Abstract: A method for rendering application user interfaces on a television screen executes at a computer system coupled with the television screen. The computer system includes one or more processors and memory storing a plurality of applications configured for execution by the one or more processors. The method provides a user interface of a first application of the plurality of applications for display on the television screen. The method receives from a personal user device a user interface of a second application. The personal user device is distinct from the computer system and the user interface of the second application is provided by one or more programs executing on the personal user device. The method concurrently displays on the television screen the user interface of the first application and the user interface of the second application.

Abstract: A method for presenting home screen shortcuts is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of shortcuts to a plurality of applications of at least two different types available for execution on a television device and presenting those shortcuts on a home screen user interface displayed on a TV screen or a second screen device. The method also includes responding to a user selection of one of the shortcuts by causing execution of the application associated with the shortcut, including in response to selection of the TV channel shortcut, executing a set of actions are executed in association with the selected TV channel shortcut. The set of actions at least includes a first action to launch a TV player application associated with the TV channel shortcut and a second action of tuning to the TV channel corresponding to the TV channel shortcut.

Abstract: A system and method for standardizing commands used for various application behaviors in an application regardless of the environment of the application. A client intercepts a user input standard command, retrieves a corresponding native command from a standardizing server and inputs the native command in the application.

Abstract: A system and method for standardizing commands used for various application behaviors in an application regardless of the environment of the application. A client intercepts a user input standard command, retrieves a corresponding native command from a standardizing server and inputs the native command in the application.

Abstract: A method for presenting home screen shortcuts is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of shortcuts to a plurality of applications of at least two different types available for execution on a television device and presenting those shortcuts on a unified home screen user interface displayed on a TV screen or a second screen device. The method also includes responding to a user selection of one of the shortcuts by causing execution of the application associated with the shortcut, including in some instances effecting an intent (e.g., causing the associated application to achieve a state associated with the shortcut's intent). The different application types include applications, TV channels, websites, games, email, and widgets, such as a search widget.

Abstract: Systems and methods for changing TV operating mode in accordance with number of viewers present. In some implementations, a method includes: obtaining a total number of viewers of a connected TV, the connected TV having a plurality of operating modes and the total number is one or more; in accordance with a determination that the total number of viewers is within a first predefined range of a plurality of predefined ranges; placing or maintaining the connected TV in or into a first operating mode unrelated to media content being displayed on the connected TV; and in accordance with a determination that the total number of viewers is within a second predefined range of the plurality of predefined ranges: placing or maintaining the connected TV in or into a second operating mode unrelated to the media content, the second operating mode is different from the first operating mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for changing TV operating mode in accordance with number of viewers present. In some implementations, a method includes: obtaining a total number of viewers of a connected TV, the connected TV having a plurality of operating modes and the total number is one or more; in accordance with a determination that the total number of viewers is within a first predefined range of a plurality of predefined ranges; placing or maintaining the connected TV in or into a first operating mode unrelated to media content being displayed on the connected TV; and in accordance with a determination that the total number of viewers is within a second predefined range of the plurality of predefined ranges: placing or maintaining the connected TV in or into a second operating mode unrelated to the media content, the second operating mode is different from the first operating mode.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for presenting a video stream is presented. An identifier of a video stream is received from a user of the client device, the video stream being accessible though a media device coupled to at least one input port of the client device. A device-agnostic request is sent to a media device service executing on the client device to acquire the media device and to obtain the video stream from the media device, the media device service being configured to map the device-agnostic request to a device-specific request for the media device. In response to the device-agnostic request, the video stream is received through the at least one input port. A user interface is generated including the video stream. The user interface including the video stream is presented on an output device coupled to the client device.

Abstract: A system and method for standardizing commands used for various application behaviors in an application regardless of the environment of the application. A client intercepts a user input standard command, retrieves a corresponding native command from a standardizing server and inputs the native command in the application.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing data feeds for video programs is presented. A request is received from a client device of a user to obtain a data feed for a set of video programs in a plurality of video programs, where the set of video programs includes video programs having at least one common attribute. In response to receiving the request, a data feed for the set of video programs is generated using metadata for the plurality of video programs and a profile for the user, where a respective data item in the data feed corresponds to a respective video program in the set of video programs and includes at least one link to at least one content source from which the respective video program is available. The data feed is then provided to the client device.

Abstract: A system and method for standardizing commands used for various application behaviors in an application regardless of the environment of the application. A client intercepts a user input standard command, retrieves a corresponding native command from a standardizing server and inputs the native command in the application.

Abstract: A method for rendering application user interfaces on a television screen executes at a computer system coupled with the television screen. The computer system includes one or more processors and memory storing a plurality of applications configured for execution by the one or more processors. The method provides a user interface of a first application of the plurality of applications for display on the television screen. The method receives from a personal user device a user interface of a second application. The personal user device is distinct from the computer system and the user interface of the second application is provided by one or more programs executing on the personal user device. The method concurrently displays on the television screen the user interface of the first application and the user interface of the second application.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first activity with content associated with a first content type selected from the group consisting of television programming, online content, on-device application, search queries, information views, and other content types described using a predefined format, wherein the predefined format includes an action specification and a content specification; logging the first activity in accordance with the predefined format; performing a second activity with content associated with a second content type selected from the group consisting of television programming, online content, on-device applications, search queries, information view's, and other content types described using the predefined format, the second content type being distinct from the first content type; and logging the second activity in accordance with the predefined format.

Abstract: A method for rendering application user interfaces includes providing a user interface of a first application for display on a television screen, and, while providing the user interface of the first application for display on the television screen, providing a user interface of a second application for concurrent display with the user interface of the first application, in a predefined user interface region, on the television screen. The method also includes, while providing the user interface of the second application, receiving a request for a user interface of a third application. The method further includes, in response to receiving the request for the user interface of the third application, providing a user interface of the third application, instead of the user interface of the second application, for concurrent display with the user interface of the first application, in the predefined user interface region, on the television screen.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for obtaining video streams is presented. A device-agnostic request to obtain a video stream is received from an application executing on a client device, the device-agnostic request including a universal resource identifier (URI) for the video stream, the URI including a type of the video stream and at least one of a name of the video stream and device-specific parameters for the video stream. The URI is analyzed to identify a media device from which the video stream is available. A device-specific library for the media device is identified. A device-specific request corresponding to the device-agnostic request is executed to obtain the video stream, the device-specific request including the URI. The video stream is received from the media device responsive to executing the device-specific request. The video stream is provided to the application.

Abstract: Systems and techniques by which a single electronic device can implement a variety of customized control interfaces. The control interfaces can be tailored to specific operations performed the device which is controlled. In one aspect, computer-implemented methods for controlling a web-based application include providing, from a server, a web page that includes a web-based application and a uniform resource identifier specifying a control interface for the web-based application and transmitting the control interface specified by the uniform resource identifier to a client for use in controlling the one or more functions of the web-based application. The control interface is configured to permit a user to control one or more functions of the web-based application from a mobile device.

Abstract: A method for presenting home screen shortcuts is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of shortcuts to a plurality of applications of at least two different types available for execution on a television device and presenting those shortcuts on a unified home screen user interface displayed on a TV screen or a second screen device. The method also includes responding to a user selection of one of the shortcuts by causing execution of the application associated with the shortcut, including in some instances effecting an intent (e.g., causing the associated application to achieve a state associated with the shortcut's intent). The different application types include applications, TV channels, websites, games, email, and widgets, such as a search widget.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method that includes identifying metadata related to television programming being presented on a display device. The method further includes extracting one or more keywords from the metadata. The method further includes generating multiple search suggestions based on the keywords and first search results based on one or more of the search suggestions. The method further includes presenting the search suggestions and the first search results together on the display device.

Abstract: Systems and techniques by which a single electronic device can implement a variety of customized control interfaces. The control interfaces can be tailored to specific operations performed the device which is controlled. In one aspect, computer-implemented methods for controlling a web-based application include providing, from a server, a web page that includes a web-based application and a uniform resource identifier specifying a control interface for the web-based application and transmitting the control interface specified by the uniform resource identifier to a client for use in controlling the one or more functions of the web-based application. The control interface is configured to permit a user to control one or more functions of the web-based application from a mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method for standardizing commands used for various application behaviors in an application regardless of the environment of the application. A client intercepts a user input standard command, retrieves a corresponding native command from a standardizing server and inputs the native command in the application.