Abstract: In one embodiment, multiple content sources are identified, and content from those sources is sized and positioned on a common display under user control. Content source selections and display preferences are saved between user sessions, and fresh content is displayed each time the content is loaded. The user's customized display draws multimedia content from one or more sources selected from a predetermined list. In some embodiments, the selectable content includes television channels decoded from a cable TV signal by a converter. In other embodiments, a media bridge device compiles, encodes, and outputs content from two or more sources alongside other user-selectable content, either from a cache in the media bridge or host, or as a substantially live feed to any of a variety of viewing devices. In some embodiments, a single click opens a selected source in a predefined view in the common display.

Abstract: In one disclosed embodiment, multiple content sources are identified, and displays of content from those sources are positioned on a common display. Content source selections and display preferences persist between user sessions, and fresh content is displayed each time the content loads. The user's customized display draws multimedia content from one or more selected sources from a predetermined list. The compiled content is presented with other user-selectable content, either from a cache or as a substantially live feed, to a different viewing devices. In some embodiments, a single click opens a selected source in a predefined view in the common display. In others, video segments are stored locally to a viewer, then shown on a video display device while an on-demand stream is being buffered. In still others, a wizard assists a user in selecting from streams that may be viewed based on installed software, bandwidth constraints, and user-specified criteria.

Abstract: A portal provider hosts personalized portal page that, when loaded by a user's computer, accesses content hosted by a sponsor's and other content servers. The service provider hosts the portal information (but not the content) in exchange for fees from the sponsor and/or users. A set of tabs each provides access to “views,” each displaying content for the user. Certain views and/or tabs have restrictions on actions the user can take on them, while the user can customize others. Views, tabs, and the application can include background images, either behind the content or over it with alpha blending so that the content is simultaneously visible. Users can access a library of pre-made tabs and can reposition pixel views persistently between user sessions. Picture and video views are available, email is exchanged, media files are played, and a local file browser leverages file associations and applications to further personalize the experience.

Abstract: A user-created life portal for viewing and accessing content on the Internet is described. The platform, referred to as a life portal, is configured by the user to display only content that is of interest to the user, thereby reflecting the personality and life of the user. The content displayed in a life portal is scraped from web sites and is not limited to sites licensed or maintained by the life portal service provider. The content is displayed as a view or a magazine. Views and magazines (content) are stored in life pages. A view is content that is contained in a portlet and is retrieved from a single web site. A magazine is a collection of content, such as article headlines and links, on a particular topic from one or more web sites. All content in a life portal is specifically tailored to meet the targeted interests and preferences of the user and is designed to exclude content not of direct interest to the user.

Abstract: A user-created life portal for viewing and accessing content on the Internet is described. The platform, referred to as a life portal, is configured by the user to display only content that is of interest to the user, thereby reflecting the personality and life of the user. The content displayed in a life portal is scraped from web sites and is not limited to sites licensed or maintained by the life portal service provider. Before content is displayed as a view in a portlet in a life page, the content is modified so that errors and unexpected behavior is minimized. This is done by parsing the content, for parsed views, and applying rules to the content thereby making the content suitable for display as a view. The rules are applied intelligently in that only rules appropriate for a domain are applied to pages from that domain. In this process, each web page retrieved is essentially customized by application of an appropriate and tested set of rules.

Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing a user-created life portal for viewing and accessing content on the Internet are described. The platform, referred to as a life portal, is configured by the user to display only content that is of interest to the user, thereby reflecting the personality and life of the user. The content is displayed as a view or a magazine. A life portal is implemented by a life portal service provider such that a client computer executing a life portal is not required to download or install any applications either during creation of the life portal or while utilizing the life portal. Referred to as a client-side implementation, a client executing a life portal retrieves content for its own views and a user can access her life portal from any client computer with a browser and connected to the Internet.