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.
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Citations
47 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; grouping sets of program instances by time windows to produce a set of time window identifiers in which each time window identifier is associated with at least one of the time windows; 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 and at least one time window identifier from the set of time window identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. 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; group sets of program instances by time windows to produce a set of time window identifiers in which each time window identifier is associated with at least one of 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 program identifier from the set of program identifiers and at least one time window identifier from the set of time window identifiers.
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41. 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; means for grouping sets of program instances by time windows to produce a set of time window identifiers in which each time window identifier is associated with at least one of the time windows; 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 and at least one time window identifier from the set of time window identifiers.
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42. 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 (43, 44, 45)
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46. 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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47. 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