Method and system for locating programming on a television

• US 9,237,291 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• 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: Selim, Mohammed
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tien M
• Application Number:
  US13/968,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20140053196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/40, 725/41, 725/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A method, system, and executable instructions are provided that obtain, from a network accessible content provider, electronic program guide (“EPG”) information, the EPG information comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description, display, on a screen of a television, a search panel, the search panel comprising a search term field to receive a search term and at least one previous search term used by the user in a prior search, wherein selection of the at least one previous search term initiates a search of the EPG information using the at least one previous search term as one or more selected search term, perform the search using one or more selected search terms, the one or more selected search terms being received in the search term field or a selected previous search term, obtain a set of search results, the set of search results comprising EPG information corresponding to multiple channels and/or programs, display the search results on the television screen, receive, from a remote control of the user, a program selection from the displayed search results, and change a current channel to a channel broadcasting the program selection.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

accessing, from a network accessible external content source, electronic program guide (“

EPG”

) information, the EPG information comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description;

displaying, by a microprocessor executable application framework and on a screen of a television, a search panel, the search panel comprising a search term field to receive a search term and at least one previous set of search terms used by a user in a prior search, wherein selection of the at least one previous set of search terms initiates a search of the EPG information using the at least one previous set of search terms as a first selected set of search terms;

performing, by a microprocessor executable data service of the television, the search using a second selected set of search terms, the second selected set of search terms being received in the search term field or a selected previous set of search terms, said performing comprising;

receiving, from the application framework, the second selected set of search terms, the second selected set of search terms being received in the search term field or a selected previous set of search terms;

in response, a microprocessor executable content presentation service opening a socket and sending the second selected set of search terms to a microprocessor executable content aggregation service; and

providing, by the microprocessor executable content aggregation service, the second selected set of search terms to plural external content sources, wherein the plural external content sources comprise a Web site other than the EPG content source;

receiving, by the microprocessor executable content aggregation service, local search results, from a local database of the television;

the local search results responsive to the second selected set of search terms;

receiving, by the microprocessor executable content aggregation service, non-local search results responsive to the second selected set of search terms from the plural external content sources, the plural external content sources comprising an Internet site and one or both of cable and satellite content sources other than the Internet site;

the non-local search results comprising EPG information corresponding to multiple channels and/or programs;

providing, by the microprocessor executable content presentation service, the local and non-local search results, over the previously opened socket to one or more users, the providing comprising displaying, by the application framework, the local and non-local search results on the television screen;

receiving, by the application framework and from a remote control of the user, a program selection from the displayed set of local and non-local search results; and

changing, by the application framework, a current channel to a channel broadcasting the program selection, wherein, when the search session is over, the microprocessor executable content presentation service disconnects the socket.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plural external content sources comprise a plurality of an email server, an instant messaging service, a data service other than a Web site, a blogging service, a social media site, and a Web site other than the foregoing plural external content sources.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plural external content sources provide programming formation comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the displayed search results lists multiple programs, wherein each search result comprises an air time of the corresponding program, a name of the corresponding program, and a channel broadcasting the corresponding program, wherein one of the multiple programs is in focus, wherein a thumbnail preview is displayed on a screen of the television with the displayed set of search results, wherein the thumbnail preview corresponds to the in focus program, wherein the thumbnail preview comprises a graphical image and at least one of a program name, series name, episode number, episode name, and sport event name and a plurality of a program description, a program type, a program category, a start-to-finish time, current runtime, and a remaining runtime, and wherein the graphical image is one of a captured frame of the in focus program, a picture associated with the in focus program, and a photograph associated with the in focus program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plural external content sources comprise a social media site, wherein the television publishes, automatically and via a social network service, selected content displayed by a screen of the television to a social network and wherein the published selected content comprises one or more user comments.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the television screen provides a dynamic visualization of aggregated connections and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages from one or more social media sites and wherein the aggregation and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages are depicted graphically on the television screen as a volume of connections to influence the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, in a social volume visualization, selected contents of each linked social network profile of a social contact and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages from or to a linked social media contact and/or current activity of the social media contact is presented in a displayed object on the television screen, the displayed object comprising at least one tile.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a size of the at least one tile is related to one or more of a relative degree of importance of the linked social contact to the user, a type of relationship of user to the linked social contact, a degree of influence of the linked social contact to the user, a geographic proximity of the linked social contact to the user, a degree to which the currently provided media content is of interest both to the user and linked social contact, an assigned ranking of the linked social contact by the user, a type of social network type linking the user with the linked social contact, a current activity of the linked social contact, a current online or offline status of the linked social contact, and a social network grouping type or category to which both the user and linked social contact belong.

9. A television, comprising:

a television screen;

a local computer readable medium;

at least one of an infrared and radio frequency module to receive wirelessly input signals from a remote control of a user;

a microprocessor executable application framework to display on a screen of a television, a search panel, the search panel comprising a search term field to receive a search term and at least one previous set of search terms used by the user in a prior search, wherein selection of the at least one previous set of search terms initiates a search of electronic program guide (“

EPG”

) information using the at least one previous set of search terms as a first selected set of search terms;

a microprocessor executable content aggregation service to access, from a network accessible content source EPG information, the EPG information comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description;

receive a selected set of search terms;

perform the search using a second selected set of search terms, the second selected set of search terms being received in the search term field or a selected previous set of search terms, receive local search results, from a local database of the television, the local search results responsive to the second selected set of search terms; and

receive non-local search results responsive to the second selected set of search terms from multiple external content sources, the multiple external content sources comprising an Internet site and one or both of cable and satellite content sources other than the Internet site;

the non-local search results comprising EPG information corresponding to multiple channels and/or programs, wherein performing the search comprises;

providing, by the microprocessor executable content aggregation service, the second selected set of search terms to multiple external content sources, wherein the multiple external content sources comprise a Web site other than the EPG content source; and

a microprocessor executable content presentation service operable to open a socket to send the second selected set of search terms to the content aggregation service and provide, by the application framework, the local and non-local search results, over the previously opened socket to one or more users, the providing the local and non-local search results comprising displaying, by the application framework, the local and non-local search results on the television screen;

wherein the application framework receives, from a remote control of the user, a program selection from the displayed set of local and non-local search results and changes a current channel to a channel broadcasting the program selection, wherein, when the search session is over, the microprocessor executable content presentation service disconnects the socket.

10. The television of claim 9, wherein the multiple external content sources comprise a plurality of an email server, an instant messaging service, a data service other than a Web site, a blogging service, a social media site, and a Web site other than the foregoing multiple external content sources.

11. The television of claim 9, wherein the multiple external content sources provide programming information comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description and wherein an external set-top box and/or satellite tuner integral to the television changes a current channel to a channel broadcasting the program selection.

12. The television of claim 11, wherein the displayed search results lists multiple programs, wherein each search result comprises an air time of the corresponding program, a name of the corresponding program, and a channel broadcasting the corresponding program, wherein one of the multiple programs is in focus, wherein a thumbnail preview is displayed on a screen of the television with the displayed set of search results, wherein the thumbnail preview corresponds to the in focus program, wherein the thumbnail preview comprises a graphical image and at least one of a program name, series name, episode number, episode name, and sport event name and a plurality of a program description, a program type, a program category, a start-to-finish time, current runtime, and a remaining runtime, and wherein the graphical image is one of a captured frame of the in focus program, a picture associated with the in focus program, and a photograph associated with the in focus program.

13. The television of claim 9, wherein the multiple external content sources comprise a social media site, wherein the television publishes, automatically and via a social network service, selected content displayed by a screen of the television to a social network and wherein the published selected content comprises one or more user comments.

14. The television of claim 13, wherein television screen provides a dynamic visualization of aggregated connections and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages from one or more social media sites and wherein the aggregation and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages are depicted graphically on the television screen as a volume of connections to influence the user.

15. The television of claim 14, wherein, in a social volume visualization, selected contents of each linked social network profile of a social contact and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages from or to a linked social media contact and/or current activity of the social media contact is presented in a displayed object on the television screen, the displayed object comprising at least one tile.

16. The television of claim 15, wherein a size of the at least one tile is related to one or more of a relative degree of importance of the linked social contact to the user, a type of relationship of user to the linked social contact, a degree of influence of the linked social contact to the user, a geographic proximity of the linked social contact to the user, a degree to which the currently provided media content is of interest both to the user and linked social contact, an assigned ranking of the linked social contact by the user, a type of social network type linking the user with the linked social contact, a current activity of the linked social contact, a current online or offline status of the linked social contact, and a social network grouping type or category to which both the user and linked social contact belong.

17. A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising microprocessor executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

one or more instructions to access, from a network accessible content source, electronic program guide (“

EPG”

) information, the EPG information comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description;

one or more instructions to display, on a screen of a television, a search panel, the search panel comprising a search term field to receive a search term and at least one previous set of search terms used by a user in a prior search, wherein selection of the at least one previous set of search terms initiates a search of the EPG information using the at least one previous set of search terms as a first selected set of search terms;

one or more instructions to perform the search using a second selected set of search terms, the second selected set of search terms being received in the search term field or a selected previous set of search terms, said performing comprising;

one or more instructions to open a socket and send the second selected set of search terms to a microprocessor executable content aggregation service; and

one or more instructions to provide the second selected set of search terms to multiple external content sources, wherein multiple external content sources comprise a Web site other than the EPG content source;

one or more instructions to receive local search results, from a local database of the television;

the local search results responsive to the second selected set of search terms;

one or more instructions to receive non-local search results responsive to the second selected set of search terms from the multiple external content sources, the multiple external content sources comprising an Internet site and one or both of cable and satellite content sources other than the Internet site;

the non-local search results comprising EPG information corresponding to multiple channels and/or programs;

one or more instructions to provide the local and non-local search results, over the previously opened socket to one or more users, the providing comprising displaying, by the application framework, the local and non-local search results on the television screen;

one or more instructions to receive, from a remote control of the user, a program selection from the displayed set of search results; and

one or more instructions to change a current channel to a channel broadcasting the program selection, wherein, when the search session is over, the microprocessor executable content presentation service disconnects the socket.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the multiple external content sources comprise a plurality of an email server, an instant messaging service, a data service other than a Web site, a blogging service, a social media site, and a Web site other than the foregoing multiple external content sources.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the multiple external content sources provide programming formation comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the displayed search results lists multiple programs, wherein each search result comprises an air time of the corresponding program, a name of the corresponding program, and a channel broadcasting the corresponding program, wherein one of the multiple programs is in focus, wherein a thumbnail preview is displayed on a screen of the television with the displayed set of search results, wherein the thumbnail preview corresponds to the in focus program, wherein the thumbnail preview comprises a graphical image and at least one of a program name, series name, episode number, episode name, and sport event name and a plurality of a program description, a program type, a program category, a start-to-finish time, current runtime, and a remaining runtime, and wherein the graphical image is one of a captured frame of the in focus program, a picture associated with the in focus program, and a photograph associated with the in focus program.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the multiple external content sources comprise a social media site, wherein the television publishes, automatically and via a social network service, selected content displayed by a screen of the television to a social network and wherein the published selected content comprises one or more user comments.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein television screen provides a dynamic visualization of aggregated connections and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages from one or more social media sites and wherein the aggregation and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages are depicted graphically on the television screen as a volume of connections to influence the user.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein, in a social volume visualization, selected contents of each linked social network profile of a social contact and/or inbound messages and/or outbound messages from or to a linked social media contact and/or current activity of the social media contact is presented in a displayed object on the television screen, the displayed object comprising at least one tile.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein a size of the at least one tile is related to one or more of a relative degree of importance of the linked social contact to the user, a type of relationship of user to the linked social contact, a degree of influence of the linked social contact to the user, a geographic proximity of the linked social contact to the user, a degree to which the currently provided media content is of interest both to the user and linked social contact, an assigned ranking of the linked social contact by the user, a type of social network type linking the user with the linked social contact, a current activity of the linked social contact, a current online or offline status of the linked social contact, and a social network grouping type or category to which both the user and linked social contact belong.