Single Access Method for Multiple Media Sources

• US 20130166546A1
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Daney, Johannes P. Schmidt, Kevin Shen, Steven S. Francis
• Original Assignee: David Daney, Johannes P. Schmidt, Kevin Shen, Steven S. Francis
• Inventors: Shen, Kevin, Daney, David, Schmidt, Johannes P., Francis, Steven S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,110,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles

Abstract

Method and systems for searching for media instances of interest to a user are described. User input specifying criteria for content is received and parameters are defined based on the user input. A plurality of databases are searched for media instances meeting the defined parameters, wherein the plurality of databases includes at least one database containing broadcast television content information and at least one database containing non-broadcast television content information. Information about the media instances meeting the defined parameters is retrieved from the plurality of databases. The retrieved information is provided to the user.

Claims

1. A method for searching for media of interest to a user, comprising:

finding groups of reviews of media instances where each media instance is assigned a review, wherein the media instances are grouped according to a reviewer who assigned the review to the media instance;

correlating a group of reviews to the user according to the reviews in the group and information known about the user'"'"'s media interests; and

selecting a media instance from the correlated group that is potentially of interest to the user, wherein the selected media instance is assigned a favorable review by the reviewer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a preview of one or more of the selected media instance.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing information to the user for acquiring the selected media instance.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing information to the user for acquiring the selected media instance includes providing a schedule for a broadcast of entertainment content.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing information to the user for acquiring the selected media instance includes presenting the user with an option to purchase, license or place an order for the media instance.

6. The method of claim 1 including:

receiving an indication from the user during presentation of a media instance that the user is interested in;

searching for the related media instances and retrieving information about related media instances; and

presenting to the user a representation of the information about the related media instances.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the indication from the user occurs during presentation of a media instance that is broadcast.

8. The method of claim 1 including:

retrieving a plurality of lists of media instances that are of interest to a plurality of users in a group;

determining from the lists media instances that are of interest to all members of the group; and

displaying information about the media instances that are of interest to all the members of the group.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

retrieving the plurality of lists includes retrieving a plurality of lists that include media instances that have a ranking assigned to each media instance; and

displaying the information about the media instances that are of interest to all members of the group includes displaying the media instances in a ranked order.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising sending the information about the media instances to a personal communications device.

11. A computer readable storage media storing instructions executed by a computer to perform a sequence to search for media of interest to a user, said sequence comprising:

finding groups of reviews of media instances where each media instance is assigned a review, wherein the media instances are grouped according to a reviewer who assigned the review to the media instance;

correlating a group of reviews to the user according to the reviews in the group and information known about the user'"'"'s media interests; and

selecting a media instance from the correlated group that is potentially of interest to the user, wherein the selected media instance is assigned a favorable review by the reviewer.

12. The media of claim 11, said sequence further comprising providing a preview of one or more of the selected media instance.

13. The media of claim 11, said sequence further comprising providing information to the user for acquiring the selected media instance.

14. The media of claim 13, wherein providing information to the user for acquiring the selected media instance includes providing a schedule for a broadcast of entertainment content.

15. The media of claim 14, wherein providing information to the user for acquiring the selected media instance includes presenting the user with an option to purchase, license or place an order for the media instance.

16. The media of claim 11, said sequence including:

receiving an indication from the user during presentation of a media instance that the user is interested in;

searching for the related media instances and retrieving information about related media instances; and

presenting to the user a representation of the information about the related media instances.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein receiving the indication from the user occurs during presentation of a media instance that is broadcast.

18. The method of claim 11, said sequence including:

retrieving a plurality of lists of media instances that are of interest to a plurality of users in a group;

determining from the lists media instances that are of interest to all members of the group; and

displaying information about the media instances that are of interest to all the members of the group.

19. The media of claim 18, wherein:

retrieving the plurality of lists includes retrieving a plurality of lists that include media instances that have a ranking assigned to each media instance; and

displaying the information about the media instances that are of interest to all members of the group includes displaying the media instances in a ranked order.

20. The media of claim 18, said sequence further comprising sending the information about the media instances to a personal communications device.