Display inserts, overlays, and graphical user interfaces for multimedia systems
First Claim
1. A digital media device communicatively coupled to a television display for operation in association with a gateway device at a user premises to provide a dynamic graphical user interface enabling user access to media from at least one media source and application services from the gateway device, comprising:
- a first interface configured to receive a media signal from a media source for presentation via the television display;
a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and a gateway device via a data communications link in the user premises, wherein the gateway device, which is independent from the media source, is configured to provide an application service and application service information from a service provider over a wide area network to the second interlace of the digital media device via the user premises data communications network, wherein the application service information includes notifications of status regarding applications services managed by the gateway device; and
a processor coupled to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the processor is configured to form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information from the gateway device, wherein the composite signal comprises a composite image on the television display representing media obtained via the first interface and application services provided via the gateway device through the second interface, and wherein the processor enables dynamic addition or removal of graphical icons in cooperation with the gateway device and the service provider as determined by subscriptions to at least one of media applications, services applications and media sources connected to the digital media device;
wherein the digital media device provides graphical interaction simultaneously with media and service distribution systems via a dynamic graphical user interface displayed on the television display and input received in the form of a selection signal from a remote control based on the displayed image, wherein graphical interaction via the dynamic graphical user interlace includes access to an arrangement of graphical icons displayed on the television display and represent identification of media applications, service applications and media that is selectable to generate the selection signal when highlighted, and wherein the selection signal is transmitted via the user premises data communications network to the gateway device or to the media source to enable the execution of programming embodied on the digital media device to provide at least one of;
a service application provided from the gateway device through the second interface via a user premises data communication network and media from a media source connected to the digital media device via the first interface.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed digital media device at user premises receives a media signal from a media source for presentation via a television display. The exemplary device also supports bi-directional communications with an application service provider device via user premises data communications network. The provider device, which is independent from the media source, offers an application service from a wide area network via the digital media device and user premises network. The digital media device may form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information, for example, for a composite audio and or video signal for television type presentation to the user. The digital media device may receive a selection signal based on the presentation, for transmission to the application service provider device or to the media source. The media device also offers a GUI presenting a moveable arrangement of icons for selectively accessing application services.
-
Citations
53 Claims
-
1. A digital media device communicatively coupled to a television display for operation in association with a gateway device at a user premises to provide a dynamic graphical user interface enabling user access to media from at least one media source and application services from the gateway device, comprising:
-
a first interface configured to receive a media signal from a media source for presentation via the television display; a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and a gateway device via a data communications link in the user premises, wherein the gateway device, which is independent from the media source, is configured to provide an application service and application service information from a service provider over a wide area network to the second interlace of the digital media device via the user premises data communications network, wherein the application service information includes notifications of status regarding applications services managed by the gateway device; and a processor coupled to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the processor is configured to form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information from the gateway device, wherein the composite signal comprises a composite image on the television display representing media obtained via the first interface and application services provided via the gateway device through the second interface, and wherein the processor enables dynamic addition or removal of graphical icons in cooperation with the gateway device and the service provider as determined by subscriptions to at least one of media applications, services applications and media sources connected to the digital media device; wherein the digital media device provides graphical interaction simultaneously with media and service distribution systems via a dynamic graphical user interface displayed on the television display and input received in the form of a selection signal from a remote control based on the displayed image, wherein graphical interaction via the dynamic graphical user interlace includes access to an arrangement of graphical icons displayed on the television display and represent identification of media applications, service applications and media that is selectable to generate the selection signal when highlighted, and wherein the selection signal is transmitted via the user premises data communications network to the gateway device or to the media source to enable the execution of programming embodied on the digital media device to provide at least one of;
a service application provided from the gateway device through the second interface via a user premises data communication network and media from a media source connected to the digital media device via the first interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
15. A media and service distribution system for a user premises having a media source to supply a media signal and a user premises data communications network, comprising:
-
(a) a gateway device for operation at the user premises, independent of the media source, configured to receive an application service from an application service provider via a wide area network and further configured to provide and manage services to one or more endpoint devices associated with the gateway device; and (b) a digital media device for operation at the user premises in association with the gateway device, communicatively coupled to a television display and programmed to provide a composite image including graphical interaction enabling user access to media, application services and application service information via a dynamic graphical user interface, comprising; a first interface configured to receive the media signal from the media source for presentation via the television display; a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and the gateway device coupled to the user premises data communications network, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide the application service and application service information obtained from the wide area network to the second interface of the digital media device via the user premises data communications network, wherein the application service information includes notifications of status regarding applications services managed by the gateway device; and a processor coupled to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the processor is configured to (i) form the composite signal from the media signal and application service information supplied from the gateway device, wherein the composite signal comprises a composite image including the dynamic graphical user interface rendered on the television display, wherein the digital media device provides graphical interaction with media and service distribution systems via the dynamic graphical user interface displayed on the television display and input received in the form of a selection signal from a remote control based on the displayed image, wherein graphical interaction includes an arrangement of at least one set of graphical icons displayed on the television display that represent identification of at least one of a media application, a service application, and media that is selectable to generate the selection signal when highlighted, and wherein the selection signal is transmitted via the user premises data communications network to the gateway device or to the media source to enable the execution of programming embodied on the digital media device to provide at least one of;
a service application from the gateway device through the digital media device via a user premises data communication network and a selected media application from a media source connected to the digital media device, and(ii) dynamically add or remove graphical icons in cooperation with the gateway device and the service provider as determined by subscriptions to at least one of media applications, services applications and media sources connected to the digital media device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 51, 52, 53)
-
-
34. A digital media device communicatively coupled to an audio-video system for providing a television type output to a viewer at a user premises and collaborating with a gateway device also located at the user premises to provide a dynamic graphical user interface enabling user access to media, application services and application service information, wherein the application service information includes notifications of status regarding applications services managed by the gateway device, the digital media device comprising:
-
(a) a first interface configured to receive a media signal containing audio and video information, from a media source, for television type presentation via the audio-video system; (b) a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and the gateway device via a user premises data communications network, wherein; (i) the second interface is configured to receive information for an application service offered from a wide area network from the gateway device via the user premises data communications network, and (ii) the second interface is configured to send messages related to the application service via the user premises data communications network to the gateway device; (c) a third interface configured to at least provide output to the audio-video system; and (d) a processor coupled to the first, second, and third interfaces, wherein; (i) the processor is configured to form a composite signal containing audio and video information, responsive to the media signal and the received information for the application service, and to supply the composite signal for output via the third interface to the audio-video system for television type presentation; (ii) the processor is configured to respond to a user selection signal based on the television type presentation of the composite signal to cause the second interface to send a message related to a selection for the application service, via the second interface and the user premises data communications network, to the gateway device; and (iii) the processor is configured to dynamically add or remove graphical icons from the dynamic graphical user interface as determined by subscriptions to at least one of media applications, services applications and media; wherein the composite signal includes a graphical user interface displayed on the television display supporting graphical interaction with both media and service distribution systems on the same screen viewing and wherein the graphical user interface further includes an arrangement of at least one set of graphical icons representing media applications, service applications, and media that is selectable via a remote control to generate a user selection signal when highlighted and selected by the remote control. - View Dependent Claims (35)
-
-
36. A media and service distribution system for a user premises having access to a media source to supply a media signal and a user premises data communications network, comprising:
-
(a) a gateway device for operation at the user premises and configured to receive an application service from a remote application service provider via a wide area network and further configured to provide and manage services to one or more endpoint devices including home automation and security equipment associated with the gateway device; and (b) a digital media device communicatively coupled to an audio-video system for providing a television type output to a video screen at a user premises, the digital media device comprising; (1) a first interface configured to receive a media signal containing audio and video information, from a media source, for television type presentation via the audio-video system; (2) a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and the gateway device via a user premises data communications network, wherein; (i) the second interface is configured to receive status information from endpoint devices connected to and managed by the gateway device for display by the digital media device on the video screen and to provide user selection signals from the digital media device to control the endpoint devices via the gateway device, (ii) the second interface is configured to receive information for an application service offered from a remote service application provider via the wide area network and the gateway device via the user premises data communications network, and (iii) the second interface is configured to send messages related to the application service via the user premises data communications network to the gateway device; (c) a third interface configured to at least provide output to the audio-video system the audio-video system; and (d) a processor coupled to the first, second, and third interfaces, wherein; (1) the processor is configured to form a composite signal containing audio and video information responsive to the media signal and the receive information for the application service and to supply the composite signal for output as a dynamic graphical user interface enabling graphical interaction to a user observing the video screen via the third interface to the audio-video system for television type presentation and to provide user selectable access to media and application services and application service information via remote control, wherein graphical interaction includes an arrangement of at least one set of graphical icons displayed on the video screen and represent at least one of a media application, a service application, an endpoint device managed by the gateway and media that is selectable to generate the selection signal when highlighted via the remote control, (2) the processor is configured to respond to a user selection signal generated by remote control based on selection of a graphical icon from the television type presentation of the composite signal on the video screen to cause the second interface to send a message related to a selection for the application service, via the second interface and the user premises data communications network, to the gateway device, and (3) the processor is configured to dynamically add or remove graphical icons for television type presentation by the digital media device as determined by subscriptions to at least one of media applications, services applications and media. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
Specification