A system and method whereby an user interface editing device is used to create a user interface for a controlling device, the created user interface including user interface elements that are associated with functional operations of a virtual equivalent of an appliance. After the created user interface is transferred to the controlling device, the virtual equivalent of an appliance is caused to be linked to an intended target appliance whereupon activation of those user interface elements of the graphical user interface that were associated with functional operations of the virtual equivalent of an appliance will cause the controlling device to transmit commands to control corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes identifying metadata related to television programming. The method further includes sending search requests that include the identified metadata to a search system for selecting at least one portable program module. The method further includes in response to a first one of the search requests, receiving first search results from the search system that identify the selected portable program module and outputting a representation of the selected portable program module to a display device for presentation concurrently with the television programming. The method further includes in response to a second one of the search requests, receiving second search results from the search system that no longer identify the selected portable program module and ceasing the output of the representation of the selected portable program module.

The embodiments of the present invention propose a method and device for matching up devices. They can be applied to a system comprising a set-top box, a terminal to be controlled, a remote control, and a cloud server, in which the said set-top box is physically connected to the said terminal to be controlled, and is also connected to the said cloud server via the Internet; the method comprises: obtaining the EDID information of the said terminal to be controlled through the set-top box, and confirming the identification information based on the said EDID information; sending the said identification information to the cloud server through the said set-top box; searching for the infrared code library corresponding to the identification information through the said cloud server

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in 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. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Described herein are methods, systems, and devices for enabling a user of a mobile phone to use the mobile phone to select what content is displayed on a display screen of a consumer electronic device (e.g., a television) on display in a retail store. A scannable code (e.g., a QR code) is caused to be displayed on the display screen of the consumer electronic device, and a session with the mobile phone is established in response to the mobile phone being used to scan the scannable code that is displayed on the display screen of the consumer electronic device. A GUI, which is displayed on the mobile phone during the session, enables a user of the mobile phone to select, using the mobile phone, which one of a plurality of options is displayed on the display screen of the consumer electronic device that is on display in the retail store.

Methods and systems for selecting and delivering content are provided. More particularly, content can be delivered to an output device from a user device through a device adaptor, such as an over-the-top (OTT) device. The OTT device or devices available to the user device are determined by a communication server. In particular, the OTT device or devices available to the user device are limited to those OTT devices associated with an output device in the user's room, or that the user is otherwise authorized to access.

A controlling device has a configurable key. An insert is provided to the configurable key and includes an indicium representative of a media content provider. An image of the indicium or an image of a QR code associated with the indicium is used to assign one or more commands to the configurable key. The one or more commands are used to cause a controllable device to tune to a channel on which the media content provider is being broadcast, to invoke an app associated with the media content provider, to access a website associated with the media content provider, and the like.

A configurable input element of a controlling device is configured by using a data representative of an over-the-top (OTT) media app determined to be installed on an OTT device and a data representative of the OTT device to identify at least one command that is required to be transmitted to cause the OTT device to launch the OTT media app. The at least one command is provisioned to the controlling device and assigned to the configurable input element. When the input element is subsequently activated, the controlling device will transmit the at least one command to cause the OTT device to launch the OTT media app.

There is disclosed a system for providing streaming services, comprising: a plurality of capture devices, each for capturing data and providing a captured data stream; and a server, for receiving the plurality of captured data streams; wherein each capture device is configured to generate metadata for the captured data, and transmit said metadata to the server.

Methods and systems for selecting and delivering content are provided. More particularly, content can be delivered to an output device from a user device through a device adaptor, such as an over-the-top (OTT) device. The OTT device or devices available to the user device are determined by a communication server. In particular, the OTT device or devices available to the user device are limited to those OTT devices associated with an output device in the user's room, or that the user is otherwise authorized to access.