Applications registry for a television environment

Abstract

An applications registry provides a repository of television-based applications. The registry stores information about television-based applications registered, and allows users to view information regarding the registered television-based applications through one or more portals. The information includes a general description of the television-based applications, a description of an entitlement model for the television-based applications, and downloading information to permit a user to download the application to the home media system. The user accesses the registry, to view information about the television-based application, through a home media system. The home media system, which includes a television, accesses the portal over a network, such as the Internet.

1 . A system comprising:
 at least one server for providing access to at least one application, wherein said application comprises an application program suitable for operation on user equipment, said server operable for storing information about said application and for hosting at least one portal to allow viewing of said information about said application;   a home media system comprising user equipment for running said application on said user equipment, a home media server, and a digital media adapter coupled to the home media server, wherein the digital media adapter is operable to receive user interface commands through the portal and to render a user interface on said user equipment based on said commands; and   a network coupling said at least one server and said home media system, wherein said at least one server is operable for receiving a request from said home media system to view said information about said application.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one server is further operable for hosting a plurality of customized portals, wherein each portal permits viewing of information on applications selected based on one or more criteria. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said portal is further operable for providing a means for a user to search for applications by entering one or more keywords. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said portal is further operable for providing a means for a user to browse said applications. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said portal is further operable for providing a means for a user to provision one or more applications. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said information comprises a general description of one or more applications. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said information comprises a description of an entitlement model for said application. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said information comprises downloading information to permit a user to download the application to said home media system. 
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said home media system further comprises a user interface for said portal, implemented on a television. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said home media system further comprises a user interface for said portal, implemented on a computer. 
     
     
         11 . A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to provide information for at least one application program, said instructions for:
 providing access to at least one application, wherein said application comprises an application program suitable for operation on user equipment;   storing information about said application;   hosting at least one portal for viewing said information about said application;   receiving a request, over a network, from a home media server to view said information about said application,   receiving and processing user interface commands through the at least one portal using a digital media adapter coupled to the home media server; and   rendering a user interface on the user equipment based on said commands.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for hosting a plurality of customized portals, wherein each portal permits viewing of information on television-based applications selected based on one or more criteria. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for providing a means for a user to search for applications by entering one or more keywords. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for providing a means for a user to browse said applications. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for providing a means for a user to provision one or more applications. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said information comprises a general description of one or more applications. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said information comprises a description of an entitlement model for said application. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said information comprises downloading information to permit a user to download the application to said home media server. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said home media server further comprises a user interface for said portal. 
     
     
         20 . A method for providing information for at least one application program, said method comprising:
 providing access to at least one application, wherein said application comprises an application program suitable for operation on user equipment;   storing information about said application;   hosting at least one portal for viewing said information about said application;   receiving a request, over a network, from a home media server to view said information about said application, receiving and processing user interface commands through the at least one portal using a digital media adapter coupled to the home media server; and rendering a user interface on the user equipment based on said commands.