BACKGROUND
The present invention is directed, in general, to the field of interactive television systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for representing the content on a display device in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over Television video streams to enhance a user's viewing experience.
While user interfaces are vastly more user-fiiendly now than in recent years, the current television navigation systems are still too cumbersome, poorly organized, and tend to overwhelm a viewer with too much irrelevant and not enough useful information. Current systems often require too many manipulations of remote control buttons to accomplish simple tasks such as obtaining information from multiple content sources. Because of this unnecessary complexity many people will not be able to gain access to the vast array of interactive television available now and in the future.
Cable and satellite television providers and the telecommunication industry have taken advantage of computer and communication advancements by providing an ever-increasing array of services to their customers. Primarily, recent advancements in fiber optic and digital transmission technology have enabled the television provider industry to increase channel capacity and provide some degree of interactive television service. This advancement is due in large part to the industry combining the processing power of a computer in the form of a cable set-top-box and cable's large capacity to carry information. Such cable boxes have successfully been used by the industry to provide both a greater selection of channels and some degree of interactivity.
A hallmark of modem graphical user interfaces is that they allow a large number of graphical objects or items to be displayed on a display screen at the same time provide user interfaces in which a number of windows can be displayed, overlapped, resized, moved, configured, and reformatted according to the needs of the user or application.

Although users appreciate interfaces that can present information on a display screen via multiple windows, the result can be overwhelming. For example, users may find it difficult to navigate to a particular user interface element or to locate a desired element among a large number of onscreen elements. The problem is further compounded when user interfaces allow users to position elements in a desired arrangement, including overlapping, minimizing, maximizing, and the like. Although such flexibility may be useful to the user, it can result in a cluttered display screen. Having too many elements displayed on the screen can lead to "information overload," thus inhibiting the user to efficiently use the computer equipment.
Many of the deficiencies of conventional user interfaces can be reduced by using "widgets". Generally, widgets are graphical user interface elements that can include information and one or more tools (e.g., applications) that let the user perform common or fixed tasks and provide fast access to information. Widgets can perform a variety of tasks, including without limitation, communicating with a remote server to provide information to the user (e.g., weather report), providing commonly needed functionality (e.g., a calculator), or acting as an information repository (e.g., a notebook).
Current tiends in software development include the integration of several popular applications into a centialized application that provides users with centialized access to content and applications, such as videos, television, music, editing tools (e.g., DVD authoring), etc. Although a centralized application can simplify a user's interaction with current television programs, if the user wants to access content not associated with the current television program (e.g., weather information, news, stock quotes, etc.), then the user may have to exit television program and invoke another application to access the desired information.
Existing methodologies provide the content on the television display along with television programming. However, the content fetching and the television programming stream are fetched through different streams utilizing different set of hardware components. Also, prior art technologies do not allow Midgets to be present on the television visual streams.

Current technologies display textual information obtained from the internet through browsing software which is present inside a television or on an external device such as set-top box. Current methodologies display content from internet by providing the information as-is to the user using browser software or software which behaves like a HTTP client. They do not involve any modification in order to present the content in a form which is readable on the television screen thereby limiting the user interactions with the content displayed on the TV.
In view of the foregoing, it has been found that conventional approaches to represent the content on the display device in the form of widgets suffer from shortcomings and inefficiencies that warrant improvement. Accordingly, there is a need for a unique way to represent the content on the display device in the form of graphical widgets overlaid on the video stream.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
A method for representing the content on a display device in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over the video stream is disclosed. Such method may help in displaying the content and the video stream as a unified visual stream to the viewer and enhance the viewer's experience in interacting with the display device.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for representing the content in the form of graphical widgets overlaid on a display device is disclosed. The method includes formatting content obtained from content source into extensible Mark¬up Language (XML) format and providing the XML formatted content available on at least one of a data transport medium. The method further includes processing the XML formatted content using a middleware module and rendering the XML formatted content in the form of graphical widgets and overlaying the rendered graphical widgets over a video stream and displaying the unified stream on a display device. Further, the method includes customizing the graphical widgets based on viewer's preferences.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for representing graphical widgets overlaid on a display device is disclosed. The system includes a content package module for formatting a content obtained from a content source into a

XML format. The system further includes a data transport medium for providing the XML formatted content available. Further the system includes a middleware module for processing the XML formatted content and rendering the XML formatted content in the form of graphical widgets and overlaying the rendered graphical widgets over a video stream and displaying the unified stream on a display device.
DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation illustrating a method representing the content on the display device in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over the video streams, in one embodiment of the present technique;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a software/hardware architecture configured to represent the content on the display device in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over the video streams, in one embodiment of the present technique;
Fig. 3(a)-(b) are illustrations of different types of graphical widgets overlaid on over the video streams on the display device, according to various embodiments of the present technique; and
Fig. 4 is a system illustrating a generalized computer network arrangement, in one embodiment of the present technique.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description is full and informative description of the best method and system presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention which is known to the inventors at the time of filing the patent application. Of course, many modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the following description in view of the accompanying drawings and the appended

claims. While the method described herein are provided with a certain degree of specificity, the present technique may be implemented with either greater or lesser specificity, depending on the needs of the user. Further, some of the features of the present technique may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features described in the following paragraphs. As such, the present description should be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present technique and not in limitation thereof, since the present technique is defined solely by the claims.
As a preliminary matter, the definition of the term "or" for the purpose of the following discussion and the appended claims is intended to be an inclusive "or" That is, the term "or" is not intended to differentiate between two mutually exclusive alternatives. Rather, the term "or" when employed as a conjunction between two elements is defined as including one element by itself, the other element itself, and combinations and permutations of the elements. For example, a discussion or recitation employing the terminology "A" or "B" includes: "A" by itself, "B" by itself and any combination thereof, such as "AB" and/or "BA." It is worth noting that the present discussion relates to exemplary embodiments, and the appended claims should not be limited to the embodiments discussed herein
The present invention is directed, in general, to the field of interactive television systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for representing the content on a display device in the form of graphical widgets overiaid over the video streams to enhance a viewer's viewing experience.
As will be appreciated by people skilled in the art, to best understand the present invention it is important to be familiar with the environment in which it is used.
The term "displ^ device" as used herein, refers to television, cathode ray tube ("CRT"), liquid crystal display ("LCD"), or other device capable of presenting a video streams.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and in reference to Fig.l, a method for representing the content on a display device in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over the video streams to enhance a viewer's viewing experience is

disclosed. The method starts in step 100, wherein the content to be displayed on the display device is obtained from the content source. The content may comprise textual data or alphanumeric data and image data. The content may also include real-time data indicative of current conditions. The content may further include viewer-defined wherein the viewer can provide a reminder about a future television program in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The content source can be an internet or an internal database which stored information about a television program exposed through a web-service. In some exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the content is used to reflect the real-time information such as stock market index values, share prices of public companies, sport scores. In some other embodiments of the present invention, the content may include viewer defined data such as a reminder alarm about certain scheduled television program.
In step 102, the content obtained from the content source is formatted into a pre-defined extensible Mark-up Language (XML) file (hereinafter termed as "XML formatted content") based on a pre-set XML schema. The XML formatted content may also comprise the rendering instructions such as formatting instructions. The formatting instructions may include the text font, size, color, image background etc. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the content obtained from in internet source (http://living.oneindia.in) for providing fashion-tips may be formatted in the following way:

caption="Ties">Never wear a short sleeve shirt with a tie
caption="Trousers and Socks">Trousers should be long enough to cover your socks, and socks should cover your shins even when you cross you legs.

One of the skilled in the art readily recognizes that there may be multiple contents obtained from multiple content sources leading to the generation of multiple XML formatted contents.
Now, the XML formatted content is made available on the data transport medium for further use as illustrated in step 104. The data transport medium, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is a cable television medium. The cable television medium will use the video channel to transfer the video streams and data channel to transfer the data. The present invention will use the data channel of the cable television data transport medium to transfer the XML formatted content. That is the XML formatted content is thus made available via the data channel of the cable television medium This step alleviates the use of a different transport medium for transferring the content onto the display device.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the XML formatted content is made available on the data transport medivim of the satellite broadcast medium. In this case, the XML formatted content is made available on the data carousal of the satellite broadcast medium. In another embodiment of the present invention, the data transport medium used for availing the XML formatted content is different from the data transport medium used for transferring the television video streams. In an illustrative embodiment of the present technique, this is seen in hybrid systems wherein the Television video stream is delivered through Satellite TV systems or Terrestrial broadcast and the data is fetched over a conventional data channel like Ethemet or Wi-Fi. Here different hardware subsystems will be in use each pertaining to certain functionality.
In step 106, the XML formatted content obtained from the data transport medium is processed by a middleware module. The software application embedded in the middleware module will process the XML formatted content. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the processing of the XML formatted content is done by an application written in a JAVA programming language running on a virtual

machine. The processing of the XML formatted content is then followed by generation of bytecode and executing it on the virtual machine. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the XML processing is done by an interface module connected to the middleware module through a wired or wireless connection. The interface module can be an external device interfaced to the middleware module using a wired or wireless connection.
In step 108, the processed XML formatted content is rendered and displayed in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over the television video stream. The step further includes rendering the widgets based on the rendering instructions provided as part of the XML formatted content. The instructions may comprise: widget size, text font, back ground color, text color, placement of the widget on the display screen etc.
Fig. 2 provides a block diagram of software/hardware architecture 200 configured to represent the content on the display device in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over the video streams. The content source 202 may be internet sources where the content is available or internal content provided by the viewer. The content obtained from the content source is formatted to a pre-defined XML format by a pre-set XML schema in the content package module 204. The content package module stores pre¬defined XML schema to format the content obtained fi-om the content source. The XML formatted content obtained from the content package module is made available via the data transport mechanism 206 for further use. The data transport mechanism 206 comprises broadcasters headend 208, data transport medium 210 and satellite receiver (viewers end) 216. The data transport medium 212, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is a cable television medium (not shown). The cable television medium will use the video channel to transfer the video streams and data channel to transfer the data. The present invention will use the data channel of the cable television data transport medium to transfer the XML formatted content. That is the XML formatted content is thus made available via the data channel of the cable television medium This step alleviates the use of a different transport medium for transferring the content onto the display device.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the XML

formatted content is made available on the data transport medium 212 of the satellite broadcast medium. The XML formatted content is now readily available at the broadcaster headend 208. The broadcaster headend is an infrastructural hardware component which interfaces with the Satellite Dish /Cable Server for transmitting the TV broadcast signal. In this case, the XML formatted content is made available on the data carousal 212 of the satellite broadcast medium. The television video streams will use the video channel 214 for transferring the video content of the television program. The satellite receiver 216 at the viewer's end will receive the XML formatted content that is available on the data carousal 212 and transfer the XML formatted content to a middleware module for further processing, hi one embodiment of the present invention, the satellite receiver is hardware dish antennae which sits on the viewers premises and is used to receive the TV signal.
The middleware module 218, in some embodiments, is an operating system which runs on the set-top box or any similar device built in the display device configured to perform the job of set-top box (STB). The set-top box possesses the capabilities to decode the video signals using the DVB-S standard(s) for Satellite television, DVB-T for terrestrial broadcasts and DVB-C for Cable Television. The middleware module further comprises conditional access system 220, software programming module 222, rendering engine 224 and on screen display 226. There are two ways of writing the applications for the middleware module.
• Carousal based applications wherein the applications are made available on the data carousal and fetched from the carousal before being run on the middleware.
• Embedded Applications which are made available as part of the firmware and stored on the non-volatile memory of the set-top box (STB).
The conditional access system 220 comprise an encryption layer which determines whether the viewer has access to certain services or not (a service is usually a TV channel). The software programming module 222 will decode the video signal coming from the satellite receiver 216. The rendering engine 224 renders widgets, buttons and images on the display device. The software programming module 222 and

the rendering engine 224 may also do the functionalities required to display the graphical views based on at least one of a predefined interval or viewer's preferences / choices or changing the graphical view of the widget by viewer interaction with the widget in real time using an input device. The input device can be selected from the group of, but not limited to, remote controller or buttons placed on the display device or buttons placed on the set-top box (STB) or a wireless or wired key board connected to the display device or combinations thereof The on screen display 226 is a layer of the video signal which is overlaid over the TV video creating a unified video signal passed on to the display device. Finally, the video stream and the graphical widgets are displayed on the display device 228 as a unified stream and thus enhance the viewers experience with the display device.
Figs. 3(a) and 3(b) are examples of the graphical widgets that may be created on the television by the computer method and system of the present invention. These graphical widgets shown in Figs 3(a) and 3(b) provide the viewer a converged experience on the television. The converged experience by involving both data from Intemet and other sources represented as widgets and the Television program made available as a broadcast signal. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the display device (block 300) displaying graphical widgets (302) overlaid over the television video content (block 304) and thus providing a converged experience to the viewer.
In certain implementations of the present invention, the XML formatted contents are stored in a local device. Preferably, the XML formatted contents are stored on a disk present in the local device. The local device, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is selected from the group of set-top box (STB) or handheld computer or mobile phone or personal computer or combinations thereof These devices may be connected to middleware module through wired or wireless cormection for further pushing the XML formatted content on to the television screen.
In certain implementations of the present invention, the viewer can customize his/her interested data in the form of graphical widgets on the display device. For example, if the viewer wishes to see the stock prices of a particular stock, the viewer can configure the same by using an input device. The input device can be selected from the

group of, but not limited to, remote controller or buttons placed on the display device or buttons placed on the set-top box (STB) or a wireless or wired key board connected to the display device or combinations thereof. When the viewer clicks on some required data by using an input device, the middleware module obtains the content from the data channel and renders it in the form of graphical widgets on the television screen by overlaying them on the top of the video being shown. The viewer can also personalize the display of these graphical widgets. The viewer personalized settings can be stored in a local device such as set-top box (STB) or handheld computer or mobile phone or personal phone. The characteristics like size, position, color of the widgets can be altered to suit the viewer's interests and permanently saved in the local memory provided in the middleware module.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the widgets may have one or more graphical views of the XML formatted content. In one exemplaiy embodiment of the present invention, if the XML formatted content is based on a cricket score of a team, the multiple graphical views that the widgets can display are, to mention only a few, team score, batsman score, bowlers score, overs left for the innings, scoring rate in the last 5 overs etc. Now, these multiple graphical views will alternate among themselves based on a predefined interval of time. For e.g., these multiple graphical views may alternate for every 5 seconds. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the viewer may select among the multiple graphical views based on his/her preference/choice by using an input device. The input device can be selected from the group of, but not limited to, remote controller or buttons placed on the display device or buttons placed on the set-top box (STB) or a wireless or wired key board connected to the display device or combinations thereof For e.g., if the viewer preference / choice is to view team score eveiy time when he/she enables the graphical widget, he/she can do the one time setting preference / choice of viewing the team score by using an input device. In yet alternate embodiment of the present invention, the viewer can alter the graphical widget views by interacting with the graphical widget in the real time by using the input device. For e.g., if the viewer wishes to see the batsman score graphical view while the widget is displaying the team score graphical view, then he/she can alter the team score graphical view to the batsman score graphical view by interacting with the graphical widget using

an input device.
The viewer may also dynamically set the occurrence of widgets over the television programming. In one embodiment of the present invention, the graphical widgets change dynamically on the currently running television program either on the channel being watched or on a different television channel.
The local device may also store the viewers past actions such as the data pertaining to the viewers viewing schedule for the last one week, most frequently watching television program etc. Further, the local device may also store the viewer's interactions with the graphical widgets for analytical purposes. Some of the scenarios wherein this analytical data can be used includes: Based on the frequency of widgets usage, the widgets which are regularly used can be placed in the front or given preference over others. Another example of utilizing the analytical purposes of the widgets can be to gauge the various interests of the viewer. If the viewer is interacting more with the Sports widgets it can we can conclude that the user has a keen interest in sports.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, the XML formatted content is used for banking transactions or exchanging messages between viewers. In one embodiment of the present invention, the message that is passed to the viewers includes a Short Messaging Service (SMS) or Email or both.
Also, the XML formatted content is used for conveying breaking/important news and they are represented as high alert graphical wIdgets on the display device. The graphical widget may also used to signify a contest or a lottery.
In one embodiment of the present technique, the main advantages include enhancing the user's viewing experience by providing the content to the viewer's interest in the form of graphical widgets overlaid over the television programming, customization of the graphical widgets can be done by viewer. Also, the present invention can be used in set-top box (STB) or buih into television sets to provide the internet content in the form of graphical widgets to the television viewer.
Exemplary Computing Environment

One or more of the above-described techniques may be implemented in or involve one or more computer systems. Fig. 4 illustrates a generalized example of a computing environment 400. The computing environment 400 is not intended to suggest any limitation as to scope of use or functionality of described embodiments.
With reference to Fig. 4, the computing environment 400 includes at least one processing unit 410 and memory 420. In Fig. 4, this most basic configuration 430 is included vsathin a dashed line. The processing unit 410 executes computer-executable instructions and may be a real or a virtual processor. In a multi-processing system, multiple processing units execute computer-executable instructions to increase processing power. The memory 420 may be volatile memory (e.g., registers, cache, RAM), non¬volatile memory (e.g., ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc.), or some combination of the two. In some embodiments, the memory 420 stores software 480 implementing described techniques.
A computing environment may have additional features. For example, the computing environment 400 includes storage 440, one or more input devices 450, one or more output devices 460, and one or more communication connections 470. An interconnection mechanism (not shovm) such as a bus, controller, or network interconnects the components of the computing environment 400. Typically, operating system software (not shown) provides an operating environment for other software executing in the computing environment 400, and coordinates activities of the components of the computing environment 400.
The storage 440 may be removable or non-removable, and includes magnetic disks, magnetic tapes or cassettes, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVDs, or any other medium which may be used to store information and which may be accessed within the computing environment 400. In some embodiments, the storage 440 stores instructions for the software 480.
The input device(s) 450 may be a touch input device such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, trackball, touch screen, or game controller, a voice input device, a scanning device, a digital camera, or another device that provides input to the computing

environment 400. The output device(s) 460 may be a display, printer, speaker, or another device that provides output from the computing environment 400.
The communication connection(s) 470 enable communication over a communication medium to another computing entity. The communication medium conveys information such as computer-executable instructions, audio or video information, or other data in a modulated data signal. A modulated data signal is a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media include wired or wireless techniques implemented with an electrical, optical, RF, infrared, acoustic, or other carrier.
Implementations may be described in the general context of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media are any available media that may be accessed within a computing environment. By way of example, and not limitation, within the computing environment 400, computer-readable media include memory 420, storage 440, communication media, and combinations of any of the above.
Having described and illustrated the principles of our invention with reference to described embodiments, it will be recognized that the described embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. It should be understood that the programs, processes, or methods described herein are not related or limited to any particular type of computing environment, unless indicated otherwise. Various types of general purpose or specialized computing environments may be used with or perform operations in accordance with the teachings described herein. Elements of the described embodiments shown in software may be implemented in hardware and vice versa.
In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of our invention may be applied, we claim as our invention all such embodiments as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

We Claim:
1. A computerized method for representing graphical widgets overlaid over a
video stream on a display device, the method comprising:
formatting a content obtained from a content source into a XML format;
making the XML formatted content available on at least one of a data transport medium;
processing the XML formatted content using a middleware module; and
rendering the XML formatted content in the form of graphical widgets and overlaying the rendered graphical widgets on the display device.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising of customization of the graphical widgets based on at least one preference of a viewer.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a television or a display interface configured to display video streams.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the XML formatted content comprises rendering or formatting instructions for the XML formatted content as graphical widgets.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transport medium used for providing the XML formatted content is based on at least one of a cable television medium or a satellite television broadcast medium and wherein, the XML formatted content is obtained via the data channel of the cable television medium while the XML formatted content is stored on the data carousal of the satellite broadcast medium.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprises an interface module configured to couple with the middleware module for processing the graphical widget data, using wired or wireless connection.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transport medium used for storing the XML formatted content is different from the data transport medium for storing the video streams.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing of the content is done by an application written in a JAVA programming language running on a virtual machine.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein processing of the content is followed by generating a bytecode and then executing on the virtual machine.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the XML formatted content is stored in a local device.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the local device is a Set-top Box (STB) or a handheld computer or a mobile phone or a personal computer.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical widgets are invoked by a remote controller or by buttons placed on the display device or the STB or a wireless or a wired keyboard connected to the display device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical widgets change dynamically based on a current running television program being broadcasted either on the channel being watched or on a different television channel.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the middleware module is used for configuring the settings of the graphical widgets.
15. The method of claim 2, wherein the viewer preferences are stored on at least one of a local device or the data transport medium.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the local device is a Set-top Box (STB) or a handheld computer or a mobile phone or a personal computer.
17. The method of claim 2, wherein the content is based on the viewers past actions.
18. The method of claim 2, wherein the viewer's interaction with the graphical widgets are stored on a local disk for analytical purposes.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical widgets consist of one or more graphical views of the XML formatted content wherein the graphical views are displayed based on at least one of a predefined interval or the viewer's preferences / choices.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical widgets consist of one or more graphical views of the XML formatted content wherein the graphical views are displayed based on the viewer's interaction with the widget.
21. A computerized system for representing graphical widgets overlaid over a video stream on a display device, the system comprising:
content package module for formatting a content obtained from a content source into a XML format;
data transport medium for making the XML formatted content available; and
middleware module for processing the XML formatted content and rendering the XML formatted content in the form of graphical widgets and overlaying the rendered graphical widgets on the display device.
22. The system of claim 21, further comprising of customization of the graphical widgets based on at least one preference of a viewer.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein the display device comprises a television or a display interface configured to display video streams.
24. The system of claim 21, wherein the XML formatted content comprises rendering or formatting instructions for the XML formatted content as graphical widgets.
25. The system of claim 21, wherein the data transport medium used for

storing the XML formatted content is based on at least one of a cable television medium or satellite television broadcast medium and wherein, the XML formatted content obtained via the data channel of the cable television medium while the XML formatted content is stored on the data carousal of the satellite broadcast medium.
26. The system of claim 21, further comprises an interface module configured to couple with the middleware module for processing the graphical widget data, using wired or wireless connection.
27. The system of claim 21, wherein the XML formatted content is stored in a local device.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the local device is a Set-top Box (STB), a handheld computer, a mobile phone or a personal computer.
29. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical widgets are invoked by a remote controller or by buttons placed on the display device or the STB or a wireless or wired key board connected to the display device.
30. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical widgets change dynamically based on a current running television program being broadcasted either on the channel being watched or on a different television channel.
31. The system of claim 21, wherein the middleware module is used for configuring the settings of the graphical widgets.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the viewer preferences are stored on at
least one of a local device or the data transport medium.
33. The system of claim 32, wherein the local device is a Set-top Box (STB), a
handheld computer, a mobile phone or a personal computer.
34. The system of claim 21, wherein the content is based on the viewers past
actions.
35. The system of claim 21, wherein the user's interaction with the graphical
widgets are stored on a local disk for analytical purposes.
36. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium
having a computer readable program code embodied therein for representing graphical
widgets overlaid over a video stream on a display device, the method comprising:
program code adapted for formatting a content obtained from a content source into a XML format;
program code adapted for making the XML formatted content available on at least one of a data transport medium;
program code adapted for processing the XML formatted content using a middleware module; and
program code adapted for rendering the XML formatted content in the form of graphic£il widgets and overlaying the rendered graphical widgets on the display device.