Display inserts, overlays, and graphical user interfaces for multimedia systems

摘要

A disclosed digital media device operational at user premises to receive media signals from a media source for presentation via endpoint devices such as a television display. The digital media device can include gateway and digital media management functionality and can be referred to as a gateway and digital media device. The device offers application services obtained over a wide area network and a user premises network. The digital media device may form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information, for example, for a composite audio and/or video signal for television type presentation to the user. The digital media device may receive a selection signal based on the presentation, for transmission to the application service provider device or to the media source. The media device also offers a GUI presenting a moveable arrangement of icons for selectively accessing application services.

主权项

1. A digital media device communicatively coupled to end user devices for operation in association with the media device at a user premises to provide a dynamic graphical user interface enabling user access to media from at least one media source and application services from the digital media device, comprising:
at least one interface configured to receive a media signal from a media source for management by the digital media device for ultimate presentation via end user devices including at least one television display and to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and the end user devices, wherein the digital media device, which is independent from the media source, is configured to provide application service information from a service provider over a wide area network to the end user devices via the digital media device and a user premises data communications network, wherein the application service information includes notifications of status regarding applications services; and a processor coupled to the at least one interface, wherein the processor is configured to form a composite signal from the media signal and the application service information from the digital media device, wherein the composite signal comprises a composite image on the at least one television display representing media obtained via the at least one interface and application services provided via the digital media device, and wherein the processor enables dynamic addition or removal of graphical icons in cooperation with the digital media device and the service provider as determined by subscriptions to at least one of media applications, services applications and media sources connected to the digital media device; wherein the digital media device provides graphical interaction simultaneously with media and service distribution systems via the a dynamic graphical user interface displayed on the at least one television display and input received in the form of a selection signal from a remote control based on the displayed image, wherein graphical interaction via the dynamic graphical user interface includes access to an arrangement of graphical icons displayed on the at least one television display and represent identification of media applications, service applications and media that is selectable to generate the selection signal when highlighted, and wherein the selection signal is transmitted via the user premises data communications network to the digital media device or to the media source to enable the execution of programming embodied on the digital media device to provide at least one of: a service application provided via a user premises data communication network and media from a media source connected to the digital media device via the at least one interface.