Recommending broadcast transmissions of interest to a viewer

Abstract

Systems and methods identify broadcast transmissions of interest to a user by comparing a user's interest profile to characteristics, such as topic phrases, associated with available broadcast transmissions. The method comprises receiving from a viewing station via a communication network an interest profile associated with a user. The interest profile includes data representing a plurality of topics of interest to the user that relate to broadcast transmissions. After receiving the interest profile, a text-based search is performed to identify available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile, and a list of one or more of the available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile are transmitted to the viewing station so that one or more of the available broadcast transmissions can be selected from the list and presented via the viewing station.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving from a viewing station via a communication network an interest profile associated with a user, wherein the interest profile includes data representing a plurality of topics of interest to the user and the topics of interest relate to broadcast transmissions;   performing, via a processor, a text-based search for available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile; and   transmitting to the viewing station via the communication network a list of one or more of the available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile so that one or more of the available broadcast transmissions can be selected from the list and presented via the viewing station.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor performs the text-based search automatically at regular intervals of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor performs the text-based search in response to receiving from the viewing station via the communication network a request to perform the text-based search. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the text-based search comprises searching topic phrases that are stored in association with each of the broadcast transmissions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the topic phrases comprise a summary of the associated broadcast transmission. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the topic phrases comprise phrases reflecting topics that are included in the associated broadcast transmission. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the text-based search comprises searching a text version of an audio portion of the broadcast transmissions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 converting to text an audio portion of a broadcast transmission; and   storing the text in association with the broadcast transmission.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interest profile further includes data representing additional broadcast information including one or more of a type of broadcast transmission, a length of a broadcast transmission, or a cost of a broadcast transmission. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein performing the text-based search comprises searching for available broadcast transmissions that satisfy the additional broadcast information, generating a data set that only includes the available broadcast transmissions that satisfy the additional broadcast information, and searching the data set for available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcast transmissions comprise video broadcast transmissions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcast transmissions comprise audio broadcast transmissions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting to the viewing station via the communication network a menu of selectable topics of interest and a prompt requesting the user to select one or more of the selectable topics of interest to generate the interest profile, wherein the interest profile is transmitted by the viewing station in response to a selection of one or more of the selectable topics of interest.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving a selection of one of the available broadcast transmissions from the list, transmitting to the viewing station via the communication network the selected one of the available broadcast transmissions.   
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a communication module configured to communicate via a communications network; and   a processor in operative association with the communication module, the processor configured to:
 receive from a viewing station via the communication network an interest profile associated with a user, wherein the interest profile includes data representing a plurality of topics of interest to the user and the topics of interest relate to broadcast transmissions; 
 perform a text-based search for available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile; and 
 transmit to the viewing station via the communication network a list of one or more of the available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile so that one or more of the available broadcast transmissions can be selected from the list and presented via the viewing station. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to automatically perform the text-based search at regular intervals of time. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform the text-based search by searching topic phrases that are stored in association with each of the broadcast transmissions. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform the text-based search by searching a text version of an audio portion of the broadcast transmissions. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receiving a selection of one of the available broadcast transmissions from the list, cause the selected one of the available broadcast transmissions to be transmitted to the viewing station via the communication network. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for receiving from a viewing station via a communication network an interest profile associated with a user, wherein the interest profile includes data representing a plurality of topics of interest to the user and the topics of interest relate to broadcast transmissions;   instructions for performing a text-based search for available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile; and   instructions for transmitting to the viewing station via the communication network a list of one or more of the available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile so that one or more of the available broadcast transmissions can be selected from the list and presented via the viewing station.