Distributed, interactive television program guide; system and method

Abstract

In an interactive network-based personal video recording system, a user interface is provided that allows viewers to search a database of program guide information according to program title, indexed program attributes such as actor and director, and key word. Viewer interaction is by way of a remote control unit.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 generating a plurality of strings based at least in part on program information stored in a database, a first string in the plurality of strings having a first number of characters and the program information including a second number of characters, the first number of characters being less than the second number of characters;   receiving a first input including a first character;   searching the plurality of strings to identify a first search result that includes the first character and at least one additional character based at least in part on the first character;   receiving a second input that includes a second character; and   searching the plurality of strings to identify a second search result based at least in part on the first character, the second character, and the at least one additional character.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 generating, based at least in part on the first input and the second input, program search profiles, individual program search profiles comprising one or more different search constraints, the one or more different search constraints including at least one of a key word, an actor name, or a category.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 storing program search profiles, each program search profile saved in association with a respective program search profile name.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 grouping the plurality of strings keys according to specific indexes, individual index of the specific indexes being associated with a group of the plurality of strings;   receiving a selection of an index; and   performing a search on the group of the plurality of strings associated based at least in part on the index.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second character is received after the first character. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 presenting the first search result based at least in part on the first input; and   updating the first search result to present the second search result based at least in part the second input.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second search result includes the first character, the second character and the at least one additional character. 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising control circuitry configured to:
 generate a plurality of strings based at least in part on program information stored in a database, a first string in the plurality of strings having a first number of characters and the program information including a second number of characters, the first number of characters being less than the second number of characters;   receive a first input including a first character;   search the plurality of strings to identify a first search result that includes the first character and at least one additional character based at least in part on the first character;   receive a second input that includes a second character; and   search the plurality of strings to identify a second search result based at least in part on the first character, the second character, and the at least one additional character.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 generate, based at least in part on the first input and the second input, program search profiles, individual program search profiles comprising one or more different search constraints, the one or more different search constraints including at least one of a key word, an actor name, or a category.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 store program search profiles, each program search profile saved in association with a respective program search profile name.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 group the plurality of strings keys according to specific indexes, individual index of the specific indexes being associated with a group of the plurality of strings;   receive a selection of an index; and   perform a search on the group of the plurality of strings associated based at least in part on the index.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the second character is received after the first character. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 present the first search result based at least in part on the first input; and   update the first search result to present the second search result based at least in part the second input.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the second search result includes the first character, the second character and the at least one additional character. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising memory with instructions encoded thereon, the instructions comprising:
 an instruction for generating a plurality of strings based at least in part on program information stored in a database, a first string in the plurality of strings having a first number of characters and the program information including a second number of characters, the first number of characters being less than the second number of characters;   an instruction for receiving a first input including a first character;   an instruction for searching the plurality of strings to identify a first search result that includes the first character and at least one additional character based at least in part on the first character;   an instruction for receiving a second input that includes a second character; and   an instruction for searching the plurality of strings to identify a second search result based at least in part on the first character, the second character, and the at least one additional character.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 an instruction for generating, based at least in part on the first input and the second input, program search profiles, individual program search profiles comprising one or more different search constraints, the one or more different search constraints including at least one of a key word, an actor name, or a category.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 an instruction for storing program search profiles, each program search profile saved in association with a respective program search profile name.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 an instruction for grouping the plurality of strings keys according to specific indexes, individual index of the specific indexes being associated with a group of the plurality of strings;   an instruction for receiving a selection of an index; and   an instruction for performing a search on the group of the plurality of strings associated based at least in part on the index.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the second character is received after the first character. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 presenting the first search result based at least in part on the first input; and   updating the first search result to present the second search result based at least in part the second input.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the second search result includes the first character, the second character and the at least one additional character.