Method for searching of an electronic program guide
First Claim
1. A method for assisting a user in selecting a program for viewing or listening, comprising steps of:
- periodically receiving and storing electronic program guide information comprising records for forthcoming programs, each of the records having at least six user selectable search fields;
enabling display of a first user interface for facilitating user selection of a text string and user selection of the at least six user selectable search fields;
searching the electronic program guide information for records having the user selected text string in one or more of the at least six user selected search fields in response to a user command; and
enabling display of a second user interface including a list of the forthcoming programs corresponding to the records identified in the searching step.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for assisting a user in selecting a program for viewing or listening comprising periodically receiving and storing electronic program guide information comprising records for forthcoming programs, the records having a plurality of fields; receiving a user selected text string and one more user selected fields; searching the program guide information for records having the user selected text string in one or more of the user selected fields; and displaying a list of the forthcoming programs corresponding to the matching records. This invention allows for more efficient and reliable searches of an electronic program guide for user desired programming.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for assisting a user in selecting a program for viewing or listening, comprising steps of:
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periodically receiving and storing electronic program guide information comprising records for forthcoming programs, each of the records having at least six user selectable search fields; enabling display of a first user interface for facilitating user selection of a text string and user selection of the at least six user selectable search fields; searching the electronic program guide information for records having the user selected text string in one or more of the at least six user selected search fields in response to a user command; and enabling display of a second user interface including a list of the forthcoming programs corresponding to the records identified in the searching step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for assisting a user in selecting a program for viewing or listening, comprising:
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control means for periodically receiving and storing electronic program guide information comprising records for forthcoming programs, each of the records having at least six user selectable search fields; interface means for enabling display of a first user interface for facilitating user selection of a text string and user selection of the at least six user selectable search fields; said control means searching the electronic program guide information for one or more of the records having the user selected text string in one or more of the at least six user selected search fields in response to a user command; and said interface means enabling display of a second user interface including a list of the forthcoming programs corresponding to the records identified during the search. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification