Abstract: A favorites GUI for a TV includes a carousel-type display of icons representing user-defined favorites that is overlaid on the current background video of the TV, with the center-most icon being the “current” icon and being enlarged relative to the other icons. Live video appears in icons representing TV channels. Other icons can represent, e.g., favorite photo/music files, favorite games from a game console, favorite content from an ambient player, etc.

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 request to display a portion of a full-screen content overlay options menu of a multiple media player device is detected by the multiple media player device that represents less than all of the full-screen content overlay options menu. A media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined A current setting status of an available adjustment of the multiple media player device associated with the portion of the full-screen content overlay options menu based upon the determined media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined. A first graphical menu pane of the full-screen content overlay options menu, including the current setting status of the available adjustment, is displayed over full-screen content on a display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A media type currently associated with a multiple media player device is determined by the multiple media player device. A current setting status associated with each of a set of adjustable options associated with the determined media type is determined A set of option icons that each represents one of the set of adjustable options is identified. Each identified option icon is paired with the associated current setting status of each adjustable option. A menuing input is detected. An overlay user interface menu, including only one option icon and the associated current setting status pair, is displayed over full-screen content on a display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A television Widget movement method involves providing access to a plurality of Widget programs to a television Widget host processor; receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, wherein the Widget programs, when in a 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 the Widget program that is currently in focus; and receiving a command from the remote controller that places the Widget program that is currently in focus in a Move Mode, wherein the Widget representation can be moved about the display while in Move Mode. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: Intuitive user interfaces are disclosed for a TV showing a favorites channel pane that can transition to a channel history pane, etc. in response to remote control commands.

Abstract: A modular remote control consistent with certain implementations has a first end module having a sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a mating sliding connector, wherein one of the sliding connector and the mating sliding connector is designated male and the other is designated female, respectively. A last end module has a mating sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a sliding connector. At least one intermediate module has both a sliding connector and a mating sliding connector, wherein, the modular remote control is assembled with the first end module mated by the sliding connection with the at least one intermediate module, and the last end module is mated to the at least one intermediate module by the sliding connection to produce a linear configuration of modules.

Abstract: A method of operation of a remote controller consistent with certain implementations involves determining a spatial orientation of the remote controller based upon an output signal from a position detector; and setting a voice mode of operation of the remote controller as active or inactive based upon the spatial orientation of the remote controller as determined by the position detector, where the voice mode determines whether or not the remote controller will accept and process voice information from a microphone. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

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: A system for remotely controlling one or more components coupled to a display or TV. Remote application software is provided on the TV for communicating a first signal between remote control and the processor via a receiver coupled to the processor, the remote application software comprises a graphical user interface for output on the, wherein the graphical user interface allows a user to assign the buttons on the remote keypad first to one or more commands that operate one or more external devices coupled to the display.

Abstract: First, a user may select an illumination color for a bezel framing a display of an electronics device. Second, the illumination of a digital picture frame may be established based on sensed motion nearby and/or ambient light. Third, the color of a user interface presented on a display can be established to match the color of the room in which the display is disposed, as indicated by colorimetry from a camera.

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: A television Widget movement method involves providing access to a plurality of Widget programs to a television Widget host processor; receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, wherein the Widget programs, when in a 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 the Widget program that is currently in focus; and receiving a command from the remote controller that places the Widget program that is currently in focus in a Move Mode, wherein the Widget representation can be moved about the display while in Move Mode. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

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 method for providing content related to a multimedia program on a display device, including: monitoring a currently viewed multimedia program by a user on a display device; retrieving content related to the currently viewed multimedia program from a content source based on information obtained from said currently viewed multimedia program; and displaying at least a portion of the content on a flexible user interface on the display device upon request by the user; in which the user is able to adjust a size and position of the flexible user interface on the display device.

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 modular remote control consistent with certain implementations has a first end module having a sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a mating sliding connector, wherein one of the sliding connector and the mating sliding connector is designated male and the other is designated female, respectively. A last end module has a mating sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a sliding connector. At least one intermediate module has both a sliding connector and a mating sliding connector, wherein, the modular remote control is assembled with the first end module mated by the sliding connection with the at least one intermediate module, and the last end module is mated to the at least one intermediate module by the sliding connection to produce a linear configuration of modules.

Abstract: Images of space including objects in front of a TV that are generated by a camera on the TV are superimposed as reflections on user interface elements such as but not limited to menu icons presented on the TV screen.

Abstract: Techniques for animation of alphanumeric inputs include generating an animated graphical representation of an alphanumeric input and combining the animated graphical representation with content. The combined animated graphical representation and the content are then output on a monitor.