Computer-implemented systems and methods for media asset searching and access

• US 20080120294A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: X-Com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: X-Com Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Ruddman
• Application Number:
  US11/601,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120294A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods for handling media assets in a networked environment. Media assets located in a data store are searched and through use of a level of relatedness algorithm, a subset of media assets are returned to a user'"'"'s device. The subset of media assets are displayed in a tiered arrangement to a user.

Claims

1. A method for operation upon a device having a processor, comprising:

receiving search input from a user for searching a plurality of media digital assets stored in a data store;

wherein metadata is associated with the media digital assets;

using the metadata associated with the media digital assets to determine an asset'"'"'s relevance with respect to the received search input;

ranking the media digital assets based upon the determined assets'"'"' relevance;

retrieving media digital assets from the data store based upon the ranking of the media digital assets;

automatically displaying the retrieved media digital assets on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a data structure is used to associate the metadata with the media digital assets;

wherein only a pre-specified list of values populate the data structure, thereby preventing users from providing random key words for searching.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the media digital assets are associated with a pre-specified category, thereby allowing focused terms to be used to populate the data structure.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user is guided by a predictive database search mechanism which matches keywords pre-existing in the data structure to what the user is entering.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes a hierarchical category structure to indicate that a first category is more important than a second category.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

scoring a key word within the data structure in order to weight the search results.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said ranking includes a first determination of a degree of separation based upon the metadata associated with the media digital assets.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

identifying a group of media digital assets based upon said first determination of degree of separation;

performing a second determination of a degree of separation based upon the metadata associated with the identified group of media digital assets.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a pre-specified criterion determines number of widgets to be displayed to the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more search key words are associated with an advertiser.

11. The method of claim 11, wherein an auction is used to determine which search key words are to be associated with the advertiser.

12. A system for operation upon a device having a processor, comprising:

software instructions to receive search input from a user for searching a plurality of media digital assets stored in a data store;

wherein metadata is associated with the media digital assets;

wherein the metadata associated with the media digital assets is used to determine an asset'"'"'s relevance with respect to the received search input;

software instructions to rank the media digital assets based upon the determined assets'"'"' relevance;

software instructions to retrieve media digital assets from the data store based upon the ranking of the media digital assets;

wherein the retrieved media digital assets are automatically displayed on a display device.

13. Computer software stored on one or more computer readable mediums, the computer software comprising program code for carrying out a method comprising the steps of:

receiving search input from a user for searching a plurality of media digital assets stored in a data store;

wherein metadata is associated with the media digital assets;

using the metadata associated with the media digital assets to determine an asset'"'"'s relevance with respect to the received search input;

ranking the media digital assets based upon the determined assets'"'"' relevance;

retrieving media digital assets from the data store based upon the ranking of the media digital assets;

automatically displaying the retrieved media digital assets on a display device.