Abstract: System and methods are provided for configuring operation of a remote control by a display device. In one embodiment a method includes detecting user selection of an input of the display device and determining a command for the remote control based on the user selection of the input, wherein the command identifies a configuration for the remote control. The method further includes transmitting the command to the remote control, by the display device, for configuration of the remote control, wherein the configuration specifies operation of the remote control with one or more devices associated with the input.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting image data to include a graphic element. In one embodiment a method includes acquiring image data from a display buffer of a device, analyzing the image data to identify active and passive regions of the image data and ranking passive regions to determine a confidence measure for each passive region. The method may further include modifying the image data for display on the device to include a graphic element, wherein the graphic element is presented in a passive region based on the ranking.

Abstract: Characters representing each of numerals zero (0) through nine (9) and a decimal point are assigned to one of four directional navigation keys. Each character is further assigned to a different number of presses of the respective directional navigation key. User navigation, using at least one of the four directional navigation keys, to a numeric input field is detected during a directional navigation input mode. A navigation key input processing mode is changed to a numeric input mode responsive to this detection. At least one press of one of the four directional navigational keys is detected and the character assigned to the detected at least one press is selected. The selected assigned character is sent to the television receiver device to display as input within the numeric input field. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI), for an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV includes an expanded information panel containing information pertaining to a viewer-selected subject and juxtaposed with the expanded panel, plural subject panels associated with subject matter related to the subject in the expanded panel. A viewer scroll command causes the subject panels to translate across the AVDD but the expanded panel is pinned in place and thus does not scroll. Selection of a subject panel causes new information related to the subject panel to appear in the expanded panel and new subject panels are presented showing information of a different subject genre than the original subject panels.

Abstract: For a graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) showing plural content information panels arranged in a grid, the loading time during which the content information panels are retrieved and presented on the AVDD is used to display, in the area in which the loading information panel will be, a text description of the category of the panel content. The text also explains the meaning of an icon that is displayed next to the content information panel after the loading is completed.

Abstract: A television user interface allows viewer commands to be input using a remote control, voice input, and hand movements in free space, as well as facial recognition using a camera integrated into the television. All three input modes can be active simultaneously, and so a hierarchy of modes is established to resolve conflicting commands received more or less simultaneously in different modes.

Abstract: An initial vertical drag command input to a GUI of a display having a grid of content information panels causes metadata related to one of the content information panels to be displayed, typically overlaid on an information panel adjacent the selected panel. A subsequent vertical drag command causes enhanced metadata to be displayed in a larger window.

Abstract: When a viewer is automatically recognized by an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV using, e.g., a camera, a dialog message is presented on the AVDD indicating that the viewer has been recognized and allowing the viewer to customize AVDD settings by selecting to implement the new viewer's profile, or by combining the new viewer profile with the currently-active profile to create a shared profile, or by ignoring the new viewer altogether.

Abstract: A viewer of an audio video display device (AVDD) and transition from a nine panel graphical user interface (GUI) showing a summary degree of metadata to a six panel GUI showing a higher degree of metadata using a horizontal motion.

Abstract: In a grid based GUI system that scrolls, a pane in the grid showing a decimated view of a currently selected video does not scroll when the other panels in the grid scroll. In this way the viewer can always see the current video while navigating to other panels in the grid representing respective video content.

Abstract: A long vertical drag command input to a GUI of a display having a grid of content information panels causes an enlarged preview pane to be superimposed on the GUI of the content information panel on which the screen cursor was positioned when the command is received. A long vertical drag command in the opposite direction collapses the preview pane.

Abstract: For a graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) showing plural content information panels arranged in a grid, each content panel belongs to a respective category, with content panels of different categories being mixed on the screen. A category icon with an associated color and shape is presented next to each content panel to make it easy for a viewer to understand which category of item the content panels represents. Examples of some categories are favorites, recorded, recommended, frequently viewed, and now playing. Next to each icon, a numeral pertaining to the grid position of the content may also appear to facilitate voice selection of a content panel by number.

Abstract: A television, or other device with television tuner, can be controlled to directly tune to a specific channel name, such as a broadcaster's station name, by using EPG metadata to provide a correlation between a channel number and channel name.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV includes content panels which can be selected for searching for additional information related to the content underlying the content panels. A history of previous searches is maintained in memory “stacked” notionally to the left or right of the current display so that a viewer can easily review previous search results using a simple scroll command.

Abstract: Settings for an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV are established by combining settings from multiple individual viewer profiles when viewers of the respective individual profiles are recognized through image recognition as viewing the AVDD.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) on an audio video display device (AVDD) can be operated in at least first and second input modes. When the first input mode is active the GUI has a first behavior and/or appearance whereas when the second input mode is active the GUI has a second behavior and/or appearance.

Abstract: For a graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) showing plural content information panels arranged in a grid, each content panel belongs to a respective category, with content panels of different categories being mixed on the screen. A category icon with an associated color and shape is presented next to each content panel to make it easy for a viewer to understand which category of item the content panels represents. Examples of some categories are favorites, recorded, recommended, frequently viewed, and now playing. Next to each icon, a numeral pertaining to the grid position of the content may also appear to facilitate voice selection of a content panel by number. The numerals are enlarged when voice command input is enabled.

Abstract: An example television Widget movement method involves receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, when in Display mode, display Widget representations on a display; receiving a command that establishes one of the plurality of displayed Widget programs as the Widget program that is currently in focus; and receiving a command that places the Widget program currently in focus in Move Mode. The Widget can be moved about the display while in Move Mode, where when the Widget is in Move Mode, the Widget representation is responsive to navigation commands to move about the display. Such movement is animated using a 3 dimensional graphics engine and accompanied by an audio sound effect. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating an access code. In one embodiment, a method may include detecting user activation of a directional input of a device, wherein the user activation relates to a plurality of directional input commands, and determining an access code based on the user activation of the directional input, the access code including a plurality of code elements wherein each code element of the access code is associated with a direction of the directional input based on the user activation. The method may further include outputting code elements of the access code.