Abstract: Television programs are represented by program interface objects (PIOs) within an interactive television system. The PIOs provide a visual indicator for quick identification of the represented television program, attributes providing information concerning the represented television program, and actions that may be performed on or in connection with the represented television program. The PIOs may be sorted, filtered, and/or managed based on user-provided criteria. The PIOs may also be linked to allow an operation performable in connection to one PIO to be performed in connection with the linked PIO(s).

Abstract: An interactive television ticker is generated is based implicit or explicit user profiling. For tickers based on explicit profiling, a viewer creates a profile that includes information about that viewer (such as gender, income, occupation, address, interests, hobbies, and the like). Based on this explicitly created profile information, only ticker information that matches the profile information is selected and presented in the ticker. In another embodiment, the viewer creates a profile that explicitly selects from among a plurality of available pre-defined tickers. For tickers based on implicit profiling, various viewer behavior and service utilization data can be collected and analyzed to determine the information to scroll in the ticker, without the viewer having to explicitly provide such data. Examples of viewer behavior data can include, but not be limited to, channels watched, programs watched, products purchased, web sites accessed, television and Internet surfing habits, and so forth.

Abstract: Television programs are represented by program interface objects (PIOs) within an interactive television system. The PIOs provide a visual indicator for quick identification of the represented television program, attributes providing information concerning the represented television program, and actions that may be performed on or in connection with the represented television program. The PIOs may be sorted, filtered, and/or managed based on user-provided criteria. The PIOs may be communicated between a variety of electronic devices and software applications.

Abstract: Television programs are represented by program interface objects (PIOs) within an interactive television system. The PIOs provide a visual indicator for quick identification of the represented television program, attributes providing information concerning the represented television program, and actions that may be performed on or in connection with the represented television program. The PIOs may be sorted, filtered, and/or managed based on user-provided criteria. The PIOs may be transmitted between a variety of electronic devices and software applications.

Abstract: Television programs are represented by program interface objects (PIOs) within an interactive television system. The PIOs provide a visual indicator for quick identification of the represented television program, attributes providing information concerning the represented television program, and actions that may be performed on or in connection with the represented television program. The PIOs may be sorted, filtered, and/or managed based on user-provided criteria. The PIOs may also be used to selectively retrieve supplemental information related to a television program, initiate a commercial transaction, establish a chat session, and the like.

Abstract: Television programs are represented by program interface objects (PIOs) within an interactive television system. The PIOs provide at least one visual indicator for quick identification of the represented television program, attributes providing information concerning the represented television program, and actions that may be performed on or in connection with the represented television program. The PIOs may be sorted, filtered, and/or managed based on user-provided criteria. The PIOs may be transmitted between a variety of electronic devices and software applications.