Abstract: A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed high definition content and Internet subscriber services. Such secure HDMI-USB interface also enables a selection of proprietary application modules to be attached. Downloadable user interface templates, much like XML style sheets, are rendered to a user interface displayed on the screen. These are associated with corresponding thumbnails and URI's that allow a user to surf through lists and catalogs of materials, and then to play them in the appropriate formats and provide the machine with a customized controller. A remote commander is simplified, yet expanded to control all the attached devices through interactions with the user interface.

Abstract: A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed high definition content and Internet subscriber services. Such secure HDMI-USB interface also enables a selection of proprietary application modules to be attached. Downloadable user interface templates, much like XML style sheets, are rendered to a user interface displayed on the screen. These are associated with corresponding thumbnails and URI's that allow a user to surf through lists and catalogs of materials, and then to play them in the appropriate formats and provide the machine with a customized controller. A remote commander is simplified, yet expanded to control all the attached devices through interactions with the user interface.

Abstract: A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed high definition content and Internet subscriber services. Such secure HDMI-USB interface also enables a selection of proprietary application modules to be attached. Downloadable user interface templates, much like XML style sheets, are rendered to a user interface displayed on the screen. These are associated with corresponding thumbnails and URI's that allow a user to surf through lists and catalogs of materials, and then to play them in the appropriate formats and provide the machine with a customized controller. A remote commander is simplified, yet expanded to control all the attached devices through interactions with the user interface.

Abstract: Enhanced seek functionality is provided during media content playback when a user desires to move forward or backward to a different playback position within a digital media presentation. In response to a user seek command, the current seek position may be moved forward or backward at a seek speed that is a predefined multiple of the standard playback speed. After a predetermined number of subsequent seek commands has been provided, any seek command provided thereafter may cause the current seek position to move by a predetermined percentage of the total duration of the digital media presentation. In one embodiment, additional seek commands thereafter may similarly result in the current seek position again being moved forward or backward by the predetermined percentage of the total duration of the digital media presentation.

Abstract: A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed high definition content and Internet subscriber services. Such secure HDMI-USB interface also enables a selection of proprietary application modules to be attached. Downloadable user interface templates, much like XML style sheets, are rendered to a user interface displayed on the screen. These are associated with corresponding thumbnails and URI's that allow a user to surf through lists and catalogs of materials, and then to play them in the appropriate formats and provide the machine with a customized controller. A remote commander is simplified, yet expanded to control all the attached devices through interactions with the user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a visual indicator of magnitude is provided. The method comprises displaying a visual indicator in association with a network space. A magnitude associated with the network space is then measured. The visual indicator is changed according to the measured magnitude.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for copying digital content, such as videos and feature-length movies, that introduce a degree of degradation into each successive copy generation. The introduced degradation can take many different forms, from noise that emulates the noise introduced by analog copying, to reductions in the numbers of colors used. The methods and apparatus can also comprise transcoding the digital content.

Abstract: Consumer devices and methods for operating consumer devices are disclosed. A consumer electronic device may include user identification unit incorporated into a control module of the device. A user of a consumer electronics device is uniquely identified using a metric that is contingent upon the user using the device normally. Content that depends on the user's identity can be provided to or from the device. The user may be uniquely identified using a biometric sensor to provide the metric. The content provided to or from the device or other performance characteristics of the device may be tailored to the particular user based on the user's identity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a hierarchical content guide. In one implementation, a method of selecting a scheduled content item includes: selecting a first level content item from a first list of content items; selecting a second level content item from a second list of content items, wherein said second list corresponds to said selected first level content item and said selected second level content item indicates scheduled content data having a scheduled time; accessing said content data at said scheduled time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses for automatically synchronizing a user profile across multiple devices includes detecting an electronic device; matching the electronic device with a corresponding user profile; and automatically updating the electronic device with content from the corresponding user profile.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a user profile or preference. In one implementation, a controller for controlling a multimedia processing apparatus includes: a user/profile selector configured to enable a user to select an identifier that identifies a user or profile/preference to the multimedia processing apparatus so that one or more parameters of the multimedia processing apparatus and associated displays can be set according to the profile/preference associated with said identifier; and a transmitter configured to transmit the selected identifier to the multimedia processing apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses for automatically selecting a user profile includes detecting a peripheral device in communication with an electronic device; and automatically presenting a user profile associated with the peripheral device on the electronic device based on matching a device identifier associated with the electronic device with a device identifier associated with the user profile.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively exchanging photo data in an instant messaging environment includes a first device coupled to an electronic network for utilizing a first messaging program and a first messaging display to create text messages for performing messaging procedures. A photo data source such as a digital camera is configured to capture photo data when the first device is instructed to transmit the text messages by activating a “send message” icon on the first messaging display. The first messaging program automatically creates and transmits photo messages that include the photo data and corresponding text messages. A second device coupled to the electronic network may then utilize a second messaging program to receive and display the text messages and photo data from the transmitted photo messages upon a second messaging display. The second device may also similarly create and send reciprocal photo messages to the first device during the foregoing messaging procedures.

Abstract: A contents display control system includes: a media type determination unit configured to determine a media type of selected media contents; a contents display parameter adjustment unit operating to generate at least one adjustment value for at least one display parameter of the selected media contents; and a contents display processor configured to control display of the selected media contents in the background when graphical user interface is present in the foreground, the contents display processor controlling the display by appropriately adjusting the at least one display parameter of the selected media contents with the at least one adjustment value for the determined media type.

Abstract: A method of scrolling in a graphical user interface includes: receiving a command to scroll a plurality of contents icons displayed in the graphical user interface; and retrieving an appropriate number of additional contents icons from a contents icon database to provide a scrolled display in the graphical user interface, wherein the contents icon database is divided into a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries including at least data for a contents icon of the plurality of contents icons and a link to a contents file, each entry of the database is configured to be fixed in size so that the data for the contents icon can be quickly accessed, and the contents icon can be scrolled in the graphical user interface at a relatively high speed.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently implementing processed data structures in an electronic network may include a device server and a peer-to-peer network of electronics devices which may be divided into first-tier devices and second tier devices. The device server may be configured to access raw data from a data source, and may then divide the raw data into unprocessed data segments. Each of the first-tier devices may download one of the unprocessed data segments from the device server, and may then perform a distributed processing procedure to convert the unprocessed data segments into processed data segments according to certain pre-defined processing rules. The first-tier devices and the second-tier devices may then performing a data reassembly procedure through the peer-to-peer network to thereby populate respective processed data structures on each of the electronic devices with complete sets of the processed data segments.

Abstract: A plurality of identification miniature images for to-be-replayed objects is displayed simultaneously on a manipulating-function menu screen with taking one of the to-be-replayed objects corresponding to one of the identification miniature images in a predetermined position as a to-be-replayed object of interest. There are displayed a first group of a plurality of manipulating-function items for the respective to-be-replayed objects and a second group of a plurality of manipulating-function items related to a plurality of to-be-replayed objects. While any one of the manipulating-function items included in the first group is being selected, the identification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest is displayed for differentiation from the other identification miniature images.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing a streamlined photo distribution procedure may include a photo data source that provides photo data to a source device in an electronic network. A source photo manager of the source device may be utilized to designate one or more message targets for receiving the photo data from the source device. A source mail program may access the photo data to automatically create a photo message that includes the photo data and photo identifier means to request special handling of the photo data. The source mail program may then automatically transmit the photo message over the electronic network to be downloaded by a target mail program of a target device corresponding to the foregoing designated message target. The target mail program may automatically detect the photo identifier means in the photo message, and may responsively provide the photo data to a target photo manager of the target device for automatic storage into a target photo album of the target device.