Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first computing device having a controller to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to a user profile and that conform to operating characteristics of the first computing device, and transmit to a second computing device operational information associated with the avatar for reproducing at least in part the avatar at said second computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system that generates an avatar having a first behavior determined by a user profile of a user. An avatar profile is received from a content source for modifying the avatar according to a second behavior. The avatar is modified to generate an adaptive avatar based on the avatar profile. The adaptive avatar has, at least in part, the second behavior determined by the avatar profile, while retaining, at least in part, the first behavior determined by the user profile of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and processes that incorporate teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying an action initiated by equipment of a first user of a number of users, during a presentation of a media program, and generating, responsive to the identifying of the action, an overlay comprising a symbol indicative of the action and situated in relation to the presentation of the media program. The overlay is presented, together with the media program, at a display of a second user of the plurality of users, wherein the symbol is selectable by the equipment of the second user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Suggestions for content are based on a habit of a user. As the user requests content, content selections are monitored for habitual selections according to channels, titles, or genres. A programming guide may then be customized based on the habitual selections.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to offer for sale an avatar engine that generates a visual representation of an interactive avatar capable of engaging in a verbal communication exchange by way of an audio system of a computing device from which the avatar engine is adapted to operate, receive a purchase request from a communication device, transmit to the communication device a usage policy and a copy of the avatar engine responsive to determining that the purchase request involves a request for a reproduction of at least a portion of the avatar engine, and enable the communication device to access services of the avatar engine responsive to determining that the purchase request involves the request for services of the avatar engine. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more user-generated remarks from each of a plurality of computing devices where the one or more user-generated remarks are temporally associated with media content in the form of a gaming session presented at the plurality of computing devices and present the one or more user-generated remarks as an overlay combined with the gaming session as a presentation to at least a set among the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, where the overlay can include a timeline corresponding to the presentation of the media content and receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes, where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes. Additional steps can include receiving a tag generated at a first set top box during presentation of the media content, presenting the tag while the media content is presented, correlating the tag to a portion of the media content timeline and analyzing metadata associated with the portion of the timeline that is tagged to determine a first marketing parameter. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for processing packages is provided. A package is received at an intermediate shipping site and a delivery authorization status corresponding to the package is determined based on a threshold of some characteristic of the package. The package is delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is acceptable and the package is not delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is not acceptable. The acceptability of the package for delivery is determined by a response that an addressee provides to an electronic message notification of package availability. The electronic response preferably contains some authenticating information regarding the package.

Abstract: A method for processing packages is provided. A package is received at an intermediate shipping site and a delivery authorization status corresponding to the package is determined based on a threshold of some characteristic of the package. The package is delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is acceptable and the package is not delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is not acceptable. The acceptability of the package for delivery is determined by a response that an addressee provides to an electronic message notification of package availability. The electronic response preferably contains some authenticating information regarding the package.

Abstract: A method for processing packages is provided. A package is received at an intermediate shipping site and a delivery authorization status corresponding to the package is determined based on a threshold of some characteristic of the package. The package is delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is acceptable and the package is not delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is not acceptable. The acceptability of the package for delivery is determined by a response that an addressee provides to an electronic message notification of package availability. The electronic response preferably contains some authenticating information regarding the package.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to present an overlay that is combined with a presentation of media content, collect one or more user-generated remarks from each of a plurality of computing devices where the one or more user-generated remarks are temporally associated with media content presented at the plurality of computing devices according to the overlay, monitor one or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices, and selectively filter the one or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system that generates an avatar having a first behavior determined by a user profile of a user. An avatar profile is received from a content source for modifying the avatar according to a second behavior. The avatar is modified to generate an adaptive avatar based on the avatar profile. The adaptive avatar has, at least in part, the second behavior determined by the avatar profile, while retaining, at least in part, the first behavior determined by the user profile of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first computing device having a controller to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to a user profile and that conform to operating characteristics of the first computing device, and transmit to a second computing device operational information associated with the avatar for reproducing at least in part the avatar at said second computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, where the overlay can include a timeline corresponding to the presentation of the media content and receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes, where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes. Additional steps can include receiving a tag generated at a first set top box during presentation of the media content, presenting the tag while the media content is presented, correlating the tag to a portion of the media content timeline and analyzing metadata associated with the portion of the timeline that is tagged to determine a first marketing parameter. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system that generates an avatar having a first behavior determined by a user profile of a user. An avatar profile is received from a content source for modifying the avatar according to a second behavior. The avatar is modified to generate an adaptive avatar based on the avatar profile. The adaptive avatar has, at least in part, the second behavior determined by the avatar profile, while retaining, at least in part, the first behavior determined by the user profile of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, where the overlay can include a timeline corresponding to the presentation of the media content and receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes, where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes. Additional steps can include receiving a tag generated at a first set top box during presentation of the media content, presenting the tag while the media content is presented, correlating the tag to a portion of the media content timeline and analyzing metadata associated with the portion of the timeline that is tagged to determine a first marketing parameter. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, the steps of transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes, determining a first advertisement based on the first comment, and transmitting the first advertisement to the first set top box for presentation with the overlay and the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more user-generated comments from each of a plurality of computing devices, detect a correlation in the one or more user-generated comments collected from the plurality of computing devices, and establish a social network between the plurality of computing devices according to the detected correlation. The one or more user-generated comments can be temporally associated with media content presented at the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and processes that incorporate teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying an action initiated by equipment of a first user of a number of users, during a presentation of a media program, and generating, responsive to the identifying of the action, an overlay comprising a symbol indicative of the action and situated in relation to the presentation of the media program. The overlay is presented, together with the media program, at a display of a second user of the plurality of users, wherein the symbol is selectable by the equipment of the second user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products recognize a gesture to control a device or appliance. A camera generates an image of a user performing the gesture. An image comparison is then performed between the image to images of recognized gestures. When the image matches a recognized gesture, a corresponding controller operation is performed.