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: 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: 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 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: 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.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for the display of an animated mosaic theme utilizing user images or video. In one embodiment, the method may include electing a mosaic template that includes a plurality of tile regions. The method may also include loading a source image from a memory. Furthermore, the method may include displaying a plurality of regions of the source image that correspond to the plurality of tile regions of the selected mosaic template to display a source image mosaic.

Abstract: An ambient, beautiful, entertaining visual experience that can be displayed on a TV requiring little or no user interaction beyond initiation. One theme is a mosaic of panes of; e.g., video from the last-watched channel, with the mosaic covering the screen. Another theme is a clock image with a single moving, fade-in fade-out pane that does not cover the entire screen.

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 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: An Internet TV shows which video clip in an Internet-provided playlist of multiple clips is “up next” for play.