Displaying data associated with a data item

Abstract

An assistance method for selecting a program using a display device ( 112 ) is disclosed. The method ( 1200 ) selects one or more attributes associated with a first program, the one or more attributes being selected dynamically by a processor associated with the display device ( 112 ) according to one or more predetermined criteria. The method searches for a second program associated with one or more of the selected attributes. The second program and the one or more attributes associated therewith are displayed on the display device, according to the search for the second program.

1 . An assistance method for selecting a program, said method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting one or more attributes associated with a first program, the one or more attributes being selected dynamically by a processor according to one or more predetermined criteria;    searching for a second program associated with one or more of the selected attributes; and    displaying the second program and the one or more attributes associated therewith, on a display device, according to the search for the second program.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the further steps of: 
 selecting one or more further attributes associated with the second program, upon selection of the second program, the one or more further attributes being selected dynamically by the processor according to the one or more predetermined criteria;    searching for a third program associated with one or more of the selected further attributes; and    displaying the third program and the one or more further attributes associated therewith on the display device, according to the search for the third program.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the programs are television programs.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second program is displayed according to a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to the first program.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the third program is displayed according to a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to the second program.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the attributes associated with each of the programs are displayed relative to a corresponding program according to the predetermined spatial arrangement.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined spatial arrangement of the programs displayed on the display device corresponds to a spatial arrangement of selectable areas of a controller associated with the processor.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the second program is selected using the selectable areas of the controller.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the programs represent television program data arranged in an electronic program guide.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first program represents a television program currently being watched.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first program represents a television program which has been selected by a user.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first program represents a television program having a high recommendation rating.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criteria for dynamically selecting attributes is based on information gain.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criteria for dynamically selecting attributes is based on uniqueness.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the searches for the second and third programs are executed by a further processor to the processor performing the selection of the attributes.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the searches for the second and third programs are executed by the processor performing the selection of the attributes.  
   
   
       17 . An assistance method for selecting a program, said method comprising the steps of: 
 determining a first search condition according to a predetermined logical process based on a first selected program, the predetermined logical process being executed by a processor associated with the display device;    searching for a second program based on the first search condition; and    displaying the second program and data associated therewith, on the display device, according to the search for the second program.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a second search condition, upon selection of the second program, the second search condition being determined by the processor according to the predetermined logical process and the selected second program;    searching for a third program based on the second search condition; and    displaying the third program and data associated therewith, on the display device, according to the search for the third program.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the programs represent television programs.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first search condition is based on a first value corresponding to a first attribute of the first program.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the second search condition is based on a second value corresponding to a second attribute of the second program.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the second program is displayed according to a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to the first program.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the third program is displayed according to a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to the second program.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the data associated with each of the programs is displayed relative to a corresponding program according to the predetermined spatial arrangement.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the predetermined spatial arrangement of the programs displayed on the display device corresponds to a spatial arrangement of selectable areas of a controller associated with the processor.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the second program is selected using the selectable areas of the controller.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the programs represent television programs arranged in an electronic program guide.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first program represents a television program currently being watched.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first program represents a television program which has been selected by a user.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first program represents a television program having a high recommendation rating.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined logical process is based on information gain.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined logical process is based on uniqueness.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus comprising: 
 selection means for selecting one or more attributes associated with a first program, the one or more attributes being selected dynamically by a processor according to one or more predetermined criteria;    search means for searching for a second program associated with one or more of the selected attributes; and    display means for displaying the second program and the one or more attributes associated therewith, on a display device associated with said processor, according to the search for the second program.    
   
   
       34 . A computer program for making a computer execute an assistance method for selecting a program, said method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting one or more attributes associated with a first program, the one or more attributes being selected dynamically according to one or more predetermined criteria;    searching for a second program associated with one or more of the selected attributes; and    displaying the second program and the one or more attributes associated therewith, according to the search for the second program.    
   
   
       35 . A computer readable storage medium having a computer program recorded thereon, said computer program being configured for making a computer execute an assistance method for selecting a program, said method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting one or more attributes associated with a first program, the one or more attributes being selected dynamically according to one or more predetermined criteria;    searching for a second program associated with one or more of the selected attributes; and    displaying the second program and the one or more attributes associated therewith, according to the search for the second program.