Method and apparatus for searching data sources for entertainment systems

• US 9,106,957 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Koivuniemi, Tapio I., Tuononen, Tuomas A., Koivikko, Jarkko, Kinnunen, Teijo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS, SHAUN A
• Application Number:
  US13/587,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 704/257, 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275, 725/53
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for searching for content to display on a digitally-tunable electronic device configured to display scheduled programming content. The method comprises receiving a search query from a user, and determining, based on the search query, an action the user wants to perform. The method further comprises determining one or more data sources to search based, at least in part, on the action the user wants to perform, and searching based, at least in part, on the search query, the one or more data sources for the content to display on the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of searching for content to display and/or playback on a digitally-tunable electronic device configured to display scheduled programming content, the method comprising:

receiving a search query from a user, wherein the search query comprises a search for the content to display and/or playback on the electronic device, wherein the search query comprises voice input;

determining, based on the search query, an action the user wants to perform, wherein the action is related to the display and/or playback of content specified in the search query;

determining from among a plurality of data sources, at least two data sources to search based, at least in part, on the action the user wants to perform;

storing one or more rules associating a particular type of action with a particular order for searching the at least two data sources; and

searching based, at least in part, on the search query, the at least two data sources for the content to display and/or playback on the electronic device, wherein searching the at least two data sources comprises searching the at least two data sources in the particular order specified by the one or more rules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the action the user wants to perform comprises determining that the user wants to listen to media content, and wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining a music data source as at least one of the at least two data sources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the action the user wants to perform comprises determining that the user wants to watch media content, and wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining at least one scheduled programming content source as at least one of the at least two data sources.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein searching the at least two data sources comprises searching all available data sources.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving search results from the at least two data sources; and

presenting the search results on a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining a first data source associated with first content and a second data source associated with second content as two of the at least two data sources, wherein the first content and the second content are different types of content.

7. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, perform a method of searching for content to display and/or playback on a digitally-tunable electronic device configured to display scheduled programming content, the method comprising:

receiving a search query from a user, wherein the search query comprises a search for the content to display and/or playback on the electronic device, wherein the search query comprises voice input;

determining, based on the search query, an action the user wants to perform, wherein the action is related to the display and/or playback of content specified in the search query;

determining from among a plurality of data sources, at least two data sources to search based, at least in part, on the action the user wants to perform;

storing one or more rules associating a particular type of action with a particular order for searching the at least two data sources; and

searching based, at least in part, on the search query, the at least two data sources for the content to display and/or playback on the electronic device, wherein searching the at least two data sources comprises searching the at least two data sources in the particular order specified by the one or more rules.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining the action the user wants to perform comprises determining that the user wants to listen to media content, and wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining a music data source as at least one of the at least two data sources.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining the action the user wants to perform comprises determining that the user wants to watch media content, and wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining at least one scheduled programming content source as at least one of the at least two data sources.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein searching the at least two data sources comprises searching all available data sources.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving search results from the at least two data sources; and

presenting the search results on a user interface.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining a first data source associated with first content and a second data source associated with second content as two of the at least two data sources, wherein the first content and the second content are different types of content.

13. A digitally-tunable electronic device configured to display scheduled programming content, the electronic device comprising:

at least one processor programmed to;

receive a search query from a user, wherein the search query comprises a search for content to display and/or playback on the electronic device, wherein the search query comprises voice input;

determine, based on the search query, an action the user wants to perform, wherein the action is related to the display and/or playback of content specified in the search query;

determine from among a plurality of data sources, at least two data sources to search based, at least in part, on the action the user wants to perform;

store one or more rules associating a particular type of action with a particular order for searching the at least two data sources; and

search based, at least in part, on the search query, the at least two data sources for the content to display and/or playback on the electronic device, wherein searching the at least two data sources comprises searching the at least two data sources in the particular order specified by the one or more rules.

14. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 13, wherein determining the action the user wants to perform comprises determining that the user wants to listen to media content, and wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining a music data source as at least one of the at least two data sources.

15. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 13, wherein determining the action the user wants to perform comprises determining that the user wants to watch media content, and wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining at least one scheduled programming content source as at least one of the at least two data sources.

16. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 13, wherein searching the at least two data sources comprises searching all available data sources.

17. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 13, wherein determining at least two data sources to search comprises determining a first data source associated with first content and a second data source associated with second content as two of the at least two data sources, wherein the first content and the second content are different types of content.