Notification of upcoming media content of interest

A method includes receiving search criteria from a media device associated with a user account. The method includes performing a first search of media content information. The method includes in response to identifying particular media content that satisfies the search criteria, sending a first notification identifying a first occurrence of the particular media content to a device associated with the user account. The method includes, at a time indicated by the search criteria, performing a second search of updated media content information. The method includes in response to the second search identifying a second occurrence of the particular media content, determining whether the second occurrence matches the first occurrence. The method also includes sending a second notification when the second occurrence does not match the first occurrence and refraining from sending the second notification when the second occurrence matches the first occurrence.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to media content notifications.

BACKGROUND

An electronic program guide (EPG) may provide information regarding scheduled media content (e.g., television shows) to media service users, such as television service users. The EPG typically informs the media service users about the time and date of scheduled media content on available channels.

A media service provider may distribute the EPG to the users on a special (e.g., dedicated) EPG channel. The users may access the special EPG channel to identify scheduled media content of interest. However, if a user does not check the special EPG channel, he or she may not be aware of an upcoming showing of media content of interest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A media service user may miss upcoming scheduled media content of interest because the user does not know about scheduled showing(s). For example, a user may not be able to check an electronic program guide (EPG) in a timely manner due to a busy work schedule. By the time the user has a chance to check the EPG, the media content of interest may have already aired. Systems and methods described herein may enable a user to search for and be notified of upcoming media content of interest prior to such media content airing.

For example, a user may search for media content of interest via an on-screen user configuration menu. The user configuration menu may be provided by a media service provider as a software enhancement to the user's set-top box (STB). The user may specify different search criteria for a device in a network (e.g., a server) to search the EPG for media content of interest. The search criteria may include a media content title (e.g., “Forrest Gump”), keywords (e.g., “Tom Hanks”), a category (e.g., “comedy”), a channel name (e.g., “ABC”), other information descriptive of particular content, or a combination thereof. The user may also specify the number of days in the future that the EPG is to be searched. For example, the user may specify for the device to search within the next seven days for any match to the search criteria. When there is a match, the user may be automatically notified. However, the user may not be notified of the same match repeatedly.

In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving search criteria from a media device associated with a user account. The method also includes performing a first search of media content information. The media content information is descriptive of media content that is accessible and scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account when the first search is performed. The method further includes, in response to identifying particular media content that satisfies the search criteria, sending a first notification identifying a first occurrence of the particular media content to a device associated with the user account. The method further includes, at a time indicated by the search criteria, performing a second search of updated media content information. The updated media content information is descriptive of media content that is accessible and scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account when the second search is performed. The method further includes, in response to the second search identifying a second occurrence of the particular media content, determining whether the second occurrence matches the first occurrence. The method further includes sending a second notification when the second occurrence does not match the first occurrence and refraining from sending the second notification when the second occurrence matches the first occurrence.

In another particular embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive search criteria from a media device associated with a user account. The instructions, when executed, also cause the processor to perform a first search of media content information. The media content information is descriptive of media content that is accessible and scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account when the first search is performed. The instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to, in response to identifying particular media content that satisfies the search criteria, send a first notification identifying a first occurrence of the particular media content to a device associated with the user account. The instructions, when executed, cause the processor to, at a time indicated by the search criteria, perform a second search of updated media content information. The updated media content information is descriptive of media content that is accessible and scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account when the second search is performed. The instructions, when executed, also cause the processor to, in response to the second search, identify a second occurrence of the particular media content and determine whether the second occurrence matches the first occurrence. The instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to send a second notification when the second occurrence does not match the first occurrence and refrain from sending the second notification when the second occurrence matches the first occurrence.

In another particular embodiment, a system includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive search criteria from a media device associated with a user account. The instructions also cause the processor to perform a first search of media content information. The media content information is descriptive of media content that is accessible and scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account when the first search is performed. The instructions further cause the processor to, in response to identifying particular media content that satisfies the search criteria, send a first notification identifying a first occurrence of the particular media content to a device associated with the user account. The instructions further cause the processor to, at a time indicated by the search criteria, perform a second search of updated media content information. The updated media content information is descriptive of media content that is accessible and scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account when the second search is performed. The instructions further cause the processor to, in response to the second search identifying a second occurrence of the particular media content, determine whether the second occurrence matches the first occurrence. The instructions further cause the processor to send a second notification when the second occurrence does not match the first occurrence and refrain from sending the second notification when the second occurrence matches the first occurrence.

FIG. 1is a diagram to illustrate a particular embodiment of a system100operable to notify a user of upcoming media content of interest. The system100may include a notification and scheduling server102communicatively coupled to a media device104through a network106(e.g., a wide area network, the Internet, a local area network, etc.). The system100may be communicatively coupled to a viewing device108(e.g., a television, a computer monitor, etc.) connected to the media device104, a mobile communication device110(e.g., a cell phone, a tablet computer, etc.), and a computing device112(e.g., a laptop computer, a desktop computer, etc.). The media device104, the mobile communication device110, and the computing device112may be associated with a user account of the user.

The notification and scheduling server102may be a network-accessible computing device, such as a server computer. The notification and scheduling server102may include a processor114and a memory116. The processor114may be coupled to the memory116via an electrical connection. The memory116may include a search engine118, a notification module120, a scheduler122, a comparison module124, and a recommendation engine126. The memory116may also include EPG data128, stored searches130, user settings132, and a user history134. In a particular embodiment, the search engine118, the notification module120, the scheduler122, the comparison module124, and the recommendation engine126are implemented using processor-executable instructions executable by the processor114.

The media device104may be a set-top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), or any combination thereof. The media device104may include a processor136and a memory138. The memory138may include a graphical user interface (GUI) engine140, a recording scheduler142, and a recording schedule144. In a particular embodiment, the GUI engine140and the recording scheduler142are implemented using processor-executable instructions executable by the processor136.

During operation, when the user elects to search for upcoming media content of interest, the user may enter search criteria146related to the upcoming media content of interest via a search configuration display provided by the media device104. The GUI engine140may provide the search configuration display to the user in the form of an interactive GUI. The GUI engine140may generate the interactive GUI and the processor136may cause the interactive GUI to be presented to the user via the viewing device108. The search configuration display may also or in the alternative be provided to the user by a communication device (e.g., the mobile communication device110, the computing device112, etc.). A particular example of a search configuration display is further described with reference toFIG. 2.

The user may enter various options to specify the search criteria146via an input device109(e.g., a keyboard, a remote control, etc.) when the search configuration display is provided by the media device104. Alternatively, the user may enter the various options via an input interface of the communication device (e.g., a touch screen of the mobile communication device110, a keyboard of the computing device112, etc.) when the search configuration display is provided by the communication device. The user may specify how the upcoming media content of interest is identified (e.g., by title, by keywords, by category/genre, by channel name, etc.). The user may also specify an indication of a user selected notification type (e.g., via e-mails, short messaging service (SMS) messages, data pushed to a notification application of a smart phone, etc.) in the search criteria146when upcoming media content of interest is found. The user may indicate in the search criteria146that the upcoming media content of interest is to be recorded (e.g., to a DVR). In addition, the user may specify a search frequency (e.g., how often a search is to be performed) and a search duration (e.g., for how long searches based on the search criteria146are to be performed according to the search frequency). The user may provide the search criteria146via the input device109to the media device104. Alternatively, the user may provide the search criteria146via the input interface of the communication device. The media device104may transmit the search criteria146via the network106to the notification and scheduling server102to trigger a search for media content information based on the search criteria146.

In response to receiving the search criteria146, the notification and scheduling server102may store media content identification information from the search criteria146in the stored searches130to enable automatic generation of search criteria in the future. The notification and scheduling server102may store other information (e.g., an e-mail address to send notifications to) in the user settings132as a default communication address. Also, in response to receiving the search criteria146, the search engine118may perform a first search of media content information in the EPG data128based the search criteria146. The EPG data128may be updated by updated EPG data158that may be downloaded from an external source (not shown) before the first search. The EPG data128may include information descriptive of media content that is accessible to the media device104(e.g., show times of pay-per-view programs that the user can order) based on the user account when a search is performed. The EPG data128may also include information descriptive of the media content that is scheduled to be available to the media device104(e.g., show times of media content airing on the user's subscribed channels) based on the user account when the search is performed.

The search engine118may determine whether an occurrence of the particular media content is identified based on a search result (e.g., the result of the first search). When the search engine118identifies the first occurrence of the particular media content that satisfies the search criteria146, the notification and scheduling server102may send a first notification150(e.g., via an e-mail, a text message, etc.) identifying the first occurrence of the particular media content via the notification module120to a user device at a communication address (e.g., an e-mail address, a telephone number, etc.) indicated in the search criteria146for receiving notifications. In a particular embodiment, the first notification150is sent to the computing device112as an e-mail. When a communication address is not provided in the search criteria146, the first notification150may be sent to a default communication address associated with the user account. An example of a notification message is further described with reference toFIG. 4.

The first notification150may include one or more interface elements that are selectable to cause a computing device (e.g., the media device104, the mobile communication device110, the computing device112, etc.) to schedule performance of one or more actions related to the particular content. The first notification150may include a selectable interface element that, when selected, may enable the media device104to record the particular media content. The first notification150may also include a selectable interface element that when selected requests the notification and scheduling server102to send a reminder notification152about the particular media content to the mobile communication device110or any other devices associated with the user account. In a particular embodiment, the first notification150includes a selectable interface element that when selected requests the notification and scheduling server102to send the reminder notification152to the communication address that receives the first notification150. In another embodiment, the first notification150includes a selectable interface element that when selected requests the notification and scheduling server102to send the reminder notification152to a communication address different than the communication address that receives the first notification150.

In response to the first notification150, the user may generate a reply154by selecting one or more interface elements of the first notification150. The reply154may indicate an action (e.g., schedule a recording of the particular media content, schedule a reminder notification, etc.) that is to be performed. The reply154may be transmitted to the notification and scheduling server102from the mobile communication device110. The notification and scheduling server102may determine whether the reply154is received.

When the notification and scheduling server102receives the reply154, the scheduler122may process the reply154to schedule performance of the one or more actions indicated by the reply154. In a particular embodiment, the scheduler122sends a schedule message156to the media device104to schedule a recording of the particular media content based on the reply154at the media device104or the schedule message156may be sent to a networked DVR. The recording scheduler142may receive the schedule message156and may update the recording schedule144to include the particular media content. The media device104may record the particular media content based on the recording schedule144. In another embodiment, the scheduler122instructs the notification module120to send the reminder notification152at a time indicated in the reply154to a communication address. The communication address may be a communication address of the user device that received the first notification150. Alternatively, the communication address may be different than the communication address of the user device that received the first notification150. For example, the first notification150may be sent to an e-mail address, but the reminder notification152may be directed to a telephone number of the mobile communication device110via a SMS message.

When the search engine118does not find any particular media content that satisfies the search criteria146or when the search engine118does not receive the reply154after waiting for a defined time period as indicated in the search criteria146, the search engine118may perform another search for updated media content information using the EPG data128. When the search engine118identifies the first occurrence of the particular media content that satisfies the search criteria146, the notification and scheduling server102may then send the first notification150. During the defined time period, the EPG data128may have been updated based on updated EPG data158.

The search engine118may determine whether a second occurrence of the particular media content is identified based on the result of a second search. When the search engine118identifies the second occurrence of the particular media content, the comparison module124may compare the second occurrence to the first occurrence found during the earlier first search. The comparison module124may compare the second occurrence to previous occurrences within the same search and all previous occurrences in previous searches regarding which the user was notified. In a particular embodiment, the comparison module124compares a first EPG identifier (e.g., information uniquely distinguishing particular media content from other media content in the EPG) associated with the first occurrence to a second EPG identifier associated with the second occurrence. In another embodiment, the comparison module124compares a first date associated with the first occurrence to a second date associated with the second occurrence, a first time associated with the first occurrence to a second time associated with the second occurrence, a first title associated with the first occurrence to a second title associated with the second occurrence, or a combination thereof.

When the comparison module124determines that the second occurrence is the same as the first occurrence or the same as another occurrence of which the user was previously notified, the comparison module124may instruct the notification module120not to send another notification. When the comparison module124determines that the second occurrence is different from the first occurrence and different from any other occurrences of which the user was previously notified, the comparison module124may instruct the notification module120to send a second notification160. Thus, the user is not repeatedly notified regarding the same particular media content of interest.

For example, the user may specify the search criteria146for the search engine118to search for basketball games on a daily basis. The EPG data128may include time and date information of scheduled media content for the next seven days and may be updated daily. On Monday, the EPG data128may include time and date information of scheduled media content from Monday to Sunday. The search engine118may perform a first search in the EPG data128based on the search criteria146and may identify a first occurrence of a basketball game scheduled to be aired on Wednesday at 8 PM. The notification module120may notify the user of the first occurrence via the first notification150when the first occurrence is identified. On Tuesday, the EPG data128may be updated and may include time and date information of scheduled media content from Tuesday to the following Monday. The search engine118may perform a second search based on the search criteria146and may identify the first occurrence scheduled to be aired on Wednesday at 8 PM and a second occurrence of a basketball game scheduled to be aired on the following Monday at 10 PM. The comparison module124may identify that the user has been notified of the first occurrence on Monday and may notify the user of the second occurrence via the second notification160, but not the first occurrence. The user may not be notified about the first occurrence again in the second notification160.

In a particular embodiment, the notification and scheduling server102presents a recommendation alter option to the user through a user settings display. A particular example of a user settings display is further described with reference toFIG. 3. By opting in (e.g., granting permission) via the recommendation alter option, the user enables the notification and scheduling server102to automatically generate search criteria based on the user history134(e.g., media content previously viewed by the user) and/or the stored searches130(e.g., media content previously searched for by the user) and send notifications to the user. For example, if the user history134indicates that the user frequently watches tennis matches and/or the stored searches130indicate that the user frequently searches for tennis matches, the recommendation engine126may indentify such a trend based on the user history134. The recommendation engine126may automatically instruct the search engine118to search for upcoming tennis matches, even if tennis matches are not specified in the search criteria146. When the search engine118identifies upcoming tennis matches, the user may be proactively notified of the upcoming tennis matches.

The system100may thus enable a user (e.g., a television service subscriber) to be notified of upcoming media content of interest (e.g., show time of a television program) without the user manually checking an EPG to identify the upcoming media content of interest.

FIG. 2is a diagram to illustrate a particular example of a search configuration display202associated with upcoming media content of interest, and is generally designated200. In an illustrative embodiment, the search criteria146ofFIG. 1may be received via the search configuration display202.

The media device104ofFIG. 1may present the search configuration display202to the user. The search configuration display202may include a title option204, a keyword(s) option206, a category/genre option208, and a channel option210. The search configuration display202may also include an e-mail notification option212and an associated text box214, a text message notification option216and an associated text box218, an application notification option220and an associated text box222, a record option224, a search frequency option226, a search duration option228, a save option230, and a cancel option232. The search configuration display202that includes each of the options and the associated text boxes may be provided by the notification and scheduling server102ofFIG. 1via the media device104ofFIG. 1to the user as selectable interface elements. The search configuration display202may also be presented to the user via the communication device110, the computing device112, another computing device (e.g., a tablet computer), or a combination thereof.

The e-mail notification option212, the text message notification option216, the application notification option220, the record option224, the search frequency option226, the search duration option228, and the associated text boxes214,218and222, or a combination thereof, may be grouped together to enable a user to select a notification type for notifying the user of the upcoming media content of interest and specify a performance of one or more actions related to the upcoming media content of interest. Explanation language (e.g., “Specify action to take when program is upcoming”) may be placed near the e-mail notification option212, the text message notification option216, the application notification option220, the record option224, the search frequency option226, the search duration option228, the associated text boxes214,218and222, or a combination thereof, to help guide the user.

The user may select to be notified by e-mail messages by selecting the e-mail notification option212and entering an e-mail address in the associated text box214. The user may select to be notified by text messages by selecting the text message notification option216and entering a phone number in the associated text box218. When the user does not provide a communication address in the associated text box214or in the associated text box218while the e-mail notification option212or the text message notification option216is selected, a default communication address (e.g., entered previously by the user and stored in the user settings132) may be used to notify the user.

The user may select to be notified by application alerts (data pushed to a notification application of a smart phone or other computing device) by selecting the application notification option220and entering user identification information related to the application in the associated text box222. The notification application may be an application developed by a media service provider to enable the user to receive media content notification. The notification application may be associated with the user account and may be programmed to communicate with the notification and scheduling server102. The notification and scheduling server102may have an internal database of each notification application associated with a corresponding user account. The notification and scheduling server102may identify each notification application by a user supplied credential or identification (e.g., username and/or password). In a particular embodiment, one or more options and associated text boxes in the search configuration display202are pre-populated with default information supplied by the user and retrieved from the user settings132. The user may enter different information by deleting or modifying the pre-populated information via the input device109.

The user may specify that the upcoming media content of interest is to be recorded by selecting the record option224. The user may specify the search frequency by entering a number (e.g., 7 may correspond to a search every seven days) in the search frequency option226. The user may specify the search duration by entering a number corresponding to how far into the future media content is to be searched (e.g., 3 may correspond to media content is to be searched for the next three days, 7 may correspond to media content is to be searched for the next seven days, etc.) in the search duration option228. When the user completes filling out the search configuration display202, the user may select the save option230. In response to the user selecting the save option230, the media device104ofFIG. 1may then send the search criteria146to the notification and scheduling server102. The user may start over by selecting the cancel option232. The user may input information in the search configuration display202via the input device109. The entered information may be stored as a file in a machine-readable and/or human-readable format (e.g., extensible markup language (XML) format). The file may be sent to the notification and scheduling server102as the search criteria146.

FIG. 3is a diagram to illustrate a particular example of a user settings display302and a active searches display322associated with notifying a user of upcoming media content of interest, and is generally designated300.

The user settings display302may enable the user to specify default options related to communication address, search frequency, search duration, search timeframe, recommendation alert, or a combination thereof. The user settings display302may include a default e-mail address option304, a default text message option306, a default application identification option308, a default search frequency option310, a default search duration option312, a recommendation alert option316, a save option318, and a cancel option320.

The user may enter a communication address for receiving e-mails (e.g., user@abcd.com) in the default e-mail address option304. The user may enter a phone number for receiving text messages in the default text message option306. The user may enter application identification information (e.g., username/password) for accessing applications (e.g., an application on a mobile phone or other computing device) in the default application identification option308. The information in the default e-mail address option304, the default text message option306, the default application identification option308, or a combination thereof, may be used to notify the user of upcoming media content of interest when the user does not supply a communication address in the search configuration display202.

The user may enter a number corresponding to a unit of time (e.g., hours, days, weeks, months, etc.) in the default search frequency option310to specify how often a search based on the search criteria146is to be performed. In a particular embodiment, entering “7” in the default search frequency option310denotes a search to be performed every seven days. The user may enter a number or a description corresponding to a unit of time in the default search duration option312to specify how far into the future searches based on the search criteria146are to be performed according to the search frequency. In a particular embodiment, entering “7” in the default search duration option312indicates that searches based on the search criteria146are to be performed for the next seven days according to the search frequency. The user may select the recommendation alert option316(e.g., by selecting the recommendation alert option316to display a check mark) to enable the notification module120ofFIG. 1to notify the user of upcoming media content of interest from search results based on search criteria automatically generated based on the user history134.

When the user finishes specifying the different options in the user settings display302, the user may select the save option318. When the user selects the save option318, the information entered by the user in the user settings display302may be transmitted from the media device104ofFIG. 1to the notification and scheduling server102for storage in the user settings132. The user may select the cancel option320to start over. The user settings display302and each of the options and boxes may be provided as selectable interface elements. The user may enter such information in the user settings display302via the input device109.

The active searches display322may provide a list of active search criteria to the user. The active searches display322may be generated by the notification and scheduling server102ofFIG. 1based on the user settings132and the stored searches130. In the embodiment ofFIG. 3, the active searches display322includes first active search324, an associated edit option326, an associated cancel option328, a second active search330, an associated edit option332, an associated cancel option334, a third active search336, an associated edit option338, an associated cancel option340, and a close option342. For example, the user has specified the first active search324to search for basketball on Channel 2 on a daily basis, where each search is to be performed for media content that is available and accessible to the user account for the next three days. The user has further specified that the media device104is to record media content that satisfies the search criteria and the user is to be notified via e-mail messages sent to a default e-mail address.

The user may modify or edit the first active search324, the second active search330, and/or the third active search336by selecting the associated edit options326,332, and/or338, respectively. The user may remove the first active search324, the second active search330, and/or the third active search336from being searched by selecting the associated cancel options328,334, and/or340, respectively.

FIG. 4is a diagram to illustrate a particular example of a notification message402to notify a user of upcoming media content of interest and is generally designated400. In a particular embodiment, the notification message402is the first notification150ofFIG. 1. In another particular embodiment, the notification message402is the second notification160ofFIG. 1.

The notification message402may include information descriptive of particular media content that satisfies the search criteria146ofFIG. 1, such as title information, channel information, show time information, etc. The notification message402may also include selectable options to specify an action that is to be performed, such as a first option404, a second option406, and a third option408. In a particular embodiment, the first option404is an option to enable the user to schedule a reminder notification (e.g., the reminder notification152ofFIG. 1) to be sent to a communication address (e.g., an e-mail address, a phone number of a smart phone, an application of a device such as the mobile communication device110ofFIG. 1and/or the computing device112ofFIG. 1) one day before the particular media content is to be aired. The second option406is an option to enable the user to schedule a reminder notification to be sent to the communication address or a different communication address one hour before the particular media content is to be aired. The third option408is an option to schedule a recording of the particular media content.

Each of the first option404, the second option406, and the third option408may be provided by the notification and scheduling server102ofFIG. 1via the media device104, the communication device110, the computing device112ofFIG. 1, another computing device (e.g., a tablet computer), or a combination thereof, to the user as selectable interface elements. The user may select multiple options in the notification message402. When the user selects an option, the user may specify additional detail related to the option (e.g., a communication address to receive further notifications). The user may enter such information via an input of a device that received the notification message402(e.g., the mobile communication device110, the computing device112ofFIG. 1, or a combination thereof).

In response to receiving a user selection regarding the notification message402, the device that received the notification message402(e.g., the mobile communication device110, the computing device112ofFIG. 1, or a combination thereof) may transmit the user selection as the reply154to the notification and scheduling server102. In response to receiving the reply154, the notification and scheduling server102may schedule performance of one or more actions according to the reply154(e.g., send out reminder notifications, schedule recording of the particular media content, etc.).

FIG. 5is a flowchart to illustrate a particular embodiment of a method500of operation at the system100ofFIG. 1. The method500may include receiving search criteria from a media device associated with a user account, at502. For example, inFIG. 1, the notification and scheduling server102may receive the search criteria146from the user.

The method500may also include performing a first search of media content information in response to receiving the search criteria, at504. For example, inFIG. 1, in response to receiving the search criteria146, the search engine118may perform the first search of media content information in the EPG data128based on the search criteria146.

The method500may further include determining whether an occurrence of particular media content is identified, at506. For example, inFIG. 1, the search engine118may determine whether an occurrence of the particular media content is identified. When an occurrence of the particular media content is identified, the method500may include, in response to identifying particular media content that satisfies the search criteria, sending a first notification identifying a first occurrence of the particular media content to a device associated with the user account, at508. For example, inFIG. 1, the notification and scheduling server102may send the first notification150identifying the first occurrence of the particular media content to a user device identified by the communication address indicated in the search criteria146. When the occurrence of the particular media content is not identified, the method500may include waiting for a defined time period (e.g., twenty-four hours), at510. For example, inFIG. 1, the search engine118may wait for the defined time period (during which the EPG data128may be updated once again) before performing another search of media content information.

The method500may further include determining, after sending the first notification, whether a reply message indicating an action related to the particular media content that is to be performed is received, at512. For example, inFIG. 1, the notification and scheduling server102may determine whether the reply154is received. When the reply message is received, the method500may include scheduling performance of one or more actions related to the particular media content, at514. For example, inFIG. 1, the scheduler122may schedule performance of the one or more actions indicated by the reply154. When the reply message is not received, the method500may include waiting for the defined time period, at510. For example, inFIG. 1, the search engine118may wait for the defined time period as indicated in the search criteria146.

The method500may further include performing another search of updated media content information, at516. For example, inFIG. 1, the search engine118may perform another search for updated media content information using the updated EPG data158. The method500may further include determining whether an occurrence of particular media content is identified, at518. For example, inFIG. 1, the search engine118may determine whether a second occurrence of the particular media content is identified. When the occurrence of the particular media content is identified, the method500may include determining whether the occurrence is the same as a notified occurrence, at520. For example, inFIG. 1, the comparison module124may compare the second occurrence to all previous occurrences of which the user was notified.

When the occurrence of the particular media content is the same as a notified occurrence, the method500may include refraining sending another notification, at522. For example, inFIG. 1, when the comparison module124determines that the second occurrence is the same as the first occurrence or another notified occurrence, the comparison module124may instruct the notification module120not to send another notification. When the occurrence of the particular media content is not the same as the notified occurrence, the method500may include sending another notification, at524. For example, inFIG. 1, when the comparison module124determines that the second occurrence is different from the first occurrence and other notified occurrences, the comparison module124may instruct the notification module120to send the second notification160. In another example, inFIG. 1, the search engine118identifies the first occurrence of the particular media content that satisfies the search criteria146after performing another search of the updated media content information, because the occurrence of the particular media content is not identified when the search engine118performed the first search, the notification and scheduling server102may send the first notification150.

FIG. 6is a computer system600operable to support embodiments of computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and system components as illustrated inFIGS. 1-5. For example, the computer system600may include or be included within any one or more of the notification and scheduling server102, the media device104, the mobile communication device110, the computing device112ofFIG. 1, or a combination thereof.

The computer system600may include a processor602, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU). Moreover, the computer system600may include a main memory604and a static memory606that can communicate with each other via a bus608. As shown, the computer system600may further include or be coupled to a video display unit610, a flat panel display, a solid-state display, or a projection display. For example, the video display unit610may be an HD television or monitor. Additionally, the computer system600may include an input device612, such as a keyboard, a remote control device, and a cursor control device614, such as a mouse. In a particular embodiment, the cursor control device614may be incorporated into a remote control device such as a television or set-top box remote control device. The computer system600may also include a disk drive unit616, a signal generation device618, such as a speaker or remote control device, and a network interface device620. The network interface device620may be coupled to other devices (not shown) via a network622.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted inFIG. 6, the disk drive unit616may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium624in which one or more sets of search instructions626, e.g. software, may be embedded. Further, the search instructions626may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein, such as the method500ofFIG. 5. In a particular embodiment, the search instructions626may reside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory604, the static memory606, and/or within the processor602during execution by the computer system600. The main memory604and the processor602also may include (e.g., on-board) computer-readable non-transitory media.

The present disclosure contemplates the computer-readable non-transitory medium624that includes instructions so that a device connected to a network622can communicate audio, video, or data over the network622. Further, such instructions may be transmitted or received over the network622via the network interface device620.

While the computer-readable non-transitory medium624is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable non-transitory medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable non-transitory medium624can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable non-transitory medium can be a random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable non-transitory medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

It should also be noted that software that implements the disclosed methods may be stored on a tangible storage medium, such as: a magnetic medium, such as a disk or tape; a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk; or a solid state medium, such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories.