Method and system for presenting content selection options

• US 6,615,248 B1
• Filed: 08/16/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Smith, Kim C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B.
• Application Number:
  US09/374,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/203, 709/250, 709/231, 707/10, 345/721, 345/781
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A method and system for enabling content from a plurality of content sources of one or more types to be searched, displayed, and easily accessed for consumption. A user may concurrently view a plurality of display areas, including a tuned media display area, a page index display area, a search results area, an area for displaying links to alternate guides or search engines. The page index area includes links to pages that contain search results, as well as links to user defined category pages. The search results area displays search results as user-selectable links. Associated with each displayed search result are additional selectable objects that allows a user to search for related content. A display options feature allows a user to select the level of detail presented in the other display areas.

Claims

1. A method for searching, accessing and displaying data from various content sources through a single user interface comprising the following steps:

providing a first user selectable object via said single user interface;

providing a second user selectable object via said single user interface;

said first user selectable object being a link to a first content source, wherein said first content source is a data source of probable user interest based upon user preferences and habits;

said second user selectable object being a link to a second content source,

wherein said second content source differs from said first content source;

receiving a user generated search query;

searching through data available from said first content source and from said second content source for data related to said user generated search query;

displaying results of data found from at least one of said first content source or said second content source determined to be related to said user generated search query,

storing said found data related to said user generated search query in an updated page link;

enabling subsequent retrieval of said stored found data via said updated page link without requiring a corresponding subsequent search;

providing a page index comprising said updated page link; and

providing a user with a first selectable link for accessing a first relevant data from said found data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first content source is an electronic program guide.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second content source is the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a third selectable object associated with said first relevant data; and

enabling said third selectable object to initiate a search for data related to said first relevant data from a third content source.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a display options object for controlling a level of detail presented.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying tuned media content concurrently with a display of said first and second user selectable objects.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said user preferences and habits are based upon a usage pattern associated with a time of day.

8. A system for searching, accessing and displaying data from various content sources through a single user interface comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor; and

a program of instructions configured to be executed by said processor and stored in said memory, said program of instructions including instructions configured to execute the following steps;

providing a first user selectable object via said single user interface;

providing a second user selectable object via said single user interface;

said first user selectable object being a link to a first content source, wherein said first content source is a data source of probable user interest based upon user preferences and habits;

said second user selectable object being a link to a second content source, wherein said second content source differs from said first content source;

receiving a user generated search query;

searching through data available from said first content source and from said second content source for data related to said user generated search query;

displaying results of data found from at least one of said first content source or said second content source determined to be related to said user generated search query, and

providing a user with a first selectable link for accessing a first relevant data from said found data;

wherein said program of instructions is further configured to store said found data related to said user generated search query in an updated page link, to enable subsequent retrieval of said stored found data via said updated page link without requiring a corresponding subsequent search, and to provide a page index comprising said updated page link.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first content source is an electronic program guide.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said second content source is the Internet.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said program of instructions is further configured to display a third selectable object associated with said first relevant data, and enabling said third selectable object to initiate a search for data related to said first relevant data from a third content source.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said program of instructions is further configured to provide a display options object for controlling a level of detail presented.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said program of instructions is further configured to display tuned media content concurrently with a display of said first and second user selectable objects.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said user preferences and habits are based upon a usage pattern associated with a time of day.

15. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions implementing a method for searching, accessing and displaying data from various content sources through a single user interface comprising the following steps:

providing a first user selectable object via said single user interface;

providing a second user selectable object via said single user interface;

said first user selectable object being a link to a first content source, wherein said first content source is a data source of probable user interest based upon user preferences and habits;

said second user selectable object being a link to a second content source,

wherein said second content source differs from said first content source;

receiving a user generated search query;

searching through data available from said first content source and from said second content source for data related to said user generated search query;

displaying results of data found from at least one of said first content source or said second content source determined to be related to said user generated search query;

storing said found data related to said user generated search query in an updated page link;

enabling subsequent retrieval of said stored found data via said updated page link without requiring a corresponding subsequent search;

providing a page index comprising said updated page link; and

providing a user with a first selectable link for accessing a first relevant data from said found data.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first content source is an electronic program guide.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said second content source is the Internet.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

displaying a third selectable object associated with said first relevant data; and

enabling said third selectable object to initiate a search for data related to said first relevant data from a third content source.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises the step of providing a display options object for controlling a level of detail presented.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying tuned media content concurrently with a display of said first and second user selectable objects.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said user preferences and habits are based upon a usage pattern associated with a time of day.