Intel Corporation

Christopher D Williams

Anthony Alexander Shah-Nazaroff

Jean M Goldschmidt Iki

Kenneth Alan Moore

David N Hackson

Kathleen Lane

Gregory D Buscheck

E Michael Watts

Michael Lee Harvey

Jean M Goldschmidt-Iki

Jean M Goldschmidt Iti

Jean M Somlo

Jean M Iki

Earl Michael Watts

The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for purchasing media features for programming transmissions. A selection is sent to a server system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission. The server system automatically coordinates purchasing the media feature from a programming transmission source and providing the media feature from the programming transmission source. In one embodiment, an entertainment system includes a user interface from which a viewer selects an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission, wherein the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature is provided to the entertainment system.

Method and apparatus for ordering entertainment programs from different programming transmission sources

A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection. A first area of the first window displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection. The GUI includes a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection. A second area of the second window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection. Upon selection by a user of the respective window, entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window is displayed.

Method and apparatus for displaying entertainment system data upon selection of a video data display

A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user.

Method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences

Method and apparatus for purchasing upgraded media features for programming transmissions

A method and apparatus for selecting a version of an entertainment program based on user preference includes receiving entertainment programming input, identifying multiple available versions of an entertainment program, identifying, for each of the multiple versions, a set of descriptive information regarding the respective version, accessing user preferences, and selecting one of the multiple versions for display based on a comparison of the descriptive information to the user preferences.

Method and apparatus for selecting a version of an entertainment program based on user preferences

The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for ordering entertainment programs from different programming transmission sources. A selection is received from an entertainment system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission. The purchase is automatically coordinated and the upgraded media feature is automatically provided for the programming by a server system. The server system bills a client for services performed by the server system and provides billing information about the client to at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources that provided the programming transmission.

A method and apparatus for displaying differences in the characteristics of multiple versions of an entertainment program includes receiving entertainment programming input, identifying multiple versions of an available entertainment program, identifying, for each of the multiple versions, a set of descriptive information regarding the respective version, the descriptive information comprising a plurality of characteristics of the respective version, identifying the differences in characteristics between the multiple versions displaying the differences in characteristics between the multiple versions to a user.

Method and apparatus for displaying differences in the characteristics of multiple versions of an entertainment program

The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for selecting from among multiple upgraded media features for transmitted entertainment programs. Information regarding a plurality of different entertainment programs and a plurality of different upgraded media features associated with each entertainment program is received. A list of entertainment programs and, for each entertainment program, a plurality of different upgraded media features are displayed at a user terminal. An entertainment program selection together with one or more upgraded media feature selections from the displayed plurality are transmitted to an entertainment program provider and the selected entertainment program with the selected upgraded media features is received by the user. In one embodiment, the received and displayed information includes received information regarding costs for each of the plurality of different upgraded media features.

Method and apparatus for selecting from among multiple upgraded media features for transmitted entertainment programs

A graphical user interface for displaying entertainment system data includes a first multimedia identifier that is selectable to deliver entertainment system data stored at a first location relating to an entertainment selection. The graphical user interface also includes a second multimedia identifier that is selectable to deliver entertainment system data stored at a second location relating to the entertainment selection.

Graphical user interace with multimedia identifiers

A method and apparatus for selecting a version of an entertainment program based on user preference includes receiving entertainment programing input, identifying multiple available versions of an entertainment program, identifying, for each of the multiple versions, a set of descriptive information regarding the respective version, accessing user preferences, and selecting one of the multiple versions for display based on a comparison of the descriptive information to the user preferences.

Growing community of inventors

Soquel, CA, United States of America

Christopher D Williams