Methods and systems for generating electronic program guides

One or more server computers configured to:

• collect multiple different types of metadata that is associated with individual pieces of media content, wherein the metadata does not comprise the media content itself and is collected from multiple different metadata providers;
• organize the metadata into content folders that are individually associated with the individual pieces of media content;
• and
• associate a unique identifier with each content folder, the unique identifier identifying each individual piece of media content.

A method comprising:

• generating a unique identifier;
• associating the unique identifier with media content that can be provided to a client device;
• creating a content folder that is associated with the media content;
• receiving metadata associated with the media content;
• incorporating the metadata into the content folder.

One or more server computers configured to:

• generate a unique identifier;
• associate the unique identifier with media content that can be provided to a client device;
• create a content folder that is associated with the media content;
• receive metadata associated with the media content;
• incorporate the metadata into the content folder;
• communicate with individual client devices to ascertain which metadata is of interest to particular client devices;
• and
• transmit content folder portions that are of interest to the client devices.

A method comprising:

• receiving multiple content folders, each content folder being associated with a particular piece of media content and containing a collection of metadata that is associated with the particular piece of media content;
• receiving a schedule file that describes when the particular pieces of media content are to be broadcast;
• and
• using the content folders and the schedule file to construct an electronic program guide.

One or more client devices configured to:

• receive multiple content folders, each content folder being associated with a particular piece of media content and containing a collection of metadata that is associated with the particular piece of media content, the content folder comprising an XML content description file that describes the particular piece of media content;
• receive a schedule file that describes when the particular pieces of media content are to be broadcast;
• and
• use the content folders, the schedule file, and one or more XML user preference files that describe a user's preferences to construct an electronic program guide that is tailored to one or more users.

A method comprising:

• receiving multiple content folders, each content folder being associated with a particular piece of media content and containing a collection of metadata that is associated with the particular piece of media content;
• receiving a schedule file that describes when the particular pieces of media content are to be broadcast;
• using the content folders and the schedule file to construct an electronic program guide;
• receiving media content that is associated with individual, previously-received content folders;
• and
• incorporating the media content into an associated content folder.

A system comprising:

• a recommendation engine configured to:
• receive data associated with media content that is to be broadcast, and data that defines user preferences;
• process the received data to calculate a score for individual pieces of media content that is to be broadcast;
• make recommendations to one or more users based upon the calculated scores for the individual pieces of media content.

A system comprising:

• one or more user preference files;
• individual files comprising data that defines a user's media content preferences;
• the files being configured to enable software executing on a client device to:
• calculate scores associated with media content that is to be broadcast and
• make media content recommendations to an associated user.

A system comprising:

• one or more significance files;
• individual files comprising data that defines a relative importance of a corresponding attribute for which a match can be determined between media content and user preferences pertaining to the media content;
• and
• the file(s) being configured to enable software executing on a client device to calculate scores associated with media content that is to be broadcast and make media content recommendations to an associated user.

A method comprising:

• receiving descriptive data associated with media content that is to be broadcast to a client device;
• receiving data that defines user preferences that pertain to media content that is to be broadcast;
• processing the received data sufficient to calculate a score for individual pieces of media content that are to be broadcast;
• and
• based upon the calculated scores, making media content recommendations to one or more users of the client device.

A method comprising:

• receiving descriptive data associated with media content that is to be broadcast to a client device;
• receiving data that defines user preferences that pertain to media content that is to be broadcast, said data that defines the user preferences comprising (1) at least one user preference file, the user preference file comprising a hierarchical, tag-based file that contains data that defines a user's media content preferences, and (2) at least one significance file, the significance file comprising a hierarchical, tag-based file that contains data that defines a relative importance of a corresponding attribute for which a match can be determined between media content and user preferences pertaining to the media content;
• processing the received data sufficient to calculate a score for individual pieces of media content that are to be broadcast;
• and
• based upon the calculated scores, making media content recommendations to one or more users of the client device.

A system comprising:

• a recommendation engine that is configured to process:
• an XML content description file containing data associated with and describing media content that is to be broadcast to a client device;
• one or more XML user preference files containing data that defines user preferences for one or more users;
• and
• one or more XML significance files that define(s), for individual users, significance values that are used to calculate, along with the data in the XML user preference file(s), scores for individual pieces of media content that is to be broadcast;
• the recommendation engine being configured to calculate, for each program or movie that is to be broadcast and each user, a score based upon the data contained in the XML content description file, the XML user preference file and the XML significance file, and make recommendations to one or more of the users based upon the calculated scores for the individual pieces of media content.

A method comprising:

• determining whether a particular piece of media content has an associated artwork file that contains content-specific artwork that can be rendered into an electronic program guide for one or more users;
• if the particular piece of content does not have an associated artwork file, ascertaining the genre of the particular piece of media content;
• selecting a generic image associated with the ascertained genre;
• and
• rendering an electronic program guide that contains the generic image in association with the particular piece of media content.