Method and apparatus for playing video and casino games with a television remote control

Abstract

A method and apparatus to facilitate access to web content including video games, shopping, multimedia and portal content. Services to facilitate the navigation and access of content include providing access to a set of video and casino games. A system to allow one or more users to play the games using a remote control. The system may execute the games at a central server and display them through a local console device.

1 . A method comprising: 
 displaying a web based game; and    receiving control input for the game from a television remote control.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 displaying a set of game control options in a matrix format.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 displaying a set of web based games as navigation options.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:, receiving control input from a second television remote control.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game is one of a video game and a gambling game.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 tracking the online status of a group of individuals designated by a user.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a game matching service to a user.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control input is unique input.  
   
   
       9 . A method comprising: 
 executing a game on a server;    displaying the game remotely at a first location-on a first television; and    receiving control input remotely from a first television remote control at the first location.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  9 , further comprising: 
 providing access to the game from a simplified navigation interface for web content on a television.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the game is one of a video game and a gambling game.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:. 
 displaying the game remotely at a second location on a second television.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 receiving control input remotely from a second television control.    
   
   
       14 . A machine readable medium having stored therein a set of instructions which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations comprising: 
 displaying a web-based game; and    receiving control input for the game from a television remote control.    
   
   
       15 . The machine readable medium of  claim 14  having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations, further comprising: 
 displaying a set of game control options in a matrix format.    
   
   
       16 . The machine readable medium of  claim 14  having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations, further comprising: 
 displaying a set of web based games as navigation options.    
   
   
       17 . The machine readable medium of  claim 14  having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations, further comprising: 
 receiving control input from a second television remote control.