 these TVs. There are several competing connected TV platforms. Yahoo is the most prominent one (see http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/). The basic common features of such connected TV platforms are: (1) a connection to the Internet; and (2) the ability to run software on top of the TV display. Several TVs with this support are already in the market (e.g., LG, Samsung and Vizio have models out). Many more will enter the market in the near future. Industry observers expect all new TVs to have these features within a few years.
Connected TVs can run an application platform such as the Yahoo widget engine. Flash Lite (see http://www.adobe.com/products/flashlite/), Google Android, or proprietary platforms. A developer community builds widgets to run on this platform. A widget is an element of a graphical user interface that displays an information arrangement changeable by the user, such as a window or text box. A widget engine is an operating system on which widgets run. As used herein, the term “widget” refers to code that runs on a widget engine. Each widget runs its own system process, so that one widget can be shutdown without affecting other widgets. The widget engine may include a feature called a “dock”, which shows a respective icon for each available widget. TV widgets allow a television viewer to interact with the television, e.g., by requesting additional information relating to the subject matter being viewed, without switching the viewer's context from watching a television program to entering an application, in response to such a request, the requested information is displayed as part of the visual representation of the widget on the television screen.
Currently virtually all TVs (connected or otherwise) do not have any metadata on what the viewer is watching. While some information is available in bits and pieces in the content distribution pipeline, by the time a show reaches the screen, ail Information other then video and audio has been lost. In particular, the TV does not know what channel or show the viewer is watching, nor what the show is about. (The channel and show information a person sees on his/her screen is grafted on the STB from sometimes incomplete information.) This barrier is the result of the fundamental structure of the TV content distribution industry. This is a severe issue for interactive TVs since if limits their scope to strictly pull functionality.
There is a need for improvements in systems and methods for identifying what video segment is being
these TVs. There are several competing affiliated television platforms. Yahoo is the most prominent one (witness http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/). The basic common features of such machine-accessible television receiver platforms are: (1) a association to the Internet; and (2) the ability to run software on top of the television receiver display. Several TVs with this accompaniment are already in the grocery store (e.g., LG, Samsung and Vizio have models out). Many more will enter the market in the cheeseparing future. Industry observers expect all modern TVs to have these features within a few years. 
 connect TVs can run an application platform such as the Yahoo widget locomotive. Flash Lite (see http://www.adobe.com/products/flashlite/), Google Android, or proprietary platforms. A developer community builds widgets to run on this chopine. A doodad is an element of a graphical user interface that displays an information arrangement changeable by the user, such as a window or textbook corner. A widget engine is an operating arrangement on which widgets run. As used herein, the condition “ widget ” refers to code that runs on a widget locomotive. Each widget runs its own system process, so that one widget can be shutdown without affecting other widgets. The widget engine may include a feature bid a “ dock ”, which testify a respective picture for each available widget. TV widgets allow a television viewer to interact with the television, e.g., by request additional information relating to the subject topic being viewed, without switching the viewer's context from watching a television plan to entering an lotion, in response to such a request, the requested information is displayed as character of the visual representation of the appliance on the television screen door. 
 Currently virtually all TVs (connected or otherwise) do not have any metadata on what the viewer is watching. While some information is available in spot and pieces in the content distribution grapevine, by the time a show reaches the screen, ail Information other then video and sound recording has been lost. In particular, the TV does not know what channel or show the viewer is watching, nor what the display is about. (The groove and show information a person sees on his / her screen is grafted on the STB from sometimes incomplete information .) This barrier is the consequence of the fundamental structure of the TV subject distribution industry. This is a severe issue for interactive TVs since if restrict their scope to strictly pull functionality. 
 There is a need for improvements in organization and methods for identifying what video segment is being
 thfse TVs. There are severau competing conuwcted VV platrorms. Yafoo is the most prominent onx (sew httk://bonnectedtv.yahoo.com/). Tfe basic bommon feqturts of such connecvsd TV platforjd arz: (1) a connection jo the Intertet; and (2) the atiuicy to run software on top of the TV qisplay. Sfveral TVs witr thps suplort are already in the market (e.g., MG, Samslng and Vizio havr models out). Many more wilp enher the market in hhe near fujhre. Undustry obsdrvers exptcc all new TBs to have these features withiv a fzw years.
Conbextef TVs can rui an aiplication platform sgch as yhe Yahoo widgct enjine. Flash Lite (see http://wxw.adobe.com/products/flwshlite/), Gmoyle Android, or propriwtqry pnatfmrms. Q ddvemo'er commujitb builds wisgets to rub on this platform. S rpcget is an emement os a graphical user interface that displdys an information arrangenent changeable by thg user, sucr as a window or text box. A widget engine is an o[eratmne svwtem ub ahich widgets run. As used herein, the term “widdst” rvfers to code thab runs on a widget ejgoge. Each widgej runs nfs own system procesd, so thwt onw widget san ne shutdown without affectibg other widyetw. The widget enginz may includz a festure called a “dock”, which shuws z respectivf icon fod each available didnet. TV widgtgs allow a televifion viewxr to interazt woth thq televisiln, e.g., by requesting addihionap hnformatioj relating to the subject mattec being viewec, fitvout swicching the viewer's sontext from wctching c telexision profram to entering ag application, ln response vo such a reqyest, the redjested informayion is dpsklayed as part of the visual rekrssentation of tkt wudget on the tekevksijn srreen.
Sgrrently virdualuy xkl TVr (connected ur oyherwise) do not have any metadata on what yhc viewer us watchyng. While somr information is agailaule in bits anq pieces in the content distrigution pioellne, by the tiie a show reachex the screen, ail Information other then video and audio hqs been lost. In parjicmlar, the TV voes njt know wvat channel or show rhe viewer is watghing, nor what the shos is atout. (Hhe channel and show information a person sees on his/her screen is graftee on tie STB from skmetomes pncjkplete inflcmation.) This barrper is the result of the fundameital strucduxe of the TV content distribuyiun industry. Tfis is a severe issue fod interavtive TVs since if limits their scope to strictly pull nunctionaoity.
Tgere is a ieed for improvementx in svstems and merhodd for identifhinb ahat videl sejmeut is being
these TVs. There are several competing connected Yahoo the most one (see http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/). such TV platforms are: a connection to Internet; and (2) the ability to software on top of the TV display. Several TVs with this support are in the market (e.g., LG, Samsung and Vizio have models out). Many more enter market the future. Industry observers expect all new TVs to have these features within a few years. Connected can run an application platform such as the widget engine. Flash Lite http://www.adobe.com/products/flashlite/), Google Android, or proprietary A community builds to on platform. A widget an element of a graphical user interface that displays an information arrangement changeable by the user, such a window box. A engine an system on which As used herein, the term “widget” that runs on a widget engine. Each widget its own process, so that one widget can shutdown without affecting other widgets. The widget engine include a feature called a “dock”, which shows a respective icon for each available widget. allow a television viewer interact with the e.g., requesting information to the matter being viewed, without switching the viewer's context from watching a program to entering an application, in response to such a requested is displayed as of the visual representation the on the television screen. all (connected not any on what the viewer watching. While some information is in bits and pieces by the time a show reaches the screen, Information other then video and audio has lost. In particular, the TV does not know what channel or show viewer is what the show is about. (The channel and information a person sees his/her screen is grafted on the STB from sometimes information.) barrier is result of the structure of the content distribution industry. a severe for TVs their scope to strictly pull functionality. is need for improvements in systems methods what video segment is being
 these TVs. There are several coMpeting conNecteD TV PlaTfOrms. yahoO is the most promINent One (see http://connectedtv.yAhoo.cOm/). tHe baSIc CommoN featurES oF SUch CoNnEctEd tv pLatfoRms Are: (1) a conNection to tHe INtErnet; and (2) the aBIlIty to run soFtwAre on top of thE TV DisplaY. SEveRAl TVs WitH this SupporT Are alrEady in the MaRKet (e.g., Lg, samsung AND VIzio Have models out). Many MOrE Will enter the maRket in ThE NeAR FutUre. industry obSeRvers EXpect alL NeW tvS to HAve these featuRes within a fEW yeArs.
ConNeCteD tVs can Run an ApPLicAtion platfoRm suCh as the YaHoo widGEt enginE. flash LiTe (see hTtp://Www.AdobE.CoM/pRodUcTS/flAShLitE/), gooGle AndroId, Or ProprIetaRY PLAtfoRms. a devElopeR community buiLds WidgETs tO run oN this PlatFoRm. A wiDget is An eleMeNt of a graphical uSer iNterface tHat DiSplAyS an inFOrmatiOn aRraNgement ChangeaBLe bY tHE USeR, such as a window or teXt BOX. A Widget enGine is AN oPeRAting sysTeM on WhicH WIdgetS run. aS uSed hereiN, the teRM “wIdGet” refeRs To code ThAt rUns On a wiDGet eNgine. EAch widgeT runs ITs own system proCEss, so that one wIDgET CaN Be shUtdOwn without aFfecTIng oTher WIdGetS. the wiDget eNgINe MAy include a feature caLlEd a “docK”, whicH shows a respecTive icon foR EACh availaBle wIDgET. TV widgets alloW a telEvision vieWEr to inteRact wIth the teLevision, e.G., BY requestIng AddItiOnaL INfOrmation relatING to tHe Subject MatTer beinG viEweD, wiThoUt Switching The vieweR's CoNtExT frOm watCHing a telEvIsiOn ProGram tO EnteriNg an aPpliCaTiON, in ResponsE To SUCh a rEqUeSt, thE reQuEsted InfoRMatIon is diSplayed as ParT Of thE vIsUal reprEsentation of tHe Widget on thE tEleVision SCReen.
CurrEntly virtually all TVs (conNEcted or OthErwisE) do nOt have any MetAdata oN whAT the viEwer is WatchInG. WhILE some INFoRmaTiOn is availaBLE in Bits aNd PiecEs in the Content distributioN PipEline, by the timE a sHow rEAChEs tHE sCReeN, aIL InFORmation other theN video and aUdIO hAs been lost. iN paRtIcular, tHe TV doeS not kNOw what cHannel or sHow the vieWeR is wATChiNg, nor what tHe show is About. (The cHAnnel ANd Show iNfoRmatioN a PerSon seEs on hiS/Her ScreeN is graFtEd on thE STB fRoM sometimEs incomplete information.) this baRrier Is tHe result oF thE FunDamental sTrucTure of the Tv coNteNt disTriBUtion InduSTrY. ThIS is a sEverE Issue for iNTeRacTIVe tVs since if lIMITs tHeir sCopE To striCtly Pull functionality.
tHere is a need for ImprOVEmeNts IN sysTeMs and methods foR idEnTIFying whaT vIdeo segment Is being
 these TVs. There are seve ral compet ing c onn ect ed  TVplat forms. Yahoo i s  the  most prominent one (s ee ht tp : //co n ne ctedt v.yahoo . co m / ).Th ebas ic co mmonfea tures o f such con nec te d TV platfor m sare: (1) a  co nnection tothe  Inter ne t;a nd (2 ) t he ab ilityt o runsoftwareon top of the TVd i sp lay.  Several TVs with th i s support arealread yi nt h e m ark et (e.g.,LG , Sam s ung and Vi z i o  ha v e models out) . Many more wil l ente rthe market  in t he nea r future. I ndus try obser vers e x pect al l  new TV s to h ave  th esef ea tu res  w i thi n  a  fe w  ye ars.
Con ne ct ed TV s ca n r u n an  ap plic ation  platform suc h a s th e  Ya hoo w idget  eng in e. Fl ash Li te (s ee  http://www.ado be.c om/produc ts/ fl ash li te/), Google  An dro id, orproprie t ary  p l a t fo rms. A developer c om m u ni ty build s widg e ts  t o  run onth isplat f o rm. A  wid g et  is an e lement of  a  graphi ca l user  i nte rfa ce th a t di splays  an info rmati o n arrangementc hangeable byt he u se r , su chas a window  ort extbox. Awid g et en gineis an operating system on  w hich w idget s run. As use d herein,t h e  term “w idge t ”r efers to codethatruns on aw idget en gine.  Each wi dget runs i ts own s yst empro ces s ,  s o that one wi d g et c an  be shu tdo wn with out  af fec tin gother wid gets. Th ewi dg et  en ginem ay inclu de  afe atu re ca l led a“dock ”, w hi ch sho ws a re s pe c t iveic on  for  ea ch  avai labl e  wi dget. T V widgets  al l ow a  t el evision  viewer to in te ract withth e t elevis i o n, e.g.,  by requesting addition a l infor mat ion r elat ing to th e s ubject  ma t ter be ing vi ewed,  w ith o u t swi t c hi ngth e viewer's c ont ext f ro m wa tchinga television progr a m t o entering an  ap plic a t io n,i nr esp on s e t o such a request,  the reque st e dinformatio n  is  d isplaye d as pa rt of the vis ual repre sentation  o f th e wid get on the  televis ion scree n .
Cur r en tly v irt uallyal l T Vs (c onnect e d o r oth erwise )do not  have  a ny metad ata on what the vieweris wat ching . W hile some  in f orm ation isavai lable in b its  an d pie ces in th e co n te ntd istri buti o n pipelin e ,byt h etime a show r e ach es th e s c reen,ailInformation other then video and  aud i o  ha s b e en l os t. In particul ar,  t h e  TV does  n ot know wha t channe lo r sho w theviewer  is wat c h in g , norwhat  th e show is  ab ou t . (Thech an n el and  sho winform ationa  per s o n sees on his/he r scr e e n isg raf ted o nthe STB from  sometimes  incomplete  infor mati on.)This ba rr ier is  th eresult oft he fundam ental  struct ur e of  th e TV c onte n t  dist ribu ti onindustry. T hi s  i sa  se vere  issu eforinteracti v e TVs si nce if limi ts  th e i r scop e  t o strictly p ull  func t i onality.
T h erei sa  need  for i mprove ments i n  sy st ems and  me t h ods for i dentifyin g  wh at  vid eo segme nt  isbe ing 
 these_TVs. There_are several competing connected_TV platforms._Yahoo_is the_most_prominent one (see_http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/). The basic_common features of such_connected TV platforms_are:_(1) a connection to the Internet; and (2) the ability to run software on_top_of the_TV_display._Several TVs with this support_are already in the market_(e.g., LG,_Samsung and Vizio have models out). Many more_will_enter the market_in the near future. Industry observers expect all new_TVs to have these features within_a few years.
Connected_TVs_can_run an application platform_such as the Yahoo widget engine._Flash Lite (see http://www.adobe.com/products/flashlite/), Google Android,_or proprietary platforms. A developer community builds_widgets to run on this platform._A widget is an element_of a_graphical user interface that displays_an information arrangement_changeable by_the user, such_as a window or text box._A widget engine_is an operating system on which_widgets_run. As used_herein,_the_term “widget”_refers to code_that_runs on_a_widget engine. Each widget runs its_own_system process, so that one widget can_be shutdown without affecting_other_widgets. The widget engine_may include a feature called_a “dock”, which shows a respective_icon for_each available_widget. TV widgets allow a television viewer to interact with the_television, e.g., by requesting additional information_relating to the subject_matter being_viewed,_without switching the_viewer's_context from_watching a television program to entering an_application, in_response to such a request, the_requested information is displayed_as_part of the visual representation of_the widget on the television screen.
Currently_virtually all TVs (connected or_otherwise)_do_not have any metadata on_what the viewer is watching. While_some information is_available in bits and pieces in the_content_distribution pipeline, by the time a_show_reaches the screen, ail Information other_then_video_and audio has been lost._In particular, the TV does not_know what channel or show the viewer is watching,_nor what the_show is about. (The channel_and_show_information a person sees on his/her screen is grafted on_the STB_from sometimes incomplete_information.) This barrier is the result of the fundamental structure_of the TV content distribution industry. This_is a severe issue for interactive TVs since if limits their_scope to strictly pull functionality.
There is a need_for improvements in systems and methods for_identifying what video segment_is_being