Claims
- 1. A search system comprising:
an explicit user profile containing user-specific ratings for a plurality of attributes, wherein a user provides rating values for only a subset of the plurality of attributes during initialization of the explicit user profile; a recommender system employing the explicit user profile in evaluating each of a plurality of search items; and a controller enabling the user, while viewing information regarding an item subject to evaluation by the recommender system after initialization of the explicit user profile, to manipulate ratings values for each of the plurality of attributes associated with the item.
- 2. The search system according to claim 1, wherein the user provides rating values during initialization of the explicit user profile for only:
one or more supersets of attributes within the plurality of attributes; or one or more attributes having possible values defining a scope of all search items.
- 3. The search system according to claim 1, wherein rating values are included within the explicit user profile based on a content consumption history for the user.
- 4. The search system according to claim 1, wherein the recommender system employs current values within the explicit user profile in evaluating each of the plurality of search items during a search.
- 5. The search system according to claim 1, wherein the controller, responsive to the user entering a rating value for an attribute associated with the item, either:
adds the attribute and associated rating value to the explicit user profile if the attribute was not previously rated within the explicit user profile; or updates the rating value associated with the attribute within the explicit user profile if the attribute was previously rated within the explicit user profile.
- 6. The search system according to claim 1, wherein the controller enables the user to:
view ratings, if any, for all attributes associated with the item; add a rating value for an attribute associated with the item which did not previously have a rating value within the explicit user profile; and revise an existing rating value within the explicit user profile for an attribute associated with the item.
- 7. A content reception system comprising:
an input for receiving content and a plurality of information items regarding the content; an explicit user profile containing user-specific rating values for a plurality of attributes, wherein a user provides rating values for only a subset of the plurality of attributes during initialization of the explicit user profile; a recommender system employing the explicit user profile in evaluating each of the plurality of information items; and a controller enabling the user, while viewing an information item after initialization of the explicit user profile, to manipulate rating values for each of the plurality of attributes associated with the item.
- 8. The content reception system according to claim 7, wherein the user provides rating values during initialization of the explicit user profile for only:
one or more supersets of attributes within the plurality of attributes; or one or more attributes having possible values defining a scope of all information items searched.
- 9. The content reception system according to claim 7, wherein the recommender system employs current rating values within the explicit user profile in evaluating each of the plurality of information items during a search.
- 10. The content reception system according to claim 7, wherein the controller, responsive to the user entering a rating value for an attribute associated with the information item, either:
adds the attribute and associated rating value to the explicit user profile if the attribute was not previously rated within the explicit user profile; or updates a rating value associated with the attribute within the explicit user profile if the attribute was previously rated within the explicit user profile.
- 11. The content reception system according to claim 7, wherein the controller enables the user to:
view rating values, if any, for all attributes associated with the information item; add a rating value for an attribute associated with the information item which did not previously have a rating value within the explicit user profile; and revise an existing rating value within the explicit user profile for an attribute associated with the information item.
- 12. A method of searching information items comprising:
receiving content and a plurality of information items regarding the content; employing an explicit user profile containing user-specific rating values for a plurality of attributes in evaluating each of the plurality of information items, wherein a user provides rating values for only a subset of the plurality of attributes during initialization of the explicit user profile; and allowing the user, while viewing an information item after initialization of the explicit user profile, to manipulate rating values for each of the plurality of attributes associated with the item.
- 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the user provides rating values during initialization of the explicit user profile for only:
one or more supersets of attributes within the plurality of attributes; or one or more attributes having possible values defining a scope of all information items searched.
- 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the recommender system employs current rating values within the explicit user profile in evaluating each of the plurality of information items during a search.
- 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein, in response to the user entering a rating value for an attribute associated with the information item, either:
the attribute and associated rating value are added to the explicit user profile if the attribute was not previously rated within the explicit user profile; or a rating value associated with the attribute within the explicit user profile is updated if the attribute was previously rated within the explicit user profile.
- 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the user is permitted to:
view rating values, if any, for all attributes associated with the information item; add a rating value for an attribute associated with the information item which did not previously have a rating value within the explicit user profile; and revise an existing rating value within the explicit user profile for an attribute associated with the information item.
- 17. A signal comprising:
a listing of content suggestions relating to content and a plurality of information items regarding the content, wherein the listing of content suggestions is generated by employing an explicit user profile containing user-specific rating values for a plurality of attributes in evaluating each of the plurality of information items, wherein a user provides rating values for only a subset of the plurality of attributes during initialization of the explicit user profile, wherein the user, while viewing an information item after initialization of the explicit user profile, is permitted to selectively manipulate rating values for each of the plurality of attributes associated with the item.
- 18. The signal according to claim 17, wherein the user provides rating values during initialization of the explicit user profile for only:
one or more supersets of attributes within the plurality of attributes; or one or more attributes having possible values defining a scope of all information items searched.
- 19. The signal according to claim 17, wherein current rating values within the explicit user profile are employed in evaluating each of the plurality of information items during a search.
- 20. The signal according to claim 17, wherein, in response to the user entering a rating value for an attribute associated with the information item, either:
the attribute and associated rating value are added to the explicit user profile if the attribute was not previously rated within the explicit user profile; or a rating value associated with the attribute within the explicit user profile is updated if the attribute was previously rated within the explicit user profile.
- 21. The signal according to claim 17, wherein the user is permitted to:
view rating values, if any, for all attributes associated with the information item; add a rating value for an attribute associated with the information item which did not previously have a rating value within the explicit user profile; and revise an existing rating value within the explicit user profile for an attribute associated with the information item.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention is related to those disclosed in the following U.S. Non-Provisional patent applications:
[0002] 1) [Docket No. US010684] filed concurrently herewith, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCESS AND DISPLAY OF CONTENT ALLOWING USERS TO APPLY MULTIPLE PROFILES”;
[0003] 2) [Docket No. US010685] filed concurrently herewith, entitled “SORT SLIDER WITH CONTEXT INTUITIVE SORT KEYS”;
[0004] 3) [Docket No. US010686] filed concurrently herewith, entitled “VISUALIZATION OF ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT.”
[0005] The above applications are commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosures of these related patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.