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  Methods and systems for generating electronic program guidesUSPTO Application #: 20070299685Title: Methods and systems for generating electronic program guides Abstract: Various embodiments provide ways to collect, organize and process metadata associated with particular instances of media content. Metadata can be collected from a variety of metadata providers and organized in individual content folders that can be provided to various client devices. The client devices can process the content folders to provide an electronic program guide for its users. Methods and systems can also make use of user-specific data to evaluate various media content and then make recommendations as to which content a user would most likely wish to experience. Such user-specific data can comprise one or more user preference files that contain information associated with individual users, and one or more significance files that hold values, for individual users, that can be used to determine the significance of any matches found between the user preference files and media content. (end of abstract) Agent: Lee & Hayes PLLC - Spokane, WA, US Inventor: David J. Marsh USPTO Applicaton #: 20070299685 - Class: 705001000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, Or Cost/price Determination, Automated Electrical Financial Or Business Practice Or Management Arrangement The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070299685. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/165,727, which was filed Jun. 6, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. [0002] This application is also related to the following U.S. Patent Applications, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein: [0003] Application Ser. No. 10/125,260, filed Apr. 16, 2002, entitled "Media Content Descriptions" and naming Dave Marsh as inventor, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,193; [0004] Application Ser. No. 10/125,259, filed Apr. 16, 2002, entitled "Describing Media Content in Terms of Degrees" and naming Dave Marsh as inventor; [0005] Application Ser. No. 10/160,932, filed May 31, 2002, entitled "Scoring And Recommending Media Content Based On User Preferences", and naming Dave Marsh as inventor; and [0006] Application Ser. No. 10/160,919, filed May 31, 2002, entitled "Entering Programming Preferences While Browsing An Electronic Programming Guide", and naming Dave Marsh as inventor. TECHNICAL FIELD [0007] This invention relates to media entertainment systems and, in particular, to systems and methods that are directed to personalizing a user's experience. BACKGROUND [0008] Many media entertainment systems provide electronic programming guides (EPGs) that allow users to interactively select programs that they are interested in. Systems that employ EPG technology typically display programs organized according to the channel on which the program will be broadcast and the time at which the broadcast will occur. Information identifying a particular program typically includes the program title, and possibly a short description of the program. In today's world, media entertainment systems can typically offer hundreds of channels from which a user can choose. In the future, many more channels will undoubtedly be offered. This alone can present a daunting task for the user who wishes to locate particular programs of interest. Further complicating the user's experience is the fact that many current electronic programming guides (EPGs) can provide an abundance of information that can take several hours for a user to look through. [0009] Against this backdrop, what many viewers typically end up doing is that they simply review a few favorite channels to see when their favorite programs are playing, and then view those programs at the appropriate times. Additionally, other viewers may simply revert to channel surfing. Needless to say, these outcomes do not provide the user with the best user experience or make effective and efficient use of the user's time. [0010] Accordingly, this invention arose out of concerns associated with providing improved systems and methods that can provide media entertainment users with a rich, user-specific experience. SUMMARY [0011] Various embodiments provide ways to collect, organize and process metadata associated with particular instances of media content. Metadata can be collected from a variety of metadata providers and organized in individual content folders that can be provided to various client devices. The client devices can process the content folders to provide an electronic program guide for its users. The content folders can, but need not, contain the media content to which the metadata pertains. [0012] Methods and systems can also make use of user-specific data to evaluate various media content and then make recommendations as to which content a user would most likely wish to experience. Such user-specific data can comprise one or more user preference files that contain information associated with individual users, and one or more significance files that hold values that can be used to determine the significance of any matches found between the user preference files and media content. In some embodiments, a recommendation engine processes content description data and user-specific data to make recommendations as to which content a particular user would most likely wish to experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates program data in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary environment in which methods, systems, and data structures in accordance with the described embodiments may be implemented. [0015] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates exemplary components of a content folder in accordance with one embodiment. [0016] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram describing steps in a method in accordance with one embodiment. [0017] FIG. 5 is a high level block diagram that illustrates aspects of but one system that can be utilized to implement one or more embodiments. [0018] FIG. 6 is a block diagram that illustrates exemplary components of a client device in accordance with one embodiment. [0019] FIG. 7 is a block diagram that illustrates a recommendation engine in accordance with one embodiment. [0020] FIG. 8 is a block diagram that illustrates various components that can comprise a client device. [0021] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary electronic programming guide that can be rendered in accordance with the techniques described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0022] Overview Continue reading... 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