Multimedia device for presenting various multimedia content

Abstract

A user interface provides historical and hierarchical search and navigation modes through previously selected and hierarchically linked multimedia applications, documents and directories. The system permits a search for information through hierarchically linked documents accessible via the Internet in which an individual document contains a reference link to a succeeding document. The systems includes an input processor for receiving a user entered search information item identifying an object associated with at least one of the hierarchically linked documents. An Internet processor for searching and identifying a plurality of child documents hierarchically linked to a parent document identified by the object and excluding non-hierarchically associated documents in response to user initiation of a hierarchical search. An output processor processes data identifying the plurality of child documents for communication to a reproduction device.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A multimedia device, comprising:
 a decoder configured to capture a plurality of television channels;   a controller;   memory having program instructions stored therein, wherein the program instructions are executable by the controller to cause the multimedia device to perform operations comprising:
 presenting a navigation menu depicting a plurality of media options, wherein the plurality of media options include at least one of the plurality of television channels and a web page accessible via a browser of the multimedia device; 
 receiving a directional input from a user, wherein the directional input is one of a plurality of navigational directions; 
 based on the directional input, displaying one of the plurality of media options to the user; 
 presenting a search menu having a field usable to receive search criteria; and 
 searching one or more of the plurality of media options based on the search criteria. 
   
     
     
         32 . The multimedia of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of media options include a plurality of multimedia applications selectable via a directional input from the user, wherein the plurality of multimedia applications include the browser. 
     
     
         33 . The multimedia of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of applications include an email client executable to retrieve email content of the user, and wherein the search menu allows the user to conduct a search of the email content. 
     
     
         34 . The multimedia of  claim 31 , wherein the searching includes searching web page content and program titles associated with the plurality of television channels. 
     
     
         35 . The multimedia of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 storing a database that defines an ordering in which the plurality or media options are to be displayed based on received directional inputs.   
     
     
         36 . The multimedia of  claim 35 , wherein the displayed media option is one of the plurality of television channels, and wherein the database indicates that, upon receiving a particular directional input when displaying the television channel, the multimedia device is to transition from displaying the television channel to displaying web page content via the browser. 
     
     
         37 . The multimedia of  claim 31 , wherein the navigation menu includes a timeline that indicates when particular television programs are to be presented via ones of the plurality of television channels. 
     
     
         38 . The multimedia of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 storing historical information identifying previously displayed ones of the plurality of media options;   receiving a backwards directional input from the user; and   in response to the backwards directional input, displaying a previous one of the displayed media options selected based on the historical information.   
     
     
         39 . The multimedia of  claim 31 , wherein the navigation menu depicts two or more of the plurality of media options in a hierarchical manner. 
     
     
         40 . The multimedia of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a display coupled to the decoder, wherein the display is configured to display the navigation menu to the user.   
     
     
         41 . A method, comprising:
 a set-top box receiving a plurality of television channels via a radio frequency tuner of the set-top box;   the set-top box storing a plurality of applications executable to retrieve Internet content via a network connection of the set-top box; and   the set-top box presenting an interface that permits a user to conduct a search of a plurality of sources including the retrieved Internet content and television content associated with the plurality of television channels.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 the set-top box presenting one of the plurality of television channels to the user;   the set-top box receiving one of a plurality of directional inputs supported by the set-top box, wherein the plurality of directional inputs includes an upwards directional input and a downwards directional input; and   in response to the received directional input, the set-top box transiting from displaying the television channel to displaying web page content retrieved by a web browser application, wherein the web browser application is one of the plurality of applications.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 the set-top box presenting a split-screen interface having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes a navigation menu usable to select content to be displayed, and wherein the second portion includes displayed selected content.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 the set-top box accessing an address book of the user, wherein the address book is one of the plurality of sources; and   the set-top box presenting one or more search results associated with members of the address book.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 the set-top box storing a word processor application, wherein the plurality of sources include documents viewable at the set-top box via the word processor application.   
     
     
         46 . A multimedia device, comprising:
 decoder configured to decode a plurality of video signals;   a processor; and   memory having program instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor to cause the multimedia device to perform operations comprising:
 providing video content associated with the plurality of video signals and application content associated with a plurality of applications executable on the multimedia device; and 
 presenting a search menu that allows a user to conduct a search using the video content and the application content as sources of the search. 
   
     
     
         47 . The multimedia device of  claim 46 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 presenting an interface that allows the user to cycle through viewing instances of video content and instances of application content by selecting ones of a plurality directional buttons.   
     
     
         48 . The multimedia device of  claim 46 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 storing a database that defines an ordering in which video content and application content are provided, wherein the database indicates that, for a particular television channel, selection of a particular direction button is to cause the multimedia device to transition from providing the television channel to providing application content for a particular one of the plurality of applications.   
     
     
         49 . The multimedia device of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of applications include an email client executable on the multimedia device to deliver email content to the user, and wherein the search menu allows the user to conduct the search using the email content as a source of the search. 
     
     
         50 . The multimedia device of  claim 46 , wherein the search menu allows the user to select what sources are to be used for the search.