Abstract:
A user captures an image of a magazine or catalog page with a smartphone. The page is identified by extracting fingerprint or watermark data from the imagery. Other imagery depicting that page is identified, and is displayed to the user on the smartphone screen. Further imagery can also be presented on the screen. This further imagery can include other pages in the publication that are not be consecutive with the captured page, but that are logically linked with it by reference to a data structure. The user may elect to post such imagery to a social network account (e.g., Pinterest) associated with the user. The posting can include an attribution identifying the original publication. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
A user captures an image of a retail product with a smartphone. Product recommendations associated with the retail product are provided to the smartphone. One claim recites a method comprising: receiving first imagery captured by a smartphone camera, the first imagery representing a first retail product located at a retail location, and presenting the first imagery on a screen of the smartphone; providing the first imagery to a processor to produce fingerprint data therefrom, the fingerprint data being utilized to identify the first retail product; receiving second imagery representing a second retail product, identified as a product recommendation associated with the first retail product, the second imagery being sourced from a source different than the smartphone camera; presenting, on the screen of the smartphone, the second imagery; receiving user input via a touch screen of the smartphone; as a consequence of said user input, initiating an action. Of course, a great variety of other claims, features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
Abstract:
An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.
Abstract:
An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest.
Abstract:
An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus to generate a first command for displaying information on the receiver describing the product or service, and a second command for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and in response to the first command causes the video display generator to display information describing the product or service and in response to the second command generates an order for the product or service.
Abstract:
An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide is implemented on user multi-media equipment of a user for displaying programming for a plurality of channels on the user equipment, wherein each channel carries primarily one of a plurality of media types. In the interactive program guide system, program listings data and information on the media types that are associated with each of the channels is supplied to the interactive program guide. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels, and with the option of channel selection, while constraining channel selection to the favorite channels of the preferred media type. The user is provided with the option of displaying program listings, tuning to channels, or browsing among channels, constrained to favorite channels of the preferred media type.
Abstract:
An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and generates an order for the product or service.
Abstract:
An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus to generate a first command for displaying information on the receiver describing the product or service, and a second command for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and in response to the first command causes the video display generator to display information describing the product or service and in response to the second command generates an order for the product or service.
Abstract:
A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times. When data has expired it may be removed from the database.