SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALTERING A PROGRESS BAR TO PREVENT SPOILERS IN A MEDIA ASSET

• Main Authors: Chen, Kerui, Jia, Hong-Qi, Boonstra, Peter, Yan, Thomas Kang-Po
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2024
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

Systems and methods are disclosed for altering or otherwise obscuring a progress bar to prevent spoilers in a media asset. A media asset is generated for display and an input is detected from a user during playback of the media asset. A determination is made whether the input comprises a command to display a progress bar. In the affirmative, a determination regarding a current point of playback of the media asset and the type of segment is made. An entry is retrieved from a database that maps the type of segment to a range of time. A determination is made whether the remaining time of the media asset is within the range of time. In the affirmative, a determination whether displaying the progress bar would spoil the media asset is made. In response to determining that displaying the progress bar would spoil the media asset, the progress bar is refrained from generating display.