Program guide system with combination category search
AssigneeUnited Video Properties, Inc.
InventorsEdward B. Knudson, Joel G. Hassell, Michael D. Ellis, William L. Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest.
Claims20
A method for using program listings information to locate programs of interest to a user, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of program listings with user equipment, wherein at least one of the program listings is associated with two or more simple categories;
- and
- generating at least one combination category with the user equipment, the generating comprising:
- identifying the two or more simple categories associated with the at least one program listing;
- and
- combining at least a subset of the identified simple categories associated with the at least one program listing into the at least one combination category, wherein the combination category comprises more than one of the identified simple categories.
A system for locating programs of interest to a user, the system comprising:
- a receiver that receives a plurality of program listings, wherein at least one of the program listings is associated with two or more simple categories;
- and
- a processor that generates at least one combination category by:
- identifying the two or more simple categories associated with the at least one program listing;
- and
- combining at least a subset of the identified simple categories associated with the at least one program listing into the at least one combination category, wherein the combination category comprises more than one of the identified simple categories.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.