Provided is a display device capable of providing diversity of search through a plurality of apps capable of providing search results for search sources. An execution command of a context search app is received. One or more search source icons corresponding to one or more search source apps matched with the calling app is displayed on a display according to the received execution command. when one of the one or more search source icons is selected, the search result for the search source is acquired through a search source app corresponding to the selected icon. The acquired search result is displayed on the display.

An entertainment system provides data to a common screen (e.g., cinema screen) and personal immersive reality devices. For example, a cinematic data distribution server communicates with multiple immersive output devices each configured for providing immersive output (e.g., a virtual reality output) based on a data signal. Each of the multiple immersive output devices is present within eyesight of a common display screen. The server configures the data signal based on digital cinematic master data that includes immersive reality data. The server transmits the data signal to the multiple immersive output devices contemporaneously with each other, and optionally contemporaneously with providing a coordinated audio-video signal for output via the common display screen and shared audio system.

Automatically setting a display mode of a display device, including: receiving a content selection of a content item through a user interface; sending the content selection to a content server; receiving content data from the content server; receiving settings metadata from the content server, wherein the settings metadata indicates a metadata display setting; processing the settings metadata to determine the metadata display settings, wherein the settings metadata is processed to be at least one of: stored in a memory unit of the display device; received with the content data to be processed and used to update the metadata display settings; and associated with at least one application running on the display device; setting a display mode of a display device according to the metadata display setting; and displaying the media content through the display device according to the set display mode.

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for managing playback of digital content on two or more different playback devices. A playback device designated as a controller is associated with a playback device designated as a playback target. Association is implemented via a local network discovery protocol. The controller issues commands to the target, which then streams digital content directly from a content server. The controller is able to separately stream related digital content for independent, but synchronized playback. Server mediated operations, such as device activation and application installation, are advantageously enabled by explicit association between the controller and the target.

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.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for automatically navigating a graphical user interface (GUI) of a media device. In embodiments, objects (e.g. selectable items) in device GUI menu screens may be located, identified, and selected by another device (e.g., a switch) using several types of image processing, image recognition, and automated screen navigation techniques. For instance, a device may receive an operation request, for example from a user, receive a video signal from the connected media device, extract a video frame, process the video frame using one or more algorithms, and automatically navigate the GUI of the device by transmitting one more navigation commands for application to the GUI. In this manner, multi-step, time-consuming manual GUI navigation to achieve a desired result may be reduced to an automated technique, allowing users to save time and frustration in navigating a GUI using a remote control to find a particular resource.

Methods for hosting low-latency streaming interactive audio/video (A/V) include executing one or more video games or applications on a server communicatively coupled to a data network. Packet streams are received from a plurality of users and routed to the one or more video games. The packet streams include user control input that are used to compute A/V data in response. The A/V data are received from the video games or applications. Portions of the A/V data are compressed in parallel using processing units resulting in low-latency streaming compressed A/V data. The low-latency streaming compressed A/V data are routed to each of the users over a corresponding data network communication channel. The executing of video games, receiving of packet streams and A/V data, compressing portions of the A/V data and routing the compressed A/V data are performed with a latency such that at least one user has the perception that the controlled video game is responding instantly.

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.

A multimedia device and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which heterogeneous devices are controlled under at least two different communication protocols. The present invention includes displaying a guide message for controlling at least one function of the electronic device, receiving a remote control signal corresponding to a 1.sup.st function among the at least one function from a 1.sup.st remote controller of the electronic device, saving data for identifying the 1.sup.st function and the received remote control signal in a memory by mapping the data and the received remote control signal to each other, displaying a graphic image including the data for identifying the 1.sup.st function, if the data for identifying the 1.sup.st function is selected by a 2.sup.nd remote controller of the multimedia device, extracting the remote control signal mapped to the 1.sup.st function, and transmitting the extracted remote control signal to an external device.

A system for providing streaming services. The system includes a plurality of users each for generating a stream of an event on a connection of a public network. The system also includes a server configured to receive a plurality of the generated streams, determine content for at least one output stream, and output the at least one output stream on a connection of a public network, with at least one user receiving the at least one output stream. The content is determined based on one or more of content received from input streams, content requested by a viewer, and the user profiles of the contributors.