Abstract: Systems and methods for recommending content in a media system are described. In an embodiment, the method identifies a reference metadata tag associated with content in a database, retrieves a data structure storing information of learned associations between the reference metadata tag and a plurality of other metadata tags, the data structure defining a tree of nodes each associated with a corresponding metadata tag, a root node of the retrieved tree associated with the identified reference metadata tag. A path is extracted from the data structure, spanning from the reference metadata tag to a target metadata tag, the extracted path identifying a sequence of metadata tags defined by nodes along the extracted path. Recommended content items are returned based on the sequence of metadata tags identified by the extracted path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recommending content in a media system are described. In an embodiment, the method identifies a reference metadata tag associated with content in a database, retrieves a data structure storing information of learned associations between the reference metadata tag and a plurality of other metadata tags, the data structure defining a tree of nodes each associated with a corresponding metadata tag, a root node of the retrieved tree associated with the identified reference metadata tag. A path is extracted from the data structure, spanning from the reference metadata tag to a target metadata tag, the extracted path identifying a sequence of metadata tags defined by nodes along the extracted path. Recommended content items are returned based on the sequence of metadata tags identified by the extracted path.

Abstract: In a substitutional media system, one of a set of media items is selected at a programme receiver for output within a predefined programming slot, based on profile data available at the receiver. Sets of the media items are scheduled to slots according to one or more constraints pertaining to that slot and/or to media items scheduled to other slots. The receiver may select a media item for output in a slot by resolving constraints with media items scheduled to other slots, or selected for output in other slots.

Abstract: In a substitutional media system, one of a set of media items is selected at a programme receiver for output within a predefined programming slot, based on profile data available at the receiver. Sets of the media items are scheduled to slots according to one or more constraints pertaining to that slot and/or to media items scheduled to other slots. The receiver may select a media item for output in a slot by resolving constraints with media items scheduled to other slots, or selected for output in other slots.

Abstract: A media device is provided for receiving a listing of media content items from a server, at least one of the media content items being a group entity which is representative of a collection of individual media content items. Each of the media content items is then presented to the user for selection. A user may select one of the group entities and the associated individual media content items will then be presented to the user for further selection. An individual media content item may be selected and the selected media content may be transmitted from the server to the media receiver for immediate play back or saved for later playback.

Abstract: A user interface for a television display includes a remote control with a touch pad. The user controls movement of an indicator by means of gestures and/or other actions performed on the touch pad. The movement of the indicator may be constrained in a horizontal and/or vertical direction. Actions by the user on the touch pad below a predetermined magnitude may be prevented from causing movement of the indicator.

Abstract: An interactive user interface (AW) of an interactive application is provided simultaneously with a programme display (P) within a display area of a television receiver, wherein a proportion of the display area occupied by the interactive user interface (AW) increases in response to user interaction with the interactive user interface (AW).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining search intent, comprises: receiving a search query; searching content across a plurality of content classes using the search query, so as to obtain a plurality of search results; deriving summary data from the search results; applying the summary data to a trained machine learning model; and determining from the machine learning model a selected one of the content classes corresponding to the search intent of the search query.