MXPA01012341A

MXPA01012341A - Method and system utilizing text selected on a web page for searching in a database of television programs.

Info

Publication number: MXPA01012341A
Application number: MXPA01012341A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Henry C Yuen
Original assignee: Index Systems Inc
Priority date: 1999-05-28
Filing date: 2000-05-30
Publication date: 2002-08-12
Also published as: AU769098B2; AU5174900A; EP1188310A1; KR20020007423A; BR0011560A; WO2000074377A1; CA2375833A1; JP2003505756A; CN1358389A

Abstract

A method using a computer of selecting search text and conducting a database search by providing a user with a selection pointer to select text from a web page or other document, receiving the text selected by the user with the selection pointer (10), creating search strings from the text that the user selected (12), searching for information in a database that correlates to the created search strings (14), and communicating the correlating information in the database to the user (16). The database may contain television program information, and a television or video recording device may be timed to a selected program.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM THAT USES SELECTED TEXT ON A WEB PAGE TO PERFORM SEARCHES ON A DATA BASE TV SHOWS Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a method for performing text searches within a database, and more particularly to a method for matching the descriptions and listings of the program guide with the text.

Background of the Invention In recent years there has been an exponential increase in the amount of content and information available to consumers through multiple different means of distribution including television and the Internet. Because the amount of information has become too large, a search technique of some kind is necessary to efficiently search for the content. Current search techniques are linked to text series, short, often carefully worked, and compare those series with text databases. REF. DO NOT. : 134738 x.x? ttiz t ... ^ -. AiÉMuíii xX. to . - - -----; x.-x.iz.z -.iz- M Many users find the experience of searching for the content within invalidated databases. Frequently the series introduced by a user that performs the search for information, do not correspond directly with any information in the database available for the search technique. Sometimes, the information retrieved by the search technique is obscure and not the type the user was looking for. While there are ways for experienced searches to refine search series to do the test and get more relevant information, these techniques are often flawed, often use cumbersome notation, and are often time consuming. It is desirable to have a search technique that does not require the user to enter the special search text. Additionally, it is desirable for a user to be able to search the content on television based on the text located on the Internet or in a document. In addition, a user may wish to apply an additional search to a previous search result or from a database to another database.

Brief Description of the Invention .. a a- The present invention is a method that uses a computer to select search text and conduct a database search. The method is a program that provides a selection indicator to a user, which is visible on a text page. The user moves the indicator over the text area he wants to select. Once the user selects the text by moving the selection indicator, the text is provided for the program. The program creates search strings from the text selected with the indicator, and searches for a database for any information that correlates with the search strings. Once the information in the database has been found to be correlated with the search strings, the information is retrieved, placed in a memory, and then communicated by the program to the user. The text selected by a user can be from a Wold Wide Web page or from a document that is observed in another type of word processor or document viewer. In a modality, the selected text is of the complete page where the indicator is placed. Alternatively, the text can be selected from the full paragraph or sentence where the indicator is located. In another alternative mode, the selected text consists of text ie a specific number of words behind and in front of where the indicator is located. In another alternative embodiment, the text is selected from a first position of the indicator to a second position of the indicator. Once the text is selected, the search series are created by dividing the text selected by the user into pieces based on the score., type of word, and grammar rules. In one embodiment of the present invention, once the information is retrieved based on the search strings, the retrieved information is classified according to which search strings of the information are correlated and how many search strings of the information are correlated . In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the database to be searched contains information of the television program that includes: a description of the show, the person involved in the show, and data and time in which the show is going to be broadcast, and the channel in which the show is going to be broadcast. In an additional modality, once the information of the television program has recovered from ÍÍ -iÚ, x íxi-f.? Ts ..

In the database, the user can select a program to watch and the system automatically tunes a television to the appropriate channel at the appropriate time. In another mode, the user can select a program to record and the system automatically tunes a video recording device to the appropriate channel, starts recording at the beginning of the program, and ends recording the end of the program. In still an additional modality, the information of the program in the database corresponds to spectacle segments rather than complete shows, and a user can select several segments of shows to be watched and recorded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a flowchart of a search process in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention The following description describes some specific embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration without limiting the generality of the inventive concept. Í ??? A AAJJIÍ * .. ** - »J¿3J .. ... **** - * ^^ í. «- t? ÜMTf • r The invention is a computer program that includes a search program. The computer program takes the text when it enters and uses this text to search for a database. An overview of a process according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. In Block 10, the text is selected to use the search. In one embodiment of the present invention, the text is taken from a text that contains documents that are observed by the user either in the worldwide network, or in another software application. Next, as shown in Block 12, the text is analyzed syntactically in the search series for use in a search. The parsing step selects specific sub-components of the text as a whole for the search. Then, as shown in Table 14, the search is conducted. The search can be confined to a specific database, or it is conducted in multiple databases simultaneously. Once the search is complete, as shown in Table 16, the results are transmitted to the user. The results can then be used to conduct additional searches, and the same search can be performed in a different database. The results of The search can also be used to facilitate the observation and recording of desirable content. The text to be used in the search is collected from the content text that is observed by the user. The content that the user is observing can be via the global network, or in a software program either locally in the user's system or over a network. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an indicator on a display device is used to activate the computer program. The user places the indicator on the text displayed on a screen and the computer program is activated. The indicator can be a predefined icon or a user-defined icon. An example of a predefined icon is an arrow that moves when a mouse moves. A user-defined icon can be created, for example, by using a design program. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the indicator is a floating button. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the computer program is a local computer program for a user or set of users. When the indicator is placed over the text, the computer program is activated and the text is selected and processed to be used ? Í. Í í.? A Ít? Yt.? ... x .. - ^. 'IifiL, in a database search. In one embodiment of the present invention, a specified amount of text, such as a complete document, a page, a visible portion of a page, a paragraph, or a sentence in which the indicator is located, is selected to be parsed . Alternatively, a specified number of words is selected before and after the location of the indicator. In another alternative mode, the user places the indicator in a first location of the text to be selected and then moves the indicator to a second text location to be selected and the portion of text between the two points is selected to be processed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the process takes advantage of a paper-holder function. In a traditional paper holder, a portion of a document is selected, it gets rid of any edited information specific to the program or special surrounding the text, and the text is placed in a buffer for later use. Therefore, in one modality, the user drags the indicator over the area that will be used so that the search text and that area are copied onto a paper holder. Once in the paper holder, the text can be accessed and processed as explained later. > fcja? ? ^ | ¿Gjj j MiHfiaiMaü "•" * "" ** - The input text is analyzed syntactically in lexical units, that is, search series. In one modality, the search series includes those sentences and the individual words that make up the sentences. A sentence can be selected because a sentence is an adjustment of words delimited by a delimiter such as a period. For example, the sentence, "The cat is black and white" is by itself a search series and is separated into the search series, "The", "cat", "is", "black", "and" , and white". Additionally, search series can be created from multiple words of a sentence, based on the semantic fields of the individual words. For example, from the previous sentence the search strings, "black and white cat", "black cat", and "white cat" can be created because the parser recognizes that "black" and "white" they are adjectives that modify the subject, "cat". The generated search series are collected within the search program. The generated search strings are filtered to produce a collection of search strings that are useful for searching the database. Purge search strings that have little use in the search for a ^ ^^^. ^ H database. For example, search series such as articles, "a" and "a" are purged. However, articles, "a" and "an" within a sentence, are not purged because a sentence is itself a usable search string. The search strings that remain after the purging of useless search strings are used to search a database to generate the search results. The database can either be located on the user's machine or on a machine accessible elsewhere. If a search string consisting of a complete sentence is found in the database, then the text, including the sentence, is stored in a queue of the search result. Similarly, if a search string without a sentence is found in the database, then the text that includes the search string without a sentence is stored in the queue of the search result. After all the input text has been analyzed, and any of the database entries containing one or more search strings has been placed in the queue of the search result, the text within the queue of the search result it is a priority In one embodiment of the present invention, the database entries are 4I &JP - priority xt.ßtS based on the number and specificity of the search series contained within each entry to classify the applicability of the comparisons found in the database. For example, a database entry that contains a search string consisting of a complete sentence can be determined high priority because the database entry is most likely relevant. In one embodiment of the invention, texts can be prioritized by arranging them within the queue of the search result. In another embodiment of the invention, texts can be given priority by giving them a classification or numerical value that reflects their priority. Texts within the queue of the search result are displayed in the order of their priority. The use of text to search the database can be considered as a reverse search because the text of the search result can be used as the input text to search the database. In addition, the text of the search result, which is the input text, may be longer than the result of the application of an additional search for the text of the search result.

Usually, searches, such as on the Internet, are conducted using a few key words or a simple phrase and then the database elements containing the searched words are returned from the search and the database elements usually They include large texts. Therefore, the small text is entered and the large text is extracted. In contrast, in one embodiment of the invention, the input text usually includes many words, and the search output usually includes very few words than the input text. This is particularly true when the database of data sought is a list of descriptions and television programs. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the additional functionality can be activated based on the results of the database search. In this time of convergence of the information, it is desirable to correlate the information of the world network with the information of the television. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a designated portion of the text information in the world network is compared to the stored television listing information either locally or on a central server. When activated, the Computer program displays a list of information, including television schedule information, which correlates with the selected text. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer program is identified by a "floating button", which resides in the memory of the client unit or unit of the local computer. The "floating button" can be programmed in ActiveX, Java, C, any derivative of this, or any other language compatible with the Internet. The "button" can be dragged to reside in a portion of the network text on the screen. A tap of the button activates the computer program. The button is used to select a portion of the text of the network to compare it with a database of listings and descriptions of the television program. The computer program analyzes the text of the network and creates the search series. The search series are compared to the program listings and program descriptions. If any of the program listings or program descriptions contain the generated search strings, then the program listings are placed in the elements of a queue of the search result. Then the elements are classified or evaluated for their applicability to the text of entry. Then the elements of the queue of the search result are displayed according to their applicability to the input text. Therefore, most of the relevant listings and program descriptions will be displayed first. In addition, to display the relevant comparisons, additional functionality can be activated. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the local computer unit is contained within a television or linked to a television. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the local computer unit is a computer with a selector card. In the further alternative embodiments of the invention, the local computer unit is contained within an electronic consumer device such as a VCR, upper adjustment box (STB), satellite receiver, or other electronic device compatible with television. In one embodiment of the present invention, the information in the database will include the channel and time of each comparison program. Accordingly, a user can adjust the specified channel to the specified time to view the program. In alternative modes, a television user can select the multiple television programs from the results exhibited. The multiple television programs can be adjusted so that the programs are selected or the programs can be tuned in a time specified by the user. The selected program or programs can be selected remotely, linked with wire or stored and advanced methods. A selected program can be tuned instantly or programmed in the future for automatic registration. In the additional embodiments of the present invention, parental control can be exercised over which programs will be displayed. The user of the television may originate that a selected program that is displayed is subjected to a password that is entered. This allows parents, for example, to conduct a search for all shows that contain specific content and either block a child from viewing the program, or require a password to be entered prior to the show's program. Alternatively, parental control can work so that only those programs that are selected after a search will be displayed. This allows parents, for example, to conduct a search for all shows that contain the limit and specific content for a child to watch those shows.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the computer program does not analyze the input text, but passes the input text to a network site, which has its own search technique for searching the listings and descriptions of the program. Alternatively, the computer program can not perform the search, but analyzes the selected text and passes the search series to a network site, which has its own search technique for searching the lists and descriptions of the program. Once the results are obtained, the results are displayed for a user. Then the television user can select a program to be instantly adjusted to or programmed to be viewed or recorded later. While it has been described herein that the embodiments of the present invention are considered to be preferred and exemplary, other modifications of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that other applications can be substituted for those described therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all references as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention is determined by the claims supported by this application and their equivalents before the preceding description. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A method that uses a computer to select the search text and conduct a search of the database, characterized in that it comprises: providing an indicator selection for a user; receive the text selected by the user with the selection indicator; create the search series from the text selected with the indicator; perform the search of a database to find information that correlates with the search series; retrieve information that correlates with the search series from the database; put in communication the recovered information with the user. 2. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text is selected from a World Wide Web page. 3. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text is selected from a document that is observed in a display. . The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text selected by the indicator is that text on the entire page where the indicator is placed. 5. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text selected by the indicator is that text in the complete paragraph where the indicator is placed. 6. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text selected by the indicator Uest -Ú? * ^, - * I. »- *» *. * M &U * J. - tea. i is that text in the complete sentence where the indicator is placed. 7. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text selected by the indicator is a specified number of words before the indicator is placed . 8. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text selected by the indicator is a specified number of words after the indicator is placed . 9. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text selected by the indicator is a specified number of words before and after it is placed the indicator 10. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the text is selected by placing the indicator in a first position of the text to be selected, and then placing the indicator to a second position of the text to be selected. 11. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the database comprises the information of the television program. 12. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it creates the included search strings that divide the text into pieces based on at least one of the group which consists of punctuation, type of word, and grammar rules. 13. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: storing the recovered information in a memory. 14. The method a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a search of l i -í A - i, Í?. **. 3,?.,. £ ¿^^ |? ^ i. The database according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises: classifying the recovered information. 15. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises: inducing the user to select program information that corresponds to a program to view; receive a user selection of a program to view; and tune a television to a channel of the selected program in a period of time of the selected program. 16. The method that a computer uses to select the search text and conduct a database search in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises: inducing the user to select program information corresponding to a program to record; receive a selection from the user of a program to record; Y tune a video recording device to a channel of the selected program; record from a start time of the selected program to a final time of the selected program. 17. A method for using a prescribed text to search for relevant television programs, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: providing a user with a selection indicator; receive the text selected by the user with the selection indicator; create the search series from the selected text with the selection indicator; perform the search of a database of television program information to find information that correlates with the search series; retrieve information from the television program from the database that correlates with the search series; communicate the information of the recovered television program to the user. tJ-ij .., t «t ..". S? jJ? 18. The method for using prescribed text to search for relevant television programs, in accordance with claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises: inducing the user to select program information corresponding to a program for see; receive a selection of a program to view from the user; tune a television to the selected program. 19. The method for using prescribed text to search for relevant television programs according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises: inducing the user to select program information that corresponds to a program to record; receive a selection of a program to record from the user; tune a video recording device to the selected program; record from a start time of the selected program to a final time of the selected program. 20. The method for using prescribed text to search for relevant television programs in accordance with claim 18, characterized in that the information of the television program retrieved from the database corresponds to segments of a television program; and where the user can select a segment of a television program to watch. 21. The method for using prescribed text to search relevant television programs according to claim 19, characterized in that the information of the television program retrieved from the database corresponds to segments of a television program; wherein the user is induced to select a segment of a television program to record; and wherein only a segment of a television program is recorded.- 22. A search system, characterized in that it comprises: a selection indicator to select the text from a document or program; a parser to separate the selected text into search strings; a search technique to compare the search series with the content in a database; a storage device for storing the contents of the recovered database; Y a display device to display the content of the recovered database.