An intelligent electronic appliance preferably includes a user interface, data input and/or output port, and an intelligent processor. A preferred embodiment comprises a set top box for interacting with broadband media streams, with an adaptive user interface, content-based media processing and/or media metadata processing, and telecommunications integration. An adaptive user interface models the user, by observation, feedback, and/or explicit input, and presents a user interface and/or executes functions based on the user model. A content-based media processing system analyzes media content, for example audio and video, to understand the content, for example to generate content-descriptive metadata. A media metadata processing system operates on locally or remotely generated metadata to process the media in accordance with the metadata, which may be, for example, an electronic program guide, MPEG 7 data, and/or automatically generated format. A set top box preferably includes digital trick play effects, and incorporated digital rights management features.

Intelligent electronic appliance system and method

Methods and systems for processing touch inputs are disclosed. The invention in one respect includes reading data from a multipoint sensing device such as a multipoint touch screen where the data pertains to touch input with respect to the multipoint sensing device, and identifying at least one multipoint gesture based on the data from the multipoint sensing device.

Gestures for touch sensitive input devices

The present invention is an improvement over previous Electronic Programming Guides (“EPG”) in that it provides, among other things: Improved viewer interaction capabilities with the EPG; improved viewer control of video recording of future-scheduled programming; improved features to the EPG display and navigation; parental control of the EPG display; improved television program information access by the viewer; improved opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer; improved product information access by the viewer; creation of a viewer's profile; utilization of viewer profile information to customize various aspects of the EPG; and utilization of viewer profile information to provide customized presentation of advertising to the viewer.

Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interface with television programs, videos, advertising information and program scheduling information

Disclosed herein is a multi-functional hand-held device capable of configuring user inputs based on how the device is to be used. Preferably, the multifunctional hand-held device has at most only a few physical buttons, keys, or switches so that its display size can be substantially increased. The multifunctional hand-held device also incorporates a variety of input mechanisms, including touch sensitive screens, touch sensitive housings, display actuators, audio input, etc. The device also incorporates a user-configurable GUI for each of the multiple functions of the devices.

Multi-functional hand-held device

An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc.

Interactive television program guide with remote access

A method is provided for modifying an image. The method comprises displaying an image, the image comprising a portion of an object; and determining if an edge of the object is in a location within the portion. The method further comprises detecting movement, in a member direction, of an operating member with respect to the edge. The method still further comprises moving, if the edge is not in the location, the object in an object direction corresponding to the detected movement; and modifying, if the edge is in the location, the image in response to the detected movement, the modified image comprising the edge in the location.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program

A display panel disposed on the front surface of a device shows information related to an operation input. A sensor for detecting a touch of an object is disposed on the back surface of the device. A mark representing the touch position is displayed at a position directly above the position of a touch detected by the sensor on the display panel. When the mark representing the touch position and the display position of the information are overlapped, an input process corresponding to the overlapped information is performed.

Input method and input device

Computer generated image for a display panel or screen

The invention provides an electrical program guide system and method by which a desired program can be rapidly selected directly from among a large number of programs with certainty. A program selection screen as a multi-screen is formed from nine reduced screens reduced to one third in the horizontal and vertical directions from screens of programs broadcast on different broadcasting channels. A plurality of such program selection screens are transmitted to a reception side. On the reception side, the program selection screens are stored into a virtual frame memory so that reduced screens of them may make a single virtual screen. From among the reduced screens of the virtual frame, desired 3×3 reduced screens are read out and displayed on a multi-screen of full motion. A viewer finds and directly selects a desired program from within the 3×3 reduced screens of full motion displayed as the multi-screen. The array of the reduced screens can be automatically changed, based on program enjoyment histories, so that a reduced screen of a program enjoyed frequently by the viewer is disposed at a position which facilitates selection by the viewer such as the upper left position of the screen. The array may be customized such that it is changed to an arbitrary array based on a desire of the viewer.

Electrical program guide system and method

A display method including the steps of displaying document data and/or content data including a plurality of objects, controlling an arrangement position of a translucent focus area on a display unit, where the focus area is provided to make the object enter a selection state, detecting a position on the display unit, where a user contacts the display unit at the position, and moving the focus area as the contact position is moved when the detected arrangement position of the focus area is approximately equivalent to the detected contact position is provided.

Tatsushi Nashida

Papers

Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program

Input method and input device

Computer generated image for a display panel or screen

Electrical program guide system and method

Display apparatus, display method, and program