System and method for intermachine markup language communications

Abstract

A system, comprising a network interface, an additional data communications interface, and processor for supporting a control interface communicated through the network interface according to an intermachine markup language protocol, for controlling the network interface and the additional data communications interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A human interface system, comprising:
 a user input, receiving user instructions for control of a system;   an intelligent analysis system, monitoring said user instructions, to determine a user instruction pattern;   a feedback system, presenting an output representing the determined user instruction pattern, and receiving modification input from the user representing a concurrence with said determined user instruction pattern, data relating to said modification input being provided to said intelligent analysis system for alteration of said determined user instruction pattern based on said modification input; and   an operative system, presenting surrogate user instructions for control of the system based on said determined user instruction pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The human interface system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a database engine, for retrieving information from a database, said database including information having varying degrees of relevance to said determined user instruction pattern, said determined user instruction pattern comprising a query for said database engine for selectively retrieving information having a high degree of relevance to said determined user instruction.   
     
     
         3 . The human interface system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input for monitoring an activity of said operative system; and;   a correlator, for correlating said monitored activity with said determined user instruction, producing an output indicative of a degree of relation between said determined user activity and said monitored activity.   
     
     
         4 . A human interface system, comprising:
 a user input, receiving user instructions for control of a system;   an intelligent analysis system, monitoring said user instructions, to determine a user instruction pattern;   a feedback system, presenting an output representing the determined user instruction pattern, and receiving modification input from the user representing a concurrence with said determined user instruction pattern, data relating to said modification input being provided to said intelligent analysis system for alteration of said determined user instruction pattern based on said modification input;   an operative system, presenting surrogate user instructions for control of the system based on said determined user instruction pattern.   
     
     
         5 . The human interface system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a database engine, for retrieving information from a database, said database including information having varying degrees of relevance to said determined user instruction pattern, said determined user instruction pattern comprising a query for said database engine for selectively retrieving information having a high degree of relevance to said determined user instruction.   
     
     
         6 . The human interface system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an input for monitoring an activity of said operative system; and;   a correlator, for correlating said monitored activity with said determined user instruction, producing an output indicative of a degree of relation between said determined user activity and said monitored activity.   
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 receiving data describing an user attribute;   receiving a content data stream, and extracting from the content data stream information describing a plurality of program options;   processing the data describing a user attribute and the information describing a plurality of program options to determine a likely user preference;   selectively processing a program option based on said likely user preference.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said method is used by a terminal for a television program delivery system for suggesting programs to users for display on a television using program control information and user specific data;   said step of receiving data describing an user attribute comprises gathering user specific data to be used in selecting programs, and storing the gathered user specific data;   said step of receiving a content data stream, comprises receiving both programs and program control information for selecting programs as said information describing a plurality of program options;   said selectively processing step comprises selecting one or more programs using a user's programming preferences and the received program control information, wherein the user programming preferences are generated from the user specific data; and   presenting the program or information describing a program option for the selected programs to the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said user attribute comprises a semantic description of a preference. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said data processing step comprises determining a semantic relationship of said user preference to the information describing a plurality of program options. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said information describing a plurality of program options comprises a program guide. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said user attribute comprises a mood. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said user attribute comprises a demographic profile. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said user attribute comprises data relating to a history of use by the user.