Patent ID: 6988276

Claim:
A first television apparatus, comprising: means for transmitting information, via a connection; means for receiving information, via the connection; and a first processor associated with the transmitting means and the receiving means; wherein the first processor is configured to provide peer-to-peer communication with a second processor of a second television apparatus via the connection to allow a first person who is watching the first television apparatus to determine what is being watched by a second person on the second television apparatus, and to allow the second person to determine what is being watched by the first person on the first television apparatus; wherein, to allow the first person to determine what is being watched on the second television apparatus: (a) the first processor transmits a query to the second processor, via the connection, that requests information regarding content that is currently watched on the second television apparatus, and (b) the first processor is configured to receive, via the connection, the requested information regarding the content that is currently watched on the second television apparatus from the second processor; wherein the second processor is configured to provide the requested information regarding the content that is currently watched on the second television apparatus responsive to receipt of the query from the first processor; and wherein, to allow the second person to determine what is being watched on the first television apparatus: (a) the first processor receives a query from the second processor, via the connection, that requests information regarding content that is currently watched on the first television apparatus, and (b) the first processor is configured to provide, via the connection, the requested information regarding the content that is currently watched on the first television apparatus, responsive to receipt of the query from the second processor.