How often have you been watching television and you end up searching for something related to the show while you watch it?  Google has been issued a new patent that uses television shows as a ranking signal to personalize search to those it believes might be watching a television show at the time.

Bill Slawski of SEO by the Sea, a Google patent expert, discovered a new patent that has Google utilizing television schedules in the searcher’s location as a ranking signal.

From the abstract:

A computer implemented method for using search queries related to television programs. A server receives a user’s search query from an electronic device.

The server then determines, in accordance with the search query and television program related information for television programs available at a location associated with the electronic device during a specific time window, a television program currently being displayed in proximity to the electronic device, wherein the television program related information includes program descriptions for a plurality of television programs being broadcast for the associated location.

Of course, if they do implement it, it won’t stop Google conspiracy theorists from speculating Google is somehow “listening” to what you are watching on TV.

It would actually be quite helpful for many users.  When I watched Lost when it was airing, I did many searches related to the show on the nights it aired, as I tried to unravel themes and connections between characters.  If Google was able to influence searches to skew towards Lost on the same night the show aired, it would have made for a much better user experience.

For the full rundown, Skawski’s post goes into it in great detail.