Systems and methods for providing advanced information searching in an interactive media guidance application

• US 8,301,632 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• 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: Bovenschulte, David, Fereira, Edgar, Haffner, Robin, Bryant, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOSER, BRUCE M
• Application Number:
  US12/568,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/999.104, 707/769, 707/3, 707/999.003, 707/999.107, 707/999.102, 707/715, 707/728, 707/738, 707/749, 707/733, 707/741, 707/771
• US Class Current: 707/738
• 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, wherein the media information comprises a plurality of advertisements;

receiving, at the user equipment, user input requesting advertisements associated with an actor, wherein the user input comprises a search expression that includes a name of the actor;

generating based on the user input a plurality of search terms that are associated with the actor, wherein one of the search terms is different from the name of the actor;

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

generating a display based on 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 search term in a database of search terms.

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. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the display comprises generating a display of advertisements based on a personalized set of search terms.

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

access a collection of media information, wherein the media information comprises a plurality of advertisements;

receive user input requesting advertisements associated with an actor, wherein the user input comprises a search expression that includes a name of the actor;

generate based on the user input a plurality of search terms that are associated with the actor, wherein one of the search terms is different from the name of the actor;

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

generate a display based on the identified advertisements.

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

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

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the user equipment is further configured to automatically define the search terms.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the user equipment is further configured to editorially define the search terms.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the user equipment is further configured to associate the media information with at least one search term in a database of search terms.

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

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

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the user equipment is further configured to generate the display of advertisements based on a personalized set of search terms.