It’s known to all, that Google makes use of several factors and signals to determine its search results ranking. These factors depend on the linking trends of the web, the geographical location of the users, their search history and many more. The new factor which is being added to this list is perhaps, ‘what are you currently watching on TV’.
According to the latest post of Bill Slawski blog Google has recently received the patent of ‘the concept of what’s currently running on the TV’ to influence its search results. This particular patent has been named as, “System and method for enhancing user search results by determining a television program currently being displayed in proximity to an electronic device.” It was filed on 30th June 2011 and has been granted on 16th September 2014.
Below is the extract from the patent:
“A computer implemented method for using search queries related to television programs. A server receives a user’s search query from an electronic device. The server then determines, in accordance with the search query and television program related information for television programs available at a location associated with the electronic device during a specific time window, a television program currently being displayed in proximity to the electronic device, wherein the television program related information includes program descriptions for a plurality of television programs being broadcast for the associated location.”
From the patent it seems that Google is going to make note of what you are currently watching on the television. Then if you perform a query, it would decide that whether what you were watching should be used for influencing the search results or not. Like for example, the patent will provide the example of an individual who is watching a TV show about a particular actor or actress and then searches on Google. Now the patent knows what show the individual was watching and which actor or actress leads in the show, it will provide a more specific search results, based on it.
More abstract from the patent:
“Someone watching a TV program with a segment about a particular model of Porsche might execute a search query for “Porsche” or “sports cars” instead of the designation of the particular model that was the subject of the segment….
Given that the Porsche model in question is a “911 Turbo,” and that the user executed a search query for “Porsche,” the server can return information about one or more of:
1) The “911 Turbo” model (e.g., a link to information on the Porsche.com website about the “911 Turbo”),
2) Information about the TV program that is currently airing with that segment, and
3) Suggestions of similar programming that is currently airing or airing in the future and that is available to the user.
In this way, implementations provide enhanced search results to viewers of live TV that are relevant to the content of TV programs that they are watching or are likely to be interested in watching.”
The diagram illustrates the entire process which Google and the patent follows:
As stated earlier by the company which has provided Google the patent,” Just because we have provided Google with the patent, doesn’t mean the company will also use the search ranking process. We are aware that Google is now using this process, to certain extent as its own part.
Google will now act its own smart personal assistant which provides you info before you search for it, that includes Television Cards. This card will provide you more info about the programs that you are watching and also about the upcoming programs which you might like to watch. One method the TV cards can appear is to listen to your TV, to recognize what you’re watching, if that feature is enabled. So those who want can try it out; the feature is already working.
Image source : seobythesea
Source: searchengineland