Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090320062 | RETAIL OUTLET TV FEATURE DISPLAY SYSTEM - An automatic feature demonstration mode for TV products that can be used in retail stores. TV features that otherwise would be overlooked by customers or misrepresented by the sales staff are advertised on the TV itself. The system maybe used to convey information beyond TV features. | 12-24-2009 |
20100103316 | User identification and prioritization using bluetooth - In certain implementations, a method of automatically changing an attribute defining operation of a television system involves determining that a plurality of short range radio frequency (RF) transceiver devices have entered RF range of the television system, the television system having a short range RF transceiver compatible with that of the short range RF transceiver device; binding the short range RF transceiver devices to the television set to establish an identity (ID) for the short range RF transceiver devices; determining a priority of each of the plurality of identified short range RF devices; at the television system, looking up a functional attribute associated with the identity having the highest priority; and setting the television parameter according to an attribute associated with a short range RF device having highest priority. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 04-29-2010 |
20120116877 | UNIFIED ONSCREEN ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM FOR CE DEVICES - A client-server architecture allows consumer electronics (CE) devices to obtain advertisements, including TV and network content recommendations, via a unified application programming interface (API). A gateway server between online advertisement providers and CE devices prioritizes and personalizes the advertisements and recommendations for a requesting CE device. This architecture scales over time and evolves more functionality without requiring CE device software updates. | 05-10-2012 |
20120117503 | CE DEVICE FOR HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A CE device employs user interfaces to allow a user to define energy management rules within the user's premises, visualize energy use in the home and in neighbor's homes for comparison and competition in saving energy, and receive tailored advertisements for appliances that are more energy efficient than what the user currently owns. | 05-10-2012 |
20120159549 | SONY EPG AND METADATA SOLUTION WITH MULTIPLE SERVICE SOURCES - A system, method, and computer program product are provided for combining electronic program guide data and metadata input from multiple service providers to a common gateway server that connects to consumer electronics devices. A unified interface enables users of a wide variety of consumer electronics devices to easily manage broadcast contents and network services, typically in real-time. In addition to traditional TV EPG applications such as on-screen menus and program descriptions, channel/program searching, and timer and DVR functions, the embodiments provide enhanced metadata features through an Internet connection, including media explorers, streaming content, recommendations and customized advertisements and related searches, and social networking applications. The server manages metadata format translation, and merges content to transparently switch between content providers. | 06-21-2012 |
20130066918 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC LIBRARY - System and methods are provided for an electronic library service. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for content of the electronic library service, the request identifying an account number for the electronic library service and identification number of a device, and authenticating the request based on an account number for the electronic library service and identification number of a device. The method may further include determining that content associated with the request is available for access by the device based on one or more restriction limitations, and providing access to the content based on one or more restriction limitations, wherein content of the electronic library is accessible to a device associated with the account number for a limited period of time. | 03-14-2013 |
20130091522 | METHOD TO DISPLAY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCREEN - The present invention is directed toward a system and method for simultaneously displaying one or more social media content items together with the display of programming content, such as a television show. Specifically, the present invention provides a system and method by which contemporary and/or time-shifted social media commentary, pertaining to broadcast programming content, may be displayed concurrently with the displayed programming content. | 04-11-2013 |
20140351850 | RETAIL OUTLET TV FEATURE DISPLAY SYSTEM - An automatic feature demonstration mode for TV products that can be used in retail stores. TV features that otherwise would be overlooked by customers or misrepresented by the sales staff are advertised on the TV itself. The system may be used to convey information beyond TV features. | 11-27-2014 |