Systems and methods for search and categorization

• US 9,900,648 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Volkman, William, Chen, Mi, Minnick, Danny J., McAuliffe, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US15/243,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20170055040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44226 on social networks
• 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 21/4826 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 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure include techniques for dynamically generating a results list based on real-time data gathered from a television receiver, user interaction, and other resources. The systems and methods may include receiving, via the one or more tuners, from the television service provider distribution network, a set of television data, wherein the television data is associated with programming of multiple television channels, receiving a set of user data, wherein the user data includes data associated with a user of the television receiver, receiving an input from the user, wherein the input indicates a preference for a search, determining a list of input results based on the set of television data, the set of user data, and the input, and transmitting the list of television input results, wherein when the list of television input results is received, the list of television input results is displayable on the display device.

Claims

1. A television receiver for generating input results, the television receiver comprising:

one or more tuners configured to receive television programming via a television service provider distribution network;

a television interface configured to output the television programming to a display device;

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, via the one or more tuners, from the television service provider distribution network, a set of television data, wherein the set of television data is associated with programming of multiple television channels;

receive a set of user data, wherein;

the set of user data is indicative of user preferences determined over a period of time based on user interactions with the television receiver, the user preferences being at least partially based on;

a genre of television programming being output by the television receiver for viewing at least a threshold amount of time;

receive an input from a user, wherein the input is a string of characters representing a partial search string;

in response to receiving the input from the user, determine a list of input results based on the set of television data, the set of user data, and the partial search string, wherein;

determining the list of inputs is performed in response to input of a character of the string of characters, wherein each input of the list of inputs is intended to accurately represent an intent of the input from the user; and

the list of input results comprises a group input result, the group input result being a single result that is representative of a television series that is associated with multiple episodes;

transmit the list of input results to the television interface for display;

receive additional input from the user comprising additional characters added to the string of characters representing the partial search string;

determine that a predefined number of characters has been reached in length by the partial search string having the additional characters that partially spells out the group input result; and

in response to determining that the predefined number of characters of the group input result has been spelled out by the partial search string having the additional characters, transmit an indication of the multiple episodes corresponding to the group to the television interface for display.

2. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the set of television data includes predetermined television programming information related to the multiple television channels.

3. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the set of television data includes data related to an environment of the television receiver.

4. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the list of input results includes a ranking of results, wherein the ranking of the results is determined based on the set of television data, the set of user data, and the input.

5. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more tuners, from a television service provider distribution network, a set of television data, wherein the set of television data is associated with programming of multiple television channels;

receiving a set of user data, wherein;

the set of user data is indicative of user preferences determined over a period of time based on user interactions with a television receiver;

receiving an input from a user, wherein the input is a string of characters representing a partial search string;

in response to receiving the input from the user, determining a list of input results based on the set of television data, the set of user data, and the partial search string, wherein;

determining the list of inputs is performed in response to input of a character of the string of characters, wherein each input of the list of inputs is intended to accurately represent an intent of the input from a user; and

the list of input results comprises a group input result, the group input result being a single result that is representative of a television series that is associated with multiple episodes;

transmitting the list of input results to a display device;

receiving additional input from the user comprising additional characters added to the string of characters representing the partial search string;

determining that a predefined number of characters has been reached in length by the partial search string having the additional characters that partially spells out the group input result; and

in response to determining that the predefined number of characters of the group input result has been spelled out by the partial search string having the additional characters, transmitting an indication of the multiple episodes corresponding to the group to the display device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of television data includes predetermined television programming information related to the multiple television channels.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of television data includes data related to an environment of the television receiver.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the list of input results includes a ranking of results, wherein the ranking of the results is determined based on the set of television data, the set of user data, and the input.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:

receive, via one or more tuners, from a television service provider distribution network, a set of television data, wherein the set of television data is associated with programming of multiple television channels;

receive a set of user data, wherein;

the set of user data is indicative of user preferences determined over a period of time based on user interactions;

receive an input from a user, wherein the input is a string of characters representing a partial search string;

in response to receiving the input from the user, determine a list of input results based on the set of television data, the set of user data, and the partial search string, wherein;

determining the list of inputs is performed in response to input of a character of the string of characters, wherein each input of the list of inputs is intended to accurately represent an intent of the input from a user; and

the list of input results comprises a group input result, the group input result being a single result that is representative of a television series that has multiple episodes;

transmit the list of input results to a display device;

receive additional input from the user comprising additional characters added to the string of characters representing the partial search string;

determine that a predefined number of characters has been reached in length by the partial search string having the additional characters that partially spells out the group input; and

in response to determining that the predefined number of characters of the group input result has been spelled out by the partial search string having the additional characters, transmit an indication of the multiple episodes corresponding to the group to the display device.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the set of television data includes predetermined television programming information related to the multiple television channels.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the set of television data includes data related to an environment of a television receiver that comprises the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the list of input results includes a ranking of results, wherein the ranking of the results is determined based on the set of television data, the set of user data, and the input.