ISSUED U.S. PATENTS PAGE 2

Apparatus and method for providing media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receive a request for a telepresence seat at an event, obtain media content comprising event images of the event that are captured by an event camera system, receive images that are captured by a camera system at a user location, provide the media content and video content representative of the images to a processor for presentation at a display device utilizing a telepresence configuration that simulates the first and second users being present at the event, where the providing of the first and second video content establishes a communication session between the first and second users. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for managing telepresence sessions

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining images that are captured by a camera system at a location associated with a user, transmitting video content representative of the images over a network for presentation by another media processor at another location, receiving at a media processor media content and second video content representative of second images that are associated with the second user, and presenting at a display device at the location the media content and the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the other user at the location, where the presentation of at least one of the media content and the second video content at the display device is delayed based on latency parameters associated with the other media processor.

Method and apparatus for distributing promotional materials

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, computer instructions to identify a subscriber leader, identify a plurality of subscriber followers that track activities of the subscriber leader, detect from the activities of the subscriber leader a behavioral pattern that influences a consumption behavior of the subscriber followers, receive a request for media content from at least one of a plurality of devices of the subscriber followers, identify in the media content a substitutable product, select a promotional system to supply a promotional product according to at least one of a winning bid supplied by the promotion system and the behavioral pattern, substitute the substitutable product in the media content with the promotional product to generate updated media content, and transmit the updated media content to the at least one of the plurality of devices of the subscriber followers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for monitoring usage of items

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can be operable to transmit a radio frequency signal directed to a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, receive usage information from the radio frequency identifier tag, determine a measure of wear and tear of the first item from the usage information, compare the measure of wear and tear to a threshold, detect from the comparison a state of usage of the first item, and submit a notice representative of the state of usage of the first item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for selecting an advertiser

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a first radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, retrieving from the first radio frequency signal information about the first item, and identifying at least one replacement item according to the retrieved information. The method can further include selecting at least one advertiser that promotes at least one product that is at least similar to the at least one replacement item, and selecting a presentation arrangement for the identified at least one advertiser to present the at least one product at a device of a user of the first item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for promoting products or services

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a first radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, retrieving from the first radio frequency signal information about the first item, identifying a need to replace the first item from the retrieved information, selecting according to a selection strategy at least one advertiser that promotes products, and selecting at least one product of the at least one advertiser that is at least similar to the first item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus for adapting a presentation of media content according to a position of a viewing apparatus

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to detect a first position of a viewing apparatus, wherein the viewing apparatus enables viewing of media programs, obtain a media program in a first viewing perspective that conforms to the first position, present the media program with the first viewing perspective for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus, and transmit to the viewing apparatus a first audio signal corresponding to the first viewing perspective. The storage medium can also have computer instructions to detect that the viewing apparatus has moved to a second position, obtain the media program in a second viewing perspective according to the second position, and present the media program with the second viewing perspective for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Multimedia Content Information Display Methods and Device

A method of displaying available multimedia content items includes receiving a request to display a set of available content items. In response to the request, a first set of icons are provided for display, where each icon corresponds to a type of available multimedia content. The icons are displayed in an approximately circular arrangement, providing for easy viewing and manipulation. In response to selection of an icon, a second set of icons is displayed in an approximately circular arrangement, where each icon of the second set corresponds to a sub-type of the available multimedia content. The user can continue to select icons based on the type of desired multimedia content until a list of available multimedia content items are displayed. Accordingly, the user is able to quickly locate and view multimedia content of a desired type, resulting in an improved user experience.

Apparatus for adapting a presentation of media content to a requesting device

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to record stereoscopic media content supplied by a multimedia system, receive from a communication device a request for the recorded stereoscopic media content, determine rendering capabilities of the communication device, generate transcoded content by transcoding the recorded stereoscopic media content according to the rendering capabilities of the communication device, and transmit to the communication device the transcoded content. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Method and apparatus for adapting a presentation of media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a stereoscopic preference from a user profile associated with a user of a viewing apparatus, receiving a stereoscopic media program, generating an adapted media program by adapting one or more presentation aspects of the stereoscopic media program according to the stereoscopic preference, and presenting at a presentation device the adapted media program according to a time-division multiplexing or space-division multiplexing scheme for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Interactive Media System and Method Using Context-Based Avatar Configuration

Systems and methods of avatar configuration based on a media stream context are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining context information related to a portion of a media stream. The method also includes selecting configuration settings of an avatar based at least partially on the context information. The avatar is responsive to user input to enable interaction with one or more other users with respect to the media stream. The method further includes sending display data to a user device. The display data includes information to display the avatar with the portion of the media stream.

Network Based Management of Visual Art

Works of visual art are provided over a digital television provider network for local display by a user. Live or substantially live video of works of visual art may be streamed to the user's location. Alternatively, still images of the works of visual art may be captured and stored as electronic files. Network-based servers may feed the streaming video or electronic data from still images to one or more set-top boxes in a user's home for a limited period. Selectable icons permit users to select images for purchase in electronic form or in hard-copy form.

Method and apparatus for generating media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a storage medium including computer instructions to receive sensory information at a media device from a first mobile communication device where the first mobile communication device obtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least one second mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information, where the sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and where the sensory information comprises images of the environment. The computer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality of personal content includes some of the images captured at different perspectives. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Multimedia content information display methods and device

A method of displaying available multimedia content items includes receiving a request to display a set of available content items. In response to the request, a first set of icons are provided for display, where each icon corresponds to a type of available multimedia content. The icons are displayed in an approximately circular arrangement, providing for easy viewing and manipulation. In response to selection of an icon, a second set of icons is displayed in an approximately circular arrangement, where each icon of the second set corresponds to a sub-type of the available multimedia content. The user can continue to select icons based on the type of desired multimedia content until a list of available multimedia content items are displayed. Accordingly, the user is able to quickly locate and view multimedia content of a desired type, resulting in an improved user experience.

System for presenting collateral information to mobile devices

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to receive from a media processor a time-sensitive code embedded in a video stream received and presented by the media processor at a presentation device, retrieve collateral information associated with a scene of the video stream according to the time-sensitive code, and transmit the collateral information to a mobile communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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