Method and system for searching incomplete lists

• US 20060271516A1
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Kortum, Philip Ted
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/938 intellectual property markets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/939 Idea solicitation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related

Abstract

A content provider has an associated database. The database is indexed with a plurality of content items available in a domain. The database includes a field to indicate an availability of each of the content items from the content provider. The database is searched based on a search query entered by a user to generate a search result list. The search result list may include a content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field. If so, the search result list is provided to the user to indicate the content item and to indicate that the content item is unavailable from the content provider. A user feedback control associated with the content item is also provided to the user. The user feedback control is to provide feedback from the user if the user desires the content provider to make the content item available

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a database associated with a content provider, the database indexed with a plurality of content items available in a domain, the database including a field to indicate an availability of each of the content items from the content provider;

receiving a search query entered by a user;

searching the database based on the search query to generate a search result list, the search result list including a first content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field;

providing the search result list to the user, the search result list indicating the first content item and indicating to the user that the first content item is unavailable from the content provider; and

providing a first user feedback control associated with the first content item, the first user feedback control to provide feedback that the user desires the content provider to make the first content item available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the search result list is absent all content items indicated as being available from the content provider based on the field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the search result list includes a second content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field, wherein the search result list indicates the second content item and indicates to the user that the second content item is unavailable from the content provider, the method further comprising:

providing a second user feedback control associated with the second content item, the second user feedback control to receive feedback that the user desires the content provider to make the second content item available.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of content items comprise a plurality of cinematic movies, wherein the first content item is a first cinematic movie, and wherein the search query is entered using a set-top box.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of the first user feedback control; and

providing a trailer to the first cinematic movie in response to the user selection.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the user to submit feedback associated with the first content item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deciding whether or not to attempt to acquire rights for the content provider to provide the first content item based on the first content item being included in the search result list.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of the first user feedback control; and

based on the user selection, deciding whether or not to attempt to acquire rights for the content provider to provide the first content item.

9. A system comprising:

a database associated with a content provider, the database indexed with a plurality of content items available in a domain, the database including a field to indicate an availability of each of the content items from the content provider; and

a computer system programmed to;

receive a search query entered by a user;

search the database based on the search query to generate a search result list, the search result list including a first content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field;

provide the search result list to the user, the search result list indicating the first content item and indicating that the first content item is unavailable from the content provider; and

provide a first user feedback control associated with the first content item, the first user feedback control to provide feedback that the user desires the content provider to make the first content item available.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the search result list is absent all content items indicated as being available from the content provider based on the field.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the search result list includes a second content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field, wherein the search result list indicates the second content item and indicates to the user that the second content item is unavailable from the content provider;

and

wherein the computer system is to provide a second user feedback control associated with the second content item, the second user feedback control to receive feedback that the user desires the content provider to make the second content item available.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of content items comprise a plurality of cinematic movies, wherein the first content item is a first cinematic movie, and wherein the search query is entered using a set-top box.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer system is further programmed to:

receive a user selection of the first user feedback control; and

provide a trailer to the first cinematic movie in response to the user selection.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer system is further programmed to:

prompt the user to submit feedback associated with the first content item.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer system is further programmed to:

determine whether to attempt to acquire rights for the content provider to provide the first content item based on the first content item being included in the search result list.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer system is further programmed to:

receive a user selection of the first user feedback control; and

based on the user selection, determine whether to attempt to acquire rights for the content provider to provide the first content item.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code to cause a computer system to:

receive a search query entered by a user;

search a database based on the search query to generate a search result list, the database associated with a content provider, the database indexed with a plurality of content items available in a domain, the database including a field to indicate an availability of each of the content items from the content provider, wherein the search result list includes a first content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field;

provide the search result list to the user, the search result list indicating the first content item and indicating to the user that the first content item is unavailable from the content provider; and

provide a first user feedback control associated with the first content item, the first user feedback control to provide feedback that the user desires the content provider to make the first content item available.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the search result list is absent all content items indicated as being available from the content provider based on the field.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the search result list includes a second content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field, wherein the search result list indicates the second content item and indicates to the user that the second content item is unavailable from the content provider, wherein the computer-readable program code causes the computer system to:

provide a second user feedback control associated with the second content item, the second user feedback control to receive feedback that the user desires the content provider to make the second content item available.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of content items comprise a plurality of cinematic movies, wherein the first content item is a first cinematic movie, and wherein the search query is entered using a set-top box.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable program code causes the computer system to:

receive a user selection of the first user feedback control; and

provide a trailer to the first cinematic movie in response to the user selection.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable program code causes the computer system to:

prompt the user to submit feedback associated with the first content item.