Personal media channel apparatus and methods

Abstract

Network content delivery apparatus and methods based on content compiled from various sources and particularly selected for a given user. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the content sources include DVR, broadcast, nPVR, and VOD. The user-targeted content is assembled into a playlist, and displayed as a continuous stream on a virtual channel particular to that user. User interfaces accessible through the virtual channel present various functional options, including the selection or exploration of content having similarity or prescribed relationships to other content, and the ability to order purchasable content. An improved electronic program guide is also disclosed which allows a user to start over, record, view, receive information on, “catch up”, and rate content. Apparatus for remote access and configuration of the playlist and virtual channel functions, as well as a business rules “engine” implementing operational or business goals, are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on a digital processing apparatus of a computerized client apparatus, cause the computerized client apparatus to:
 associate individual ones of a plurality of navigation tools to a performance of a specific function;   cause display of the plurality of navigation tools on a display apparatus of the computerized client apparatus, the plurality of navigation tools operable by a user via a user interface of the computerized client apparatus; and   based at least on a selection by the user of at least one of the plurality of navigation tools via the user interface, effect the respective specific function(s) associated with the at least one of the plurality of navigation tools.   
     
     
         46 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the individual ones of the plurality of navigation tools comprise at least:
 (i) a search tool configured to enable the user to search available digitally rendered content based on one or more user-entered key words;   (ii) a tool configured to direct the user to a virtual channel wherein recommended content is displayed;   (iii) a tool configured to provide the user with purchasable digitally rendered content; and   (iv) a tool configured to provide the user with an electronic program guide.   
     
     
         47 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the association of the individual ones of the plurality of navigation tools to the performance of the specific function comprises association of an electronic program guide with a performance of a function selected from a group consisting of:
 (i) accessing information regarding a selected program;   (ii) starting a program over from a beginning thereof during a time that a program is set to be delivered to at least the computerized client apparatus;   (iii) setting an alert or reminder for at least one program having a broadcast time at a future time;   (iv) receiving a program clip regarding digitally rendered content selected by the user;   (v) rating digitally rendered content; and   (vi) viewing descriptions of previous episodes of digitally rendered content in a series.   
     
     
         48 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the association of the individual ones of the plurality of navigation tools to the performance of the specific function comprises association of recommendation tool to a performance of a comparison of available content to digitally rendered content selected by the user and display of a prioritized data structure of certain digitally rendered content based at least on the comparison. 
     
     
         49 . A computerized method of utilizing a recommendation search engine to recommend one or more content elements to a user via a content distribution network, the computerized method comprising:
 receiving first data indicative one or more keywords via a search function, the first data originating from a computerized client device configured to execute the search function;   evaluating the first data with respect to second data relating to one or more criteria;   based on the evaluating, identifying one or more content elements having a prescribed relationship to the one or more keywords and the one or more criteria; and   providing the one or more content elements to the computerized client device.   
     
     
         50 . The computerized method of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the evaluating of the first data with respect to the second data relating to the one or more criteria comprises utilizing data relating to a geographic location associated with the computerized client device; and   the identifying of the one or more content elements having the prescribed relationship to the one or more keywords and the one or more criteria comprises identifying one or more content elements that are geographically relevant to the computerized client device and relate to the one or more keywords.   
     
     
         51 . The computerized method of  claim 49 , further comprising collecting device-specific data from the computerized client device; 
 wherein the evaluating of the first data with respect to the second data relating to the one or more criteria comprises evaluating the first data with respect to the device-specific data.   
     
     
         52 . The computerized method of  claim 49 , further comprising accessing a database to obtain data representative of a user profile, the user profile comprising user-specific data specific to at least one user of the computerized client device; 
 wherein the evaluating of the first data with respect to the second data relating to the one or more criteria comprises evaluating the first data with respect to the user-specific data.   
     
     
         53 . The computerized method of  claim 52 , further comprising utilizing a cryptographic has function to obfuscate at least a portion of the user-specific data so as to maintain privacy of the at least one user. 
     
     
         54 . The computerized method of  claim 49 , further comprising collecting data from a plurality of content sources; 
 wherein the evaluating of the first data with respect to the second data relating to the one or more criteria comprises identifying one or more content elements having a threshold level of popularity based on the collected data.   
     
     
         55 . The computerized method of  claim 49 , wherein the receiving of the first data indicative the one or more keywords via the search function comprises receiving data indicative of one or more keywords collectively formed by one or more user-entered keyword elements and one or more keyword elements generated via an auto-complete function.