Program guide and apparatus

摘要

A server 10 generates a program guide from a content database 20. The data base contains content descriptions including an identification of the content and the recommender of that content, which may be obtained from messages 12. A dynamic resource server 22 obtains dynamic information relating to at least one user including details of which devices, if any, are presently being used by the user as well as properties of devices associated with the user. A program guide generator 24 produces a program guide from the content descriptions and from the dynamic information, and outputs the program guide.

主权项

1. A server for generating a program guide for at least one user relating to content for displaying on one or more user devices, comprising:
a dynamic resource server arranged to obtain dynamic information relating to at least one user comprising details of which devices are associated with the user as well as properties of devices associated with the user; a message handler for receiving messages from a number of content recommenders comprising information about content items and an identity of the content recommenders; and a program guide generator arranged to dynamically produce a program guide personalized to the user from content descriptions, the dynamic information, and the received messages, and to output the program guide where the program guide displays multiple content recommenders and their respective content, the program guide comprising a list of content and a plurality of key actions associated with the content to permit user input to carry out actions on the content, the plurality of key actions comprising a forward recommendation key action that, when selected by the user, recommends a content item to a second user; in which the dynamic information used by the program guide generator to produce the program guide comprises real-time information about the user's location, network attachment of the devices associated with the user, present status of the user, or combinations thereof.