Satellite system/internet system with display option palette with multiple filtering options

An apparatus for displaying information on a television, comprising:

• a digital satellite system (DSS) processing element communicatively connected to at least one satellite communications channel for receiving digital communication signals, the received digital communication signals including sensory data and programming data related to the sensory data, the DSS processing element converting the received digital communication signals into a form that can be displayed on the television, the DSS processing element generating an option palette that can be displayed on the television, the option palette having a plurality of icons that facilitate a user's navigation through the converted digital communication signals;
• an Internet processing element communicatively connected to the Internet for receiving computer network communication signals and converting the received computer network communication signals into a form that can be displayed on the television, the Internet processing element receiving the converted digital communication signals and the option palette from the DSS processing element and displaying the converted digital communication signals, the converted computer network communication signals, and the option palette on the television, wherein the Internet processing element comprises a first video processor;
• and
• buffer logic comprising at least one buffer, a second video processor and a multiplexer coupled with the first and second video processor, the buffer logic is coupled with the DSS processing element and the Internet processing element, wherein the buffer logic buffers and facilitates communication between the DSS processing element and the Internet processing element, including buffering and facilitating the transfer of commands and the digital signals between the DSS processing element and the Internet processing element and the transfer of Internet data from the DSS processing element through the buffer logic to the Internet processing element wherein the multiplexer receives at least a portion of the sensory data and directs the portion of the sensory data to one of the first and second video processors to conditionally process the portion of the sensory data.