System For Handling Program Meta-Data
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of accessing program meta-data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers, at least one of the virtual containers comprising normalized program meta-data of programs having instances in a plurality of time windows, receiving an input indicating a selected time window, the input at least one of comprises and refers to a time-window identifier identifying the selected time window, and using the time-window identifier to filter the plurality of virtual containers, so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which corresponds to the selected time window. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
19 Citations
61 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A method of grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the method comprising:
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scanning the program meta-data to determine program instances which have substantially equal meta-data;
grouping the program meta-data into groups so that each group refers to a set of program instances that have substantially equal meta-data, each set of program instances comprising at least one program instance, and so that meta-data associated with any one group is different from meta-data associated with every other group;
assigning each group a unique program identifier, thereby producing a set of program identifiers;
placing the program meta-data in virtual containers; and
associating each virtual container with at least one program identifier from the set of program identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of accessing program meta-data, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers and program identifiers associated with the virtual containers, each of the program identifiers identifying a program that has meta-data which is different from meta-data of a program identified by every other program identifier;
receiving an input indicating a selected program, the input at least one of comprising and referring to a program identifier identifying the selected program; and
using the program identifier to filter the virtual containers so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which is comprised in a virtual container, the subset of the program meta-data corresponding to the selected program. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the method comprising:
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selecting time windows according to a non-linear time base in which the time windows are computed on a basis other than a polynomial of a first degree of a time unit quantity, whereby at least some of the time windows have lengths which are different from lengths of other time windows;
assigning each of the time windows a unique time-window identifier, thereby producing a set of time-window identifiers;
grouping the program meta-data by the time windows;
placing the program meta-data in virtual containers; and
associating each virtual container with at least one time-window identifier from the set of time-window identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. Apparatus for grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the apparatus comprising:
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a meta-data processor which is operative to perform the following;
scan the program meta-data to determine program instances which have substantially equal meta-data;
group the program meta-data into groups so that each group refers to a set of program instances that have substantially equal meta-data, each set of program instances comprising at least one program instance, and so that meta-data associated with any one group is different from meta-data associated with every other group; and
assign each group a unique program identifier, thereby producing a set of program identifiers; and
an encapsulation unit which is operative to place the program meta-data in virtual containers, and to associate each virtual container with at least one program identifier from the set of program identifiers.
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57. Apparatus for accessing program meta-data, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver which is operative to receive a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers and program identifiers associated with the virtual containers, each of the program identifiers identifying a program that has meta-data which is different from meta-data of a program identified by another program identifier;
an input unit which is operative to receive an input indicating a selected program, the input at least one of comprising and referring to a program identifier identifying the selected program; and
a processor which is operative to use the program identifier to filter the virtual containers so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which is comprised in a virtual container, the subset of the program meta-data corresponding to the selected program.
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58. Apparatus for grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the apparatus comprising:
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a meta-data processor which is operative to perform the following;
select time windows according to a non-linear time base in which the time windows are computed on a basis other than a polynomial of a first degree of a time unit quantity, whereby at least some of the time windows have lengths which are different from lengths of other time windows;
assign each of the time windows a unique time-window identifier, thereby producing a set of time-window identifiers; and
group the program meta-data by the time windows; and
an encapsulation unit which is operative to place the program meta-data in virtual containers, and to associate each virtual container with at least one time-window identifier from the set of time-window identifiers.
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59. Apparatus for grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the apparatus comprising:
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means for scanning the program meta-data to determine program instances which have substantially equal meta-data, for grouping the program meta-data into groups so that each group refers to a set of program instances that have substantially equal meta-data, each set of program instances comprising at least one program instance, and so that meta-data associated with any one group is different from meta-data associated with every other group, and for assigning each group a unique program identifier, thereby producing a set of program identifiers; and
means for placing the program meta-data in virtual containers, and for associating each virtual container with at least one program identifier from the set of program identifiers.
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60. Apparatus for accessing program meta-data, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers and program identifiers associated with the virtual containers, each of the program identifiers identifying a program that has meta-data which is different from meta-data of a program identified by another program identifier;
means for receiving an input indicating a selected program, the input at least one of comprising and referring to a program identifier identifying the selected program; and
means for using the program identifier to filter the virtual containers so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which is comprised in a virtual container, the subset of the program meta-data corresponding to the selected program.
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61. Apparatus for grouping program meta-data which relates to a plurality of programs, the apparatus comprising:
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means for selecting time windows according to a non-linear time base in which the time windows are computed on a basis other than a polynomial of a first degree of a time unit quantity, whereby at least some of the time windows have lengths which are different from lengths of other time windows, for assigning each of the time windows a unique time-window identifier, thereby producing a set of time-window identifiers, and for grouping the program meta-data by the time windows; and
means for placing the program meta-data in virtual containers, and for associating each virtual container with at least one time-window identifier from the set of time-window identifiers.
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Specification