Display inserts, overlays, and graphical user interfaces for multimedia systems

A device comprising:

• a first interface for enabling bi-directional communications, within a premises, with one or more endpoint devices;
• a second interface for enabling bi-directional communications, via a wide area network, between the one or more endpoint devices and a remotely located application service management center external to the premises;
• a processor coupled to the first and second interfaces;
• and
• a machine-readable medium storing programming, executable by the processor, that comprises:
• logic for a plurality of application services;
• logic for interfaces for the application services;
• logic for managing resources at the device;
• logic for a services framework;
• and
• logic for platform management;
• and
• wherein execution of the programming:
• configures the device for interaction and interoperability with the one or more endpoint devices, wherein the application services logic, the services framework logic, and the platform management logic are managed responsive to the communications with the remotely located application service management center via the wide area network through the second interface;
• and
• causes the resource management logic:
• to determine the availability of resources based on a request, by one of the end point devices, for services;
• and
• to manage the resources to implement the request such that consistent performance is provided by services accessed by the one or more endpoints devices via a local area network.

A method for operating a device, located at a user premises, comprising a first interface for enabling bi-directional communications within the premises, with one or more of the endpoint devices and a second interface for enabling bi-directional communications, via a wide area network, between the one or more endpoint devices and a remotely located application service management center external to the premises, the method comprising:

• causing the device to provide functions in relation to a respective service for the one or more endpoint devices, said functions including:
• (1) communication, via the second interface, providing client functionality, between one or more endpoint devices and an application server, for the respective service;
• (2) enforcement regarding one or more of:
• authorization, authentication, configuration, use of the respective service, or any combination thereof, in relation to the one or more endpoint devices;
• (3) management of the application service based upon the communications with the remotely located application service management center via the wide area network;
• and
• (4) (a) determination of the availability of resources for a specific application, the determination based on a request, by one of the end point devices, for services and (b) management of the resources for the specific application to implement the request such that consistent performance is provided by services accessed by the one or more endpoint devices via a local area network.

A gateway device for operation at a user premises having at least one endpoint device associated with the gateway device, the gateway device being in communication with a remote service management center, the gateway device comprising:

• an application service module having at least one application, the application service module being remotely managed by the remote service management center via a network connection;
• an interface module associated with the at least one application, wherein the interface module enables communication from the gateway device to the at least one endpoint device;
• a network module implementing the network connection, wherein the network connection enables bi-directional communications with the remote service management center;
• a processor coupled to the interface module, application service module, network module, and a management module;
• a storage device coupled to the processor operable to store operational information generated by and related to the gateway device;
• and
• the management module operable to process the operational information and provide summary information based on the processed operational information.