Abstract: A method and apparatus for parental control of purchases by a child of the parent are described including transmitting a notification to the parent that the child of the parent is attempting to make an online purchase, receiving verification that the parent is authorized to approve the online purchase, transmitting a screen to the parent's receiving device for the parent's approval or disapproval of the purchase and receiving the parent's approval or disapproval. Also described are a method and apparatus for a parent to pre-select online media content purchases of a child of the parent including receiving a request to access a parental control system, receiving verification that the parent is authorized to approve the online purchase, generating and rendering a program guide including media content titles and media content ratings and receiving parental selection of media content approved for purchase by the child.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for evolving an avatar. The method includes accessing a user profile for a user from a memory device. The method further includes generating an avatar for the user based upon the user profile. The method also includes changing the user profile based upon actions of the user relating to at least one of experience based progression, content type progression, frequency based progression, and competition based progression. The method additionally includes evolving an attribute of the avatar based upon a change in the user profile.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for recommending media to a user. The method includes providing on a display screen a plurality of rating options for a user to select from among. Each of the plurality of rating options corresponds to a respective grouping between at least two related media items to be rated by the user. The method further includes receiving a rating for the respective grouping between the at least two related media items corresponding to a user selected one of the plurality of rating options. The method also includes generating media recommendations for the user responsive to the rating. The method additionally includes providing the media recommendations to the user on the display screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for parental control of purchases by a child of the parent are described including transmitting a notification to the parent that the child of the parent is attempting to make an online purchase, receiving verification that the parent is authorized to approve the online purchase, transmitting a screen to the parent's receiving device for the parent's approval or disapproval of the purchase and receiving the parent's approval or disapproval. Also described are a method and apparatus for a parent to pre-select online media content purchases of a child of the parent including receiving a request to access a parental control system, receiving verification that the parent is authorized to approve the online purchase, generating and rendering a program guide including media content titles and media content ratings and receiving parental selection of media content approved for purchase by the child.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method and system are for providing a permissive auxiliary information user interface. The method includes receiving a user selection of one or more types of media asset auxiliary information that a user is interested in viewing during a trick mode operation invoked while playing back a media asset. The method further includes storing the user selection in a memory device. The method also includes providing, to the user on a display screen, media asset auxiliary information of the types indicated by the user selection, when the trick mode operation is invoked while playing back the media asset.