Abstract: A method for controlling a device during content playback commences by receiving at the device at least one user-entered command to instruct the device to take at least one action upon the occurrence of an event during content playback. The device will execute the command to take the at least one action upon occurrence of the event during content playback. The action can include providing a notification to another device, such as in the form of a URL.

Abstract: A method of generating a display of media items includes selecting a set of icons and text items representing a set of search elements. The search elements are selected and arranged by a user on a display of the user interface. A query mapper translates the set of search elements into a set of keywords and initially weights the keywords. The keywords are scaled based on information obtained from a user preference database. A weighted query using the set of keywords and the weightings for the keywords is constructed in the query mapper and sent to a search engine. An ordered list of recommendations is provided to the user for selection of an item to playback.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for searching video scenes. The method includes receiving user inputs specifying one or more titles of one or more respective video contents and an item relating to one or more scenes in the video contents. The method further includes performing a scene-based search using the one or more titles and the item as search criteria to obtain search results corresponding to individual scenes in the video contents associated with the item. The method also includes providing the search results to a user on a display device.

Abstract: A method for controlling a device during content playback commences by receiving at the device at least one user-entered command to instruct the device to take at least one action upon the occurrence of an event during content playback. The device will execute the command to take the at least one action upon occurrence of the event during content playback. The action can include providing a notification to another device, such as in the form of a URL.