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US006851090B1
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,851,090 Bi
Gutta et al. (45) Date of Patent: Feb. 1,2005
6,177,931 Bl * 1/2001 Alexander et al 725/46
6,518,986 Bl * 2/2003 Mugura 345/810
6,519,009 Bl * 2/2003 Hanaya et al 348/564
6,608,633 Bl * 8/2003 Sciammarella et al 345/700
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP 0854645 A3 7/1998
EP 0854645 A2 7/1998
WO W09856176 12/1998
WO WO9945701 9/1999
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Cao Kevin Nguyen
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Gregory L. Thorne
(57) ABSTRACT
A method and apparatus are disclosed for displaying available television programs with an indication of the strength of the contribution of one or more program attributes or features to the overall recommendation score assigned by a program recommender. The program and corresponding indication of the strength of the contribution of one or more program attributes can be presented to the user, for example, using grids listing the available television programs by time and date, channel and title. The overall recommendation scores or component scores associated with each program are also displayed to the user. The overall recommendation scores or component scores can be displayed with each program directly or can be mapped onto a color spectrum or another visual cue, such as a variable size-of-text, rate of blinking or bar height. The visual cues are then applied to each program in the program grid in accordance with the present invention.
23 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
