Method and apparatus for rating database objects

• US 20010023401A1
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Geurts, Lucas Jacobus Franciscus, Ter Horst, Herman Jan, Das, Duco Annardo David, Bastiaans, Erik Gerardus Hubertus, Weishut, Gideon Martin Reinier
• Application Number:
  US09/804,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of rating database objects, such as broadcast programs in an EPG database. The objects are categorized in accordance with a multi-level category scheme with a first level of categories and a second level of categories subordinate to a respective category of the first level. The rating of a category of the first level is computed as a function , for example the average, of ratings of subordinate categories of the second level. Ratings are visually represented as different colors or different degrees of saturation of the same color.

Claims

1. A method of rating database objects, comprising a step of categorizing the objects into a plurality of categories, and a step of rating at least one of said categories, characterized in that the method further comprises a step of arranging the categories in accordance with a multi-level category scheme with a first level of categories and a second level of categories subordinate to a respective category of the first level, and a step of computing a rating of a category of the first level as a function of ratings of subordinate categories of the second level.

2. A method as defined in

claim 1

, characterized in that the rating of the category of the first level is computed as the average of the ratings of subordinate categories of the second level.

3. A method as defined as defined in

claim 1

or

2

, characterized in that the method further comprises a step of visually representing a rating by means of a color.

4. A method as defined in

claim 3

, characterized in that a plurality of ratings is represented by means of a single color, a parameter of said color corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of ratings.

5. A method as defined in

claim 4

, characterized in that said parameter is the saturation of said color.

6. A method as defined in any one of

claims 1

to

5

, characterized in that the objects are programs in an electronic program guide (EPG) database, and the categories of the first and second level are genres and sub-genres of said programs, respectively.

13. A computer program product for performing, when executed on a programmable computing device, the steps of the method as defined in any one of

claims 1

to

6

.

7. An apparatus for processing database objects, said objects being categorized into a plurality of categories, the apparatus comprising user profile means for rating at least one of said categories, characterized in that the user profile means are further adapted to arrange said categories in accordance with a multi-level category scheme with a first level of categories and a second level of categories subordinate to a respective category of the first level, and to compute a rating of a category of the first level as a function of ratings of subordinate categories of the second level.

8. An apparatus as defined in

claim 7

, characterized in that the rating of the category of the first level is computed as the average of the ratings of subordinate categories of the second level.

9. An apparatus as defined in

claim 7

or

8

, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a display screen and the user profile means are adapted to visually represent a rating by means of a color.

10. An apparatus as defined in

claim 9

, characterized in that a plurality of ratings is represented by means of a single color, a parameter of said color corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of ratings.

11. An apparatus as defined in

claim 10

, characterized in that said parameter is the saturation of said color.

12. A broadcast receiver as an apparatus as defined in any one of

claims 7

to

11

, said objects being programs in an electronic program guide (EPG) database, and the categories of the first and second level being genres and sub-genres of said programs, respectively.