Content filtering, ordering by relevance, and caching

Abstract

There is disclosed a technique for organizing a plurality of content items. In an embodiment, the technique comprises assigning to each content item a content item array or bit string, wherein each unique ordinal or bit position indicates a characteristic of the content item. The content items may be filtered by applying a content filter including at least one filter rule concerning at least one characteristic of each content item. In an embodiment, a user preference bit string is used to indicate a user preference for one or more characteristics of the content items. The user preference bit string may be compared to each content item bit string to determine relevance a content item, and to order the content items according to the user's preferences. In an embodiment, the content items may be cached using a cache key generated from the user preference bit string.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . A system comprising a processor and computer readable memory, said memory storing code for organizing a plurality of content items, said code being configured to:
 (a) assign to each content item a content item array, wherein each ordinal of said content item array indicates a characteristic of said content item;   (b) apply a content filter to said plurality of content items, said content filter including at least one filter rule concerning at least one characteristic of each said content item, wherein said array comprises a content item bit string and said each ordinal comprises a unique bit position in said content item bit string;   (c) assign to each user of said plurality of content items a user preference bit string wherein each unique bit position in said user preference bit string indicates whether said user has a preference for a corresponding characteristic of said content items;   (d) compare said user preference bit string to each said content item bit string to determine if any characteristics match, wherein said comparing in (d) comprises performing a bitwise AND operation between each said content item bit string and said user preference bit string,   (e) calculate for each said content item a relevance value in dependence upon said comparing in (d); and   (f) order and store said plurality of content items based, at least in part, on said relevance values calculated in (e).   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein, in (e), said relevance value is calculated by counting the number of matching characteristics in the results of said bitwise AND operation in (d). 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said code is further configured to:
 (g) cache said plurality of content items ordered in (f) utilizing a cache key generated from said user preference bit string.   
   
   
       29 - 42 . (canceled)