Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods present a graphics based electronic programming guide (EPG) that organizes available content in radial fashion on a display. Which content appears on a screen shot of the EPG may be determined using rating data, user preferences or collaborative filtering. Through collaborative filtering, disclosed embodiments may predict which programs a user may like according to group member ratings. Some disclosed EPGs include a mosaic with graphical indications of an overall rating and graphical indications of which of a plurality of characteristics (e.g., genres) apply to multimedia programs.

Abstract: Viewers of a multimedia program are monitored to detect responses. Time data is stored with the responses and compared to responses from other viewers at the same time in the multimedia program. A viewer type is determined based on the responses. Further multimedia programs may be offered to the viewer based on the viewer type. Transducers and sensors placed within a viewing area may include, without limitation, audio sensors, video sensors, motion sensors, subdermal sensors, and biometric sensors.

Abstract: A method for collaborative sketch annotating of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a first user to create a sketch annotation, enabling the first user to store sketch annotation data related to the sketch annotation, and enabling a second user to access the sketch annotation. The second user may navigate the program using the sketch annotation and/or an indication of the sketch annotation. The first user may create the sketch annotation while viewing the program, for example, and the program may be paused for adding the sketch annotation to one or more paused frames. The sketch annotations may include chronological information indicative of a chronological location of the sketch annotation within the program.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more temporal actions initiated by each of a plurality of users while presenting a media program to said plurality of users, generate one or more symbolic overlays according to the one or more temporal actions collected for each user, and combine the presentation of the media program with a presentation of the one or more symbolic overlays. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for collaborative annotating of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a first user to create a program annotation, enabling the first user to store annotation data, and enabling a second user to access the annotation data. The second user may navigate the program using the annotation and/or view the annotation while viewing the program. The first user may create the annotation while viewing the program, for example, by asserting an annotation button on a remote control device. The annotation may include the frame that was displayed when the user created the annotation, text, audio, an image, or video selected by the viewer. The annotations include chronological information indicative of a chronological location of the annotation within the program. The annotations may include “rating annotations” indicating the author's subjective rating of a portion of the program that is in chronological proximity to the annotation's chronological location.

Abstract: A disclosed service for enabling enhanced navigation of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a user to access annotation data associated with the program. The annotation data is indicative of a plurality of chronologically ordered annotations generated by one or more viewers of the program. The chronological positioning of an annotation within the program is indicative of the portion of the program being watched when the annotation was created. In other words, the annotations occur at locations in the program when they are created. If a first user creates a first annotation at the seven minute mark of a program, a second user, who watches the program while accessing the stored annotation data, will see the first user's annotation at the seven minute mark of the program.

Abstract: Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.

Abstract: A disclosed method for synchronizing different streams of a multimedia content program includes providing the multimedia content program to a first viewer via a first multimedia stream in response to receiving a first request to view the multimedia content program from the first viewer and providing the multimedia content program to a second viewer via a second multimedia stream in response to a second request from the second viewer. The method includes determining a temporal or synchronization difference that indicates a temporal relationship between the first and second streams. A timing of at least one of the streams is altered to reduce the synchronization difference. When the synchronization difference drops below a specified threshold, the multimedia content program may be provided to the first and second viewers via a multimedia stream that is common to the first and second viewers.

Abstract: A voice message processing system shortens received voice messages to reduce the time a user must spend in reviewing the user's voice messages. In some embodiments, a data file associated with a caller is created and updated with words and associated audio files that may be used to replace longer words or phrases in future voice messages from the caller. A user may manually configure preferences to aggressively shorten messages in some embodiments. A speech synthesizer may be employed to replace text in messages when sufficient audio files are not stored to provide sufficient processing of messages. An audible indicator may be played with a revised message to allow a user to play back at least a portion of the original, received message without the substituted portions. Such systems provide a user the opportunity to review messages in a reduced time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing collaborative viewing of a media stream are disclosed. For example, the method establishes a viewing group having a plurality of members, and provides at least one media stream that is accessible by the plurality of members of the viewing group. The method then receives one or more annotations from at least one of the plurality of members of the viewing group relating to the at least one media stream, and saves each of the one or more annotations with a temporal marker. The method then provides the one or more annotations to at least one of the plurality of members of the viewing group.

Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method of providing video content commentary is disclosed that includes sending video content to a first set-top box device at a first time, where the first set-top box device is associated with a first subscriber. The method also includes receiving data corresponding to a comment submitted by the first subscriber. The comment relates to a particular portion of the video content. Further, the method includes sending the video content to a second set-top box device at a second time, where the second set-top box device is associated with a second subscriber. The video content sent to the second set-top box device includes a graphical representation of the comment.

Abstract: A user interest profile, which indicates a portion-varying level of user interest toward a first streaming media item, is determined. The user interest profile is based on a plurality of ratings inputted by a user for a plurality of respective portions of the first streaming media item. A second streaming media item is recommended to the user based on the user interest profile.

Abstract: A computerized method for presenting an alternative advertising data item is disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes receiving a primary advertising data item in a video data stream in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system; replacing a generic data of the primary advertising data item with alternative data to create the alternative advertising data item; and sending the alternative advertising data item to an end user device for presentation of the alternative advertising data item in place of the primary advertising data item upon occurrence of an end user event. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data embedded in a computer readable medium for providing a functional and structural interrelationship between a processor, the data structure and data stored in the data structure.

Abstract: A method, a processing device, and a machine-readable medium are provided for improving speech processing. A transcript associated with the speech processing may be displayed to a user with a first visual indication of words having a confidence level within a first predetermined confidence range. An error correction facility may be provided for the user to correct errors in the displayed transcript. Error correction information, collected from use of the error correction facility, may be provided to a speech processing module to improve speech processing accuracy.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided. A textual transcript of a recorded voice communication is received. Text from a non-voice communication is received. Information about the textual transcript of the recorded voice communication and the text from the non-voice communication is provided such that a user can manage a group of communications, based at least in part on the textual transcript of the recorded voice communication and the text from the non-voice communication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus can scroll a displayed hierarchical data structure. A hierarchical data structure can include a first parent node and a plurality of child nodes of the parent node, the plurality of subordinate nodes including a first child node and a second child node. The first parent node can be displayed in a first position of a display area. The first child node can be displayed in a second position of the display area, the second position being adjacent the first position. The second child node can be displayed in the display area. A first instruction to scroll at least the second child node in a direction toward the first position can be received, and the second child node can be displayed in the second position.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to scroll a plurality of data. A first portion of a first data can be displayed within a first display area, and a first portion of a second data can be displayed within a second display area. A cell scrolling instruction may be received, and a cell scrolling display value may be determined based at least in part on the received cell scrolling instruction. A second portion of the first data can be selected based at least in part on the cell scrolling display value, and a second portion of the second data can be selected based at least in part on the cell scrolling display value. The second portion of the first data can be displayed within the first display area, and the second portion of the second data can be displayed within the second display area.

Abstract: An arrangement that is particularly suitable for Internet, where a user receives a number of channels concurrently. The channel that is of current interest to the user is sent with a given bandwidth, while other channels (surfing channels) are sent at reduced bandwidth. The user's receiver buffers all of the received channels, and plays the channel of current interest in full fidelity. When a user wishes to surf, the buffered surfing channels are made available and are played to the user in accordance with the user's requests. When the user selects another channel to be of current interest, the user's terminal sends out a request for the new channel to be sent to the user at the given bandwidth, and thence provides the user with the newly selected channel at full fidelity.