Recommender having display of visual cues to aid a user during a feedback process

1 . A method for generating recommendations, the method comprising:

prompting a user for feedback on at least one preference for generating a recommendation, the at least one preference having two or more categories associated therewith;

displaying at least one visual cue corresponding to each of the two or more categories;

selecting one of the two or more categories based at least in part on the corresponding at least one visual cue; and

generating a recommendation based at least in part on the selecting.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating generates a recommendation for video content.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the video content is a television program.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one preference is the genre of the television program.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the two or more categories associated with the genre of the television program are selected from a group consisting of action, comedy-action, suspense-action, drama, comedy, documentary, and romance.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one visual cue is selected from a group consisting of a video clip of each genre, a trailer from each genre, textual information describing each genre, and specific examples of each genre.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying comprises:

displaying a selection means corresponding to each of the two or more categories; and

displaying the at least one visual cue corresponding to the two or more categories upon selection of the selection means.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the displaying of the selection means comprises providing a user interface having a button displayed proximate each of the two or more categories wherein the selection of the button is achieved through the user interface.

9 . An apparatus for generating recommendations, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a user interface for prompting a user for feedback on at least one preference for generating a recommendation, the at least one preference having two or more categories associated therewith;

means for displaying at least one visual cue corresponding to each of the two or more categories on the user interface;

means for selecting one of the two or more categories based from the user interface at least in part on the corresponding at least one visual cue; and

a recommender for generating a recommendation based at least in part on the selection.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the recommender generates a recommendation for video content.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the video content is a television program.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one preference is the genre of the television program.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the two or more categories associated with the genre of the television program are selected from a group consisting of action, comedy-action, suspense-action, drama, comedy, documentary, and romance.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one visual cue is selected from a group consisting of a video clip of each genre, a trailer from each genre, textual information describing each genre, and specific examples of each genre.

15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the means for displaying comprises:

means for displaying a selection means on the user interface corresponding to each of the two or more categories; and

means for displaying the at least one visual cue corresponding to the two or more categories upon selection of the selection means.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the means for displaying the selection means comprises displaying a button on the user interface proximate each of the two or more categories.

17 . A computer program product embodied in a computer-readable medium for generating recommendations, the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code means for prompting a user for feedback on at least one preference for generating a recommendation, the at least one preference having two or more categories associated therewith;

computer readable program code means for displaying at least one visual cue corresponding to each of the two or more categories;

computer readable program code means for selecting one of the two or more categories based at least in part on the corresponding at least one visual cue; and

computer readable program code means for generating a recommendation based at least in part on the selecting.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer readable program code means for displaying at least one visual cue corresponding to each of the two or more categories comprises:

computer readable program code means for displaying a selection means corresponding to each of the two or more categories; and

computer readable program code means for displaying the at least one visual cue corresponding to the two or more categories upon selection of the selection means.

19 . A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for generating reconimendations, the method comprising:

prompting a user for feedback on at least one preference for generating a recommendation, the at least one preference having two or more categories associated therewith;

displaying at least one visual cue corresponding to each of the two or more categories;

selecting one of the two or more categories based at least in part on the corresponding at least one visual cue; and

generating a recommendation based at least in part on the selecting.

20 . The program storage device of claim 19 , wherein the displaying comprises:

displaying a selection means corresponding to each of the two or more categories; and

displaying the at least one visual cue corresponding to the two or more categories upon selection of the selection means.