Patent ID: 9213538
Filing Date: 2015-12-15
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A non-transitory computer readable apparatus for use in a content distribution network comprising at least a first entity configured to distribute content and a plurality of second entities configured to receive said content, said apparatus comprising a display element manager adapted for use on at least one of said plurality of second entities said display element manager comprising a non-transitory medium adapted to store a computer program comprising a management component associated therewith, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause said at least one of said plurality of second entities to: enable said management component thereof to manage a plurality of application scene objects associated with respective ones of software applications via a visibility stack, said plurality of application scene objects comprise at least one Home Audio Video interoperability (HAVi) Hscene object; wherein said management component of said second entity is further adapted to transmit information regarding said plurality of application scene objects upstream to said first entity, said first entity adapted to direct operation of said management component based at least in part on said information; wherein a portion of said plurality of software applications are linked to one another such that when a first application scene object associated with a first software application is manipulated to a different location within said visibility stack, at least one second application scene object associated with at least one second software application linked to said first application is identified and placed into said visibility stack following said manipulation of said first application scene object; wherein a number of said at least one second application scene objects are hidden, said number being dynamically varied based at least in part on at least one parameter; and wherein said display element manager of said at least one of said plurality of second entities receives permission to direct said operation of said management component from said first entity.