Video and Digital Multimedia Aggregator

Abstract

The present invention utilizes an aggregator for searching, packaging and delivering content. The aggregator processes requests, searches, provides search results and acquires content. The aggregator, operating in a communications network, includes a request and results processing server, a search engine server coupled to the request and results processing server and a content acquisition server coupled to the request and results processing server. A request and results processing server receives a request for content, the search engine server searches for the content and the content acquisition program acquires content for delivery to the user. The request and results processing server includes a search request processor that receives information related to a user's search request and provides the information to a search results form builder that creates an electronic search request.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first set of search criteria;   identifying a second set of search criteria based on each search criterion in the second set having a vector quantity difference from the first set of search criteria within a predetermined range; and   generating a search request including the second set of search criteria.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising weighting in the search request the second set of search criteria based on information in a user's profile. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising ranking the second set of search criteria based on the information in the user's profile that indicates previous search requests. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising ranking the second set of search criteria based on the information in the user's profile that indicates previous content downloads. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising generating a ranked list of content search results based on search request. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising ranking the content search results in the ranked list based on comparing relevancy of content search results to the second set of search criteria. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising searching for content based on the search request. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first set of search criteria consists of one search criterion. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising including in the search request the first set of search criteria. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 generating a form including search results based on the search request; and   identifying, in the form, a first portion of the search results resulting from the first set of search criteria and a second portion of the search results resulting from the second set of search criteria.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each search criterion in the second set has a vector quantity that describes that search criterion as a suggestion keyword associated with a particular content entity. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the vector quantity for at least one of the search criterion of the second set is based on a word type, a part of speech, and a relative location or linkage in a thesaurus. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising generating, based on the search request, search results that comprise content programming, content scheduling, and content availability information. 
     
     
         34 . A hardware server storing software routines, that when executed, cause the hardware server to:
 receive a first set of search criteria from a user terminal;   identify a second set of search criteria based on each search criterion in the second set having a vector quantity difference from the first set of search criteria within a predetermined range; and   generate a search request including the second set of search criteria.   
     
     
         35 . The hardware server of  claim 34 , wherein the software routines, when executed, further cause the hardware server to weight, in the search request, the second set of search criteria based on information in a user's profile. 
     
     
         36 . The hardware server of  claim 34 , wherein the software routines, when executed, further cause the hardware server to generate a ranked list of content search results based on search request, wherein ranking of the content search results in the ranked list is based on comparing relevancy of content search results to the second set of search criteria. 
     
     
         37 . The hardware server of  claim 34 , wherein the software routines, when executed, further cause the hardware server to:
 generate a form including search results based on the search request; and   identify, in the form, a first portion of the search results resulting from the first set of search criteria and a second portion of the search results resulting from the second set of search criteria.   
     
     
         38 . The hardware server of  claim 34 , wherein each search criterion of the second set has a vector quantity that describes that search criterion as a suggestion keyword associated with a particular content entity. 
     
     
         39 . The hardware server of  claim 34 , wherein the vector quantity for at least one search criterion of the second set is based on a word type, a part of speech, and a relative location or linkage in a thesaurus. 
     
     
         40 . The hardware server of  claim 34 , wherein the software routines, when executed, further cause the hardware server to generate, based on the search request, search results that comprise content programming, content scheduling, and content availability information.