Multimedia content search system

• US 9,288,548 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Dubois, Marcel, Chawla, Vin, Beach, Brian, Sanford, Glen, Poniatowski, Robert F., Glennon, Shelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendoza, Junior
• Application Number:
  US12/121,672
• Time in Patent Office: 2,861 Days
• Field of Search: 725/59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7867 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title and artist information, manually generated time, location and usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/232 Content retrieval operation locally within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays storage management G06F3/0604; details of querying and searching of video data from a database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/914 : Video
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 : Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 : Audio

Abstract

Techniques described herein enable a service to receive search requests from client systems and perform an integrated search across databases containing informational data for broadcast content and broadband content. The service receives the search request from the client device and formulates a query for at least one broadband database and at least one partner broadcast database. The service queries each broadband database with a compatible query that the service creates using information regarding the type of database queries each partner'"'"'s database requires. Partners pay the service provider a fee for placing data in the database or for having their database searched by the service. The service formats the data received from the searches of the databases into a user interface screen that is presentable by the client device. The screen information instructs the client device on how it should respond to any key presses by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, a search request from a client device;

creating, at the server, a first search query based on the search request, the first search query compatible with at least one broadcast multimedia content information database;

sending, by the server, the first search query to the at least one broadcast multimedia content information database, each of the at least one broadcast multimedia content information databases including electronic program guide (EPG) information;

receiving, at the server, first search results in response to sending the first search query to the at least one broadcast multimedia content information database, the first search results conforming to a first search result format;

creating, at the server, a second search query based on the search request, the second search query compatible with at least one broadband multimedia content information database;

sending, by the server, the second search query to the at least one broadband multimedia content information database, each of the at least one broadband multimedia content information databases including information related to broadband multimedia content available from at least one broadband multimedia content provider;

receiving, at the server, second search results in response to sending the second search query to the at least one broadband multimedia content information database, the second search results conforming to a second search result format that is different from the first search result format; and

merging, at the server, the first search results and the second search results into a single homogeneous set of search results conforming to a single search result format, and sending the single homogeneous set of search results conforming to the single search result format to the client device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one broadband multimedia content information database is hosted by at least one broadband content provider, the broadband content provider a partner of a service provider that owns or operates the server and a provider of content to subscribers of the service provider.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a partner pays a fee to the service provider for the server to access the partner'"'"'s broadband content information database.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

formatting the single homogeneous set of search results into display information for the client device to display;

sending the display information to the client device.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein formatting the single homogeneous set of search results includes generating a user interface screen that is suitable for the client device to display.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the display information contains user input response instructions for the client device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

creating a compatible query for a particular broadband database using information regarding a type of database queries that the particular broadband database requires.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a client device communicator subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that receives a search request from a client device;

a database query subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that creates a first search query based on the search request, the first search query compatible with at least one broadcast multimedia content information database;

wherein the database query subsystem sends the first search query to the at least one broadcast multimedia content information database, each of the at least one broadcast multimedia content information databases including electronic program guide (EPG) information;

wherein the database query subsystem receives first search results in response to sending the first search query to the at least one broadcast multimedia content information database, the first search results conforming to a first search result format;

wherein the database query subsystem creates a second search query based on the search request, the second search query compatible with at least one broadband content information database;

wherein the database query subsystem sends the second search query to the at least one broadband multimedia content information database, each of the at least one broadband multimedia content information databases including information related to broadband multimedia content available from at least one broadband multimedia content provider;

wherein the database query subsystem receives second search results in response to sending the second search query to the at least one broadband content information database, the second search results conforming to a second search result format that is different from the first search result format; and

wherein the client device communicator subsystem merges the first search results and the second search results into a single homogeneous set of search results conforming to a single search result format, and sends the single homogeneous set of search results conforming to the single search result format to the client device.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one broadband multimedia content information database is hosted by at least one broadband content provider, the broadband content provider a partner of a service provider that owns or operates the server and a provider of content to subscribers of the service provider.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein a partner pays a fee to the service provider for the database query subsystem to access the partner'"'"'s broadband content information database.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a display formatter subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that formats the single homogeneous set of search results into display information for the client device to display;

wherein the client device communicator subsystem sends the display information to the client device.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the display formatter subsystem creates a user interface screen that is suitable for the client device to display.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the display information contains user input response instructions for the client device.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the database query subsystem creates a compatible query for a particular broadband database using information regarding a type of database queries that the particular broadband database requires.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:

receiving, at a server, a search request from a client device;

creating, at the server, a first search query based on the search request, the first search query compatible with at least one broadcast multimedia content information database;

sending, by the server, the first search query to the at least one broadcast multimedia content information database, each of the at least one broadcast multimedia content information databases including electronic program guide (EPG) information;

receiving, at the server, first search results in response to sending the first search query to the at least one broadcast multimedia content information database, the first search results conforming to a first search result format;

creating, at the server, a second search query based on the search request, the second search query compatible with at least one broadband multimedia content information database;

sending, by the server, the second search query to the at least one broadband multimedia content information database, each of the at least one broadband multimedia content information databases including information related to broadband multimedia content available from at least one broadband multimedia content provider;

receiving, at the server, second search results in response to sending the second search query to the at least one broadband multimedia content information database, the second search results conforming to a second search result format that is different from the first search result format; and

merging, at the server, the first search results and the second search results into a single homogeneous set of search results conforming to a single search result format, and sending the single homogeneous set of search results conforming to the single search result format to the client device.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one broadband multimedia content information database is hosted by at least one broadband content provider, the broadband content provider a partner of a service provider that owns or operates the server and a provider of content to subscribers of the service provider.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 16, wherein a partner pays a fee to the service provider for the server to access the partner'"'"'s broadband content information database.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

formatting the single homogeneous set of search results into display information for the client device to display;

sending the display information to the client device.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18, wherein formatting the single homogeneous set of search results includes generating a user interface screen that is suitable for the client device to display.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18, wherein the display information contains user input response instructions for the client device.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

creating a compatible query for a particular broadband database using information regarding a type of database queries that the particular broadband database requires.