Abstract: A TV detects the capabilities of connected components to respond to various function commands. Subsequently, when a non-programmable remote control is used to select a component and then generate a function command, the TV determines if the component can respond to the command and if not, the TV dynamically alters the commanded function or the selected component.

Abstract: An Internet TV video guide shows thumbnails of video assets available from one or more providers, and one or more of the assets may represent a playlist with two or more associated video clips. When a viewer selects a playlist asset, the thumbnail is expanded to show the individual clips so that a viewer can select a desired clip for play on the TV.

Abstract: A photograph in an album of photographs is selected as the cover for the album based on metadata, e.g., most frequently viewed, last viewed, EXIF data, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing a personal channel for interactive television comprises a personal channel manager that may include a configuration module, a search module, and a content packaging module. A system user may utilize the configuration module to perform a personal channel configuration procedure to specify personal channel configuration data for performing a content record search procedure. The search module may manage the content record search procedure according to one or more search parameters that may be defined during the personal channel configuration procedure. The search module may selectively locate and access one or more content records from one or more remote content databases during the foregoing content record search procedure. The content packaging module may then responsively coordinate a content record sorting procedure according to user-specified sorting criteria to thereby organize the located content records into a personal channel program.

Abstract: A display stand for a laptop computer has an L-shaped spine supporting the computer. A T-shaped upper advertising substrate holder can be slid into the vertical leg of the spine in one of multiple orientations, i.e., with the cross-bar of the T horizontal to the ground or vertical to the ground on either the left side or right side of the computer, as point of sale (POS) physical constraints demand. In all orientations of the upper holder, an upper advertising substrate is supported by the upper holder in a vertical orientation. A T-shaped lower advertising substrate holder can be slid into the horizontal leg of the spine to support a lower advertising substrate in a horizontal orientation.

Abstract: TV settings such as brightness can be established by sending from a TV signals from an ambient light sensor to a network server, with the network server establishing settings such as brightness in response for a program being played on the TV.

Abstract: A waveform reconstruction circuit receives an rf signal from an antenna, digitizes it, and then generates an undistorted reconstructed waveform. The reconstructed waveform can then be conventionally mixed and demodulated to extract useful signal information with enhanced receiver fidelity and sensitivity.

Abstract: A TV stand for a flat panel TV includes a base with plural shelves and a translucent frame on the top shelf. A rear support holds the TV juxtaposed with the translucent frame with the bottom of the TV above the top shelf, so that the TV appears as though it is floating above the top shelf.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for communicating using a device having a Palm OS. SMB is preferentially used to communicate with a node, and if use of SMB is not possible, FTP is used, and if use of FTP is not possible, Bluetooth is used. If FTP or Bluetooth is selected as the protocol, file sharing between the device and node that entails a read or write is executed by temporarily copying a file to an internal Palm OS memory of the device, performing the read or write on the file, and then copying the file back to the node to overwrite a previous version of the file at the node. For non-Palm OS file transfer to the internal memory, the file is wrapped in a Palm OS stream in the internal memory for executing reads or writes. For file transfer to an expansion Palm OS memory card, byte-to-byte copying of the file is executed using the FAT of the expansion memory, with the file being transferred through an internal Palm OS memory of the device.

Abstract: A user can select to play a metronome of the user's voice or a default which is played on headphones at a user-established tempo.

Abstract: A TV receiver such as a set-top box has an Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) programming interface that communicates with interactive digital video applications such as pay-per-view applications to enable a viewer to communicate requests, purchase orders, and the like to a head end. A cable card provides both decryption of incoming video from the head end as well as translation functionality that transforms standardized messages into a proprietary protocol recognizable to the head end. The OCAP has an API that interfaces with the application and that directs standardized messages from the application to the standardized interface of the removable cable card ensuring common reliance on the translation functionality built in to the cable card.

Abstract: A network-enabled TV sends a geographic location to an Internet server and in response receives back a list of TV service providers for the location. A user selects a provider and the server in response downloads the channel map pertaining to the selected provider.

Abstract: A battery having an outer casing and an anode/cathode assembly within that casing, wherein the anode/cathode assembly includes plural anodes and cathodes and electrolyte therebetween. The battery has a pressure relief feature associated with the casing and a channel preservation element sufficiently rigid to preserve at least one gas passageway to the pressure relief feature under conditions of anode/cathode assembly warpage. Thus the gas in the passageway will not become impeded by anode/cathode assembly warpage.

Abstract: A set-box (SBB) is advanced into a receptacle on the rear of a TV to add functionality to the TV. Digital video information is conveyed from the SBB to the TV using respective HDMI connectors on the SBB and TV that mechanically engage each other, whereas bi-directional control information is passed wirelessly between the SBB and TV.

Abstract: A favorites GUI for a TV includes a carousel-type display of icons representing user-defined favorites that is overlaid on the current background video of the TV, with the center-most icon being the “current” icon and being enlarged relative to the other icons. Live video appears in icons representing TV channels. Other icons can represent, e.g., favorite photo/music files, favorite games from a game console, favorite content from an ambient player, etc.

Abstract: A client in a home entertainment network can communicate with other components, including the server, over both a wired and a wireless link, with the particular path being selected based a component preference, and/or a bandwidth capability, and/or an occupancy ratio. Both links may be simultaneously used.

Abstract: In a TV system with a modular configuration that permits licensed primary modules such as disk players and personal video recorders to be removably slid into engagement with receptacles in the TV housing, an adapter primary module is provided that is formed with secondary receptacles for receiving secondary modules. The secondary modules have USB ports, Ethernet ports, and memory card slots in a configuration that can be designed by entities other than the TV manufacturer, with the secondary modules having to conform to proprietary licensed interfaces in the adaptor module to ensure a degree of control by the TV manufacturer.

Abstract: A DRM disk such as a Blu-ray stores content in a high resolution version for playing by a disk player. The disk also stores the same content in a lower resolution version for playing by a secondary device such as a Playstation Portable (PSP). The disk can be engaged with the disk player and the lower resolution format transferred to the secondary player through a mechanism such as a removable medium (e.g., a Sony Memory Stick®) or a USB connection or other means in accordance with DRM restrictions on the disk.

Abstract: An ambient, beautiful, entertaining visual experience that can be displayed on a TV requiring little or no user interaction beyond initiation. Multiple image layers that may be still or moving video, photos, etc, or a combination thereof can be overlaid on each other.

Abstract: A method for obtaining directions to fixed location such as a restaurant includes using a telephone to call the restaurant, and providing a prompt to the caller during the call to push a button on the telephone to download GPS location of the restaurant. The GPS information is transferred from the telephone to a navigation module in a vehicle which displays a map showing the route to the restaurant.