A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium display a video with a set of tags selectively overlaid on the video. The method causes a display device to display a sequence of video frames. The video depicts a plurality of visually perceptible items, and the video frames as displayed do not include any tags, thereby depicting the video in a tagless mode. The method also receives a signal requesting that the video be displayed in a tag mode. In response to receipt of said signal, the method overlays one or more visually perceptible tags on the video frames at specified positions, thereby causing the display device to display the video in a tag mode. Each of the overlaid tags is associated with at least one respective visually perceptible item appearing in the video.

An electronic device can be synchronized with a broadcast of a live sporting event to obtain supplemental sports data over a data network from a server storing data associated with the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data is obtained from the server for display on the electronic device following a triggering activity associated with the broadcast of the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data can be transmitted for rendering on a display associated with the electronic device. Supplemental sports data can include display of an instant replay video of a sports athlete combined with audio of a pre-recorded statement by the sports athlete associated with the instant replay video, an announcement of a score change for a sporting event monitored by the electronic device, and a display of a football widget providing updates on football game status (e.g., possession, ball location, current score) monitored by the electronic device.

An electronic device can be synchronized with a broadcast of a live sporting event to obtain supplemental sports data over a data network from a server storing data associated with the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data is obtained from the server for display on the electronic device following a triggering activity associated with the broadcast of the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data can be transmitted for rendering on a display associated with the electronic device. Supplemental sports data can include display of an instant replay video of a sports athlete combined with audio of a pre-recorded statement by the sports athlete associated with the instant replay video, an announcement of a score change for a sporting event monitored by the electronic device, and a display of a football widget providing updates on football game status (e.g., possession, ball location, current score) monitored by the electronic device.

A method and apparatus for displaying branded video tags. An advertiser provides additional content associated with broadcast advertising content to a service provider that downloads the additional content to a digital video recorder (DVR). The service provider inserts command tags into the content that are intercepted by the DVR and interpreted as commands that instruct the DVR to perform specific actions when the DVR receives the stream from a broadcaster. The DVR intercepts and translates any tags inserted into the content stream while the DVR is playing the content stream. Tags can cause the DVR to display a branded video tag to the user which is a displayed icon that requests an interaction by the user and has an advertiser’s logo(s) displayed in its vicinity.

Module compressing/encoding plural images for recording, or an image recording apparatus or image recording system including the module. At least two first and second image input module types capture an image of frames from a video signal source, and convert into digital image data for output; an image input arbitration module arbitrates to place digital image data provided by the first type before digital image data provided by the second type. The first type image input module is provided with a real-time image. The apparatus or system further includes: a memory module temporarily storing the real-time image by a processing time for the arbitration module to process digital image data provided by the second type of image input module, an image encoding module compressing and encoding the digital image data, and changing a processing speed to perform a process of compression and encoding more in real time.

Module compressing/encoding plural images for recording, or an image recording apparatus or image recording system including the module. At least two first and second image input module types capture an image of frames from a video signal source, and convert into digital image data for output; an image input arbitration module arbitrates to place digital image data provided by the first type before digital image data provided by the second type. The first type image input module is provided with a real-time image. The apparatus or system further includes: a memory module temporarily storing the real-time image by a processing time for the arbitration module to process digital image data provided by the second type of image input module, an image encoding module compressing and encoding the digital image data, and changing a processing speed to perform a process of compression and encoding more in real time.

A method and apparatus for displaying branded video tags. An advertiser provides additional content associated with broadcast advertising content to a service provider that downloads the additional content to a digital video recorder (DVR). The service provider inserts command tags into the content that are intercepted by the DVR and interpreted as commands that instruct the DVR to perform specific actions when the DVR receives the stream from a broadcaster. The DVR intercepts and translates any tags inserted into the content stream while the DVR is playing the content stream. Tags can cause the DVR to display a branded video tag to the user which is a displayed icon that requests an interaction by the user and has an advertiser's logo(s) displayed in its vicinity.

An electronic device can be synchronized with a broadcast of a live sporting event to obtain supplemental sports data over a data network from a server storing data associated with the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data is obtained from the server for display on the electronic device following a triggering activity associated with the broadcast of the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data can be transmitted for rendering on a display associated with the electronic device. Supplemental sports data can include display of an instant replay video of a sports athlete combined with audio of a pre-recorded statement by the sports athlete associated with the instant replay video, an announcement of a score change for a sporting event monitored by the electronic device, and a display of a football widget providing updates on football game status (e.g., possession, ball location, current score) monitored by the electronic device.

An electronic device can be synchronized with a broadcast of a live sporting event to obtain supplemental sports data over a data network from a server storing data associated with the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data is obtained from the server for display on the electronic device following a triggering activity associated with the broadcast of the live sporting event. Supplemental sports data can be transmitted for rendering on a display associated with the electronic device. Supplemental sports data can include display of an instant replay video of a sports athlete combined with audio of a pre-recorded statement by the sports athlete associated with the instant replay video, an announcement of a score change for a sporting event monitored by the electronic device, and a display of a football widget providing updates on football game status (e.g., possession, ball location, current score) monitored by the electronic device.

Systems and methods for recording programs using a user's equipment and a network recording device are provided. An interactive television application may determine whether the user's equipment has sufficient resources (e.g., tuners or space) to record a program selected for recording. If the interactive television application determines that the user's equipment does not have sufficient resources, the interactive television application may select, automatically or in response to a user instruction, the program for recording with a network recording device. In some embodiments, the user may have to pay for the use of the network recording device, or may be required to purchase a given tier level of service. The interactive television application may play back programs from the network recording device as VOD offerings, or may direct the network recording device to transfer recorded programs to the user's equipment when it has sufficient resources.