Search engine for a video recorder

A system for searching for shows comprising:

• a search engine application;
• one or more characters configured to be received using said search engine application;
• one or more database entries configured to be used by said search engine application to match to said characters;
• one or more results configured to be displayed from said database entries on an output device, including organizing said results into one or more optional categories;
• and
• an device for selecting one of said results and for performing an action using said one of said results.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to search for a show, comprising,
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to provide a search engine application;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to receive one or more characters in said search engine application;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to match said characters using said search engine application to one or more database entries;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to provide one or more results from said database entries;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to present said results on an output device, including organizing said results into one or more optional categories;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to provide for a user to select one of said results;
• and
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to provide for said user to perform an action using said one of said results.

A method for searching for shows comprising:

• providing a pre-defined list to a user;
• narrowing said pre-defined list based upon one or more inputs from said user to achieve a narrower pre-defined list;
• invoking a background search engine application;
• matching one or more characteristics of said narrower pre-defined list to one or more database entries;
• providing one or more results from said database entries;
• presenting said results on an output device
• providing for said user to select one of said results;
• and
• providing for said user to perform an action using said one of said results.