Abstract: A technique is provided for identifying user accessible content items, organizing the content items by characteristics of the content items and providing a graphical representation of the content items to the user based on the characteristics. A path may be traced within the graph and a playlist of the content items may be provided based on a proximity of the representations of each of the content items to the traced path. The path may have a starting point and content items positioned closer along the path to the starting point may be provided higher up on the playlist than content items positioned farther along the path from the starting point. The content items may be rendered in an order determined by the order of the content items provided on the playlist.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing privacy during video or other communication across a network. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed wherein digital video camera is coupled to a network via a processing server. The digital video camera generates one or more digital images that are processed by the processing server, including identifying and obstructing any artifacts (e.g., faces, hands, etc.) in the images. The processing also optionally includes the tracking of the artifacts in the images as they move within the image, as well as search for new faces that may enter the field of view. In another embodiment of the invention, video conferencing is performed over a network between two or more users. Images are generated by digital video cameras and processed by video servers. During the videoconference, one or more users may select a video (and audio) muting mode during which any artifacts of interest in the images (or portions thereof) are identified and obscured.