Distributed, interactive television program guide; system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for searching a distributed, interactive television program guide database, said system comprising:
- a client, wherein said client is in periodic communication with a server, and wherein said client downloads current program information from said server;
a program guide database resident on said client, wherein said program information is imported into said database;
means for creating an index based on said program information containing unique keys and associated program identifiers for said database;
an interactive viewer interface for picking programs to record on said client displayed on a display means in communication with said client;
means for interacting with said viewer interface by a viewer;
wherein said viewer interface incorporates a prefix matching feature that displays items in said database having prefixes that match the viewer'"'"'s alphanumeric input as said viewer enters the alphanumeric input; and
means for searching said database by comparing said unique keys in said index to viewer alphanumeric input according to at least one of;
program title;
indexed program attributes; and
key words.
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Abstract
In an interactive network-based personal video recording system, a user interface is provided that allows viewers to search a database of program guide information according to program title, indexed program attributes such as actor and director, and key workd. Viewer interaction is by way of a remote control unit.
212 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A system for searching a distributed, interactive television program guide database, said system comprising:
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a client, wherein said client is in periodic communication with a server, and wherein said client downloads current program information from said server; a program guide database resident on said client, wherein said program information is imported into said database; means for creating an index based on said program information containing unique keys and associated program identifiers for said database; an interactive viewer interface for picking programs to record on said client displayed on a display means in communication with said client; means for interacting with said viewer interface by a viewer; wherein said viewer interface incorporates a prefix matching feature that displays items in said database having prefixes that match the viewer'"'"'s alphanumeric input as said viewer enters the alphanumeric input; and means for searching said database by comparing said unique keys in said index to viewer alphanumeric input according to at least one of; program title; indexed program attributes; and key words. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of searching a distributed, interactive television program guide database, comprising:
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importing program information into a program guide database resident on a client; wherein said client is in periodic communication with a server, and wherein said client downloads current program information from said server; creating an index based on said program information containing unique keys and associated program identifiers for said database; interacting with a viewer via an interactive viewer interface for picking programs to record on said client displayed on a display means in communication with said client; wherein said viewer interface incorporates a prefix matching feature that displays items in said database having prefixes that match the viewer'"'"'s alphanumeric input as said viewer enters the alphanumeric input; and searching said database by comparing said unique keys in said index to viewer alphanumeric input according to at least one of; program title; indexed program attributes; and key words. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification