Abstract: A method for generating a recommendation is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving at least one of a negative and positive example from one or more other users; and determining a recommendation for a user based on at least one of the negative and positive examples. The method can further include the step of generating a user profile for the user based on previous behavior of the user, in which case the determining step can include determining the recommendation based on the negative example and the user profile. The determining step can also include the step of determining the recommendation based on both of the negative and positive examples.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for selecting at least one program item to be stored on the basis of user preferences. The apparatus comprises a receiver (110) for obtaining program schedule data related to at least one program item, and a timer (150) arranged to ascertain a period of time in which at least one program item is to be stored, a user preference module (130) arranged to obtain user preferences for at least one program item to be stored in the ascertained period of time, and a selection unit (140) arranged to select, using the program schedule data and the user preferences, at least one program item to be stored over a long period of time which is substantially longer than regular periods of nonusage of the apparatus. The invention takes into consideration that the user preferences for storing the program items may depend on the period of time in which the program items are to be selected.

Abstract: A system and method for customizing an advertisement based on a surrounding broadcast are provided. A start of a new advertisement is detected (S2) and its characteristic data, including a video characteristic and/or an audio characteristic are extracted (S4). Also surrounding broadcast data, including the video characteristic and/or the audio characteristic of the surrounding broadcast are extracted (at S3). A replacement advertisement, may be selected (S7) based on a comparison (S6) of the surrounding broadcast data with advertisement characteristic of the new advertisement and of stored advertisements; and based on the surrounding broadcast data, the video characteristic and/or the audio characteristic of the replacement advertisement are customized (S8). The selecting of the replacement advertisement and customizing it are performed such that its characteristic data match most closely the surrounding broadcast data.

Abstract: A system searches for segments among multiple publications dealing with a given topic or set of topics, and compiles these segments into a custom-created electronic-book. In a commercial environment, such custom-created e-books are offered for sale to a user or set of users who have expressed interest in the given topic or set of topics. Optionally, the system is aware of the publications that are in a user's existing library, and avoids the inclusion of redundant material in the custom-created e-book for that user.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a personalized list of meetings per subject per user of the system (1), includes a system computer (4) and user computer (12) each configured for bidirectionally communicating over the Internet (8), whereby the system computer (4) is programmed to first obtain either explicitly (20) or implicitly (26) a profile listing various meeting preferences of a user, to next obtain a list of future meetings corresponding to at least a portion of the user's profile, followed by sending the user the list of recommended meetings generated, along with location specific information if requested by the user.

Abstract: A plurality of programs is displayed on screen in a grid of cells. When program in a particular column of cells is pointed to by a cursor, the programs in neighboring columns are shifted to improve the time-alignment of the programs in the row of the cursor.