Patent ID: 8607262

Claim:
A method comprising: monitoring a television presentation control device to detect a user interaction with a first media item, wherein the monitoring includes detecting first command data configured to change at least one user controllable device presentation parameter to modify a presentation of the first media item wherein the presentation of the first media item is ongoing and the controllable device parameter is independent of a channel change command and data corresponding to identification of a channel, wherein the at least one user controllable device parameter is controllable by the television presentation control device; inferring an approval level corresponding to the first media item based on the user interaction to generate first approval data based on the inferred approval level; compiling the first approval data with second approval data corresponding to second command data associated with the first or a second media item, or combinations thereof playing on one or more other devices; generating an approval rating corresponding to the first media item or the second media item, or combinations thereof; automatically changing the approval rating corresponding to the first media item based on the user interaction, wherein the one or more approval ratings increase relative to an amount of time the associated programs play out on a corresponding device as indicated by the user interaction, and wherein the one or more approval ratings decrease based on command data indicating that during presentation of the associated programs a user decreased the volume; communicating the approval rating to the device; receiving a user defined list from the device comprising a sub-group selected from a group of people sharing a common demographic associated with age, geographic location, gender, profession, programming taste, or familial status, or combinations thereof; receiving a request for a list of past and current approval ratings corresponding to the user defined list; and communicating the past and current approval ratings to the user for displaying on a user device wherein the past and current approval ratings correspond to the user defined list.