Abstract: An ancillary device is used to access content related to a sensory work during the playback of the sensory work. The ancillary device receives information related to the playback of a sensory work on a primary device, prepares content information related to the sensory work using the received information, presents the prepared content information using the ancillary device.

Abstract: A method for and system for communicating using a virtual world are disclosed. In the method an avatar may be associated with a source of an email. An email may be generated within the virtual world and one or more images of an avatar may be associated with the email. The email may be sent to a real device and the one or more images may be presented at a destination of the email. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to generate a virtual world; associate an avatar with a source of an email; generate an email within the virtual world; associate one or more images of an avatar with the email; send the email to a real device; and present the one or more images at a destination of the email.

Abstract: A system and method for routing communications among real and virtual communication devices are disclosed. The system includes one or more processors configured to generate a virtual world. The one or more processors may be configured to generate a virtual communication device and implement a configurable router adapted to facilitate routing of a communication among one or more real communication devices and the virtual communication device. A user of the virtual world may be associated with a virtual communication device and one or more real communication devices. A routing preference for reception of communications targeted to the user is implemented among the virtual communication device and the one or more real communication devices.

Abstract: A method for user interaction with a three-dimensional virtual world is disclosed. The virtual world comprises one or more public spaces and one or more private spaces. A user may be represented in the virtual world by an avatar. The user can manipulate the avatar via a user interface. According to the method a custom gesture may be generated for the avatar. The gesture may be associated with one or more user interface signals.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a virtual world are disclosed. The virtual world may comprise a simulated public space configured to facilitate interaction among a plurality of users and one or more private spaces. Each private space may be associated with a particular user of the plurality of users. A particular user's interactions with the virtual world may be represented by one or more corresponding actions of an avatar. Communication may take place between the virtual world and a real communication device. The real communication device may be configured to communicate with other real communication devices via one or more communication channels that are independent of the virtual world.

Abstract: A method for user interaction with a three-dimensional virtual world is disclosed. The virtual world may comprise one or more public spaces and one or more private spaces. A user may be represented in the virtual world by an avatar. The user may manipulate the avatar via a user interface. An emotional state of the user may be detected via the interface. The user's emotional state may be mapped to one or more features of the avatar that are perceptible by other users. Thus, other users may perceive the user's emotional state through perception of the avatar.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a virtual world are disclosed. The virtual world may comprise a simulated public space configured to facilitate interaction among a plurality of users and one or more private spaces. Each private space may be associated with a particular user of the plurality of users. A particular user's interactions with the virtual world may be represented by one or more corresponding actions of an avatar. A communication device may be simulated in the virtual world. Communication may take place between the simulated communication device and a real communication device. The virtual world may be generated by one or more processors configured to simulate a communication device in the virtual world and communicate between the simulated communication device and a real communication device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are shown which may enable users to create custom playback schemes for sensory works, including television shows, where a community of users may share thin time-based metadata edit control structures that are processed to enable playback devices to reproduce reference programming material according to the edits or cuts made any user.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for in-game assistance. In one aspect, gestures of a guide at a second terminal are presented to a player of a game at a first terminal. The guide may receive incentives for assisting the player, and may also provide verbal commands and game commands to the first terminal in response to observing gestures of the player.

Abstract: A system and method relating to receiving manipulation data from a controller and a displaying a graphic representing the manipulation and the controller on a first display and transmitting the manipulation data for substantially-simultaneous on a second display remote from the first display.

Abstract: A system and method relating to, in one aspect, detecting the position or orientation of a device, in the physical domain, during a processor-implemented game, and displaying the game substantially simultaneously with displaying a graphic representing the position or orientation of the device.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods, apparatus and systems for enabling interactive interfacing with a computer game program are provided. One method provides an input device to accept and transmit user input to the computer game program. The input device enables activation of one or more gearing parameters associated with interactive components of the computer game program. In another operation, the method identifies an interactive component of the computer game program. The interactive component used to receive the transmitted user input to enable the interactive interfacing. In yet another operation the method detects user input to apply one of the gearing parameters to the interactive component if so dictated by the transmitted user input. The applied gearing parameter used to define a scaling ratio between the user input and a rate at which the interactive component reacts during execution of the computer game program.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for improving and enhancing verbal and non-verbal communications during or in conjunction with game play. The system improves and enhances verbal and non-verbal communication by modifying avatars representing real-world players based on real-world reactions to gameplay events. The effect can take on many forms, such as video pixel patches that can be integrated into specific portions of an avatar. The video pixel patches are preferably applied in such a way that they integrate into the moving video frames, and therefore, the integration appears to be substantially done in real-time.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods for interactively modifying a video image are provided. The video image can be transmitted between a first user and a second user using a computer program that is executed on at least one computer in a computer network. Additionally, the first user and the second user interact through respective computing systems that at least partially execute the computer program. A video capture system is provided that is interfaced with the computer program that can be used to capture real-time video of the first user. The method continues by identifying components of the video image of the first user that can be modified using real-time effects in the captured real-time video. In another operation, the method identifies controller input from either the first user or the second user. The controller input detected by the computing system is identified to determine which of the identified components of the first user will be modified.

Abstract: Respective video feeds are provided to at least two viewers using a common display. The display is controlled to alternately display an image from a first video feed and an image from a second video feed. A first shuttered filter is synchronized to the display such that the first filter is shuttered when the second video feed image is displayed, and a second shuttered filter is synchronized to the display such that the second filter is shuttered when the first video feed image is displayed. Only the first video feed image is provided to a first viewer using the first shuttered filter, and only the second video feed image is provided to a second viewer using the second shuttered filter.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an apparatus for use with a system. The apparatus may include a controller having an ability to have its movements detected and tracked by the system, and a structure attached to the controller that is graspable by a user and which allows the user to move the controller around. The controller may be moved around in the air with the structure.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for capturing audio/visual related information and selecting advertising based on the information.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling lighting conditions in a user environment whereby bandwidth consumption may be managed is disclosed. An inner frame area and an outer frame area adjust certain lighting conditions in the user environment in response to certain lighting conditions detected by the image capture device as those conditions affect bandwidth consumption during transmission of the image capture data. The frame areas may be dynamically controlled as to affect the brightness and/or color of the particular user environment.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for capturing audio/visual related information and selecting advertising based on the information.

Abstract: Computer implemented method for interactively animating an avatar in response to real world input are provided. The avatar can be transmitted between a first user and a second user using a computer program that is executed on at least one computer in a computer network. Additionally, the first user and the second user each interact using a respective computing system that is at least partially executing the computer program. The method is initiated by identifying components of the avatar representing the first user that can be modified using real-time effects. The method continues by the computing system identifying controller input from either the first user or the second user. The identification of the controller input is used to determine which of the identified components of the avatar representing the first user will be modified. In response to the identified controller input the real-time effects are applied to the identified components of the avatar that represent the first user.