WO2008053132A1

WO2008053132A1 - Program guide search

Info

Publication number: WO2008053132A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/002178
Authority: WO
Inventors: Prasanjeet Das; Ganesankumar Annamalai; Nigel Smith
Original assignee: Nds Limited
Priority date: 2006-11-03
Filing date: 2007-06-12
Publication date: 2008-05-08

Abstract

A method and system for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search is described, the method including receiving at a set top box, during display of a program by the set top box, a request invoking the EPG context search, determining, upon receipt of the request, identifying data associated with the program, sending the identifying data to a content distributor, receiving, from the content distributor, a list of options, based at least in part on the identifying data, the list of options including at least one option, and displaying a context search menu based at least in part on the list of options. Related methods and systems are also described.

Description

PROGRAM GUIDE SEARCH

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic program guides (EPGs), and more particularly to search techniques within EPGs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

US Published Patent Application 2003/0028884 describes an aggregator, operating in a digital communications network, including a request and results processing server, a search engine server coupled to the request and results processing server and a content acquisition server coupled to the request and results processing server. A request and results processing server receives a request for content, the search engine server searches for the content and the content acquisition server acquires content for delivery to the user. The request and results processing server includes a search request processor that receives information related to a user's search request and provides the information to a search results form builder that creates an electronic search request. The electronic search request may be augmented by using a content suggestion engine to add additional search terms and descriptions to the search request. The aggregator may also include a decoder that decodes program content and program metadata from remote sources for storage at the aggregator, and an encoder that encodes content metadata and programs for delivery to the user. The aggregator may also comprise one or more "crawlers", such as a content crawler, to look for program content in one or more digital communications networks US Published Patent Application 2002/0184195 describes a system by which content is delivered from media sources by searching the media sources for content and metadata based on search criteria, parsing the metadata from the media sources, receiving user preference information from a user, integrating the content and the metadata based on the user preference information and the result of the parsing, and displaying an integrated content concurrently on one or more user displays. PCT Published Patent Application WO 01/039494 describes a system wherein electronic content, including television (TV) programming and computer network content, is managed by a computer in a web-based TV environment by gathering the electronic content from multiple sources, and selectively arranging (for example, combining, re-organizing and/or re- formatting) the gathered electronic content to form one or more virtual channels, which can then be presented to a viewer. A virtual program guide formed, by way of a non- limiting example, from metadata descriptive of the virtual channels, can also be generated and presented to viewers, who can use the virtual program guide to search for, sort, bookmark, and/or filter out virtual channels as desired.

An article published in IEEE Region 8 EUROCON 2003 Computer as a Tool Proceedings, vol. 2, page 70, entitled, "Internet Search for TV Content Based on TV Anytime", by M. Leban, describes how a convergence of television and Internet leads to interactive television. One of the benefits of the interactive television is a possibility to interactively search for TV content over the Internet and create an electronic program guide (EPG) from the gathered information. The EPG is used for review of available programs and for selection of interesting programs for recording or downloading from a video server. The paper describes possibilities of Internet search for TV content for digital interactive television based on TV -Anytime specifications. The article describes how existing client- server search and a new dynamic and distributed search in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks could be combined such that both search concepts would benefit. Because the search results are controlled by a client they are more reliable and comprise less false information. An article by E. N. Efthimiadis and J. E. Mai, entitled "Puget

Sound's MARS (Media Asset Retrieval Systems) Digital Library", published in Proceedings of the Second ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, 2002, describes how the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and public broadcasters consider Media Asset Management (MAM) of critical importance, since without a concerted and cooperative plan to manage their vast library of content, broadcasters are unable to reach their potential for service in the digital age. The concerns for Media Asset Management, which are the digital libraries for broadcasters, human and technical, are myriad. Media Asset Management is the framework upon which many of the largest technology projects will be built, including the future interconnection system between and among CPB member stations. CPB hopes that its licensees and their partners in university, museum, and library communities, will work together to contribute to Media Asset Management solutions. The article presents some of the complex issues around Media Asset Management, and possible solutions to the problems, as well as shows the breadth of research projects in the area. Technical issues include metadata, indexing, controlled vocabularies, storage and access methods, rights management, technological infrastructure requirements, and interoperability. To highlight the issues the article uses as an example the Media Asset Retrieval System (MARS) project. The goal of the MARS project is to create a model for representing, organizing, storing, and facilitating access to public audio (radio) and audiovisual (television) broadcast material via the Internet. The immediate goal for MARS is to produce a digital online resource that will provide access to material produced by public broadcasters in the Puget Sound Region (KUOW and KCTS). The material will be made available to students, teachers, media, and the general public through the King County Library System and Seattle Public Library System. An article by A. Sheth, C. Bertram, and K. Shah, entitled

"Video Any where: a System for Searching and Managing Distributed Heterogeneous Video Assets", SIGMOD Record, 28: 1, March 1999, describes how visual information, especially videos, plays an increasing role in our society for both work and entertainment as more sources become available to users. Set- top boxes are poised to give home users access to videos that come not only from TV channels and personal recordings, but also from the Internet in the form of downloaded and streaming videos of various types. Current approaches, such as electronic program guides and video search engines, search for video assets of one type or from one source. The capability to conveniently search through many types of video assets from a large number of video sources with easy-to-use user profiles cannot be found anywhere yet. VideoAnywhere™ has developed such a capability in the form of an extensible architecture as well as a specific implementation using the latest in Internet programming, such as Java, agents, XML, and so on, and applicable standards. Video Anywhere™ automatically extracts and manages an extensible set of metadata of major types of videos that can be queried using either attribute-based or keyword-based searching. VideoAnywhere™ also provides user profiling that can be combined with query processing for filtering. A user-friendly interface provides management of all system functions and capabilities. VideoAnywhere™ can also be used as a video search engine for the World Wide Web, and a servlet-based version has also been implemented. The following references are believed to be of relevance to the present invention:

ISO/IEC standard 13818-6 "Information Technology - Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information - Part 6: Extensions for Digital Storage Media Command and Control", specifically pages 137 - 139 of the first edition, 1998-09-01 ; and

ETSI EN 300 468 "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Specification for Service Information (SI) in DVB Systems".

The disclosures of all references mentioned above and throughout the present specification, as well as the disclosures of all references mentioned in those references, are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in preferred embodiments thereof, seeks to provide an improved method and system for searching for content among content items listed in an Electronic Program Guide (EPG). More particularly, the improved method and system for searching for particular content is based on associating a context with the search, associating entities with the context, and searching among content items listed in an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for content items with similar associated entities.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search, the method including receiving at a set top box, during display of a program by the set top box, a request invoking the EPG context search, determining, upon receipt of the request, identifying data associated with the program, sending the identifying data to a content distributor, receiving, from the content distributor, a list of options, based at least in part on the identifying data, the list of options including at least one option, and displaying a context search menu based at least in part on the list of options.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the content distributor includes a broadcast headend. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes at least a video time code.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes at least a program identifier.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes at least a channel identifier.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes at least an extended-event- descriptor associated with the program.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention list of options includes a list of search options.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention list of options includes a list of search results. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method further including receiving an input from a user, the input including a selection of one option included in the context search menu.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method further including sending the selected one option to the content distributor, receiving from the content distributor a list of results based at least in part on the selected one option, and displaying the list of results.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search, the method including associating metadata with identifying data, the identifying data being associated with a content item, receiving the identifying data from an identifying data sender (IDS), retrieving the metadata based at least in part on the identifying data, forming a list of options based at least in part on the metadata, and sending the list of options to the IDS. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the IDS includes a PVR.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the IDS includes a set top box.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the IDS includes a handheld device.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes a video time code.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the video time code is associated with the program. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes a program identifier.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes a channel identifier.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the identifying data includes an extended-event-descriptor associated with the content item. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method further includes receiving, in response to the list of options, a search option from the IDS, invoking, in response to the received search option, a search on EPG data, determining results of the invoked search, and sending the results to the IDS.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the invoked search is performed on EPG data.

There is also provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search, the system including a first receiver included in a set top box, the first receiver operative to receive, during display of a program by the set top box, a request invoking the EPG context search, a determiner which, upon receipt of the request at the first receiver, identifies data associated with the program, a sender, operative to send the identifying data to a content distributor, a second receiver, operative to receive a list of options from the content distributor, the list of options based at least in part on the identifying data, the list of options including at least one option, and a displaying unit operative to display a context search menu based at least in part on the list of options.

There is also provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for an electronic program guide

(EPG) context search, the system including a metadata associator operative to associate metadata with identifying data, the identifying data being associated with a content item, a receiver operative to receive the identifying data from an identifying data sender (IDS), a retriever operative to retrieve the metadata based at least in part on the identifying data, a list formulator, operative to formulate a list of options based at least in part on the metadata, and a list sender, operative to send the list of options to the IDS. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figs. IA - 1C are simplified pictorial illustrations of a system for performing a contextual search of data in an electric program guide (EPG) constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the system of Figs. IA - 1C;

Fig. 3 is a simplified block illustration of video time codes and associated metadata, useful for understanding the discussion of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred method of building a list of search options for a user, useful for understanding the discussion of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a simplified block diagram of results of a search performed by the system of Figs. IA - 1C, showing movie titles and metadata associated with the movies, useful for understanding the discussion of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a simplified flowchart illustration of an example of typical operation of the system of Figs. IA - 1C;

Figs. 7A and 7B are simplified pictorial illustrations of an alternative preferred embodiment of the system of Figs. IA - 1C;

Fig. 8 is a simplified partly flowchart partly functional block diagram illustration of an operation of the system of Figs. 7A and 7B; and Figs. 9 and 10 are simplified flowchart illustrations of methods for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to Figs. IA - 1C, which are simplified pictorial illustrations of a system for performing a contextual search of data in an electric program guide (EPG) constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As explained below in greater detail with reference to Fig. 2, the system of Figs. IA - 1C comprises a set top box 100 in communication with a content distributor, hereinafter referred to, in a non- limiting fashion, as a broadcast headend, (not depicted in Figs. IA - 1C). The broadcast headend sends a stream of broadcast data and metadata to the set top box 100. Set top boxes 100 typically comprise hardware and software components, as is well known in the art.

Referring specifically to Fig. IA, a user 110 is watching a movie on a television 120. The set top box 100 provides a video and audio stream to the television 120 (a connection between the set top box 100 and the television 120 is not depicted). The user 110 is holding a remote control 130, the remote control 130 being operatively associated with the set top box 100. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any control exerted over the set top box 100 by the remote control 130 may also be exerted over the set top box 100 in alternative ways, such as, but not limited to by using buttons on the set top box 100. The movie the user 110 is viewing is depicted showing a fight between two actors. At a time during the fight, the user 110 sends a command using the remote control 130 to enter a context search menu 150 (not shown in Fig. IA, but described below with reference to Fig. IB).

Reference is now specifically made to Fig. IB. Fig. IB is a continuation of the scene depicted in Fig. IA, after the user 110 sends the command to enter the context search menu 150. The context search menu 150 appears on the television 120 screen. As a non-limiting example, assume that the fight scene in the movie the user 130 is viewing is a fight between Randolph Scott and John Wayne. Options for a context search in the context search menu 150 comprise, by way of a non-limiting example:

1. Movies with Randolph Scott;

2. Movies with John Wayne; 3. Movies with Randolph Scott and John Wayne; and

4. Action Movies.

It is appreciated that many other options for the context search are possible, and, for ease of depiction of the scene presented in Fig. IB, are not depicted.

Reference is now specifically made to Fig. 1C. Fig. 1C is a continuation of the scene depicted in Fig. IB, after the user 110 has selected one of the options in the context search menu 150 depicted in Fig. IB. The television 120 screen in Fig. 1C is depicted displaying a list of results 180 based on the user's 110 choice of one of the options in the context search menu 150 (Fig. IB). The list of results 180 is depicted, by way of a non-limiting example, assuming that the user 110 selected option 2, Movies with John Wayne (Fig. IB). The list of results 180 is displayed as a menu listing three John Wayne movies; a date of broadcast of each of the three movies; a beginning and end time of each of the three movies; and a price to purchase viewing rights to each of the three movies. Upon display of the list of results 180, the user 110 is able to use the remote control 130 to move a cursor on the television 120 screen, use the cursor to select, and, where necessary, purchase rights to, schedule viewing of the selected movie on the set top box 100. Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the system of Figs. IA - 1C. In advance of viewing, the broadcast headend associates metadata with specific video time codes within a broadcast program (step 210). Metadata typically comprises any appropriate information which may be associated with a particular video sequence.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a video sequence may comprise one or more video frames. The term "video sequence", in all its grammatical forms, is used throughout the present specification and claims interchangeably with the term "video frame" and its corresponding grammatical forms.

For example, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, contextual metadata for a video sequence may comprise: actors in the video sequence (Randolph Scott and John Wayne in the example of Figs. IA - 1C); objects in the video sequence (non-limiting examples include a mountain, a lake, a location, an address, a train, a bus, a dog, and a person); and genre of content depicted in the video sequence (non-limiting examples include action, comedy, sport, and adult).

It is appreciated that a list of metadata classifications need not be static, and a broadcaster is able to edit the list of metadata classifications.

A video time code is a time reference used to identify an instant in a streamed media such as audio or video. A common format of a video time code value is hours, minutes, seconds, and frames (HH:MM:SS:FF), used to identify a particular frame of video. Alternatively, the video time code may also be a simple count of frames, or, for audio, a value in milliseconds. Time codes used in broadcast are dealt with in greater detail in ISO/IEC 13818-6, referred to above. Video time code is typically measured with reference to an arbitrary start time, such as, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the start of a content item. For example, a frame occurring 1 hour, 14 minutes, 38 seconds and 7 frames into a movie, has a time code of 01 :14:38:07 with respect to the beginning of the movie. However, if the movie began at exactly 9:00 PM, and the broadcaster maintains a station time clock starting at midnight every night, then with reference to the station time clock, the frame referred to above occurs at

22:14:38:07.

Reference is now additionally made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified block illustration of video time codes and associated metadata, useful for understanding the discussion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is particularly useful for understanding step 210 of Fig. 2. The left column of Fig. 3 depicts time indices, which are time codes associated with the video sequences. The right column of Fig. 3 depicts metadata associated with video sequences comprising the time codes depicted. For example, a video sequence comprising time code Tl is associated with metadata depicted as "AAA", "DDDD", "FFF", and "XCCV". Similarly, a video sequence comprising time code Tn is associated with metadata depicted as "SSS", "FRDD", "ASDE", "XCXDV", and "AAA". The metadata depicted in Fig. 3 is shown, for ease of depiction, as arbitrary strings of letters. As explained above, the metadata may comprise any information the broadcaster deems relevant to a particular video sequence. Returning to the discussion of Fig. 2, during broadcast of a content item, the user 110 (Fig. IA) may invoke a context search (step 220). Video sequences included in the content item have preferably had metadata associated with their time codes. When the context search is invoked, the set top box 100 (Fig. IA) preferably determines the video time code associated with the video sequence during which the context search was invoked. The set top box 100 (Fig. IA) preferably relays identifying data associated with the program, such as, by way of a non-limiting example, the video time code, a program identifier, and possibly additional information about which content item is being viewed, to the broadcast headend. If the video time code is not available, the set top box 100 (Fig. IA) preferably relays alternative identifying data associated with the program, such as, by way of a non-limiting example, an elapsed time from a start of the program, a program identifier, and possibly additional information about which content item is being viewed, to the broadcast headend.

Reference is now additionally made to Fig. 4, which is a simplified block diagram of a preferred method of building a list of search options for a user, useful for understanding the discussion of Fig. 2. Reference is also made to Fig. IA.

The broadcast headend receives the above-mentioned information about which content item is being viewed and the video time code, and retrieves, based at least in part on the information and the video time code, the associated metadata (step 230 of Fig. 2). Specifically, metadata 410 is input to a search query module 420. The search query module 420 derives a list of search options 430.

The broadcast headend sends the list of search options 430 to the set top box 100.

By way of a non-limiting example, the search query module 420 derives a list of search options 430 as follows: The program being watched is a movie which belongs to romantic genre, and actors Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are acting in the movie. The metadata 410 associated with the movie is: Program type: Movie; Actor: Tom Hanks;

Actress: Julia Roberts; and Genre: Romantic.

The list of search options 430 which is generated, is typically produced by the search query module using combinations of the metadata 410, and comprises, at least in part, by way of a non-limiting example:

Romantic & Tom Hanks & Julia Roberts; Romantic & Movie & Tom Hanks; and Romantic & Julia Roberts.

The list of search options 430 which is generated for the above non- limiting example is:

"a. Romantic programs with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. b. Romantic movies with Tom Hanks. c. Romantic programs with Julia Roberts."

The set top box 100 receives the list of search options 430 from the broadcast headend. The set top box 100 displays a context search menu 180 (Fig.

1C), based at least partly on the list of search options 430 (step 240 of Fig. 2).

Once the user selects one of the options from the context search menu 180 (Fig.

1C), the set top box 100 sends the selected one of the options (not shown) to the broadcast headend. Returning again to the discussion of Fig. 2, upon receiving the selected one of the options from the set top box 100, the broadcast headend invokes a search based, at least in part, on the selected one of the options (step

250).

Reference is now additionally made to Fig. 5, which is a simplified block diagram of results of a search performed by the system of Figs. IA - 1C, showing movie titles and metadata associated with the movies, useful for understanding the discussion of Fig. 2. Reference is also made to Figs. IA - 1C. Each content item 500, depicted in Fig. 5 as Movie A 510, Movie B,

Movie C 520, and Movie n 525, which is context search enabled, is associated with a data structure, the data structure including metadata associated with that particular content item. In the example depicted in Fig. 5, Movie A 510 is associated with metadata 530 "AAA", "DDDD", "FFF", and "XCCV". Similarly,

Movie C 520 is associated with metadata 540 "SSS", "FRDD" "ASDE",

"XCXDV", and "AAA". After search results are obtained, the search results having the maximum amount of metadata matches are added to a list of results 180 for sending to the set top box 100. Once the list of results 180 is compiled, the list of results 180 is sent from the broadcast headend to the set top box 100.

The set top box 100 displays the list of results 180 (step 260). The results are preferably associated with a set top box 100 booking and reminder mechanism, enabling the user 110 to book one of the results for future viewing or recording, and to set reminders which will preferably be triggered in advance of a broadcast time of a selected one of the list of results.

Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which is a simplified flowchart illustration of an example of typical operation of the system of Figs. IA - 1C. Fig. 6 is believed to be obvious in light of the above discussion.

Reference is now made to Figs. 7A and 7B, which are simplified pictorial illustrations of an alternative preferred embodiment of the system of Figs. IA - 1C.

The system of Figs. 7A and 7B comprises a set top box 700 in communication with a broadcast headend (not depicted in Figs. 7A and 7B). The broadcast headend sends a stream of broadcast data and metadata to the set top box 700.

Referring specifically to Fig. 7A, the user 110 is watching a movie on the television 120. The set top box 700 provides a video and audio stream to the television 120 (a connection between the set top box and the television is not depicted). The user 1 10 is holding a remote control 130, the remote control being operatively associated with the set top box 700. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any control exerted over the set top box 700 by the remote control 130 may also be exerted over the set top box 700 in alternative ways, such as, but not limited to by using buttons on the set top box 700.

The user 110 is viewing, by way of a non-limiting example, an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) 710. The user 110 navigates through the EPG 710, and highlights a program 720 displayed by the EPG 710. The user 110, using the remote control 130, sends a command to the set top box 700 to send a context search to the broadcast headend, the context being associated with the program 720.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the user 110 can alternatively send a command to the set top box 700 to send a context search to the broadcast headend while watching a movie, as was depicted in Fig. IA. Sending a context search associated with a program 720 is a non-limiting example of sending a context search for a content item which is not being broadcast at the time of sending the context search. Reference is now specifically made to Fig. 7B. The television 120 screen in Fig. 7B is depicted displaying a list of results 750 based, at least in part, on the program 720 which was highlighted when the user 110 sent the context search request. The list of results 750 is depicted, by way of a non-limiting example, assuming that the program 720, was a movie with John Wayne. The list of results 720 is depicted as a table showing three John Wayne movies; a date of broadcast of each of the three movies; a beginning and end time of each of the three movies; and a price to view each of the three movies. Upon display of the table, the user 110 is able to use the remote control 130 to move a cursor on the television 120 screen, and select and, where necessary, purchase rights to, schedule viewing or recording of the selected movie on the set top box 700 of the selected movie.

Reference is now additionally made to Fig. 8, which is a simplified partly flowchart partly functional block diagram illustration of an operation of the system of Figs. 7 A and 7B. The user 110 highlights the program 720 in the EPG 710 and sends a command to request a context search to the set top box 700 (step 810). The set top box 700 produces a context search request comprising an extended-event-descriptor associated with the program 720, and sends the context search request to the broadcast headend (step 820). The extended-event- descriptor provides a detailed text description of the program 720. It is appreciated that more than one extended event descriptor can be associated with one event, in order to allow information about the one event to be greater in length than a length of the one extended-event-descriptor. Extended-event-descriptors used in broadcast are described in greater detail in ETSI EN 300 468, referred to above. A search server (not depicted) in the broadcast headend receives the context search request, and selects keywords from within the extended-event- descriptor (step 830). The search server preferably uses the keywords comprised in the extended-event-descriptor to perform a search for additional keywords in a keyword database 835, thereby producing an extended set of keywords. The extended set of keywords preferably comprises a larger number of keywords associated with the program 720 than originally comprised in the extended-event- descriptor. The keywords of step 830 correspond to the metadata depicted in Fig. 3.

The extended set of keywords is preferably used for searching in a metadata database 845. The metadata database 845 preferably comprises metadata describing available programs. Results of the search preferably comprise available programs associated with the extended set of keywords used for searching. Once a list of search results 750 is produced, the list of search results 750 is sent from the server at the broadcast headend to the set top box 700 (step 850). The set top box 700 displays the list of results 750 (step 860). The results are preferably associated with the set top box 700 booking and reminder mechanism, enabling the user to book one of the results for future viewing or recording, and to set reminders which will preferably be triggered in advance of a broadcast time of a selected one of the list of results (step 870). It is appreciated that after the user has booked one of the results for future viewing or recording, the actual media, be it a movie or some other program, may be transferred to the viewer's set top box 700 from a media database 880.

Reference is now made to Figs. 9 and 10, which are simplified flowchart illustrations of methods for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. The methods of Figs. 9 and 10 are self-explanatory in light of the above discussion.

It is appreciated that software components of the present invention may, if desired, be implemented in ROM (read only memory) form. The software components may, generally, be implemented in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques.

It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims

What is claimed is:CLAIMS

1. A method for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search, the method comprising: receiving at a set top box, during display of a program by the set top box, a request invoking the EPG context search; determining, upon receipt of the request, identifying data associated with the program; sending the identifying data to a content distributor; receiving, from the content distributor, a list of options, based at least in part on the identifying data, the list of options comprising at least one option; and displaying a context search menu based at least in part on the list of options.

2. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the content distributor comprises a broadcast headend.

3. A method according to either claim 1 or claim 3 and wherein the identifying data comprises at least a video time code.

4. A method according to any of claims 1 - 3 and wherein the identifying data comprises at least a program identifier.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 - 4 and wherein the identifying data comprises at least a channel identifier.

6. A method according to any of claims 1 - 5 and wherein the identifying data comprises at least an extended-event-descriptor associated with the program.

7. A method according to any of claims 1 - 6 and wherein the list of options comprises a list of search options.

8. A method according to any of claims 1 - 6 and wherein the list of options comprises a list of search results.

9. A method according to any of claims 1 - 8 and further comprising receiving an input from a user, the input comprising a selection of one option comprised in the context search menu.

10. A method according to any of claims 1 - 9 and further comprising: sending the selected one option to the content distributor; receiving from the content distributor a list of results based at least in part on the selected one option; and displaying the list of results.

11. A method for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search, the method comprising: associating metadata with identifying data, the identifying data being associated with a content item; receiving the identifying data from an identifying data sender (IDS); retrieving the metadata based at least in part on the identifying data; forming a list of options based at least in part on the metadata; and sending the list of options to the IDS.

12. A method according to claim 1 1 and wherein the IDS comprises a PVR.

13. A method according to claim 1 1 or claim 12 and wherein the IDS comprises a set top box.

14. A method according to claim 1 1 or claim 12 and wherein the IDS comprises a handheld device.

15. A method according to any of claims 11 - 14 and wherein the identifying data comprises a video time code.

16. A method according to claim 15 and wherein the video time code is associated with the program.

17. A method according to any of claims 1 1 - 16 and wherein the identifying data comprises a program identifier.

18. A method according to any of claims 11 - 17 and wherein the identifying data comprises a channel identifier.

19. A method according to any of claims 1 1 - 18 and wherein the identifying data comprises an extended-event-descriptor associated with the content item.

20. A method according to any of claims 11 - 19 and further comprising: receiving, in response to the list of options, a search option from the IDS; invoking, in response to the received search option, a search on EPG data; determining results of the invoked search; and sending the results to the IDS.

21. The method of claim 20 and wherein the invoked search is performed on EPG data.

22. A system for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search, the system comprising: a first receiver comprised in a set top box, the first receiver operative to receive, during display of a program by the set top box, a request invoking the EPG context search; a determiner which, upon receipt of the request at the first receiver, identifies data associated with the program; a sender, operative to send the identifying data to a content distributor; a second receiver, operative to receive a list of options from the content distributor, the list of options based at least in part on the identifying data, the list of options comprising at least one option; and a displaying unit operative to display a context search menu based at least in part on the list of options.

23. A system for an electronic program guide (EPG) context search, the system comprising: a metadata associator operative to associate metadata with identifying data, the identifying data being associated with a content item; a receiver operative to receive the identifying data from an identifying data sender (IDS); a retriever operative to retrieve the metadata based at least in part on the identifying data; a list formulator, operative to formulate a list of options based at least in part on the metadata; and a list sender, operative to send the list of options to the IDS.