The Directv Group, Inc.

Eric J Bennett

Tommi J Iten

David P Green

Robert G Arsenault

Tyson L Wintibaugh

Raynold M Kahn

Luke J Crook

Steven Kasakitis

Christopher R Roy

Romulo Cruz Pontual

Gregory Vagnati

Noreen Fong

Brian Black

Erin K Nelson

Christopher J Cabanne

Kenny C Chen

David Eric Shanks

Jeffrey L Sharkey

Huy Q Tran

Walter F Filbrich

Chris Roy

John L Norin

Stephen P Dulac

Tam T Leminh

Sui-Ky Ringo Ling

Peter Leong

Alistair E Jeffs

Gordon H Chen

John D Choi

Michelle L Vagnati

Flemming R Hansen

Andrew J Schneider

Yoonjung Kim

Leo Wu

Eric H Chang

Justin T Dick

Melissa H Tullues

Marcin Spatzier

Joy A Arai

Scott M Benoit

Robert A Bergman

A system and method for allocating tuner resources in a multi-room digital video recording system, wherein the system includes a server device having a plurality of tuners therein and a first client device in communication with the server device and allocated at least a first tuner from the plurality of tuners. A second client in communication client device generates a tuner request. The server device allocates the first tuner to the second user device and communicates a content signal through the first tuner to the second client device.

Method and system for operating a multi-room digital video recording system

Customizable graphical elements for use in association with a user interface are described. An example apparatus for use in a broadcast media presentation system includes a user interface to enable a user interaction with the broadcast media presentation system, and a controller to implement one or more customizable graphical elements to be displayed in association with the user interface, wherein the one or more customizable graphical elements are to be animated to interact with the user interface.

Customizable graphical elements for use in association with a user interface

A system and method for searching for content in a user device includes a receiver receiving a plurality of data objects. The user device includes a search module comprising a parsing module parsing search data from the plurality of data objects and a memory interface module storing search data within a memory of the user device. The search module comprises a search performance module searching the search data in response to a search query. The search module comprises a search results module generating search results from the search data. The user device is associated with a display that displays the search results.

Method and system for searching for content in a user device

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for searching available programs in a broadcast system. A system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a transmitter, transmitting a plurality of video programs and a program guide, the program guide comprising information related to the plurality of video programs, a receiver for receiving the plurality of programs and the program guide from the transmitter, a monitor, coupled to the receiver, for displaying at least a selected one of the plurality of video programs and for selectively displaying the program guide, and a remote control, coupled to the receiver, wherein the receiver accepts at least one input from the remote control, compares the information in the program to the at least one input, and presents a search result of programs from the plurality of programs having a matching characteristic with the at least one input.

Method and apparatus to search for program content via a remote control interface

A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates metadata for a plurality of content including the content titles. The system also includes the user device that generates a screen display comprising the plurality of content titles from the metadata and generates a selection corresponding to a first content title from a user interface, the user device adds metadata for the first content title to a queue and displays the queue in a priority order on the screen display. The user device is tuned to receive content corresponding to the first content title and stores the content in a storage device.

Method and system of building a wanted list queue for a user in a content distribution system

A receiving device and method for operating the same includes a tuner tuned to a first channel having a first program, a memory storing program guide data therein and a controller in communication with the tuner and the memory. The controller determines the first channel is a blacked out channel, searches the program data in the memory for a second program equivalent to the first program, determines a second channel associated with the second program and tunes the tuner device to the second channel.

Method and apparatus for redirecting a receiving device in the event of a programming blackout

A system and method for registering a client device with a server device includes the server device having a display. The display displays a first identifier in response to entering a registration mode. A client device is in communication with the server device. The client device detects that the server device is in registration mode and communicates a second identifier to the client device. The server device compares the first identifier and the second identifier and, after comparing, registers the client device at the server device.

Method and system for registering a client device in a multi-room digital video recording system

A method of conditionally displaying an icon to indicate a status within a user interface as part of a media presentation system is described. An example method includes updating a status of content within the media presentation system, displaying at least one icon within a guide menu containing one or more menu sections with each menu section containing a plurality of menu layers, and displaying the icon within a first menu layer to indicate the status of content within menu layers associated with the first menu layer.

Methods and apparatus to conditionally display icons in a user interface

Methods and apparatus to distinguish elements of a user interface are described. An example user interface includes a plurality of channel cells including a first channel cell having a first attribute and a second channel cell having a second attribute; and a plurality of program cells associated with the plurality of channel cells, wherein at least one program cell has a third attribute, wherein the third attribute distinguishes the at least one program cell from an associated channel cell.

Methods and apparatus to distinguish elements of a user interface

Row advertisements for use in a program guide are described. An example includes a program guide to aid a user navigate a media presentation system; a list of entries to represent a plurality of programs; an advertisement positioned within the list of entries, wherein the advertisement is interactive to allow a user to manipulate the advertisement, and wherein the advertisement is associated with one of the plurality of programs.

Advertisements for use in a program guide

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for notifying a user of a remote control regarding the mode of a remote control. An example method includes detecting a code from the remote control, comparing the detected code to a list of recognized codes, and informing the user of the mode the remote control is operating based on the detected code and/or that the current mode of the remote control is not programmed.

Remote control mode on-screen displays and methods for producing the same

A navigation device that allows a user to quickly navigate a television environment that provides multiple services, features and options. The navigation device of the present invention is a graphical user interface and minimum of commands from a remote control to navigate through the services provided. The present invention is made up of three basic parts; an anchor, menus, and control bars. An anchor is the base or foundation of the device and includes branding, a progress bar for indicating the number of available menus, and other services such as the current date and time. Other device elements extend from the anchor.

On-screen user interface device

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Eric J Bennett