Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Google Inc.

Jonathan N Sposato

Jon B Kimmich

Jeffrey Aaron Lubetkin

John D Vert

Tammy Savage

Melora Zaner

Eun-Kyung Chung

Heather Ferguson

Geoffrey John Elliott

Mike Harrington

Joe Walkush

Darrin Massena

A novel technique automatically stores synchronized group history related to an online group interaction and enables individual group members to later view and access the group history. In an embodiment of the invention, the group history is accessible by group members independently of group interactions at any later time. According to various embodiments of the invention, the group history may be presented in an overview form or a detailed form. With respect to the detailed form, the group history may be presented graphically, such as in an icon timeline or collage, textually, such as in list form, or in any combination of presentation formats. In a further embodiment of the invention, the synchronized group history is writable by group members in addition to being automatically maintained.

Shared online experience history capture and provision system and method

An in-browser photo-editing application method and system. The method may typically include retrieving an image for manipulation along with a set of image manipulation instructions at a client computer and engaging a manipulation to the image from the client computer. Then, the client computer records image manipulation instructions simultaneous to displaying user edits. The set of image manipulation instructions are transmitted to the server when a mirror of the user's manipulated image is desired on the server. The server performs the manipulation instructions on its own copy of the original image to produce the mirror image. Copies of the pre-manipulated and post-manipulated image as well as the manipulation instructions may be stored at several locations including the client computer, the server computer or even a remote storage computer.

System and method for in-browser photo editing

In association with an interactive television system, a method and system for displaying an interactive program having intervening informational segments. When additional information is available, an additional information marker is displayed on the display screen and is selected by manipulating a remote control. When the additional information marker is selected, the display of the interactive program is terminated, and an intervening informational segment, a short segment of information, is displayed in its place. When the intervening informational segment is terminated, the interactive program is displayed beginning from a predetermined return point. The return point is dependent on the time, relative to the beginning of the interactive program, at which the additional information marker was selected. Each return point is located during a pause or a natural break in the audio and video of the interactive program such that the resumption of the program after the intervening informational segment is smooth. When an intervening informational segment is terminated, the time at which the additional information marker associated with the intervening informational segment was selected is compared to a table storing the predetermined return points. Once the predetermined return point is obtained, the interactive program is displayed beginning at the return point.

Method and system for displaying an interactive program with intervening

A graphical viewer interface appropriate for children's programming provided through an interactive television system for running programs ordered by the viewer. The inventive system includes a method for displaying on a television screen a plurality of control items including a character window, an episode window, an order button, and a scram button, wherein the viewer may navigate the focus among the various control items by manipulating a remote control. The viewer browses among options, and orders options for viewing using a handheld remote control. The character window displays one among a plurality of cartoon characters. The episode window displays a scene from one among a plurality of cartoon episodes within a category of cartoon episodes featuring the character displayed in the first window. The scene displayed in the second window is a single frame from the cartoon episode depicting a 'key defining moment' that differentiates the selected cartoon from all other cartoons featuring the same character. The viewer orders a cartoon episode for viewing by first selecting a desired character using the character window, then selecting a desired episode using the episode window, and then selecting and executing the order button.

Graphical viewer interface for an interactive network system

A system and method for selecting a video piece from an assortment of video pieces available over an interactive network uses a graphical interface in connection with a database on which each of the available video pieces is characterized by categories and by quantitative rating of criteria. The characterization of the video pieces by categories and quantitative criteria is based on the subject matter of the video pieces. The graphical interface displays control elements, icons and sliders that relate to the categories and quantitative criteria. By selecting icons and manipulating the sliders, the user can initiate a selection process that will select a video piece that relates to the users subject matter interest. The system and method is intended for children to use in selecting cartoons over an interactive network.

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Isaquah, WA, United States of America

Jonathan N Sposato