System and method for simplifying different types of searches in electronic program guide

• US 20040078816A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Johnson, Carolynn Rae
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A system and a method for processing program guide information are presented. Electronic program guide information is received and stored. A first search criterion from a user for a first type of search is received. The program guide information is searched to find one or more records matching the first type of search. A user instruction is received to convert the first search criterion to a second search criterion for use with a second type of search. The first search criterion is converted for use with the second type of search.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a video apparatus comprising

receiving and storing electronic program guide information;

receiving a first search criterion from a user for a first type of search;

searching the program guide information to find one or more records matching the first type of search;

receiving a user instruction to convert the first search criterion to a second search criterion for use with a second type of search; and

converting the first search criterion for use with the second type of search.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first type of search is a non-continuous search and the second type of search is a continuous search.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the non-continuous search is an alphabetical sort search and the continuous search is a non-alphabetical sort search.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising modifying the second search criterion.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising saving the second search criterion and repetitively performing new searches based on the saved second search criterion.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the repetitive new searches are conducted either automatically upon receipt of updated program guide information or upon user command.

7. Method of claim 1 wherein the electronic program guide information comprises periodically updated records, wherein each record comprises a plurality of program identification fields relating a program'"'"'s identification information to a corresponding data field, including at least one of topic, theme, actor, title, director, awards, production studio, release date, roles, description, and keywords.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first search criterion is a user selected text string and user selected program identification fields.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the user selected program identification fields includes at least one of topic, theme, actors, titles, descriptions, roles, directors, writers, production studios, awards, keywords, and release dates.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the user selected text string is either composed by the user or delineated by the user as the text within a user interface cell.

11. An apparatus for assisting a user in selecting a television program for viewing or recording comprising:

means for receiving and storing electronic program guide information;

means for sorting the electronic program guide information according to user selected criterion;

user control means for selecting a first search criterion for a first type of search;

means for performing the first type of search and displaying a list of programs corresponding to one or more records meeting the criterion;

means for converting the criterion for the first type of search into a second criterion for a second type of search; and

means for performing the second type of search of the electronic program guide information based on the second search criterion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first type of search is a non-continuous search and the second type of search is a continuous search.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the non-continuous search is an alphabetical sort search.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising means for saving the second search criterion and the means for performing the second search is adapted to perform repetitive searches of the program guide information.

15. Apparatus of claim 11 comprising memory, a computer processor, means for periodically receiving and storing in memory updated electronic program guide information, the processor programmed to perform the first type of search upon user command and the second type of search either automatically or upon user command.

16. Apparatus of claim 11 comprising a television display for use in viewing television programs or for displaying a user interface, and comprising an input command module for use in selecting programs from the program guide or channels, for selecting the first search criterion;

for selecting the second search criterion, for converting the first search criterion to the second search criterion for the second type of search, and for commanding the processor to perform a search of the program guide.