Abstract: A method and apparatus wherein a plurality of functions are implemented on a multimedia presentation device. A user can access several of the functions by depressing a single button. A particular function is specified by the duration of the button depression. For one embodiment the functions affect a favorite program list and allow a user to access the list, update the list, and delete entries from the list depending upon button depression duration. For example, the user may depress button number (#) 3 of a remote control device. A brief depression (e.g., less than 1 second), results in the remote control interpreting this click as a digit for selecting a channel, and the system will tune to channel #3. A longer depression (e.g., between 1 and 2 seconds), results in the system recalling previously programmed selection #3. Likewise, other functions are implemented by depression the button for various durations.

Abstract: An electronic programming guide (“EPG”) provides pictograms and/or logos, to indicate to a television viewer the programs being displayed on a television. The EPG information display format is thus easier to recognize than prior EPG formats. The EPG pictograms may have 3D characteristics. The EPG information can be displayed in a window within a television screen while a program is being shown on the remainder of the screen. The EPG comprises a set of geometric surfaces located in virtual 3D space. The pictograms and/or logos, along with alpha-numeric text data and video clips are applied to the geometric surfaces using a 3D graphics pipeline. The appearance of the pictograms, logos, alpha-numeric data and/or video clips can be modified in response to a user actuating a control element on a remote controller. In one embodiment, internet HTML pages are parsed and applied to geometric surfaces in 3D virtual space.

Abstract: A method for providing an electronic program guide is disclosed. The method comprises receiving subscription data indicating channels for which a subscription exists; and displaying a list of available channels wherein currently unsubscribed channels and currently subscribed channels are distinguished from each other.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for receiving electronic programming guide (EPG) selections entered via a separate wireless remote, storing the EPG selections on a storage device, and transmitting the EPG selections to be displayed when requested. In one embodiment, the EPG selections are transmitted to one or more separate wireless remotes to be displayed on the wireless remotes when requested. In addition, in one embodiment, one or more programs are also transmitted to be separately displayed concurrently with displaying the EPG selections.

Abstract: An advertisement is selected based on a demographic profile that is determined based on a second set of categories of broadcasted programs. The second set is a set to which a category from a first set of categories of broadcasted programs has been added in response to either a selecting of the category from the first set, or a broadcasted program viewing device being tuned, for a period of time at least equal to a first predetermined threshold, to at least one broadcasted program predetermined to be in the category from the first set. The advertisement may be displayed with an interactive programming guide.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable media, and Apparatus is provided for viewing a second content item while a first content item plays an advertisement. When the first content item is changed to a second content item on a display, a window region displays an advertising item related to the advertisement. The advertising item in the window region is modified when the advertisement has ended, alerting the user the advertisement is over. In another embodiment, the advertisement comprises a first and second commercial played in succession, and the advertising item in the window region comprises a first and second product item. In this embodiment, the window region displays the first product item when the first commercial is played in the advertisement, and the second product item when the second commercial plays in the advertisement.

Abstract: Characters represented within a frame of a television presentation are identified. A pattern formed by a subset of the characters is identified if the pattern is indicative of an addressing datum. A provision is made for a selection of characters that form the pattern indicative of the addressing datum. In one embodiment, a web page is displayed upon a selection of characters that form a pattern indicative of a uniform resource locator for the web page.

Abstract: An EPG to display programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information. A communication module in the EPG receives localized content containing multiple objects from one or more servers coupled to a network. Users may interact with the content (e.g., buy and sell goods and services from local franchises) through a user-interface coupled to the EPG.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing desired portions of a multimedia presentation. Desired portions of a multimedia presentation are determined. In one embodiment, an editor may determine which portions of the presentation are desired. Alternatively, or additionally, specified criteria may be applied to the presentation to determine the desired portions. An annotation file is then created based upon the determined desired portions of the multimedia presentation. The annotation file contains pointers corresponding to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation. Annotation management software may be use the annotation file to cause a display device to display only desired portions of the presentation. The annotation file may be applied to a broadcast presentation or a recorded program file. In one embodiment the annotation file may contain information related to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation and/or the remainder of the multimedia presentation.

Abstract: A system and method for prioritizing the insertion of recorded media into a broadcast stream according to a comparison of priority indicators in the broadcast stream and in the recorded media insertion. The recorded media insertion may be multi-media in nature.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for operating an electronic program guide system. The method comprises displaying a first view wherein graphical indicators each of which corresponds to a broadcast channel are displayed on a display; detecting input selecting one of the graphical indicators; and displaying a second view in response to the detected input, wherein programming information relating to a channel corresponding to the selected graphical indicator is displayed on the display.

Abstract: A second set of broadcasted programs is added to a first set of broadcasted programs. The second set of broadcasted programs includes broadcasted programs viewed by a viewer for a period of time at least equal to a first threshold. A third set of broadcasted programs is removed from the first set of broadcasted programs. The third set of broadcasted programs includes broadcasted programs not viewed by a viewer for a period of time at least equal to a second threshold. In one embodiment, a fourth set of broadcasted programs selected by the viewer is added to the first set of broadcasted programs. In one embodiment, the first threshold and the second threshold are updated upon the viewer indicating dissatisfaction. In one embodiment, the first threshold and the second threshold are updated upon the viewer returning to a schedule list more than a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A multimedia system provides program schedule information simulcast as a data stream (e.g., HTML) including commands and displayable, selectable indicia associated with the commands, along with programs for display. A device may be adapted to separate the HTML data stream and to store that data in a cache as pages (e.g., web pages) retrievable by a browser in the device, whereupon the program schedule information is displayed including the displayable, selectable indicia. Selecting the indicia directs the device via the associated command to receive and display a program associated with the displayable indicia. The indicia may be any text, icon, dynamic figurine, and the like. In one example, program schedule pages, including the commands and displayable indicia, are stored and marked on a server coupled to the Internet and to a scanner adapted to scan the server for marked pages, and to upload the marked pages to a transmission system.

Abstract: A method and system for 3-D enhanced advertising for TV broadcast of 2-D video is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing enhanced advertising of a 2-D video broadcast, comprises receiving the 2-D video broadcast containing a 2-D advertisement having an image. The image is identified within the advertisement. A matching 3-D object in an image library is used; wherein the library comprises one or more 3-D objects. The matching 3-D object is used to generate an advertisement, wherein the advertisement has a 3-D highlighted rendering of the image.

Abstract: This invention provides a television schedule system and process that allows an electronic programming guide designer to add a capability to change program listing appearance adaptively, based on a signal from a user or broadcaster.

Abstract: A system for identifying prior selection of specific display information on an EPG. In one embodiment, a user selects an object on a screen, and upon selection of the object, an attribute of the object (e.g., color, transparency, etc.) is modified. The modified value is saved into memory so the user may later identify that the specific object was selected. Each subsequent selection will modify the attribute further, allowing the user to identity that the object was selected a number of times. In one embodiment, the attribute will continue to be modified until a specific expiration limit has been reached.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a television electronic programming guide that allows users to combine multiple search criteria within a single search. The electronic program guide receives a television program search criteria set containing a plurality of search criteria and provides a search result set containing television programs that meet the television program search criteria set. The search criteria in the television program search criteria set may be combined in various ways to form a complex search. For one embodiment the search criteria are combined in a Boolean AND combination. One embodiment of the present invention provides a television electronic programming guide that allows users to dynamically add or remove search criteria from a programming guide search without initiating a new programming guide search. The electronic program guide receives a revision to the television program search criteria set, and revises the search result based upon the revision.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying titles of recorded content based on a user's access level. In one embodiment, a plurality of user identifications is received. Each of the user identifications may be associated with one of a plurality of access levels. Login information corresponding to a user may be received and a user interface may be generated. The user interface may display one or more titles corresponding to recorded content. The one or more titles displayed on the user interface may be based on an access level associated with the user.

Abstract: A multimedia system provides program schedule information simulcast as a data stream (e.g., HTML) including commands and displayable, selectable indicia associated with the commands, along with programs for display. A device may be adapted to separate the HTML data stream and to store that data in a cache as pages (e.g., web pages) retrievable by a browser in the device, whereupon the program schedule information is displayed including the displayable, selectable indicia. Selecting the indicia directs the device via the associated command to receive and display a program associated with the displayable indicia. The indicia may be any text, icon, dynamic figurine, and the like. In one example, program schedule pages, including the commands and displayable indicia, are stored and marked on a server coupled to the Internet and to a scanner adapted to scan the server for marked pages, and to upload the marked pages to a transmission system.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable media, and Apparatus is provided for viewing a second content item while a first content item plays an advertisement. When the first content item is changed to a second content item on a display, a window region displays an advertising item related to the advertisement. The advertising item in the window region is modified when the advertisement has ended, alerting the user the advertisement is over. In another embodiment, the advertisement comprises a first and second commercial played in succession, and the advertising item in the window region comprises a first and second product item. In this embodiment, the window region displays the first product item when the first commercial is played in the advertisement, and the second product item when the second commercial plays in the advertisement.