Abstract: A method and apparatus that personalizes preferences for a thin client using custom menus is disclosed. The method may include receiving registering capabilities from the thin client, storing feature list for all devices, generation of a custom alert settings menu based on the thin client's capabilities, storing selected alert settings, and generating a list of all registered devices that have similar alert capabilities as the thin client. The custom menu can be viewed by a user on any device that has display capabilities. The user can select from among the alert settings supported by the thin client or select the alert settings for the thin client that is similar to a registered device. Apparatus is also provided for mapping alert capabilities from the feature list and the received alert preferences from a user. Thin client mapping of mapping of alert type is also provided for processing an alert request from an external device.

Abstract: An alert management apparatus (100) comprises a presentation item data store (107) providing first description data associated with a plurality of presentation items, such as audio clips. The alert management apparatus (100) further comprises an alert data store (103) storing second description data associated with an alert, such as an alert for a content item. An association processor (109) is coupled to the presentation item data store (107) and the alert data store (103) and is arranged to select a presentation item of the plurality of presentation items for the alert in response to the first description data and the second description data. For example, a presentation item matching the genre, artist and or title of a content item of the alert may be selected. A presentation processor (111) then presents the selected presentation item to a user when the alert is activated. The invention may allow an automatic customisation of alert notifications.

Abstract: An alert management apparatus (100) comprises a presentation item data store (107) providing first description data associated with a plurality of presentation items, such as audio clips. The alert management apparatus (100) further comprises an alert data store (103) storing second description data associated with an alert, such as an alert for a content item. An association processor (109) is coupled to the presentation item data store (107) and the alert data store (103) and is arranged to select a presentation item of the plurality of presentation items for the alert in response to the first description data and the second description data. For example, a presentation item matching the genre, artist and or title of a content item of the alert may be selected. A presentation processor (111) then presents the selected presentation item to a user when the alert is activated. The invention may allow an automatic customisation of alert notifications.

Abstract: A recommendation system comprises a plurality of recommenders for generating recommendations in accordance with a user preference profile having a recommender specific representation. The recommender specific representation is different for different recommenders and each recommender comprises translation data relating the recommender specific representation to a shared ontology. A recommender comprises a translation unit which generates first user preference data in accordance with the shared ontology in response to a user preference profile and translation data relating the recommender specific representation to the shared ontology. In addition, a confidence indication for at least part of the user preference data is generated. A transmitter transmits the user preference data and the confidence indication to a second recommender. The second recommender may translate the received data into its recommender specific representation and combine the received data with locally generated user preference data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that personalizes preferences for a thin client using custom menus is disclosed. The method may include receiving registering capabilities from the thin client, storing feature list for all devices, generation of a custom alert settings menu based on the thin client's capabilities, storing selected alert settings, and generating a list of all registered devices that have similar alert capabilities as the thin client. The custom menu can be view by a user on any device that has display capabilities. The user can select from among the alert settings supported by the thin client or select the alert settings for the thin client that is similar to a registered device. Apparatus is also provided for mapping alert capabilities from the feature list and the received alert preferences from a user. Thin client mapping of mapping of alert type is also provided for processing an alert request from an external device.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating content program recommendations comprises a meta-data processor (209) which provides characterising data for a plurality of content programs. A context processor (215) provides first context data for a user and a time window processor (213) determines a content consumption time window for the user in response to the first context data. The content consumption time window represents an estimated time window available to the user for consuming content. A recommendation unit (207) then generates a content program recommendation comprising in response to the content consumption time window and the characterising data. The invention may be particularly advantageous for mobile content program distribution services, such as a mobile television service, as recommendations may be generated that take into account the particular characteristics of the mobile user environment.