Method and system for performing an alphabetic search using a single application of keys

• US 8,341,676 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US09/996,456
• Time in Patent Office: 4,045 Days
• Field of Search: 707/5, 725/45, 725/53, 725/52
• US Class Current: 725/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

A method and system for performing an alphabetic search using a single application of keys is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for selecting a program title using an alpha-numeric keypad, comprises gathering one or more searchable items from a broadcast source; generating a dynamic directory of the one or more searchable items by a set-top box; narrowing the scope of the dynamic directory upon receiving a narrowing command from the keypad; receiving a partial program title from the keypad at the set-top box; returning a list of possible selections by the set-top box, wherein the list includes the program title; and receiving a subselector key selector signal from the keypad at the set-top box, wherein the subselector key selector signal selects the program title.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a program title, comprising:

generating a dynamic directory of one or more searchable items, wherein the items correspond to a list of currently available programs from a broadcast source;

receiving a narrowing command from an alpha-numeric keypad comprising a plurality of number buttons, the narrowing command corresponding to one or more of a program genre, text description, abstract, and time range;

narrowing the scope of the dynamic directory based on the narrowing command;

receiving numeric input from the keypad corresponding to a user selection of one or more of the plurality of number buttons, wherein each of the plurality of number buttons is permanently associated with a distinct set of letters of an alphabet;

determining based on the numeric input a string comprising one or more letters corresponding to a partial program title;

identifying a subset of the programs in the narrowed dynamic directory matching the partial program title;

displaying the matching subset of programs, wherein each program in the subset is visually associated with a numerical value in the display; and

receiving a numerical value selection from the keypad and selecting the program from the subset of programs associated with selected numerical value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the searchable items include titles, genres, textual descriptions, abstracts, and times.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of matching programs comprises one or more programs with multiple word titles wherein a word other than the first word in the title matches the received partial program title.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the string corresponding to the partial program title comprises a wildcard character.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of number buttons is associated with the letters of the alphabet such that every letter of the alphabet is permanently associated with exactly one number button.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the keypad comprises an additional number button not in the plurality of number buttons, the additional number button associated with a wildcard character.

7. A system for selecting a program title, comprising:

means for generating a dynamic directory of one or more searchable items, wherein the items correspond to a list of currently available programs from a broadcast source;

means for receiving a narrowing command from an alpha-numeric keypad comprising a plurality of number buttons, the narrowing command corresponding to one or more of a program genre, text description, abstract, and time range;

means for narrowing the scope of the dynamic directory based on the narrowing command;

means for receiving numeric input from the keypad corresponding to a user selection of one or more of the plurality of number buttons, wherein each of the plurality of number buttons is permanently associated with a distinct set of letters of an alphabet;

means for determining based on the numeric input a string comprising one or more letters corresponding to a partial program title;

means for identifying a subset of the programs in the narrowed dynamic directory matching the partial program title;

means for displaying the matching subset of programs, wherein each program in the subset is visually associated with a numerical value in the display; and

means for receiving a numerical value selection from the keypad and selecting the program from the subset of programs associated with selected numerical value.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the searchable items include titles, genres, textual descriptions, abstracts, and times.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the string corresponding to the partial program title comprises a wildcard character.

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for selecting a program title, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

generating a dynamic directory of one or more searchable items, wherein the items correspond to a list of currently available programs from a broadcast source;

receiving a narrowing command from an alpha-numeric keypad comprising a plurality of number buttons, the narrowing command corresponding to one or more of a program genre, text description, abstract, and time range;

narrowing the scope of the dynamic directory based on the narrowing command;

receiving numeric input from the keypad corresponding to a user selection of one or more of the plurality of number buttons, wherein each of the plurality of number buttons is permanently associated with a distinct set of letters of an alphabet;

determining based on the numeric input a string comprising one or more letters corresponding to a partial program title;

identifying a subset of the programs in the narrowed dynamic directory matching the partial program title;

displaying the matching subset of programs, wherein each program in the subset is visually associated with a numerical value in the display; and

receiving a numerical value selection from the keypad and selecting the program from the subset of programs associated with selected numerical value.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the searchable items include titles, genres, textual descriptions, abstracts, and times.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the string corresponding to the partial program title comprises a wildcard character.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor controlling operations of the electronic device; and

a storage device configured to store computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to perform a method comprising;

generating a dynamic directory of one or more searchable items, wherein the items correspond to a list of currently available programs from a broadcast source;

receiving a narrowing command from an alpha-numeric keypad comprising a plurality of number buttons, the narrowing command corresponding to one or more of a program genre, text description, abstract, and time range;

narrowing the scope of the dynamic directory based on the narrowing command;

receiving numeric input from the keypad corresponding to a user selection of one or more of the plurality of number buttons, wherein each of the plurality of number buttons is permanently associated with a distinct set of letters of an alphabet;

determining based on the numeric input a string comprising one or more letters corresponding to a partial program title;

identifying a subset of the programs in the narrowed dynamic directory matching the partial program title;

displaying the matching subset of programs, wherein each program in the subset is visually associated with a numerical value in the display; and

receiving a numerical value selection from the keypad and selecting the program from the subset of programs associated with selected numerical value.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the searchable items include titles, genres, textual descriptions, abstracts, and times.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the subset of matching programs comprises one or more programs with multiple word titles wherein a word other than the first word in the title matches the received partial program title.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the string corresponding to the partial program title comprises a wildcard character.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of number buttons is associated with the letters of the alphabet such that every letter of the alphabet is permanently associated with exactly one number button.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the keypad comprises an additional number button not in the plurality of number buttons, the additional number button associated with a wildcard character.