Method of creating default lists of content of probable interest

Abstract

A method, signal, system, and software program for identifying items of probable user interest. Information associated with user preferences and habits is maintained, and used in conjunction with information obtained from media search mechanisms, including electronic program guides and Internet browsers, to identify available content information that may be of interest to a user. Items identified as being of probable user interest are maintained in a record, and presented to users as a default list for initiating searches. No direct user input of preferences is required.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining information associated with available content information from a plurality of content sources of one or more types;    maintaining information associated with user preferences and habits; and    identifying items of probable user interest from the information associated with the available content information and the information associated with user preferences and habits.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of maintaining a record of the items identified by said identifying step.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of sorting the record of identified items based on information associated with user preferences and habits.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of removing duplicate entries from the record of identified items.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of identifying items of probable user interest includes the step of identifying items of probable user interest from the information associated with one content source of a first type from information associated with another content source of a second type.  
     
     
         6 . A system comprising: 
 at least one processor;    memory operably associated with said processor; and    a program of instructions configured to be executed by said processor and stored in said memory, said program of instructions including instructions configured to obtain information associated with available content information from a plurality of content sources of one or more types, maintain information associated with user preferences and habits, identify items of probable user interest from said information associated with available content information and said information associated with user preferences and habits.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said program of instructions is further configured to maintain a record of the items identified as being of probable user interest.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said program of instructions is further configured to sort said record of identified items based on said information associated with user preferences and habits.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said program of instructions is further configured to remove duplicate entries from said record of identified items.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein identifying items of probable user interest includes identifying items of probable user interest from the information associated with one content source of a first type from information associated with another content source of a second type.  
     
     
         11 . A signal embedded in a propagation medium comprising: 
 at least one instruction configured to obtain information associated with available content information from a plurality of content sources of one or more types;    at least one instruction configured to maintain information associated with user preferences and habits; and    at least one instruction configured to identify items of probable user interest from said information associated with available content information and said information associated with user preferences and habits.    
     
     
         12 . The signal of  claim 11  further comprising at least one instruction configured to maintain a record of the items identified by said at least one instruction configured to identify.  
     
     
         13 . The signal of  claim 12  further comprising at least one instruction configured to sort said record of identified items based on information associated with user preferences and habits.  
     
     
         14 . The signal of  claim 12  further comprising at least one instruction configured to remove duplicate entries from said record of identified items.  
     
     
         15 . The signal of  claim 11  wherein said instruction configured to identify items of probable user interest includes identifying items of probable user interest from the information associated with one content source of a first type from information associated with another content source of a second type.  
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions, implementing the following method: 
 obtaining information associated with available content information from a plurality of content sources of one or more types;    maintaining information associated with user preferences and habits; and    identifying items of probable user interest from said information associated with available content information and said information associated with user preferences and habits.    
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16  wherein said program of instructions further implements maintaining a record of the items identified by said identifying step.  
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein said program of instructions further implements sorting the record of identified items based on information associated with user preferences and habits.  
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein said program of instructions further implements removing duplicate entries from the record of identified items.  
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16  wherein identifying items of probable user interest includes identifying items of probable user interest from the information associated with one content source of a first type from information associated with another content source of a second type.