Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing access to information of potential interest to a user. Closed-caption information is analyzed to find related information on the Internet. User interactions with a TV which receives programming including closed-caption information are monitored to determine user interests. The related closed-caption information is analyzed to determine key information therein. The key information is used for searching for information in available resources such as the Internet, and the search results are used to make recommendations to the user about information of potential interest to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for generating location information for a network space is provided. Generating location information for a network space involves maintaining location profiles for spaces familiar to a client device, and performing location detection for the client device in a current space utilizing a signature of the current space and the location profiles. Location detection for the client device in a current space can also be performed utilizing information indicating the probable presence of familiar resources in the current space.

Abstract: A framework identifies data that a user would likely be interested to access, then extracts and stores such data for the user to efficiently use when desired. Thereby, the framework allows the user to access several types of information efficiently, without the user having to request the information.

Abstract: A correlation system and method implement a framework for correlating content available from a local network with information on an external network. The system identifies information related to content available on the local network of interest to the user and also identifies one or more external sources that contain such related information. Then the system extracts data related to the identified information from the external sources, and determines correlations between the identified information and the data extracted from the external network.

Abstract: A method and system for providing sponsored content on an electronic device are provided. One implementation involves, in the electronic device, providing sponsored content to a user of the device based on information locally available to the device, and generating an indication of said providing sponsored content for enabling distribution of at least a portion of compensation from a sponsor of the sponsored content to a manufacturer of the device for said providing sponsored content.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to information via a supplementary device is provided. User access to primary information via a primary device is monitored. Key information related to the primary content is obtained by extracting and analyzing metadata sources for the primary information. Then, supplementary information related to the primary information is obtained based on the key information. The supplementary information is provided for user access via the supplementary device.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting relevant information from content metadata is provided. User access to content is monitored. A set of extraction rules for information extraction is selected. Key information is extracted from metadata for the content based on the selected extraction rules. Additionally, a type for the content can be determined, and a set of extraction rules is selected based on the content type. The key information is used in queries for searching information of potential interest to the user, related to the content accessed.

Abstract: A system implementing a method for providing sponsored information on an electronic device determines information of interest to the user as relevant information, accesses sponsored information, and provides sponsored information based on said relevant information.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating information searching for a user of an electronic device is provided. Facilitating searches involves obtaining information about the user interests, identifying potential data of interest to the user, extracting data related to said data of interest to the user, and collecting the extracted related data for presentation to the user on the device.

Abstract: A method and a system for facilitating information searching for a user of an electronic device, is provided. Search facilitation involves forming a query to search for information related to the user activity on the electronic device; resolving the query by searching available sources including one or more external sources for the related information; receiving an event indicating availability of related information; and providing the related information to the user.

Abstract: A method and a system for searching for information using an electronic device, such as a consumer electronic device, that can be connected to a network. Such searching for information involves determining a context for a search for information, forming a search query based on the context of search for information, and performing a contextual search based on the search query. Performing the contextual search further includes performing a query refinement.

Abstract: A method and system implementing a process for content synchronization that detects and prevents synchronization recursion in CDS transfer operations. A synchronization relationship is formed between the CDS containers in multiple devices. Then content synchronization processes are performed based on that relationship to avoid synchronization recursion.

Abstract: A method and system for providing services in a network including a control point and plural UPnP devices is provided. Surrogates are used to functionally replace the original UPnP device/service functionalities without new hardware or firmware/software updates. The surrogates enable proper operation in UPnP networks where devices that implement surrogates can coexist in the same network with UPnP devices that do not. This allows updating existing device functionalities without requiring new hardware or firmware/software updates.

Abstract: A method and system for access control to resources comprising consumer electronics (CE) devices in a local network such as a home network, is provided. Controlling access involves maintaining an access list in the network, wherein the access list includes information for controlling access to one or more resources in the network; receiving an access request for access to a resource in the network; and controlling access to the resource based on the access list. The resources can be one or more devices providing services and/or content. The one more devices can be one or more non-legacy devices and/or one or more legacy devices.

Abstract: A method and system for remote access to a device is provided. This involves establishing a connection between a local device connected in a local network and a remote device via a communication link; sending a message from the local device to the remote device via the communication link, indicating an online status of the local device; and maintaining an online status indication for the local device at the remote device, until arrival of a message indicating an offline status of the local device.

Abstract: A dynamic, flexible and intuitive task-oriented graphical user interface (GUI) is implemented on network accessible hand-held mobile devices. A mobile hand-held device is characterized by limited screen size and fewer input keys compared to a keyboard. In a home network environment, such mobile hand-held devices act as remote control devices for home devices. Typical examples of such remote control device are universal remote control and cell phone. In one implementation the GUI provides techniques for displaying large amounts of data using a small screen. The GUI also presents a technique for making the user aware of current abstract available options and smoothly guiding his current intention into a task selection that the remote control can understand and execute on.

Abstract: A system and method that map services that are available on the internet to services that can be used by home network devices. Similar services are accessed by a single interface. A “light-weight” plugin mechanism is provided which enables the addition of new functionalities and services. As such, the system can be implemented in a gateway device in the network. Addition of new services can be achieved during run-time, without the need for compilation. Plugins are dynamically obtained via Web-based service providers when needed, whereby it is ensured that the user will use the version of plugins desired by Web-based service providers.

Abstract: A configurable system brings Internet services, designed for PCs, to consumer electronics (CE) devices, and allows using external services such as Internet Services on CE devices. This reduces the need for input devices such as keyboards and mice, thereby making the configurable system suitable for CE devices. The configurable system relies on the structure of HTML/XML embedded in a Web page for information extraction by scrapping. Since cosmetic changes made to the Web site alter the embedded HTML/XML, the configurable system is updated whenever the Web site changes.

Abstract: A method and system for providing persistent media across Web pages using only browser plug-ins. Media selected through a Web browser can play in a way that is embedded in the content, but the media can continue to play while Web pages transition. The content providers benefit from the flexibility of content use, while the user can enjoy playing media without interruptions. The media can stop persisting when the content provider so chooses.

Abstract: A task access system implements a methodology that facilitates one to explore and execute tasks possible in a network such as a home network environment. The system provides interfaces to access task information and supports several types of functionalities that help in customization of the task information based on the requesting user's state/context. The system supports composing a task request in different ways. It allows a task request to be composed and executed in an incremental fashion or at one-go, thus enabling user interface applications to be flexible. When a user requests to know the tasks available in the network, the system applies security policies and more user context information to customize and prioritize the tasks available for each user and ensures that the user interface application does not display tasks that are not executable by the user.