Abstract: The user of an Internet-enabled CE device such as a TV can select an object in a video presented on the display of the CE device by either touch sensitive screen or input device. The processor of the CE device can then determine the boundaries of the object, identify it using face/image recognition software, search for information/websites related to the object, and present those information/websites to the viewer on the display screen.

Abstract: Devices in a local network can cooperatively share functionality by advertising their available services and current service needs with an agent being executed in the network. The network can be automatically configured by device discovery or manually configured by a user.

Abstract: An audio video (AV) device presents a user interface (UI) on the display. The UI has plural UI selector elements, including a left-most column of tabbed selector elements including a “video” tab, a “cast” tab, a “related” tab, with the tabs representing types of information and/or AV programs related to a seed input to the processor. The tabbed selector elements are selectable to cause, the information and/or AV programs represented by the respective tab to be presented on a central information/video area. The UI also includes a right-most column of iconified selector elements for selecting respective AV program sources from which information and/or AV programs related to the seed are available. The iconified selector elements are selectable to cause information and/or AV programs related to the seed to be received from the respective source and presented on the central information/video area.

Abstract: Using a TV, a viewer watching broadcast TV or Internet video content on a display can select a “Video Search” application indicating viewer desire to obtain information about a currently playing video program. The application is invoked to send a name of the currently playing video program to a server on the Internet and associated with a database to cause the server to execute a search only of the database associated with the Internet server and not to execute a search of the Internet. The server returns metadata related to the currently playing vided program, which is presented on the display along with the currently playing video program.

Abstract: An Internet TV shows which video clip in an Internet-provided playlist of multiple clips is “up next” for play.

Abstract: An audio video display device (AVDD) includes a processor and a touch screen video display. The AVDD also includes a computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to present at least one image of a remote control (RC) on the display. Accordingly, responsive to a first user command, the processor presents an image of a full RC on the display. Responsive to a second user command, the processor presents an image of a direction-only RC on the display that permits a user only to enter direction commands and an “enter” command.

Abstract: An audio video display device (AVDD) includes a processor and a touch screen video display. The AVDD also includes a computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to present at least one image of a remote control (RC) on the display. Accordingly, responsive to a first user command, the processor presents an image of a full RC on the display. Responsive to a second user command, the processor presents an image of a direction-only RC on the display that permits a user only to enter direction commands and an “enter” command.

Abstract: An audio video (AV) device presents a user interface (UI) on the display. The UI has plural UI selector elements, including a left-most column of tabbed selector elements including a “video” tab, a “cast” tab, a “related” tab, with the tabs representing types of information and/or AV programs related to a seed input to the processor. The tabbed selector elements are selectable to cause, the information and/or AV programs represented by the respective tab to be presented on a central information/video area. The UI also includes a right-most column of iconified selector elements for selecting respective AV program sources from which information and/or AV programs related to the seed are available. The iconified selector elements are selectable to cause information and/or AV programs related to the seed to be received from the respective source and presented on the central information/video area.

Abstract: A viewer watching a video program on a display of an audio-video device can select a “Video Search” application indicating viewer desire to obtain information about a currently playing video program. The application is invoked to send name of the currently playing video program to a server associated with a database to cause the server to execute a search of the database. The server returns metadata related to the currently playing video program, which is presented on the display along with the currently playing video program. The metadata includes links to additional information, such as cast members associated with the video program. The links are selectable to cause the server to execute a search of the database for metadata relating to the additional information, which is returned to the AV device and presented on the display along with the currently playing video program.

Abstract: Using a TV, a viewer watching broadcast TV or Internet video content on a display can select a “Video Search” application indicating viewer desire to obtain information about a currently playing video program. The application is invoked to send a name of the currently playing video program to a server on the Internet and associated with a database to cause the server to execute a search only of the database associated with the Internet server and not to execute a search of the Internet. The server returns metadata related to the currently playing vided program, which is presented on the display along with the currently playing video program.

Abstract: The user of an Internet-enabled CE device such as a TV can select an object in a video presented on the display of the CE device by either touch sensitive screen or input device. The processor of the CE device can then determine the boundaries of the object, identify it using face/image recognition software, search for information/websites related to the object, and present those information/websites to the viewer on the display screen.

Abstract: For a graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) showing current video on a portion of the display, a bottom row of category icons is presented on at one end of the row a column of content panes representing content related to a category of a selected one of the icons.