Apparatus, systems and methods for controlling presentation of content using a multi-media table

A media device, comprising:

• a first media content stream interface configured to receive a streaming first media content event, wherein a broadcast of the first media content event is being received from a media system sourced from a remote head end facility operated by a media content provider;
• a second media content stream interface configured to receive a second streaming media content event, wherein a broadcast of the second media content event is being received from the media system sourced from the remote head end facility operated by the media content provider, and wherein the second media content event is different from the first media content event;
• a presentation device interface that communicatively coupled the media device to components of a media presentation system;
• a multi-media table interface that communicatively couples the media device to a multi-media device,
• wherein the media device is operable to communicate the broadcasting first media content event to a multi-media table that presents the received broadcasting first media content event on a touch-sensitive display controlled by the multi-media table, and
• wherein the media device is operable to receive media device commands from the multi-media table that are generated in response to a gesture-based touch movement made by a user on the touch-sensitive display;
• a processor system communicatively coupled to the media content stream interface, the presentation device interface and the multi-media table interface, wherein the processor system is configured to:
• control presentation of the first media content event in accordance with the received media device command;
• communicate the first media content event that has been controlled in accordance with the received media device command to the multi-media table via the multi-media table interface,
• wherein the controlled media content event is presented on the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table;
• and
• communicate the second media content event to the components of the media presentation system via the presentation device interface, wherein the components of the media presentation system present the second media content event,
• wherein the portion on the touch-sensitive display that is presenting the media content event received from the media device is a first portion on the touch-sensitive display, the method further comprising:
• present a first graphical icon on a second portion of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the graphical icon corresponds to a digital video disc (DVD) player that is communicatively coupled to the media device and that is controllable by the media device;
• receive, at the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table, a user selection of the graphical icon;
• and
• present a graphical image of the DVD player on a third portion of the touch-sensitive display,
• wherein the first graphical icon corresponding to the DVD player is smaller than the graphical image of the DVD player,
• wherein the graphical image of the DVD player comprises a plurality of active areas, and
• wherein each of the plurality of active areas of the graphical image of the DVD player uniquely correspond to a controller on the DVD player that is used to control presentation of the media content event by the DVD player;
• execute an application using a processor system of the multi-media table while the media content event is being received from the media device, wherein the executing application generates an output graphics that is presented on a fourth portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table,
• wherein the output graphics of the executing application is at least one of text information, a table, a chart or a diagram,
• wherein the output graphics of the executing application is presented on the fourth portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table concurrently with the media content event that is being presented on the first portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table and the first graphical icon that is being presented on the second portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table, and
• wherein the first portion, the second portion and the fourth portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table are different portions of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table.

A multi-media table, comprising:

• a media device interface that communicatively couples the multi-media table to a media device that is operable to access media content, wherein the media device interface receives from the media device a media content event;
• a touch-sensitive display that is horizontally oriented on top of a pedestal and that is covered by a rigid transparent working surface, wherein the received media content event is presented on a first portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table;
• a memory that stores a plurality of working applications;
• a processor system that executes a selected one of the working applications that the processor system has retrieved from the memory of the multi-media table,
• wherein the processor system generates output graphics of the executing application,
• wherein the output graphics of the executing application is presented on a second portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table concurrently with the media content event that is being presented on the first portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table and a first graphical icon that is being presented on the second portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table,
• wherein the output graphics of the executing application is at least one of text information, a table, a chart or a diagram, and
• wherein the first portion and the second portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table are different portions of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table,
• wherein during presentation of the media content event on the first portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table and concurrent presentation of the output graphics of the executing application on the second portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table, the processor system:
• detects a gesture-based touch movement made by a user on the touch-sensitive display;
• determines an intended user command based on the detected gesture-based touch movement;
• generates a media device command when the intended user command is configured to control presentation of the media content event;
• communicates the generated media device command from the multi-media table to the media device to the media device;
• presents a first graphical icon on a third portion of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the graphical icon corresponds to a digital video disc (DVD) player that is communicatively coupled to the media device and that is controllable by the media device;
• receives, at the touch-sensitive display, a user selection of the graphical icon;
• presents a graphical image of the DVD player on a fourth portion of the touch-sensitive display in response to receiving the user selection of the graphical icon,
• wherein the first graphical icon corresponding to the DVD player is smaller than the graphical image of the DVD player,
• wherein the graphical image of the DVD player comprises a plurality of active areas, and
• wherein each of the plurality of active areas of the graphical image of the DVD player uniquely correspond to a controller on the DVD player that is used to control presentation of the media content event by the DVD player,
• wherein the media device controls presentation of the broadcasting media content event in accordance with the received media device command.