Apparatus and method of searching for desired television content

• US 20030192050A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Galli, Doreen, Fellenstein, Craig William
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for allowing a user to search for specific content across many television channels in order to locate desirable television shows related to the searched content. Multiplexed cable signals flow thorough a logical unit which buffers text associated with the voice stream of each station via the pre-encoded closed-captioning signal or through the real-time voice translation within the logical unit. The user then enters search terms through one of a variety of different input devices. Upon entry of the search terms, the logical unit will compare the entered term with those available keywords stored in each buffer. Lexical parsing associates terms which may differ from plural to singular forms, or in tense. Additionally, synonym comparisons may be made. The logical unit will return a list of matches for the search criteria and allows the user the option of going directly to the television program. The logical unit also evaluates each returned item for its relevancy to the keywords. When not in use, the logical unit maintains a quiescent but monitoring state permitting continuous creation of lexical buffers. This permits the user who turns the television on to immediately have such search terms available. Alternatively, the logic is implemented at the cable provider and enabled through interactive links to the home. In that case, the home logical unit is unnecessary.

Claims

1. A method for searching for desired programming comprising:

buffering a television signal;

specifying at least one search parameter;

searching said television signal for data that matches said search parameters;

evaluating said data; and

displaying said data for a user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said search parameter is a keyword.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said data is a closed captioning signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said buffering occurs when a television unit is not activated.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising decoding said television signal.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising linking said search parameters by at least one logical relationship.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing said search parameters to a dictionary.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising obtaining lexically parsed equivalents and searching said television signal for data that matches said lexically parsed equivalents.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing said search parameters to a thesaurus.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising obtaining synonym equivalents and searching said television signal for data that matches said synonym equivalents.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said buffering simultaneously occurs over a plurality of television channels embedded within said television signal.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said buffering simultaneously occurs over a plurality of television channels embedded within said signal.

12. A method for continuously buffering a cable television signal comprising:

receiving a signal;

receiving a parameter;

limiting the television signal based on said parameter; and

recording in a memory the contents of said signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said signal is a television signal.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said parameter is a user-defined parameter.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said search parameter is a keyword.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said signal is a closed captioning signal.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said buffering occurs when a television unit is not activated.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising decoding said television signal.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising linking said parameters by at least one logical relationship.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising comparing said parameters to a dictionary.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising obtaining lexically parsed equivalents and searching said signal for data that matches said lexically parsed equivalents.

22. The method of claim 12 further comprising comparing said parameters to a thesaurus.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising obtaining synonym equivalents and searching said signal for data that matches said synonym equivalents.

25. An apparatus for searching for desired programming comprising:

a logical unit with a memory;

a program stored in said memory;

said memory, so configured by said program, causes said logical unit perform operations comprising;

buffering a television signal;

receiving at least one search parameter;

searching said television signal for data that matches said search parameters;

evaluating said data; and

displaying said data for a user.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said search parameter is a keyword.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said data is a closed captioning signal.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said buffering occurs when a television unit is not activated.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said operations further comprise decoding said television signal.

30. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said operations further comprise linking said search parameters by at least one logical relationship.

31. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said operations further comprise comparing said search parameters to a dictionary.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said operations further comprise obtaining lexically parsed equivalents and searching said television signal for data that matches said lexically parsed equivalents.

33. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said operations further comprise comparing said search parameters to a thesaurus.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said operations further comprise obtaining synonym equivalents and searching said television signal for data that matches said synonym equivalents.

35. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said buffering simultaneously occurs over a plurality of television channels embedded within said television signal.

36. An apparatus for continuously buffering a cable television signal comprising

programmable hardware;

software; and

wherein said hardware is directed by said software to perform operations comprising;

receiving a signal;

receiving a parameter;

limiting the television signal based on said parameter; and

recording in a memory the contents of said signal.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said signal is a television signal.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said parameter is a user-defined parameter.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said search parameter is a keyword.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said signal is a closed captioning signal.

41. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said buffering occurs when a television unit is not activated.

42. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said operations further comprise decoding said television signal.

43. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said operations further comprise linking said parameters by at least one logical relationship.

44. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said operations further comprise comparing said parameters to a dictionary.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said operations further comprise obtaining lexically parsed equivalents and searching said signal for data that matches said lexically parsed equivalents.

46. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said operations further comprise comparing said parameters to a thesaurus.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said operations further comprise obtaining synonym equivalents and searching said signal for data that matches said synonym equivalents.

48. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said buffering simultaneously occurs over a plurality of television channels embedded within said signal.