Abstract: A server provides a channel for previewing multimedia and a plurality of full screen multimedia channels. A client displays plural preview screens representing available multimedia channels from the server. Selection of a particular one of the plural preview screens at the client signals the server of the desired channel. The server then initiates streaming of the desired channel to the client. The server tracks the address of the user, the name of the stream and when the clip was started. After the client is finished viewing the stream another TCP connection is made to the server to unsubscribe. The server can therefore keep track of who has viewed which streams, for how long and at what time of the day. This method of tracking could also be used to track preview viewing.

Abstract: Enhanced television services are delivered and presented on a network appliance without the need for an enhanced-content enabled television set or set-top box. The enhanced content is decoupled from the television signal (or radio signal), allowing for the presentation of the enhanced content alone on a stand-alone network appliance. The network appliance may be a handheld computing device (e.g. a “palm” computing device), a tablette, a remote control with a display or a digital cellular phone handset with a display. The network appliance is enabled for Internet or Intranet access and is also provided with an infrared transmitter so as to operate as a remote control for a television (or radio) having an infrared beam receiver. Through use of the network appliance, the viewer would be presented with the same enhanced content on the network appliance as would be presented to the viewer if an enhanced content enabled television or set-top box (or radio) were being used.