Media center panels for an intelligent television

• US 10,444,848 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multimedia Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Transpacific IP Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Sirpal, Sanjiv, Selim, Mohammed, Shoykher, Mikhail, Visosky, John S., Voth, Terrance D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Joshua D
• Application Number:
  US14/822,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20160050462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00448 horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 : for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 : Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 : Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 : sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 : characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 : Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 : Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 : characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43 : Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 : Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43079 : of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 : Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 : Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 : by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 : Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 : by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 : Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 : using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 : Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 : Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 : for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 : using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 : End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 : for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 : for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85 : Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

An Intelligent TV can organize metadata about media items for display in a variety of contextual panels. The panels may be interactive or informational and may provide recommendations of other media items to the user. The Intelligent TV can receive a request to activate a panel through the reception of signals from a remote control or a user interface. Based on the request, the Intelligent TV can determine the type of panel requested by the user. The layout, information, and content of a panel may depend on the context and content of the media item with focus when a user activates the panel. The Intelligent TV can retrieve metadata for the requested panel and can then transition to the desired panel and provide the retrieved metadata.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that cause a processor to execute a method of displaying a media center panel on a television display, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying on the television display a first display including content, wherein the content includes two or more selectable representations of two or more items of media that are displayed on the television display when selected, each item of media having a media type and the two or more items of media comprising at least two different media types;

receiving focus on a first selectable representation in the first display, wherein a visual indicia indicates the selectable representation receiving focus;

while displaying the content in the first display, receiving a first user input that requests activation of the media center panel, wherein the media center panel has two or more different types of user interfaces;

determining, based on the media type for the item of media represented by the first selectable representation in the first display, the type of media center panel user interface requested;

retrieving, from memory, metadata based on the determined type of media center panel user interface requested;

continuing to display at least some of the content in a first portion of the first display;

continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus;

while continuing to display at least some of the content in the first portion of the first display and continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus, displaying on the television display the determined type of media center panel user interface, wherein the determined type of media center panel displays at least some of the retrieved metadata in the media center panel, wherein the type of media center panel is a user interface displayed in a second portion of the first display that provides information about the first selectable representation receiving focus, wherein the determined type of media center panel user interface comprises two or more selectable tabs to navigate to at least a second type of media center panel indicated by the selectable tab;

while displaying the determined media center panel type, receiving a second user input in the determined type of media center panel user interface that requests activation of the second type of media center panel user interface, wherein the second user input is a directional input that selects a first selectable tab of the two or more selectable tabs in the determined type of media center panel user interface; and

based on the second user input, while continuing to display at least some of the content in the first portion of the first display and continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus, displaying the second type of media center panel in the second portion of the first display, wherein the second type of media center panel replaces the determined type of media center panel user interface, wherein the second type of media center panel provides a second list of media organized in a first organization in the second type of media center panel, and wherein the second type of media center panel provides at least a second selectable tab to display a third list of media in a second organization.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the type of media center panel comprises at least one of:

an information panel;

a favorite panel;

a last viewed panel;

a most viewed panel;

a search panel; and

a new panel.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of:

a thumbnail;

a title;

a description;

a rating; and

a run time.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a media item from one or more media items displayed in the media center panel; and

presenting content associated with the selected media item in a second display.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1,

wherein each of the two or more selectable tabs are associated with one of an information panel, a favorite panel, a last viewed panel, a most viewed panel, a search panel, and a new panel.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a media item from one or more media items displayed in the second media center panel; and

presenting content associated with the selected media item in a third display.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the media center panel includes a list of one or more related media items.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a media item displayed in the list;

determining if the selected media item is stored on a connected storage medium or available to purchase or rent from a content provider;

if the selected media item is stored on the connected storage medium, presenting content associated with the selected media item in a fourth display;

if the selected media item is available to purchase or rent,

connecting to the content provider to purchase or rent the selected media item; and

presenting content associated with the selected media item in the fourth display.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, further including retrieving, from a data subservice, metadata based on the type of media center panel requested.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising after receiving the request to activate the media center panel:

identifying a user associated with the request; and

retrieving metadata associated with the identified user from memory for display by the media center panel.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising after receiving the request:

during a present session, determining whether the request is a first request to activate a media center panel from a current user interface or if the request is not the first request to activate the media center panel from the current user interface, wherein the first request occurs once after turning on a television;

if the request is a first request;

determining the type of media center panel requested;

retrieving, from memory, metadata based on the type of media center panel requested; and

displaying on the television display the retrieved metadata in the media center panel in the first display;

if the request is not the first request;

determining the type of media center panel last displayed in the current user interface;

retrieving, from memory, metadata based on the type of media center panel last displayed in the current user interface; and

displaying on the television display the retrieved metadata in the media center panel in the first display.

12. A television system, comprising:

a display;

a memory;

a processor in communication with the memory and the display, the processor operable to;

display on the television display a first display including content, wherein the content includes two or more selectable representations of two or more items of media that are displayed on the television display when selected, each item of media having a media type and the two or more items of media comprising at least two different media types;

receive focus on a first selectable representation in the first display, wherein a visual indicia indicates the selectable representation receiving focus;

while displaying the content in the first display, receive a first user input that requests activation of a media center panel, wherein the media center panel has two or more different types of user interfaces;

determine, based on the media type for the item of media represented by the first selectable representation in the first display, the type of media center panel requested;

retrieve, from memory, metadata based on the determined type of media center panel user interface requested;

continue to display at least some of the content in a first portion of the first display;

continue to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus;

while continuing to display at least some of the content in the first portion of the first display and continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus, display, on the television display the determined type of media center panel user interface, wherein the determined type of media center panel is a user interface displayed in a second portion of the first display that provides information about the first selectable representation receiving focus, wherein the determined type of media center panel displays at least some of the retrieved metadata in at least a portion of the media center panel, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a thumbnail, a title, a description, a rating, and a run time, and wherein the determined type of media center panel user interface comprises two or more selectable tabs to navigate to at least a second type of media center panel indicated by the selectable tab;

while displaying the determined media center panel type, receiving a second user input in the determined type of media center panel user interface that requests activation of the second type of media center panel user interface, wherein the second user input is a directional input that selects a first selectable tab of the two or more selectable tabs in the determined type of media center panel user interface; and

based on the second user input, while continuing to display at least some of the content in the first portion of the first display and continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus, navigating to the second type of media center panel in the media center panel user interface in the second portion of the first display, wherein user input in the display is limited to options within the second type of media center panel until the second type of media center panel is dismissed, wherein the second type of media center panel replaces the determined type of media center panel user interface, wherein the second type of media center panel provides a second list of media organized in a first organization in the second type of media center panel, and wherein the second type of media center panel provides at least a second selectable tab to display a third list of media in a second organization.

13. The television system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive a selection of a media item from one or more media items displayed in the media center panel; and

present content associated with the selected media item in a second display.

14. The television system of claim 12, wherein the media center panel includes a list of one or more related media items.

15. The television system of claim 12,

wherein each of the two or more selectable tabs are associated with one of an information panel, a favorite panel, a last viewed panel, a most viewed panel, a search panel, and a new panel.

16. The television system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive a selection of a media item from one or more media items displayed in the second media center panel; and

present content associated with the selected media item in a third display.

17. The television system of claim 12, wherein after the second type of media center panel user interface is displayed, the processor is further operable to:

receive a third user input in the user interface that requests dismissal of the second type of media center panel user interface; and

present content associated with the selected media item in the first display.

18. The television system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to:

search a network connected to the television to identify a plurality of media sources;

determine a number of media items associated with the plurality of media sources, wherein a first media item is stored at a first media source and a second media item is stored at a second media source, wherein the first media item and second media item are each one of a group comprising videos, photos, music, social media, recordings, video calls, audio calls, text conversations, books, emails, and letters;

identify metadata associated with the first and second media items media items, wherein first metadata is data about the first media item and second metadata is data about the second media item;

store the metadata in the memory;

receive a request from a user to display the first and second media items; and

display on the display a representation of the first and second media items based on the stored metadata, wherein a first representation is selectable for playing the first media item and a second representation is selectable for playing the second media item.

19. A method for organizing media item metadata on a television, the method comprising:

displaying on the television display a first display including content, wherein the content includes two or more selectable representations of two or more items of media that are displayed on the television display when selected, each item of media having a media type and the two or more items of media comprising at least two different media types;

receiving focus on a first selectable representation in the first display, wherein a visual indicia indicates the selectable representation receiving focus;

while displaying the content in the first display, receiving a first user input that requests activation of a media center panel user interface, wherein the media center panel user interface is one of two or more different types of user interfaces;

determining, based on the media type for the item of media represented by the first selectable representation in the first display, the type of media center panel requested, wherein the two or more types of user interfaces comprise two or more of an information panel, a favorite panel, a last viewed panel, a most viewed panel, a search panel, and a new panel;

retrieving, from memory, metadata based on the determined type of media center panel user interface requested;

continuing to display at least some of the content in a first portion of the first display;

continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation;

while continuing to display at least some of the content in the first portion of the first display and continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus, displaying on the television display the determined type of media center panel user interface, wherein the determined type of media center panel displays at least some of the retrieved metadata in at least a portion of the media center panel, wherein the determined type of media center panel user interface is displayed in a second portion of the first display and provides information about the first selectable representation receiving focus, wherein the determined type of media center panel user interface is an information panel, and wherein the determined type of media center panel user interface comprises two or more selectable tabs to navigate to at least a second type of media center panel, wherein each of the two or more selectable tabs are associated with and indicate one of a favorite panel, a last viewed panel, a most viewed panel, a search panel, and a new panel;

while displaying the determined media center panel type, receiving a second user input in the information panel that requests activation of a favorite panel, wherein the second user input is a directional input that selects a first selectable tab of the two or more selectable tabs in the information panel; and

while continuing to display at least some of the content in the first portion of the first display and continuing to display the visual indicia on the first selectable representation receiving focus, navigating to the favorite panel in the second portion of the first display, wherein the favorite panel obscures the second portion of the first display, wherein the favorite panel replaces the information panel, wherein user input in the display is limited to options within the favorite panel until the favorite panel is dismissed, and wherein the favorite panel provides a second list of media organized in a first organization in the favorite panel, and wherein favorite panel provides at least a second selectable tab to display a third list of media in a second organization in one of a last viewed panel or a most viewed panel.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a media item from one or more media items displayed in the media center panel; and

presenting content associated with the selected media item in a second display.