SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVANCED INFORMATION SEARCHING IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION

• US 20100121714A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Bryant, Jay S., Haffner, Robin, Fereira, Edgar, Bovenschulte, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.550
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interactive media guidance application that provides improved searching functionality for media information, such as media program listings, media programming information, celebrity information, and other related media information. Search objects may be defined in the entertainment context and applied to media information to enable efficient searching. Different types of media information may be categorized to enable proper organization of search results. A search object query may be performed based on a user entered search expression and the results may be a vertical slice through the organized categories of media information. User submitted tags may also be applied to the media information and used to search the media information. Atomic searching may be enabled for more generic search expressions, whereby an atomic search object is associated with a personalized atomic search algorithm comprised of individual searches. The search algorithm is determined by receiving both user metrics and editorial input. Context sensitive searching may also be provided by defining search objects with different context settings and determining a context setting of the user initiated search.

Claims

1. A method for providing advertisements that are associated with actors, the method comprising:

accessing, using user equipment, a collection of media information and a database of search terms that are relevant to the media information, wherein the media information comprises advertisements;

receiving, at the user equipment, a request for advertisements associated with an actor;

retrieving, from the database, one or more search terms that are associated with the actor;

searching the collection of media information to identify advertisements that are associated with the one or more search terms that are associated with the actor; and

generating a display of the identified advertisements with the user equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the media information further comprises at least one of media program listings, media programming information, celebrity information, photos, videos, audio clips and articles.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the media program listings comprise television program listings.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically defining the search terms.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising editorially defining the search terms.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating the media information with at least one of the search terms in the database.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising automatically associating the media information with at least one of the search terms.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising editorially associating the media information with at least one of the search terms.

9. A system for providing advertisements that are associated with actors, comprising user equipment that is configured to:

access a collection of media information and a database of search terms that are relevant to the media information, wherein the media information comprises advertisements;

receive a request for advertisements associated with an actor;

retrieve, from the database, one or more search terms that are associated with the actor;

search the collection of media information to identify advertisements that are associated with the one or more search terms that are associated with the actor; and

generate a display of the identified advertisements.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the media information further comprises at least one of media program listings, media programming information, celebrity information, photos, videos, audio clips and articles.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the media program listings comprise television program listings.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the user equipment is further configured to automatically define the search terms.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the user equipment is further configured to editorially define the search terms.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the user equipment is further configured to associate the media information with at least one of the search terms in the database.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the user equipment is further configured to automatically associate the media information with at least one of the search terms.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the user equipment is further configured to editorially associate the media information with at least one of the search terms.