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US 2004/0003403 A1Published application
Methods and systems for reducing information in electronic program guide and program recommendation systems
OwnerDavid J. Marshinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with various embodiments, filter tokens are provided for use in connection with an electronic program guide (EPG) system. Filter tokens can be used to reduce the amount information that is presented to the user in an electronic program guide display. This can help to reduce information overload and can facilitate presenting indicia of programs in which one or more of the users are likely to be interested. Filter tokens can also be used to provide users with a very robust tool to define user preferences of attributes associated with programs that are of interest to the user.
Claims132
A method comprising:
- defining a Boolean combination of attributes associated with one or more programs that are subject to representation in an electronic program guide display, said combination being defined in a manner that permits the combination to be electronically exchanged between different client devices;
- and
- using the Boolean combination of attributes to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying the display.
A system comprising:
- one or more processors;
- one or more computer-readable media embodying computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- define a Boolean combination of attributes associated with one or more programs that are subject to representation in an electronic program guide display, said combination being defined in a manner that permits the combination to be electronically exchanged between different client devices;
- and
- use the Boolean combination of attributes to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying the display.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a Boolean combination of attributes associated with one or more programs that are subject to representation in an electronic program guide display, said combination being defined in a manner that permits the combination to be electronically exchanged between different client devices;
- and
- using the Boolean combination of attributes to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying the display.
A system comprising:
- one or more processors;
- one or more computer-readable media embodying computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- receive a Boolean combination of attributes associated with one or more programs that are subject to representation in an electronic program guide display, said combination being defined in a manner that permits the combination to be electronically exchanged between different client devices;
- and
- use the Boolean combination of attributes to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying the display.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- defining an electronically-exchangable file comprising one or more filter tokens, the filter tokens being configured to reduce an amount of information that is presented in an electronic program guide display;
- and
- using the one or more filter tokens to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying the display.
A method comprising:
- defining at least one electronically-exchangable Boolean combination of attributes associated with one or more programs that are subject to representation in an electronic program guide display;
- and
- making the one Boolean combination of attributes electronically available different client devices that embody an electronic program guide system embodying the display to reduce an amount of information that is provided to one or more users of individual client devices.
A system comprising:
- at least one attribute and associated attribute value providing a first attribute-value pair, the attribute-value pair being associated with one or more programs that are subject to representation in an electronic program guide display;
- at least one other attribute and associated attribute value providing a second attribute-value pair, the second attribute-value pair being associated with one or more programs that are subject to representation in an electronic program guide display;
- at least one Boolean operator defining an association between the attribute-value pairs;
- and
- the attribute-value pairs and associated Boolean operator being configured to be used to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying the electronic program guide display.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- one or more XML files, individual files comprising one or more tags for encapsulating attribute-value pairs that are to be used to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying an electronic program guide display;
- and
- at least one of the tags being associated with a Boolean operator.
A system comprising:
- multiple electronically-exchangable filter tokens;
- and
- individual filter tokens being configured for reducing an amount of information that is presented to a user of an electronic program guide system.
A method comprising:
- applying a first electronically-exchangable filter token to reduce an amount of information in an electronic program guide display;
- and
- applying at least a second electronically-exchangable filter token to further reduce the amount of information in the electronic program guide display.
A system comprising:
- one or more processors;
- one or more computer-readable media embodying computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- apply a first electronically-exchangable filter token to reduce an is amount of information in an electronic program guide display;
- and
- apply at least a second electronically-exchangable filter token to further reduce the amount of information in the electronic program guide display;
- at least one filter token being capable of being configured to reduce information on a program-by-program basis.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving one or more filter tokens, individual filter tokens being configured to reduce an amount of information in an electronic program guide display;
- and
- allocating filter tokens to function buttons associated with an electronic program guide system, at least one filter token being capable of being configured to reduce information on a program-by-program basis.
A method comprising:
- applying one or more electronically-exchangable filter tokens, individual filter tokens being configured to reduce an amount of information in an electronic program guide display, at least one filter token being capable of being configured to reduce information on a program-by-program basis;
- ascertaining whether an electronic program guide display can be reduced in size as a result of applying the one or more filter tokens;
- and
- if the electronic program guide display can be reduced in size, then reducing the size of the electronic program guide display.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- defining a filter token that comprises a Boolean combination of attributes to be used to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying a display;
- associating with said Boolean combination a preference value which reflects a user's preference for the Boolean combination;
- and
- the preference value being configured for use in computing a score for programs that match the Boolean combination.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- defining a filter token that comprises a Boolean combination of attributes to be used to reduce an amount of information that is provided to a user of an electronic program guide system embodying a display;
- associating with said Boolean combination a preference value which reflects a user's preference for the Boolean combination;
- and
- the preference value being configured for use in computing a score for programs that match the Boolean combination.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.