Patent ID: 7797328

Claim:
A method for assisting a user in searching for a pre-existing complete story-based work based on what is in said pre-existing complete story-based work, said story-based work represented in a work database by a work name, wherein the user is a person, the method comprising the steps of: receiving input from the user that specifies a first desired character type, wherein said first desired character type is a first desired story-character type, wherein said first desired character type is specified upon selection by the user of a first desired character quality from among a plurality of desired character qualities, wherein said plurality of desired character qualities comprise at least one of: various character personalities, various character religious viewpoints, level of positive portrayal of character, character's level of success in portrayed endeavors; receiving input from the user that further specifies said first desired character type, wherein said first desired character type is further specified upon selection by the user of a second desired character quality from among said plurality of desired character qualities; a processor searching said work database, wherein said work database stores a plurality of work names associated respectively with a plurality of pre-existing complete story-based works, wherein each of said plurality of story-based works is associated with at least one work character, wherein each of said at least one work character is associated with more than one work character quality; wherein said plurality of story-based works each comprise a complete work and each comprise one of a complete movie, a complete television program, a book, a novel, and a play; storing in said work database a score for each work character quality representing the degree to which said at least one work character exhibits the respective work character quality in the respective work; and identifying at least one of said plurality of pre-existing complete story-based works that has a first work character that has a character quality that is substantially similar to said specified first desired character type.