Importance

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Abstract

The present invention combines all menus of all appliances (e.g., including the set-top-box, TV, and networking devices), all available services (whether selected or not), all available events (including co-branded and promoted events), all available channels, and all promoted material into a single, unified interface or OmniMenu. In this regard, the user has immediate and easy access to and control of all content information contained within a consumer electronics network environment, whether that content information stems from a broadcast, from an appliance itself, from an informational service such as the Internet, or from the user himself/herself. The present invention defined menu API enables all appliances and broadcast applications to register and construct their individual menus to collectively assemble the single OmniMenu. The OmniMenu assembly is achieved through a uniform menu API, wherein the menu API enables all controlled hardware, software, and content components to collectively construct the unified view of the available services, and present this view within a single menu. This menu can be updated in real-time, on-the-fly, as new appliances are connected, or the broadcast data services change.

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First Claim