Abstract: The desirability of programming events may be determined using metadata for programming events that includes goodness of fit scores associated with categories of a classification hierarchy one or more of descriptive data and keyword data. The programming events are ranked in accordance with the viewing preferences of viewers as expressed in one or more viewer profiles. The viewer profiles may each include preference scores associated with categories of the classification hierarchy and may also include one or more keywords. Ranking is performed through category matching and keyword matching using the contents of the metadata and the viewer profiles. The viewer profile keywords may be qualified keywords that are associated with specific categories of the classification hierarchy. The ranking may be performed such that qualified keyword matches generally rank higher than keyword matches, and keyword matches generally rank higher than category matches.

Abstract: The resources of a remote device such as a head end device are used for storage of viewer preference data. An agent in a set-top box communicates with a server agent at the remote device to transmit viewer preference data from the set-top box to the server, and from the server to the set-top box. The remote device stores viewer preference data for each set-top box associated with the remote device. The remote device also communicates with a web server that hosts a preference modification application. Viewers may modify their viewer preference data through the internet using the preference modification application, and changes to the viewer preference data are communicated from the web server to the remote device and from the remote device to the set top box. Processing of program and segment metadata using the viewer preference data may be performed in the remote device or in the set-top box.

Abstract: Metadata for a programming event may be generated through an interactive process. A system may receive data corresponding to a programming event. The data may include descriptive information and timing information. The system may then generate preliminary metadata for the programming event from the received data. The system may provide the preliminary metadata to a system user, and then receive user specified metadata responsive to the preliminary metadata. The preliminary metadata may include one or more of categories of a classification hierarchy, goodness of fit scores associated with the categories, keywords, goodness of fit scores associated with the keywords, and a title. Related embodiments may pertain to a system implementing such methods. Further related embodiments may pertain to methods and systems in which a system user is enabled to approve preliminary metadata provided by the system.