In accordance with a method for presenting home screen shortcuts, a computer system is coupled to a plurality of media content providers and obtains a respective media application for each of the media content providers. Content is provided for display on the television screen from a first media content provider via a first media application. The computer system obtains a plurality of shortcuts corresponding to a home screen user interface, and the plurality of shortcuts includes one or more media shortcuts and a search shortcut. The home screen user interface is displayed concurrently with the provided content on the television screen, and the one or more media shortcuts and the search shortcut are concurrently displayed on the home screen user interface. In response to selection of the search shortcut, the computer system initiates a shortcut search for one or more additional shortcuts for display on the home screen user interface.

Systems and methods are described to address shortcomings in conventional conversation systems by executing a customized supplemental function for a natural language query based on the user's profile. In some aspects, the systems and methods receive a user query for a media asset, determine a query template in the user's profile matching the user's query, and identify and execute a supplemental function corresponding to the query template in addition to responding to the user's query. The user's profile is customized on the user's usage patterns of an interactive media guidance application. By monitoring the user's usage patterns and learning from the user's actions in conjunction with the user's natural language queries on which supplemental functions to execute, the interactive media guidance application may provide a smarter and more efficient user experience.

Items of video content offered for viewing on a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV service provider are each assigned a respective title and hierarchical address corresponding to hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories within which the title for the video content is to be categorized. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. The EPG dynamically adjust its display listings of each level of categories, subcategories, and titles in order to minimize the number of remote control keypresses needed for a viewer to navigate to a title of interest. In one basic form, the EPG display is reordered by listing more frequently visited categories or subcategories first, and other less frequently visited categories or subcategories lower on the listing or out-of-sight on another page of the display.

Items of video content offered for viewing on a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV service provider are each assigned a respective title and hierarchical address corresponding to hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories within which the title for the video content is to be categorized. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. The EPG dynamically adjust its display listings of each level of categories, subcategories, and titles in order to minimize the number of remote control keypresses needed for a viewer to navigate to a title of interest. In one basic form, the EPG display is reordered by listing more frequently visited categories or subcategories first, and other less frequently visited categories or subcategories lower on the listing or out-of-sight on another page of the display.

A programming access device such as, for example, a cable or satellite set top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal computer, and/or a digital media receiver automatically optimizes an order of content choices presented in a content listing, such as a program guide display, favorite channel display, and/or a recording listing display based on the past viewing and/or recording history of a current user.

In some embodiments, a method applies a priority to a plurality of surfaces where the plurality of surfaces each include content. Content is displayed from a first portion of a first surface in the interface based on a priority that is applied to the first surface. A second portion of a second surface is obscured by the first surface. The method maintains operation of the second portion of the second surface and receives an interaction from the interface. The display of the interface is adjusted by displaying the second portion of the second surface in the interface in a state based on the maintaining of the operation.

An application control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions. A control device may be conveniently held by a user and employs an imager. The control system and method images the screen of the TV or other display to detect distinctive markers displayed on the screen. This information is transmitted to the entertainment system for control of an application or is used by the control device to control an application.

An application control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions. A control device may be conveniently held by a user and employs an imager. The control system and method images the screen of the TV or other display to detect distinctive markers displayed on the screen. This information is transmitted to the entertainment system for control of an application or is used by the control device to control an application.

An interactive user interface, such as a remote terminal user interface, is compressed prior to transmission to a video client. The compression may be performed independently of any other video that may be simultaneously transmitted to the video client. At the client side, two compressed video streams (remote user interface and video content) may be decompressed independently of each other. In some cases, technology already existing in some client devices, such as picture-in-picture (PiP) capability, may be leveraged to decompress the received compressed remote user interface without needing to modify the hardware of those client devices.

An interactive user interface, such as a remote terminal user interface, is compressed prior to transmission to a video client. The compression may be performed independently of any other video that may be simultaneously transmitted to the video client. At the client side, two compressed video streams (remote user interface and video content) may be decompressed independently of each other. In some cases, technology already existing in some client devices, such as picture-in-picture (PiP) capability, may be leveraged to decompress the received compressed remote user interface without needing to modify the hardware of those client devices.