RANKING SEARCH RESULTS

• US 20110296463A1
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Suslov, Sergei
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for ranking search results are presented. According to one or more aspects, two or more search results may be ranked based on the extent to which each search result matches at least one search criterion and based on the amount of time that content corresponding to each search result will remain available. Content with less availability time remaining may be ranked higher than content with more availability time remaining. The ranking may also be based on a genre of the content being ranked, and availability may be weighted differently in ranking content of different genres.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

ranking two or more search results based on the extent to which each search result matches at least one search criterion and based on the amount of time that content corresponding to each search result will remain available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein content with less availability time remaining is ranked higher than content with more availability time remaining.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ranking is also based on a genre of the content being ranked.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein availability is weighted differently in ranking content of different genres.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein for content of a first genre, the search results are ranked in proportion to the amount of time that the content corresponding to each search result will remain available, and

wherein, for content of a second genre different from the first genre, the search results are ranked in inverse proportion to the amount of time that the content corresponding to each search result will remain available.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

gradually increasing the rank of a live sporting event included in the search results as time elapses; and

gradually decreasing the rank of a movie included in the search results as time elapses.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is linear video programming, wherein at least two programs included in the search results are live sporting events, and wherein the at least two programs are ranked in inverse proportion to their availability time remaining.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is video on demand programming, wherein at least two programs included in the search results are movies, and wherein the at least two programs are ranked in direct proportion to their availability time remaining.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is linear video programming, and wherein content remains available until a scheduled end time associated with the content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is video on demand programming, and wherein the content remains available during a window of time in which the content is accessible at the request of a user.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

rank two or more search results based on the extent to which each search result matches at least one search criterion and based on the amount of time that content corresponding to each search result will remain available.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein content with less availability time remaining is ranked higher than content with more availability time remaining.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ranking is also based on a genre of the content being ranked.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein availability is weighted differently in ranking content of different genres.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein for content of a first genre, the search results are ranked in proportion to the amount of time that the content corresponding to each search result will remain available, and

wherein, for content of a second genre different from the first genre, the search results are ranked in inverse proportion to the amount of time that the content corresponding to each search result will remain available.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

gradually increase the rank of a live sporting event included in the search results as time elapses; and

gradually decrease the rank of a movie included in the search results as time elapses.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the content is linear video programming, wherein at least two programs included in the search results are live sporting events, and wherein the at least two programs are ranked in inverse proportion to their availability time remaining.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the content is video on demand programming, wherein at least two programs included in the search results are movies, and wherein the at least two programs are ranked in direct proportion to their availability time remaining.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the content is linear video programming, and wherein content remains available until a scheduled end time associated with the content.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the content is video on demand programming, and wherein the content remains available during a window of time in which the content is accessible at the request of a user.