Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080263590 | Method and apparatus for displaying entertainment system data upon selection of a video data display - A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection. A first area of the first window displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection. The GUI includes a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection. A second area of the second window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection. Upon selection by a user of the respective window, entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window is displayed. | 10-23-2008 |
20080263597 | Method and apparatus for displaying entertainment system data upon selection of a video data display - A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection. A first area of the first window displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection. The GUI includes a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection. A second area of the second window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection. Upon selection by a user of the respective window, entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window is displayed. | 10-23-2008 |
20090254935 | Method and apparatus for collecting and providing viewer feedback to a broadcast - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast, and the rating indicates a likelihood of interest in the broadcast for potential subsequent viewers. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rating is provided from the server system to an entertainment system, and the broadcast can be selected for viewing at an entertainment system. In one embodiment, the viewer feedback is received at the entertainment system in response to a feedback questionnaire. | 10-08-2009 |
20090313092 | Method and Apparatus for Collecting and Providing Viewer Feedback to a Broadcast - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast, and the rating indicates a likelihood of interest in the broadcast for potential subsequent viewers. Access to the rating is then provided so that predications can be made as to whether or not the broadcast will be of interest to potential subsequent viewers. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rating is provided from the server system to an entertainment system, and the broadcast can be selected for viewing at an entertainment system based on the rating generated by the server system. In one embodiment, the viewer feedback is received at the entertainment system in response to a feedback questionnaire. | 12-17-2009 |
20100095334 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURCHASING UPGRADED MEDIA FEATURES FOR PROGRAMMING TRANSMISSIONS - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for purchasing media features for programming transmissions. A selection is sent to a server system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission. The server system automatically coordinates purchasing the media feature from a programming transmission source and providing the media feature from the programming transmission source. In one embodiment, an entertainment system includes a user interface from which a viewer selects an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission, wherein the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature is provided to the entertainment system. | 04-15-2010 |
20100223645 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANNEL SURFING THROUGH MULTIPLE SOURCES BASED ON USER-DEFINABLE PREFERENCES - A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user. | 09-02-2010 |
20110125782 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMMING - A method and apparatus for providing personalized supplemental programming is provided. In one embodiment, the invention can include searching text for a keyword, the text associated with primary programming to be provided to an element of an entertainment system, accessing a database upon finding the keyword, retrieving content associated with the keyword from the database, combining the retrieved content with the primary programming to generate combined programming, and providing the combined programming to the element of the entertainment system. | 05-26-2011 |
20110182563 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUBSIDIARY DATA SYNCHRONOUS TO PRIMARY CONTENT DATA - Primary content data is received from an external source and subsidiary data is obtained which corresponds to the primary content data, wherein the subsidiary data is independent of the primary content data. The subsidiary data is provided synchronous to the primary content data. | 07-28-2011 |
20120102524 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM DATA UPON SELECTION OF A VIDEO DATA DISPLAY - A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection. A first area of the first window displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection. The GUI includes a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection. A second area of the second window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection. Upon selection by a user of the respective window, entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window is displayed. | 04-26-2012 |
20120291069 | Method and Apparatus for Providing Personalized Supplemental Programming - A method and apparatus for providing personalized supplemental programming is provided. In one embodiment, the invention can include searching text for a keyword, the text associated with primary programming to be provided to an element of an entertainment system, accessing a database upon finding the keyword, retrieving content associated with the keyword from the database, combining the retrieved content with the primary programming to generate combined programming, and providing the combined programming to the element of the entertainment system. | 11-15-2012 |
20130133003 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A VERSION OF AN ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM BASED ON USER PREFERENCES - A method and apparatus for selecting a version of an entertainment program based on user preference includes receiving entertainment programming input, identifying multiple available versions of an entertainment program, identifying, for each of the multiple versions, a set of descriptive information regarding the respective version, accessing user preferences, and selecting one of the multiple versions for display based on a comparison of the descriptive information to the user preferences. | 05-23-2013 |
20140040927 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ORDERING ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING TRANSMISSION SOURCES - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for purchasing media features for programming transmissions. A selection is sent to a server system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission. The server system automatically coordinates purchasing the media feature from a programming transmission source and providing the media feature from the programming transmission source. In one embodiment, an entertainment system includes a user interface from which a viewer selects an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission, wherein the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature is provided to the entertainment system. | 02-06-2014 |
20140068672 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM DATA UPON SELECTION OF A VIDEO DATA DISPLAY - A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection. A first area of the first window displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection. The GUI includes a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection. A second area of the second window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection. Upon selection by a user of the respective window, entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window is displayed. | 03-06-2014 |
20140075480 | Method and Apparatus for Channel Surfing Through Multiple Sources Based on User-Definable Preferences - A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user. | 03-13-2014 |
20140137174 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURCHASING UPGRADED MEDIA FEATURES FOR PROGRAMMING TRANSMISSIONS - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for purchasing media features for programming transmissions. A selection is sent to a server system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission. The server system automatically coordinates purchasing the media feature from a programming transmission source and providing the media feature from the programming transmission source. In one embodiment, an entertainment system includes a user interface from which a viewer selects an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission, wherein the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature is provided to the entertainment system. | 05-15-2014 |