WO2015023619A2

WO2015023619A2 - Method, apparatus and system for including additional information with content search/recommendation results

Info

Publication number: WO2015023619A2
Application number: PCT/US2014/050617
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juan M. NOGUEROL
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing
Priority date: 2013-08-13
Filing date: 2014-08-12
Publication date: 2015-02-19
Also published as: WO2015023619A3

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for including content information with content results are provided. In response to a search for content or in connection with a recommendation of content, a listing of content results is provided, a content result being represented by a respective representation of the content such as poster art for the content. Subsequently, additional information, such as content description or advertising, for a content result is provided. The additional information is then displayed within at least one area on a display previously designated for the display of at least one other content result, the at least one area adjacent to an area on the display designated for the display of the content result for which additional information is provided.

Description

METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR INCLUDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITH CONTENT SEARCH/RECOMMENDATION RESULTS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.

61 /865,579 filed August 13, 201 3.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to content recommendation and content searching, and more particularly, to a method, apparatus and system for including additional information with content search/recommendation results.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A search system can identify resources in response to queries submitted by users and provide information about the resources in a manner that is useful to the users. In addition, recommendation systems can make content recommendations to users based on user profiles. The users then navigate through (e.g., click on) the search/recommendation results to acquire information of interest to the users. Such systems, however, require users to navigate away from a results page to learn more information about a resource included in the results page.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENITON

In one embodiment, a method for including content information with content results includes, in response to a search for content or in connection with a recommendation of content, providing a listing of content results, a content result being represented by a respective representation of the content, providing additional information for a content result and effectuating a display of the additional information within at least one area on a display previously designated for the display of at least one other content result, the at least one area adjacent to an area on the display designated for the display of the content result for which additional information is provided.

In an alternate embodiment of the present principles, a media device for including content information with content search/recommendation results includes a receiver which receives an input stream, a processor which processes the input stream, a display interface which generates displays for presenting at least one of recommendation results and search results for content of said input stream, a memory which stores program instructions and at least the input steam and content associated with the input stream and a controller which executes the program instructions and interfaces with the processor, the display and the memory to configure the apparatus to, in response to a search for content or in connection with a recommendation of content, provide a listing of content results, a content result being represented by a respective representation of the content, provide additional information for a content result and generate a display of the additional information within at least one area on a display previously designated for the display of at least one area on a display previously designated for the display of at least one other content result, the at least one area adjacent to an area on the display designated for the display of the content result for which additional information is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described or become apparent from the following detailed description of the described embodiments of the present principles, which are to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the views:

FIG. 1 depicts a high level block diagram of a system for including additional information, such as content description and advertisements, with recommendation/search results in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 2 depicts a high level block diagram of an apparatus for including additional information with recommendation/search results in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 3 depicts a representation of a prior art user interface in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown;

FIG. 4 depicts a representation of a user interface in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 5 depicts a representation of a user interface in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present principles; FIGs 6-9 depict representations of user interfaces in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present principles; and

FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram of a method for including additional information, such as content description and advertisements, with recommendation/search results in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

It should be understood that the drawing(s) is for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the disclosure and is not necessarily the only possible configuration for illustrating the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present principles advantageously provide a method, apparatus and system for including additional information, such as descriptive information and advertisements, for content with recommendation/search results. Although the present principles will be described primarily within the context of a set- top box and poster art representations of content, the specific embodiments of the present principles should not be treated as limiting the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and informed by the teachings of the present principles that the concepts of the present principles can be advantageously applied by any access device or content rendering device, such as but not limited to, a server, a gateway, a router, a content playout device and the like and that other visual and/or audio representations can be provided for selected content.

In the claims hereof, any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a) a combination of circuit elements that performs that function or b) software in any form, including, therefore, firmware, microcode or the like, combined with appropriate circuitry for executing that software to perform the function. The present principles as defined by such claims reside in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner which the claims call for. It is thus regarded that any means that can provide those functionalities are equivalent to those shown herein.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present principles, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

The functions of the various elements shown in the figures can be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions can be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which can be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term "processor" or "controller" should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and can implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor ("DSP") hardware, read-only memory ("ROM") for storing software, random access memory ("RAM"), and non-volatile storage. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams presented herein represent conceptual views of illustrative system components and/or circuitry embodying the principles of the invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable media and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

Furthermore, because some of the constituent system components and methods depicted in the accompanying drawings can be implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components or the process function blocks may differ depending upon the manner in which the present principles are programmed. Given the teachings herein, one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present principles. In the claims hereof, any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a) a combination of circuit elements that performs that function or b) software in any form, including, therefore, firmware, microcode or the like, combined with appropriate circuitry for executing that software to perform the function. The disclosure as defined by such claims resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner which the claims call for. It is thus regarded that any means that can provide those functionalities are equivalent to those shown herein.

FIG. 1 depicts a high level block diagram of a system 100 for including additional information, such as descriptive information and advertisements, for content with recommendation/search results in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The system 100 of FIG. 1 illustratively includes a content source 102, such as a movie studio or production house, from which content can originate. In various embodiments of the present principles, the content can be supplied in at least one of two forms. One form can include a broadcast form of content. The broadcast content is provided to a broadcast affiliate manager 104, which is typically a national broadcast service, such as the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), etc. The broadcast affiliate manager 104 can collect and store the content, and schedule delivery of the content over a deliver network, depicted as delivery network 1 (106) in the system 100 of FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, delivery network 1 (106) can include satellite link transmission from a national center to one or more regional or local centers. Delivery network 1 (106) can also be capable of local content delivery using local delivery systems such as over the air broadcast, satellite broadcast, or cable broadcast. The locally delivered content is provided to a media device 108 in a user's home, where the content can be subsequently searched by the user. In various embodiments of the present principles, the media device 108 can take many forms and can be embodied as a set top box/digital video recorder (DVR), a gateway, a modem, etc. Further, the media device 108 can function as an entry point, or gateway, for a home network system that includes additional devices configured as either client or peer devices in the home network.

As described above, in alternate embodiments of the present principles, the system 100 of FIG. 1 can optionally include a second form of content, referred to as special content. Special content can include content delivered as premium viewing, pay-per-view, video on demand, or other content otherwise not provided through the broadcast affiliate manager, such as movies, video games, applications, and other video elements. In many cases, the special content can include content requested by the user. The special content can be delivered to a content manager 1 1 0. The content manager 1 10 can be a service provider, such as an Internet website, affiliated, for instance, with a content provider, broadcast service, or delivery network service. The content manager 1 10 can also incorporate Internet content into the delivery system.

The content manager 1 10 can deliver special content to the user's media device 108 over a second delivery network 2 (1 12) of the system 100 of FIG. 1 . In various embodiments of the present principles, the second delivery network 2 (1 12) can include high-speed, broadband, Internet-type communications systems. In the system 100 of FIG. 1 , the content from the broadcast affiliate manager 104 can also be delivered using all or parts of the second delivery network 2 (1 12) and content from the content manager 1 1 0 can be delivered using all or parts of the first delivery network 1 (106). In alternate embodiments, the user can obtain content directly from the Internet via delivery network 2 (1 12) without necessarily having the content managed by the content manager 1 1 0.

The media device 108, as a consumption device, can receive different types of content from one or both of the first delivery network 1 and the second delivery network 2. The media device 1 08 processes the content, and provides a separation of the content based on user preferences and commands such as search commands. The media device 1 08 can also include a storage device, such as a hard drive or optical disk drive, for recording and playing back audio and video content. The content can then be provided to a display device 1 14. The display device 1 14 can include a conventional 2-D type display or can alternatively be an advanced 3-D display.

In FIG. 1 , the system 1 00 also illustratively includes a back end server 1 1 8 and a usage database 120. In one embodiment of the present principles, the back end server 1 18 includes a personalization engine that analyzes the usage habits of a user and makes recommendations based on those usage habits. The usage database 120 is where the usage habits for a user are monitored and information about such usage habits is stored. It is possible to use such user habit information to develop a profile for a user which is then used for recommending advertisements and programming. In various embodiments, the usage database 120 can be part of the back end server 1 1 8. In the example of FIG. 1 , the back end server 1 18 (as well as the usage database 120) is connected to the system 100 and accessed through the second delivery network 2 (1 12).

The system 100 of FIG. 1 further illustratively depicts optional media services. For example, media services 140 and 150 represent media service providers such as M-GO, NETFLIX, AMAZON MEDIA SERVICES, and the like that deliver media content such as videos, audio, computer programs, and the like to at least one receiving device such as the receiving device 1 08 of FIG. 1 . Media services 140 and 150 can be delivered in the form of Internet Protocol (IP) packets that are from an over the top (OTT) service where an OTT service is independent and not controlled by a service provider. Alternatively, media services 140 and 150 can also be implemented as having a service provider such as COMCAST, TIME-WARNER CABLE, VERIZON FIOS, and the like which delivers media content in the form of a video on demand service, application store, downloadable video, among other implementations.

FIG. 2 depicts a high level block diagram of an apparatus for including additional information, such as content description and advertisements, with recommendation/search results in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The media device 108 of FIG. 2 includes an input signal receiver 202. In the media device 108, the content is received by an input signal receiver 202. The input signal receiver 202 can include one of several known receiver circuits used for receiving, demodulation, and decoding signals provided over one of the several possible networks including over the air, cable, satellite, Ethernet, fiber and phone line networks. A desired input signal can be selected and retrieved by the input signal receiver 202 based on user input provided through a control interface or an optional touch panel interface 222. The touch panel interface 222 can include an interface for a touch screen device. The touch panel interface 222 can also be adapted to interface to a cellular phone, a tablet, a mouse, a high end remote or the like.

The decoded output signal of the input signal receiver 202 is provided to an input stream processor 204. The input stream processor 204 performs the final signal selection and processing, and includes separation of video content from audio content for the content stream. The audio content is provided to an audio processor 206 for conversion from the received format, such as compressed digital signal, to an analog waveform signal. The analog waveform signal is provided to an audio interface 208 and further to a display device or audio amplifier (not shown). Alternatively, the audio interface 208 can provide a digital signal to an audio output device or display device using a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable or alternate audio interface such as via a Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (SPDIF). The audio interface can also include amplifiers (not shown) for driving one more sets of speakers. The audio processor 206 also performs any necessary conversion for the storage of the audio signals.

The video output from the input stream processor 204 is provided to a video processor 21 0. The video signal can include one of several formats. The video processor 210 provides, as necessary, a conversion of the video content based on the input signal format. The video processor 21 0 also performs any necessary conversion for the storage of the video signals.

A storage device 21 2 stores audio and video content received at the input. The storage device 21 2 enables later retrieval and playback of the content under the control of a controller 214 and also based on commands, e.g., navigation instructions such as fast-forward (FF) and rewind (Rew), received from a user interface 216 and/or optional touch panel interface 222. The storage device 212 can comprise a hard disk drive, one or more large capacity integrated electronic memories, such as static RAM (SRAM), or dynamic RAM (DRAM), or may be an interchangeable optical disk storage system such as a compact disk (CD) drive or digital video disk (DVD) drive.

The converted video signal, from the video processor 210, either originating from the input or from the storage device 212, is provided to the display interface 218. The display interface 218 provides the display signal to a display device. The display interface 218 can include an analog signal interface such as red-green-blue (RGB) or can include a digital interface such as HDMI. In various embodiments of the present principles, the display interface 21 8 generates the various screens for presenting the recommendation results and/or search results, which will be described in greater detail below.

The controller 214 is interconnected via a bus to several of the components of the device 200, including the input stream processor 202, audio processor 206, video processor 210, storage device 212, and a user interface 216. The controller 214 manages the conversion process for converting the input stream signal into a signal for storage on the storage device or for display. The controller 214 also manages the retrieval and playback of stored content. Furthermore, as will be described below, the controller 214 performs searching of content and the creation and adjusting of the gird display representing the content, either stored or to be delivered via the delivery networks, described above.

The controller 214 is further coupled to control memory 220 (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory, including RAM, SRAM, DRAM, ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), flash memory, electronically programmable ROM (EPROM) , electronically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), etc.) for storing information and instruction code for the controller 214. The control memory 220 can store instructions for the controller 214. The control memory 220 can also store a database of elements, such as graphic elements containing content, various graphic elements used for generating a displayed user interface for the display interface 218, and the like. Alternatively, the memory can store the graphic elements in identified or grouped memory locations and use an access or location table to identify the memory locations for the various portions of information related to the graphic elements. In addition, various graphic elements can be generated in response to computer instructions interpreted by the controller 214 for output to the display interface 21 8.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present principles, in response to a search request from a user, or alternatively, in addition to content recommendations presented to a user, a search result/recommendation result is replaced with content information/advertising for selected content. For example, FIG. 3 depicts a prior art representation of a user interface in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown. The search/ recommendation results comport to a "Top 25" list in which the search/recommendation results can be the most popular titles that can be viewed, for examples as a rental or a purchase from, for example a media service such as M-Go or other service provider. In the prior art example of FIG. 3, other types of search results can be selected using the title bar shown on the left of the user interface. For example and as depicted in FIG. 3, a user can select different genres of movies, recommended movies for a user (based on the user profile illustratively named 'For you'), and the like. In the prior art user interface of FIG. 3, a banner advertisement is shown at the right of the screen, which represents how advertisements are typically presented in such prior art user interfaces, in which advertisements are separate from search/recommendation results. In the prior art user interface of FIG. 3, in order to find out more information about content, such as a particular search/recommendation result, a selection of the graphical representation of the content of interest must be made by the user.

FIG. 4 depicts a representation of a user interface in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a user interface includes a plurality of search/recommendation result links to content depicted by respective poster art representations of the content results. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the representation of each search/recommendation result comprises an equal size and shape and are displayed in columns and rows.

In accordance with the present principles, as depicted in FIG. 4, when it is desired to include additional information/advertisement for selected content, the size of the representation space for that particular selected content can take up an area equal to, in various embodiments of the present principles, a multiple of the original size of the representation space for that particular selected content such that the additional information for the selected content can be displayed in close proximity to the selected content. In one embodiment of the present principles, the decision of for which content to include additional descriptive information or advertisement information can be made by a content/service provider and additional information can be included for content which is currently being promoted or otherwise pushed. In alternate embodiments of the present principles, additional information can be provided for at least a portion of content selections that, using a history of user preferences or selections, would be preferred by or recommended to a user.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, additional information, illustratively an advertisement, for a movie (Turbo 3D) is being included with the poster art for the movie. In FIG. 4, the additional information, illustratively the advertisement for the movie, is inserted in a space equal to the poster art for the movie and directly to the right of (adjacent to) the poster art for the movie doubling the size of the previous space being taken up by the poster art for the movie alone. That is, the advertisement and poster art for the movie take up the area of two search/recommendation results, instead of the area of one result. Advantageously over the prior art, information for selected content, sales or otherwise, can be presented to a user and can be seen by the user without the user having to navigate to another screen.

FIG. 5 depicts a representation of a user interface in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present principles. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, additional information, illustratively an advertisement, for a movie (G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) is included with the poster art for the movie. As depicted, in the embodiment of FIG. 5 the advertisement for the movie takes up an entire row previously reserved for search/recommendation results. Although in the embodiment of FIG. 5 the advertisement for the movie takes up an entire row, in alternate embodiments of the present invention additional information for content can take up an entire column or, as described above, a portion of a row or column.

Although in the embodiments of FIGs 4 and 5 content representations comprise visual representations (poster art), in alternate embodiments of the present principles, content representations can comprise at least one of video, audio and video/audio representations of content. Even further, although in the embodiments of FIGs 4 and 5 the visual representations (poster art) for the content are depicted as comprising columns and rows, in alternate embodiments of the present principles the content representations can comprise any orientation, such as a list, a circular representation or any other arrangement. In addition, although in FIGs 4 and 5, the visual representations of the content are depicted as comprising poster art for the content, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, the visual representations can comprise any other depiction of the content with which a user can recognize the content, including but not limited to a visual/audio representation of a scene in the content, a visual/audio representation of recognizable characters in the content, a visual/audio representation of recognizable locations in the content, a visual/audio representation of words and/or phrases in the content, and the like. In addition, although in the embodiment of FIGs 4 and 5, all visual representations of search/recommendation results for the content are depicted as comprising an equal size, in alternate embodiments of the present principles the visual representations of search/recommendation results for the content can comprise varying sizes. FIGs 6-9 depict representations of user interfaces in which media assets with their associated poster art, as search results/recommendation results, are shown in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present principles. More specifically, in FIG. 6, additional information, illustratively an advertisement, for a movie (Turbo 3D) is inserted in a space equal to the visual representation of the movie and is located directly above and adjacent to the poster art for the movie doubling the size of the previous space being taken up by the poster art for the movie alone. In FIG. 7, additional information, illustratively an advertisement, for a movie (Turbo 3D) is inserted in a space equal to the visual representation of the movie and is located directly to the left and adjacent to the poster art for the movie. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, additional information, illustratively an advertisement, for a movie (Turbo 3D) is inserted in a space equal to the visual representation of the movie and is located directly above and adjacent to the poster art for the movie. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, additional information, illustratively an advertisement, for a movie (Turbo 3D) is inserted in a space equal to the visual representation of the movie and is located diagonally, above and to the left and still adjacent to the poster art for the movie.

The embodiments of FIGs 6-9 further depict an optional pointer in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. More specifically, as depicted in FIGs 6-9, embodiments of the present principles can further include a pointer or pointing means, illustratively an arrow, which associates the additional information included for selected content with the visual representation for the selected content. Although in the embodiments of FIGs 6-9 the pointer comprises an arrow, in alternate embodiments of the present principles the pointer can comprise any visual character, such as an equal sign, single or multiple lines, character pointing in a direction and the like, directing a viewer's attention from one area of the graphical user interface to another. In addition although in the embodiments of FIGs 6-9 the pointer is pointing from the additional information to a visual representation of content associated with the information, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, a pointer can point from a visual representation of content to additional information for that content and can alternatively also point in both directions.

FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram of a method for including advertisements with recommendation/search results in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. The method 1000 begins at step 101 0 during which, in response to a search for content or in connection with a recommendation of content, a listing of content search results is provided; a content search result being represented by a respective representation of the content. For example, in one embodiment of the present principles described above, the content representation in comprises a visual representation which includes poster art for the content. The method 1 000 can then proceed to step 1020.

At step 1020, additional information for a respective content search result is provided. As described above, in various embodiments of the present principles, the additional information can include a description of content associated with the content search result or an advertisement or advertising information for the content search result. The method 1 000 can then proceed to step 1030.

At step 1030, the additional information is displayed on a display such as a graphical user interface within at least one area previously designated for the display of at least one other content result, the at least one area adjacent to an area on the display designated for the display of the content result for which additional information is provided. The method 1000 can then be exited or alternatively can proceed to optional step 1 040.

At step 1040, a visual pointer is provided to associate a content search result and additional information provided for content of that content search result.

Although embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present disclosure have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate the principles of the teachings herein. Having described preferred embodiments of a method, apparatus and system for monitoring and determining a load time of a web page (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the disclosure disclosed which are within the scope of the disclosure as outlined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A method for including content information with content results, comprising:

in response to a search for content or in connection with a recommendation of content,

providing a listing of content results, a content result being represented by a respective representation of the content;

providing additional information for a content result; and

effectuating a display of the additional information within at least one area on a display previously designated for the display of at least one other content result, the at least one area adjacent to an area on the display designated for the display of the content result for which additional information is provided.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of a content result comprises poster art work for the content associated with the content result.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional information for a content result comprises at least one of additional descriptive information for the content and advertising information for content associated with the content result.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of a content result comprises an audio representation of content associated with the content result.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional information for a content result is displayed adjacent to the content result.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein content results are displayed on a user interface in columns and rows.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein additional information for content results is provided for content results that are being promoted.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein additional information is provided for content results whose respective content can be of interest to a user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein content that can be of interest to a user is determined using information regarding with which content a user has previously interacted.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display of the content results and the additional information creates an interactive user interface.

1 1 . The method of claim 1 , comprising displaying a pointer which associates the additional information with the representation for a respective content result.

12. An apparatus for including content information with content results, comprising: a receiver receiving an input stream;

a processor processing the input stream;

a display interface generating displays for presenting at least one of recommendation results and search results for content of said input stream;

a memory storing program instructions and at least said input steam and content associated with said input stream; and

a controller executing the program instructions and interfaces with said processor, said display and said memory to configure said apparatus to:

provide a listing of content results, a content result being represented by a respective representation of the content;

provide additional information for a content result; and

generate a display of the additional information within at least one area on a display previously designated for the display of at least one other content result, the at least one area adjacent to an area on the display designated for the display of the content result for which additional information is provided.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein apparatus causes the display of poster art work for the representation of a content result.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the additional information for a content result comprises at least one of additional descriptive information for the content and advertising information for the content associated with the content result.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the representation of a content result comprises an audio representation of content associated with the content result.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus causes the display of the additional information for a content result adjacent to the content result.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus causes the display of content results on a user interface in columns and rows.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein additional information for content results is provided for content results that are being promoted.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein additional information is provided for content results whose respective content can be of interest to a user.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein content that can be of interest to a user is determined using information regarding with which content a user has previously interacted.

21 . The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus causes the display of the content results and the additional information as an interactive user interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus causes the display of a pointer which associates the additional information with the representation for a respective content result.

A system for including content information with content results, comprising:

at least one content source providing content;

at least one network delivering content; and

a media device, comprising:

a receiver receiving content from said at least one content source;

a processor processing the content;

a display interface generating displays for presenting at least user profiles; a memory storing program instructions and at least said content; and a controller executing the program instructions and interfacing with said processor, said display and said memory to configure said apparatus to:

provide additional information for a content result; and