Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.

Stephen Scheirey

Charles W K Gritton

Frank A Hunleth

Daniel S Simpkins

Ryan Stoner

Yizhong Wang

Bruce N Israel

Daniel Ramagem

William A Rouady

Negar Moshiri

Bruce Israel

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for supplying rich multimedia metadata usable to generate, e.g., sophisticated entertainment user interfaces in the home. These methods and systems can be implemented as a server-based software application that feeds multiple, diverse clients. The server functionality could be distributed, even co-located physically with one or more clients, or centralized. The server aggregates, filters, validates, augments and links metadata from disparate sources. The server transforms the metadata into a more manageable and extensible internal format. The server communicates with client devices using a schema-independent protocol, providing metadata in the appropriate format that suites the clients needs.

Metadata brokering server and methods

Systems and methods according to the present invention provide methods, devices and systems for delivering media content to users. Broadcast audio and video streams can be synchronized for substantially simultaneous output by users. User feedback can be used to compose playlists of synchronized media.

Methods and systems for transmitting synchronized visual and audio media

A visual whiteboard can be provided as an application, or component of a TV internet browser, for operation on a smart TV. The visual whiteboard provides a lightweight social networking mechanism, e.g., for groups who have physical access to the same smart TV. Content identifiers or other group information can be posted to the visual whiteboard by the authorized users for subsequent display on the corresponding smart TV.

Visual whiteboard for television-based social network

Systems and methods according to the present invention provide sign on systems for devices, e.g., televisions, which balance ease of use with security and access control that is amenable to, e.g., household usage.

Television sign on for personalization in a multi-user environment

Systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods for augmenting the capabilities of a client device. The client device can be augmented by a device which has additional processing and memory capability to perform additional functions such as, for example, the translation of desired media into a format usable by the client device.

Augmenting client-server architectures and methods with personal computers to support media applications

Methods and systems are provided for allowing a user to interface with a system. More particularly, in one exemplary embodiment, a zoomable user interface (ZUI) generated by a processor includes a collection of scenes displayable on the ZUI including a first scene and a second scene, each of the scenes being implemented using software written in a programming language. The ZUI also includes an event capture mechanism for identifying user inputs to the ZUI, including a user input for requesting a change from the first scene to the second scene; and a transition between the first scene and the second scene in the collection of scenes, the transition conveying a spatial relationship between the first scene and the second scene within the ZUI.

Growing community of inventors

Urbana, MD, United States of America

Stephen Scheirey