendations more dynamic and relevant by highlighting what's gaining traction among a user's social circle, which can drive engagement and viewership for streaming services. This approach helps users find new content that is actively trending among their peers.
Filed
January 5, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Comcast, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, operates Xfinity, a major cable and internet provider with streaming services. Other large media and tech companies like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Meta (Facebook Watch) are constantly refining their social and recommendation features to enhance user engagement and content discovery.
Market impact
This type of system contributes to the ongoing evolution of content discovery, moving beyond simple popularity metrics to more dynamic, socially-driven trends. It helps streaming platforms increase user engagement and reduce churn by making recommendations feel more personal and timely, potentially influencing how new content gains traction and spreads through social networks.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system tracks how often users accept social media recommendations for various content items, such as TV shows or movies, over different periods (Claim 1). It then creates a list of these content items, ordering them based on how quickly the number of accepted recommendations is changing (Claim 1). For example, if a new show suddenly gets a lot more accepted recommendations from friends, it would move higher on the list. When a user selects an item from this list, the system makes that content available to them (Claim 1). The system can also send a social media recommendation to a friend if a user is watching something, and grant a 'recommendation credit' to the user if their friend accepts it (Claim 7, Claim 9).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in ranking content not just by the total number of social media recommendations accepted, but by the *rate at which those acceptances are increasing* within a social network. This prioritizes rapidly trending content over merely popular content, making recommendations feel more current.
What it does not cover
- Recommendations not based on 'social media recommendations' (e.g., editorial picks or recommendations based solely on individual viewing history).
- Ranking content purely by the total number of recommendations, rather than the 'rate of change' in accepted recommendations (Claim 1).
- Systems that do not involve sending a 'list of the content items' ordered by a specific metric (Claim 1).
- Recommendations that do not involve a 'friends list' or social network connections (Claim 7).
- Content delivery systems that do not track or respond to social media recommendations at all.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$33K – $105K
Midpoint $66K · 16.4 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Zada, N., McCrea, J., King, R., Connolly, C., Li, J., Lester, P., & Kennedy, C. How a System Ranks Content Based on Friend Recommendations (U.S. Patent No. 20,230,245,158). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230245158/content-recommendation-system
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US20230245158"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 8700540 · 2014 · Eventbrite Inc
How Eventbrite Recommends Events Based on Your Social Network
US 12118030 · 2024 · Malibu Entertainment
How a Recommendation System Learns What You Really Want to Watch
US 12135756 · 2024 · Comcast Cable Communications
How Computers Automatically Tag Movies and Shows Better
US 8914392 · 2014 · Facebook Inc
How Facebook Ranks Search Results Based on Your Friends' Activity
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a System Ranks Content Based on Friend Recommendations cover?
This patent describes a system that recommends content, like TV shows, by tracking how many friends accept social media recommendations and then ranking content based on how fast those acceptances are growing.
Who owns patent US 20230245158?
This patent is owned by Comcast Cable Communications.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 5, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent focuses on leveraging social proof and network effects for content discovery. It aims to make content recommendations more dynamic and relevant by highlighting what's gaining traction among a user's social circle, which can drive engagement and viewership for streaming services. This approach helps users find new content that is actively trending among their peers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Recommendations not based on 'social media recommendations' (e.g., editorial picks or recommendations based solely on individual viewing history).
Same assignee
More from Comcast Cable Communications
Patent monitoring