Apparatus, systems and methods for media content searching

Abstract

Media device systems and methods are operable to identify media content events. An exemplary embodiment receives a user defined keyword tag, associates an identifier of a media content event with the user defined keyword tag, stores the user defined keyword tag and the associated identifier in a database, receives a user specification of the user defined keyword tag, conducts a search of the user defined keyword tags in the database for instances where the user defined keyword tag of the second user specification matches with the stored user defined keyword tag of the first user specification, and generates a return message that indicates the associated identifier of the media content event for each instance where the user defined keyword tag matches with the stored user defined keyword tag.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a media device, a user defined keyword tag that has been defined by a user of the media device;   performing a search of a plurality of user defined keyword tags in a keyword tag database for one or more instances where the user defined keyword tag from the media device matches with one or more user defined keyword tags defined by other users stored in the keyword tag database; and   sending, to the media device, at least one identifier of at least one media content event associated with one or more instances where the user defined keyword tag from the media device matched with the one or more user defined keyword tags defined by the other users.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the media device, an identifier of a media content event associated with the user defined keyword tag;   receiving, from the media device, information that identifies the user of the media device; and   storing the user defined keyword tag, the identifier of the media content event, and the information that identifies the user of the media device in the keyword tag database.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing a communication link to the media device;   receiving, from the media device, a request for media content event information in the keyword tag database; and   communicating, via the communication link to the media device, the media content event information.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending the plurality of user defined keyword tags to an entity to prepare programming and scheduling of one or more media content events.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing, from at least one remote electronic device to the media device, a communication link; and   receiving, via the communication link, user information that identifies the user of the media device to a keyword tag system residing in the at least one remote electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to the media device powering on, establishing, from at least one remote electronic device to the media device, a communication link.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the keyword tag database includes the plurality of user defined keyword tags, identity information for users associated with the plurality of user defined keyword tags, and a plurality of identifiers identifying respective media content events. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a media device, a user defined keyword tag that has been defined by a user of the media device;   performing a search of a plurality of user defined keyword tags in a keyword tag database for one or more instances where the user defined keyword tag from the media device matches with one or more user defined keyword tags defined by other users stored in the keyword tag database; and   sending, to the media device, at least one identifier of at least one media content event associated with one or more instances where the user defined keyword tag from the media device matched with the one or more user defined keyword tags defined by the other users.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, from the media device, an identifier of a media content event associated with the user defined keyword tag;   receiving, from the media device, information that identifies the user of the media device; and   storing the user defined keyword tag, the identifier of the media content event, and the information that identifies the user of the media device in the keyword tag database.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 establishing a communication link to the media device;   receiving, from the media device, a request for media content event information in the keyword tag database; and   communicating, via the communication link to the media device, the media content event information.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 sending the plurality of user defined keyword tags to an entity to prepare programming and scheduling of one or more media content events.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 establishing, from at least one remote electronic device to the media device, a communication link; and   receiving, via the communication link, user information that identifies the user of the media device to a keyword tag system residing in the at least one remote electronic device.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 in response to the media device powering on, establishing, from at least one remote electronic device to the media device, a communication link.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the keyword tag database includes the plurality of user defined keyword tags, identity information for users associated with the plurality of user defined keyword tags, and a plurality of identifiers identifying respective media content events. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform a process comprising:
 receiving, from a media device, a user defined keyword tag that has been defined by a user of the media device; 
 performing a search of a plurality of user defined keyword tags in a keyword tag database for one or more instances where the user defined keyword tag from the media device matches with one or more user defined keyword tags defined by other users stored in the keyword tag database; and 
 sending, to the media device, at least one identifier of at least one media content event associated with one or more instances where the user defined keyword tag from the media device matched with the one or more user defined keyword tags defined by the other users. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the process further comprises:
 receiving, from the media device, an identifier of a media content event associated with the user defined keyword tag;   receiving, from the media device, information that identifies the user of the media device; and   storing the user defined keyword tag, the identifier of the media content event, and the information that identifies the user of the media device in the keyword tag database.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the process further comprises:
 establishing a communication link to the media device;   receiving, from the media device, a request for media content event information in the keyword tag database; and   communicating, via the communication link to the media device, the media content event information.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the process further comprises:
 sending the plurality of user defined keyword tags to an entity to prepare programming and scheduling of one or more media content events.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the process further comprises:
 establishing, from at least one remote electronic device to the media device, a communication link; and   receiving, via the communication link, user information that identifies the user of the media device to a keyword tag system residing in the at least one remote electronic device.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the keyword tag database includes the plurality of user defined keyword tags, identity information for users associated with the plurality of user defined keyword tags, and a plurality of identifiers identifying respective media content events.