Electronic programming guide system and method

A system for organizing and selecting digital content information comprising:

• an input means for receiving selections from a participant;
• a multi-dimensional output device means for conveying multiple pieces of information relating to media content from a plurality of media sources, the media content including a set of community information that enables the participant to discover the presence of one or more other participants, at least two of said media sources having different media types, the media types including at least two of on-air, video, photos, music, games, and books;
• a configurable filter means;
• and
• a processing means;
• wherein said processing means is configured to accept selections from said input means and apply said configurable filter means to provide digital content information and associated meta-data to said participant through said multi-dimensional output device means, said associated meta-data including at least one piece of ancillary information associated with said digital content information, and
• wherein said configurable filter means is configured to capture digital content information at least in part on the basis of an historical preference associated with said participant, said historical preference based on at least one of an historical pattern of content access by said participant and a historical selection of content by said participant.

A method for presenting digital content, comprising:

• providing a selection of content items from a plurality of sources, the content items including a set of community information that enables the participant to discover the presence of one or more other participants, at least two of said sources having different media types, the media types including at least two of on-air, video, photos, music, games, and books;
• grouping and sorting said content items at least in part on the basis of an historical preference associated with a user, said historical preference based on at least one of an historical pattern of content access by said user and a historical selection of content by said user;
• and
• presenting said content items as icons, and presenting associated meta-data as emoticons, to convey multiple items of information relevant to said content items for selection by said user, wherein said associated meta-data includes at least one piece of ancillary information associated with said content items.

A computer readable medium having computer executable code for performing a method for presenting digital content, the method comprising:

• providing a selection of content items from a plurality of sources, the content items including a set of community information that enables the participant to discover the presence of one or more other participants, at least two of said sources having different media types, the media types including at least two of on-air, video, photos, music, games, and books;
• grouping and sorting said content items at least in part on the basis of an historical preference associated with a user, said historical preference based on at least one of an historical pattern of content access by said user and a historical selection of content by said user;
• and
• presenting said content items as icons, and presenting associated meta-data as emoticons, to convey multiple items of information relevant to said content items for selection by said user, wherein said associated meta-data includes at least one piece of ancillary information associated with said content items.

A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to execute a method for presenting digital content, the method comprising:

• providing a selection of content items from a plurality of sources, the content items including a set of community information that enables the participant to discover the presence of one or more other participants, at least two of said sources having different media types, the media types including at least two of on-air, video, photos, music, games, and books;
• grouping and sorting said content items at least in part on the basis of an historical preference associated with a user, said historical preference based on at least one of an historical pattern of content access by said user and a historical selection of content by said user;
• and
• presenting said content items as icons, and presenting associated meta-data as emoticons, to convey multiple items of information relevant to said content items for selection by said user, wherein said associated meta-data includes at least one piece of ancillary information associated with said content items.

A computer readable medium having computer executable code for performing a method for the consolidated display and presentation of digital information for interaction by a participant, the method comprising:

• providing a selection of content items from a plurality of sources, the content items including a set of community information that enables the participant to discover the presence of one or more other participants, at least two of said sources having different media types, the media types including at least two of on-air, video, photos, music, games, and books;
• organizing said content items at least in part on the basis of an historical preference associated with said participant, said historical preference based on at least one of an historical pattern of content access by said participant and a historical selection of content by said participant;
• and
• presenting the organized content items with at least one indicia of the content items and at least one piece of meta-data associated with at least one of said content items, for consumption or further use by said participant, wherein said associated meta-data includes at least one piece of ancillary information associated with said organized content items.

A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to execute a method for the consolidated display and presentation of digital information for interaction by a participant, the method comprising:

• providing a selection of content items from a plurality of sources, the content items including a set of community information that enables the participant to discover the presence of one or more other participants, at least two of said sources having different media types, the media types including at least two of on-air, video, photos, music, games, and books;
• organizing said content items at least in part on the basis of an historical preference associated with said participant, said historical preference based on at least one of an historical pattern of content access by said participant and a historical selection of content by said participant;
• and
• presenting the organized content items with at least one indicia of the content items and at least one piece of meta-data associated with at least one of said content items, for consumption or further use by said participant, wherein said associated meta-data includes at least one piece of ancillary information associated with said organized content items;
• wherein the presented associated meta-data is an emoticon.