Abstract: A remote support site having a detector internally collecting information on a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic of a media-playing set or television and a server enabling specification of a preferred setting for such characteristic from this information. A method including maintaining a remote site, therefrom internally collecting information from the set about a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic, and therefrom specifying a preferred setting for such characteristic. A similar method but information detected upon user request about user-adjustable component for selecting on-screen characteristic and final step is remotely adjusting component. A similar method but information is about broadcast characteristic potentially selectable initially by user instead remotely specified initially. A similar method but information is about plural broadcast characteristics and final step is remotely providing settings for each.

Abstract: A remote support site having a detector internally collecting information on a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic of a media-playing set or television and a server enabling specification of a preferred setting for such characteristic from this information. A method including maintaining a remote site, therefrom internally collecting information from the set about a user-selectable intrinsic broadcast characteristic, and therefrom specifying a preferred setting for such characteristic. A similar method but information detected upon user request about user-adjustable component for selecting on-screen characteristic and final step is remotely adjusting component. A similar method but information is about broadcast characteristic potentially selectable initially by user instead remotely specified initially. A similar method but information is about plural broadcast characteristics and final step is remotely providing settings for each.

Abstract: The current invention describes novel remote control features operative with a television system, including hotkey buttons assignable to certain applications operating and/or displayed on the television system, one touch record and image capture to a removable storage medium, and notification alert buttons for browsing between certain notifications and alerts.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing context-based sharing of TV input data over a secure communications link via the Internet. Data, such as image, music and video files and metadata, related directly to the media currently displayed on the television set by way of a broadcast medium may be captured and shared with peer users. This feature may be integral to the television set and it may be controlled by the television set's remote control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing a TV-viewer with interactive television program selections that relate both to the program content of the current selection and a pay-for-placement of program content selections by advertisers/owners of television programs. According to the method, when a TV-viewer initiates a programming choice, a window opens displaying alternative choices to the viewer in an ordered list. The choices may be related to the current choice by content, at least in part, and may be displayed in an order of prominence depending upon amounts bid by advertisers/owners of the TV programming.

Abstract: An electronic programming guide (EPG) browsing system and method for its operation are disclosed. A viewer navigates this EPG using traditional up, down, left, right commands. But unlike the prior art, which responds to these commands by moving a selection area across a display of program titles, this EPG responds by scrolling the display while leaving the program selection area fixed. This can improve viewer interaction and the display of information for an EPG display, as paging can be avoided and the display scrolling motions correspond with the user's control manipulations. In a preferred embodiment, the program selection area is expanded such that additional details are displayed for a program when it enters the program selection area.

Abstract: A parameter processing device that allows setting of a critical parameter value includes a movable slide operator on a scale of a predetermined length, and two fine-adjustment switches provided integral to the slide operator. In the operation of setting a parameter value, a rough parameter value is set by moving the slide operator. Then, one of the fine-adjustment switches is depressed to fine-adjust the set rough parameter value. Here, the level of the depressed pressure is detected by an internal pressure sensor. The detected level of the depressed pressure is converted into a corresponding fine-adjustment granularity. The rough parameter value is updated using the obtained fine-adjustment granularity. Thus, a fine parameter value can be set easily that could not previously be set by just moving the slide operator. The setting of a parameter having a wide range can easily be carried out even in a limited region.