Abstract: A method and various apparatus are disclosed relating to employing audio/visual recording equipment to make a record of the act of serving official papers on an individual. The act of recording may be concealed and the recorded content may be used commercially or for official purposes.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.

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

Abstract: A remote controller device, according to one embodiment, includes a display screen on which can be displayed a first item of video content as well as video content programming information. The first item of video content is displayed on the remote controller display screen and corresponds to the same video content that simultaneously is being displayed on a screen of a TV that can be controlled by the remote controller device. In response to a user command for selecting a program or video that currently is not being shown on the TV, a second item of video content is displayed on the remote controller display screen while the TV continues to show the first item of video content. In response to another user command, the remote controller device causes the TV to change channels (or otherwise change its reception to another content source) and display the second item of video content.

Abstract: For a graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) showing current video on a portion of the display, a bottom row of category icons is presented on at one end of the row a column of content panes representing content related to a category of a selected one of the icons.

Abstract: Receiving commands from a remote controller and automatically activating display areas for cursor navigation. Content display areas within a display frame respectively correspond to a variety of content items and include a primary display area wherein cursor navigation is activated and secondary display areas wherein cursor navigation is prevented. Remote controller navigational commands, for example, then allow cursor based navigation for the content item currently displayed in the primary display area. A content selection command such as a number key input of the remote controller allows immediate and automatic updating of the primary display area to include a desired content item that is associated to the command (e.g., the particular number).

Abstract: A TV display presents a grid of thumbnails representing content available for display from the Internet and next to the grid, a column of thumbnails representing content that conforms to a user-entered query. The conforming content is located by searching the Internet, from an EPG, from local TV storage, and from the TV's home network. Search result thumbnails are prioritized according to user navigation history.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a digital device comprises a data processing unit displaying a graphic user interface (GUI) and an initial setup module. The initial setup module includes an autodetection module, a contextual help module, and an advertisement module. The autodetection module automatically detects at least one of a network, a television cable, and a plurality of inputs connected to the digital device, and populates a connections list in a second panel including the result of the automatic detection. The contextual help module displays at least one of texts, images and animations in a first panel that help the user understand the steps of the initial setup. The advertisement module displays advertisements in the first panel when the digital device is loading. The digital device may be loading at least when the autodetection module is automatically detecting or when the contextual help module is loading the at least one of texts, images and animations to be displayed.