System and method for simplifying different types of searches in electronic program guide

1. A method for controlling an apparatus comprising:

receiving and storing electronic program guide information;

receiving a first search criterion from a user for a first type of search, the first search criterion including a user selected text string and a user selected program identification field;

searching the electronic program guide information to find one or more records matching the first search criterion;

receiving a user instruction via a first user interface to convert the first search criterion to a second search criterion for use with a second type of search;

in response to the user instruction, converting the first search criterion to the second search criterion by automatically transferring the first search criterion to a second user interface for use with the second type of search, the second user Interface comprising a text string entry portion for enabling user entry of one or more individual characters of a text string one character at a time and a field selection portion including a plurality of user selectable program identification fields and having at least a title field and an actor field; and

wherein the transferring step includes the apparatus causing the user selected text string of the first search criterion to be automatically entered into the text string entry portion of the second user interface as a pre-selected text string without requiring the user to re-enter the user selected text string of the first search criterion into the text string entry portion of the second user interface, and further includes the apparatus causing the user selected program identification field of the first search criterion to be automatically selected in the field selection portion of the second user interface as a pre-selected program identification field without requiring the user to re-select the user selected program identification field of the first search criterion in the field selection portion of the second user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first type of search is a non-continuous search and the second type of search is a continuous search.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the non-continuous search is an alphabetical sort search and the continuous search is a non-alphabetical sort search.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising saving the second search criterion and repetitively performing new searches based on the saved second search criterion.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the repetitive new searches are conducted either automatically upon receipt of updated program guide information or upon user command.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic program guide information comprises periodically updated records, wherein each record comprises a plurality of program identification fields relating a program's identification information to a corresponding data field, including at least one of topic, theme, actor, title, director, awards, production studio, release date, roles, description, and keywords.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprised of allowing user modification of the second search criterion via the second user interface.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of user selectable program identification fields includes at least one of topic, theme, actors, titles, descriptions, roles, directors, writers, production studios, awards, keywords, and release dates.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the user selected text string is either composed by the user or delineated by the user as the text within a user interface cell.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprised of searching the electronic program guide information to find one or more records matching the second search criterion from the second user interface.

11. An apparatus for enabling a user to search electronic program guide information, comprising:

first means for receiving a first search criterion from the user for a first type of search and searching the electronic program guide information to find one or more records matching the first search criterion, the first search criterion including a user selected text string and a user selected program identification field;

second means for enabling display of a first user interface providing the one or more records matching the first search criterion, wherein the user provides a command via the first user interface to convert the first search criterion to a second search criterion for use with a second type of search, and the first search criterion is converted to the second search criterion responsive to the command by the first search criterion being transferred to a second user interface for use with the second type of search, the second user interface comprising a text string entry portion for enabling user entry of one or more individual characters of a text string one character at a time and a field selection portion including a plurality of user selectable program identification fields and having at least a title field and an actor field; and

wherein the transferring step includes the apparatus causing the user selected text string of the first search criterion to be automatically entered into the text string entry portion of the second user interface as a pre-selected text string without requiring the user to re-enter the user selected text string of the first search criterion into the text string entry portion of the second user interface, and further includes the apparatus causing the user selected program identification field of the first search criterion to be automatically selected in the field selection portion of the second user interface as a pre-selected program identification field without requiring the user to re-select the user selected program identification field of the first search criterion in the field selection portion of the second user interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first type of search is a non-continuous search and the second type of search is a continuous search.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the non-continuous search is an alphabetical sort search.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second search criterion is saved and the first means repetitively performs new searches based on the saved second search criterion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the repetitive new searches are conducted either automatically upon receipt of updated program guide information or upon user command.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the electronic program guide information comprises periodically updated records, wherein each record comprises a plurality of program identification fields relating a program's identification information to a corresponding data field, including at least one of topic, theme, actor, title, director, awards, production studio, release date, roles, description, and keywords.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second search criterion can be modified by the user via the second user interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of user selectable program identification fields includes at least one of topic, theme, actors, titles, descriptions, roles, directors, writers, production studios, awards, keywords, and release dates.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the user selected text string is either composed by the user or delineated by the user as the text within a user interface cell.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprised of the first means searching the electronic program guide information to find one or more records matching the second search criterion from the second user interface.