Abstract: For a graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) showing plural content information panels arranged in a grid, each content panel belongs to a respective category, with content panels of different categories being mixed on the screen. A category icon with an associated color and shape is presented next to each content panel to make it easy for a viewer to understand which category of item the content panels represents. Examples of some categories are favorites, recorded, recommended, frequently viewed, and now playing. Next to each icon, a numeral pertaining to the grid position of the content may also appear to facilitate voice selection of a content panel by number.

Abstract: A program recording reservation system includes a recording apparatus including a recorder for recording broadcast programs; and a remote controller for setting a recording reservation for a broadcast program to be recorded by the recorder of the recording apparatus. There are provided a recording management section for obtaining a remaining recordable capacity, an average recording bit rate, a recording duration of a program, and the recording mode of the program, for computing a necessary recording capacity, for comparing the total sum of the necessary recording capacities of programs with the remaining recordable capacity, and for allowing the predetermined operation to be continued; a display section for displaying a message of an insufficient remaining recordable capacity of the recorder and first, second, and third choices; and an operation section for stopping the predetermined operation, for editing or deleting a program, and for continuing the predetermined operation.

Abstract: A system for initiating scheduled program processing functions such as program display, recording or playback, derives a time clock based on a current time reference indication produced by a particular broadcast source. The derived time clock is used in initiating scheduled processing functions for programs derived from the particular broadcast source and time clocks derived from sources other than the particular broadcast source are disregarded. The system displays a second time clock different to the derived time clock. In addition, the system forms a composite program guide from data from multiple broadcast sources to associate current time reference indications with their corresponding broadcast sources.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and graphical user interfaces for facilitating advertisement placement over video content are provided. Images within a video are partitioned into image regions. Upon partitioning images into image regions, an intrusiveness score is determined for each image region. Based on the intrusiveness scores, optimal placement of an advertisement within the video is determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using design and/or constraint information in selecting, editing, creating, and managing content for multiple operating environments. For example, an image editor feature of a content management system can receive constraints and/or design requirements identifying specific image sizes that are needed for offering a piece of content on one or more operating environments. This information may be used to guide or restrict a user to select appropriate image portions. A selection marquee, sized based on the constraint information, may be positioned on a displayed image to select an image portion to use for that particular image requirement. The marquee size enforces the image constraint. Design and constraint information may also be used to inform selection, editing, and creation of other constraints and other types of assets, including, but not limited to, text and video assets.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a system and method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG). The system displays television schedule information in rows of schedule information items including the time and channel for least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items. An advertisement is selected for display from a plurality of advertisements, and the selected advertisement is displayed between two rows of the schedule information items simultaneously with the displayed television schedule information items.

Abstract: An information monitoring and updating method and system for a transport stream is provided. First, a transport stream is received. The transport stream includes a program specific information (PSI) table, and the PSI table is divided into a plurality of sections. Next, by setting a first filtering parameter of a monitor-section filter, the header of each section of the PSI table is filtered out and is then checked whether to be a latest version or not. When all the section headers of the PSI table are of the latest version, each section of the PSI table is filtered by setting a second filtering parameter of a table-section filter.

Abstract: A menu displaying system and method having an icon for editing image data in an AV (Audio and Video) device, the AV device having a recording medium capable of storing image data and audio data, and which is capable of reproducing image data and audio data. The method comprises steps for displaying icons and additional information corresponding to the image data stored at the recording medium, selecting one of the icons displayed, and reproducing image data corresponding to the selected icon. A corresponding program stored at the AV device having a recording media such as a hard disc drive, is then reproduced upon a menu screen such that image data stored at the AV device can be easily observed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data processing apparatus that sets identification information for identifying each of a plurality of contents based on metadata added to each of the contents. The apparatus includes: title information acquisition means for acquiring title information of each of the contents, the title information concerning a title of the content and being included in the metadata; information extraction means for comparing the title information of each of the contents to extract a part of the title information that is common to all of the contents; and identification information setting means for setting the identification information of each of the contents based on the other part of the title information than the part of the title information that is common to all of the contents.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver and a method for managing reserved recording information are disclosed. If a cell for a reserved recording list is added to an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), a user can easily check, modify, or delete all information associated with the reserved recording on the EPG, such that the user can conveniently manage the reserved recording information on the EPG. A method for managing reserved recording information of a broadcast receiver includes the steps of: a) receiving a reserved recording signal of a specific program; b) storing reserved recording information of the program on the basis of the reserved recording signal; and c) loading the stored reserved recording information, inserting the loaded reserved recording information into a pre-stored Electronic Program Guide (EPG), and creating an EPG-reserved recording list.

Abstract: A display device and method for displaying images are discussed. According to an embodiment, the display device includes at least one first tuner configured to tune to a plurality of different broadcast channels; a display screen configured to display a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows, each of the plurality of sub-windows configured to display images from a different one of the plurality of broadcast channels; an input unit configured to receive a user's input for editing a channel list including the plurality of broadcast channels; and a controller configured to control the at least one first tuner, the input unit and the display screen.

Abstract: A digital television and a channel editing method are provided wherein various channel information is edited efficiently. In the channel edit method of the digital TV, the channel information stored according to a user's request is displayed on a multi-window. If the user selects a channel based on the multi-window, the channel selected by the user is tuned by a tuner and displayed as a moving picture. The user can edit the corresponding channel referring to the multi-window. In another embodiment, the user can edit the set favorite channel(s) separately. The broadcast status of all channels can be recognized almost instantaneously by viewing the multi-window displaying all the broadcast programs of multiple channels.

Abstract: A method and display device are discussed. In an embodiment, there is a method for displaying images using a display device including at least one tuner, a display screen, and a controller for controlling the at least one tuner and the display screen, the method comprising: tuning, by the at least one tuner, to a plurality of different broadcast channels; receiving a user's input indicating if the broadcast channels to be displayed are favorite channels or all available channels; and displaying, by the display screen, a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows according to the received user's input, each of the sub-windows displaying images from a different one of the plurality of broadcast channels according to the tuning by the at least one tuner, the displaying step including selectively displaying either the favorite channels or the all available channels in the sub-windows according to the received user's input.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for accessing services in a television system. In one implementation, a DHCT presents a user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to separate services or applications offered by the cable television system. The user navigates the menu with a remote device and selects a desired service by choosing the selectable link representation corresponding to the desired service or application. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selectable link command into an executable call, and activates the service or application corresponding to the selected link representation from the menu chosen by the user.

Abstract: Techniques for content arrangement with a custom television (TV) channel in a custom TV system for providing a viewer with custom channels of content based on viewer preferences is described. Various examples of channel content ordering criteria upon which arrangement of content selections within a custom TV channel is based are also described. The custom TV system is suitable for execution on a digital video recorder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation.

Abstract: A preference extracting apparatus includes a text information obtaining section that obtains text information having correspondence with a scene being currently played when video contents having text information having correspondence with each scene is played, a keyword extracting section that extracts a keyword for measuring user's preference based on the text information, a presenting section that presents the user a fact that the keyword has been extracted, a preference value defining section that defines a preference value of the user regarding the extracted keyword in accordance with the response by the user to the presentation, a storage section that establishes correspondence between the keyword and the preference value and stores them as the user's preference information in predetermined storage means.

Abstract: A method of presenting a video electronic program guide (EPG), consistent with certain embodiments involves establishing a sorting of television channels, with a selected channel having a highest sorting priority, and other channels being arranged in pairs in a hierarchy below the selected channel; displaying a plurality of windows representing a plurality of the channels in a cross media bar menu arrangement, with the principal focus channel being represented at a window appearing at an intersection of horizontal and vertical bars in the cross media bar menu arrangement and the pairs of channels arranged on either side of the selected channel in the cross media bar menu arrangement; and retrieving sample clips of the channels in focus section of the sort order, and presenting the clips as repeating clips in their respective windows. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method and display device for displaying images are discussed. According to an embodiment, there is a method for displaying images using a display device, the display device including a memory, a display screen, and a controller for controlling the memory and the display screen, the method comprising: storing, in the memory, channel information pertaining to a predetermined number of broadcast channels; and displaying, on the display screen, a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows, each of the plurality of sub-windows configured to display images from a different one of the broadcast channels, wherein a number of the sub-windows displayed on the display screen is variable according to the channel information.

Abstract: Preferred systems and methods are disclosed for navigating among a group or lists of programs, such as in a network terminal (such as a set top box) in a video program distribution system which presents a viewer with an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of program titles wherein the order is determined by a program score used to predict a level of interest for the viewer based in part on extrinsic data provided to the network terminal regarding the viewer's characteristics and attributes. The extrinsic data could be obtained based on the individual viewer's specific attributes, or the demographic attributes of similarly situated viewers. The extrinsic data, as well as intrinsic data is processed to provide an ordered list of program which are more reflective of that viewer's interests that a linear listing of programs. The system and method can apply for other applications involving prioritizing selection information.

Abstract: By detecting the broadcast frequency of a musical composition in radio broadcasting based on on-air information and now-on-air information being broadcast contents information, the broadcast frequency of each musical composition can be displayed on a display 26 without receiving and outputting radio broadcasting. Thereby, the user can recognize that which musical composition is frequently broadcasted. Thus, even if the user does not listen to the musical composition broadcasted in the radio broadcasting, the broadcast frequency of the musical composition can be shown to the above user.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide a first electronic program guide (EPG) screen having a plurality of channel identifiers, program information, and an icon corresponding to increasing scroll speed, and responsive to a user selection corresponding to the icon, enable a user to scroll among the plurality of channel identifiers at the increased scroll speed.

Abstract: Set top boxes (STBs) query a source of electronic program guide (EPG) data to request only the EPG data that it needs. Thus, instead of downloading the entire set of EPG data, the STBs query the source for only a limited amount of EPG data, such as data for the next 2-3 hours of programming. STBs can dynamically request additional EPG data if it needs to do so while a user is perusing the EPG, such as when the user requests additional EPG data that may not have been previously downloaded. Updates and corrections to pieces of EPG data can be efficiently made and sent to the STB, when that EPG data is needed, rather than being sent only during regularly scheduled times along with the entire set of EPG data.

Abstract: A program guide generation apparatus includes: a program-related information acquisition unit that acquires program-related information including information related to a start time of a broadcast program, information related to a broadcast duration length being the length of the duration of the broadcast of the broadcast program; a program display frame size calculation unit that calculates a time-base size obtained from the broadcast duration length and calculates an inside content size; a program guide generation unit that generates layout data of the program display frame in accordance with the time-base size calculated by the program display frame size calculation unit; and a display update unit that, upon a program display frame being selected by an operation input inputted via an input device, changes a size of the selected program display frame to the inside content size.

Abstract: A method for consolidating and comparing recommendations in selecting TV content for viewing by compiling and displaying recommendation and rating values for the same TV content from Sony and a number of other recommendation and ratings providers. Presenting all recommendation values on a single visual display and providing the preferred Sony recommendation in the most prominent display position and font, and allowing the viewer to select the Sony recommendation value to select that content for viewing.

Abstract: In an entertainment service providing on-demand programs over a broadband communications network, a user is allowed to view multiple programs in a continuous manner. The user's enjoyment of the entertainment service is enhanced especially when the on-demand programs are short, e.g., on-demand music videos which typically are a few minutes long. The user is provided with graphical user interfaces for selecting the desired programs to watch, and also allowed to determine the order in which the selected programs are to be played, which may be random.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation.

Abstract: When a user hovers a screen cursor over a TV channel icon on a cross-media bar (XMB) user interface (UI) for a threshold period, enhanced metadata from PSIP/XDS/EPG that pertains to the program currently available on the associated TV channel is presented in a pop-up window on the XMB UI.

Abstract: An advertisement storage and filtering system for selectively identifying targeted advertisements to be stored in the memory of the STB. This storing of the selected advertisements can be accomplished in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the advertisements, in real-time and as they are received at the STB, are processed by the STB and only those advertisements with the appropriate characteristics are stored on the hard drive (HD). This may require some buffering of the advertisements in the STB memory as the STB processes and determines whether or not to store the advertisement. The information required to determine whether or not to store the advertisement could also be sent in advance, e.g., as a data service in an advertisement channel. Alternatively, the STB may store incoming advertisements in a memory temporarily and subsequently determine whether or not to retain the stored advertisements.

Abstract: A controlled device such as a TV is vended with a legacy remote commander (RC) and legacy user interfaces (UI), but is programmed with authentication information to accept downloaded UI updates from an authenticated after market RC with more capabilities than the legacy RC.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for efficiently scheduling incoming information objects so that timely objects from a variety of content classes are scheduled for broadcast. The incoming information objects are preferably received from one or more information sources, and are tagged with attributes that associate each object with one or more classes of information (e.g., sports, news, etc.), and provide a gauge of the timeliness or ‘age’ of the object. The tags can be used to select and broadcast objects from a variety of classes, and to identify the most timely objects at any give time.

Abstract: A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. A highlight bar is responsive to the user's commands and is used to indicate the current menu item that can be selected by the user. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. The background colors of each set of menus remains consistent throughout the user's experience such that the user intuitively knows what menu area he is in through the color cues. The invention provides indicators that tell the user that more information is available in a particular direction for a menu item.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for personalizing an electronic program guide that enables a viewer easily and quickly to access to the subset of information that is personally most relevant.

Abstract: A method for transmitting an electronic service guide (ESG) includes: an ESG center encapsulating ESG information of a mobile television channel as a dynamic content delivery (DCD) content, and sending the encapsulated DCD content to a DCD server; and a mobile television terminal establishing a connection with the DCD server, and obtaining the DCD content encapsulating the ESG information from the DCD server. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a system for transmitting an ESG, an ESG center and a mobile television terminal. By using the technical scheme of the present invention, the fussy process of the conventional method for obtaining the ESG is avoided, and at the same time, the real time of the ESG information is guaranteed, the overall performance of the China mobile multimedia broadcasting (CMMB) mobile television is enhanced, and the user experience is extremely improved.

Abstract: A display processor increases graphics display performance. The display processor includes: an OSD plane having a first OSD area and a second OSD area for storing graphics images; and a Z-order manager, which stores a vertical order assigned to the first OSD area and the second OSD area, and which provides a notification regarding that vertical order. This display processor also includes a CPU, which executes a downloaded application, thereby storing the graphics images in the first OSD area and the second OSD area based on the vertical order notified by the Z-order management unit; and a display which superimposes the graphics images stored in the first OSD area and the second OSD area in accordance with the abovementioned vertical order, and displays the images.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for communicating information regarding generated programming recommendations to a communication device of a user. The user may provide a selection at the communication device of one or more programs corresponding to one or more of the programming recommendations. Timers may be set at an entertainment device based on the user selection(s), thereby facilitating preselection of video and/or audio programming preferences.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for displaying a program guide is proposed. The program guide contains a list of channels and a time scale and the programs which are receivable within a time represented by the time scale are displayed. The programs which are displayed correspond to the channel on which the programs are received. The inventive method further contains the following steps: checking if a specific program is selected, if a program is selected, checking if the time scale includes the start time and the end time of the program, if the time scale does not include the start time or the end time of the program, adapting the time scale such that it includes the start time and the end time of the program, and displaying the program guide using the adapted time scale.

Abstract: A method for providing a GUI for selecting a broadcast program, and an AV apparatus are provided. According to the method for providing a GUI, a user selection regarding the broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected is set according to a user operation that is input in an area containing graphics representing broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected by a user. Therefore, if a user makes errors in selecting broadcast programs, for example, if a user selects two or more broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected, the errors may be corrected more easily, instantly and intuitively.

Abstract: A broadcast receiving apparatus makes it possible to select a desired television program quickly by channel-surfing. The broadcast receiving apparatus outputs information of the received broadcast content as television program information of a channel for which the broadcast content is received, includes an operation detector that detects a channel that selects operation, an operation speed calculator that calculates a channel selecting operation speed from the detected channel selecting operation, a list item count determiner that determines, according to the calculated channel selecting operation speed, the number of channels for which the television program information is displayed, a channel determiner that determines channels to be listed so that the television program information is displayed for the determined number of channels, and a display that outputs the television program information of the determined channels to be listed.

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) presented by a set top box (STB) or other television receiver dynamically changes the electronic guide information provided for one or more programs during presentation. In various embodiments, multiple presentation screens for displaying different types of information related to the program are received with the EPG data and sequentially rendered to the viewer. The multiple presentation screens may be manually or automatically sequenced within the guide to provide additional space for presenting information about one or more programs from within the electronic program guide itself.

Abstract: Method and arrangements for providing personal media content of a first user (A) to a device used by a second user (B). A personal TV channel is created (1:1) for the first user as a program with media content by an IPTV portal (100) in a device used by the first user. The created personal TV channel is published (1:2) and stored (1:3) at an IPTV server (104) serving the first and second users. Then, the personal TV channel is introduced (1:7) as an available channel in an electronic program guide (EPG) provided by the IPTV server to the device (104) of the second user. When the second user selects the personal TV channel from his/her electronic program guide, the program with media content is delivered (1:8) from the IPTV server to the second users device.

Abstract: A method includes, at a customer premise equipment (CPE) device, accessing data descriptive of content available via a network coupled to a network interface of the CPE device. A plurality of rules are analyzed using a forward-inferencing rules engine to determine whether one or more of the rules are satisfied based on the data. The rules include at least one user defined rule and at least one automatically generated rule, where the at least one automatically generated rule is automatically generated based on user history information. The method includes selecting particular content of the content available via the network for presentation via a display device.

Abstract: Techniques are described that permit the flexible introduction of branding elements into or around video rendered by a media player. One or more sets of metadata related to the presentation of branding elements may be collected, and then one or more sets of the metadata may be selected based on business rules when the media player requests a particular piece of content. The selected metadata may indicate what branding element is to be displayed, and how it is to be displayed (e.g., position of element in video rendering window). The media player is then instructed based on the metadata to access and appropriately place the branding elements in or outside of the video rendering window (e.g., overlayed on top of the video content).

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a plurality of display information, with respect to selected display information, displays a content part including a plurality of contents, and displays an index part of the other display information. In a case that an electronic program guide is displayed, as a content part, a program guide including a plurality of program information is displayed, and as an index part, date tubs are displayed. When a search condition is designated, it is determined whether or not program information matching the search condition is present. In the displayed program guide, a display manner of the program information matching the search condition is changed, and with respect to the index part, a display manner of the date tub corresponding to the program information matching the search condition is changed, for example.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display unit which displays contents; and a integrated searching unit which displays a recommended search word related to current contents displayed on the display unit if a user inputs a search signal for executing a searching function, and displays contents related to a selected recommended search word if a user selects one of the recommended search words.

Abstract: Configuration of user interfaces is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving a query from a device. The query is for a user interface (UI) from a client. The UI, when executed by the device, is configured to form a request for execution of a control function by the client. A processing of the request determines whether the execution by the client of the control function is permitted. The processing is performed at a head end by using client state data. The hardware and/or software capabilities of the device to execute the UI are detected. The UI is configured based on the hardware and/or software capabilities of the device.

Abstract: A first signal representing a reduced size video program is transmitted from a central location to a plurality of user terminals in a television signal. A second signal representative of an EPG is generated at one of the user terminals. The first and second signals are linearly combined and applied to a display monitor to display the reduced size video program and the EPG on the screen of the monitor simultaneously in a PIG format. In one embodiment a plurality of reduced size video programs are transmitted in the television signal and one of them is selected for display in a PIG format by marking the program listing in the EPG corresponding to the selected reduced size video program with a cursor.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus, in which program guide information is provided as first information which designates predetermined information and second information to be referred to by the first information. Layout information is provided from within the electronic program guide information, relating to the layout when the electronic program guide information is displayed on a screen.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: A system that maps media content information to an interactive program guide displayed on a screen includes, among other things, a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to display at least one personal video recording display channel in the interactive program guide. The processor is further preferably configured with the logic to display media content instance listings in the personal video recording display channel for corresponding media content instance recordings.