Integrated searching system for interactive media guide
First Claim
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1. A method for enabling a user to search for media programs, the method comprising:
- enabling a user to record a first set of media programs in a first storage device associated with a digital personal video recorder (PVR);
storing media information corresponding to the recorded first set of media programs in the first storage device, the media information including information related to at least a title and media type for each media program;
receiving media information corresponding to a second set of media programs that are currently being broadcast;
receiving media information corresponding to a third set of media programs that are to be broadcast in the future;
storing the media information corresponding to the second and third sets of media programs in a second storage device;
providing to the user a search option to search for media programs;
responsive to the user activating the search option, enabling the user to enter a search term;
responsive to the user entering a search term, searching the first and second storage devices for media information having a high level of correlation with the search term; and
providing a list of media programs corresponding to the media information having a high level of correlation with the search term.
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Abstract
The invention may be viewed as a system for providing media services to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes receiving user input, searching media information stored in memory, and providing the user with a search result that is related to user input.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method for enabling a user to search for media programs, the method comprising:
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enabling a user to record a first set of media programs in a first storage device associated with a digital personal video recorder (PVR); storing media information corresponding to the recorded first set of media programs in the first storage device, the media information including information related to at least a title and media type for each media program; receiving media information corresponding to a second set of media programs that are currently being broadcast; receiving media information corresponding to a third set of media programs that are to be broadcast in the future; storing the media information corresponding to the second and third sets of media programs in a second storage device; providing to the user a search option to search for media programs; responsive to the user activating the search option, enabling the user to enter a search term; responsive to the user entering a search term, searching the first and second storage devices for media information having a high level of correlation with the search term; and providing a list of media programs corresponding to the media information having a high level of correlation with the search term. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. The method of claim, further comprising:
when the media information in the second storage device includes information indicating that a particular media program is available via a subscription service, providing, with the list of media programs, an indication that the particular media program is available via the subscription service.
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21. An interactive media services system comprising:
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memory for storing media information, the media information including information related to a title, start time, and media type for each of a plurality of media programs; a software program stored in the memory, the software program comprising a plurality of executable functions; a processor configured to execute the software program, wherein executing the software program includes; enabling a user to record in the memory a first set of media programs associated with a personal video recorder (PVR); storing media information corresponding to the first set of recorded media programs in the memory; receiving media information corresponding to a second set of media programs that are currently being broadcast or are to be broadcast in the future; storing the media information corresponding to the second set of media programs in the memory; providing to the user a search option to search for media programs; responsive to the user activating the search option, enabling the user to enter a search term; responsive to the user entering a search term, searching the memory for media information, corresponding to the first set of media programs and the second set of media programs, having a high level of correlation with the search term; and providing a list of media programs corresponding to the media information having a high level of correlation with the search term. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A set-top terminal (STT) comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a plurality of media programs and a plurality of media information, each one of the plurality of media information corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of media programs; a storage device in communication with a personal video recorder (PVR); memory storing program code thereon; a processor configured by the program code to; record one of the plurality of media programs on the PVR; store a first one of the plurality of media information on the storage device, the first one of the plurality of media information describing the recorded one of the plurality of media programs; store a second one of the plurality of media information on the storage device, the second one of the plurality of media information describing media programs that are currently being broadcast or are to be broadcast in the future; provide a search option to enable the user to enter a search term; responsive to the search term, search the first and second ones of the plurality of media information to find media information having a high level of correlation with the search term; and provide a list of media programs which correspond to the media information having a high level of correlation with the search term. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification