Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Francis C Li

Anoop Gupta

Yong Rui

Li-Wei He

John C Tang

Nicole Y Mordecai

James M A Begole

Janak R Bhalodia

Max G Van Kleek

A program distribution system includes a plurality of set-top boxes that receive broadcast programming and segmentation data from content and information providers. The segmentation information indicates portions of programs that are to be included in skimmed or condensed versions of the received programming, and is produced using manual or automated methods. Automated methods include the use of ancillary production data to detect the most important parts of a program. A user interface allows a user to control time scale modification and skimming during playback, and also allows the user to easily browse to different points within the current program.

Skimming continuous multimedia content

Browsing continuous multimedia content

In a plurality of electronic devices, a system and method is provided for providing interfaces on the plurality of electronic devices for interacting with at least one source of dynamically changing awareness information. Each of the plurality of electronic devices communicates with the at least one source to update the at least one source with individual awareness information for the electronic device in communication with the at least one source. Each of the plurality of electronic devices communicates with the at least one source to receive awareness information relating to others of the plurality of electronic devices. The awareness information can be a summary of electronic device statuses relating to a selected user. The awareness information can also include an indication of time since each of a plurality of electronic devices relating to a selected user has been in use. The awareness information can further include an indication of one or more of each of a plurality of electronic devices relating to a selected user being contemporaneously in use.

System and method for providing spatially distributed device interaction

Growing community of inventors

El Cerrito, CA, United States of America

Francis C Li