Representation of online discussion in conjunction with primary visual content

1. A method of representing online discussions in conjunction with primary visual content, the method comprising:

transmitting the primary visual content for presentation on a visual display;

receiving a first statement as part of an online discussion;

in response to receiving the first statement, transmitting a representation of the first statement and an icon representing a source of the first statement in conjunction with the primary visual content for presentation on the visual display;

sliding the icon onto the visual display via a periphery of the visual display, wherein the icon and the first statement are coupled graphically on the visual display, and wherein the icon and the first statement are placed near the periphery of the visual display after the sliding of the icon onto the visual display ends;

after a period of time while the icon and the first statement are presented on the visual display, during which a second statement by the source of the first statement is not received, removing the icon and the first statement from the visual display while maintaining the primary visual content on the visual display;

receiving the second statement of the online discussion from the source of the first statement before expiration of the period of time;

in response to receiving the second statement, replacing the first statement with the second statement on the visual display, and after a second period of time while the second statement is presented on the visual display; and

during which a third statement by the source of the first statement is not received removing the icon and the second statement from the visual display while maintaining the primary visual content on the visual display,

wherein the icon is removed by sliding the icon off of the visual display via the periphery of the visual display, and

wherein the second statement is faded as the icon is sliding off of the visual display via the periphery of the visual display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein sliding the icon onto the visual display further comprises:

sliding the icon onto the visual display via a bottom periphery of the visual display.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the icon and the first statement further comprises:

sliding the icon off of the visual display via the periphery of the visual display.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein sliding the icon off of the visual display further comprises:

sliding the icon off of the visual display via a bottom periphery of the visual display.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein removing the icon and the first statement further comprises:

progressively fading the first statement from the visual display during the period of time as the icon is sliding off of the visual display via the periphery of the visual display.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the icon is a first icon, and further comprising:

wherein the second statement of the online discussion is received from a source of the second statement that is not the source of the first statement;

in response to receiving the second statement, transmitting a representation of the second statement and a second icon representing the source of the second statement in conjunction with the primary visual content for presentation on the visual display, wherein the second icon and the second statement are coupled graphically on the visual display, wherein the second icon and the second statement are placed near the periphery of the visual display, and wherein the first icon and the second icon do not overlap on the visual display; and

after the second period of time while the second icon and the second statement are presented on the visual display, during which the third statement by the source of the second statement is not received, removing the second icon and the second statement from the visual display while maintaining the primary visual content on the visual display.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a graphical region in conjunction with the primary visual content to indicate the online discussion, wherein the graphical region is located along at least part of the periphery of the visual display.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the source of the first statement is a user of a media content receiver, wherein the media content receiver is configured to connect to the visual display.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the source of the first statement is a user of a media content receiver, wherein the media content receiver is configured to communicatively couple via a communication server with a second media content receiver connected to the visual display.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the source of the first statement is software executing within a communication server communicatively coupled with a media content receiver connected to the visual display.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the representation of the first statement and the icon further comprises:

presenting the icon in an area of the visual display unused by the primary visual content.

12. A media content receiver, comprising:

a media content input interface configured to receive primary visual content;

a media content output interface configured to transmit the primary visual content to a visual display for presentation to a user;

a communication interface configured to receive a plurality of statements as part of an online discussion, and an identification of a source of each of the plurality of statements; and

control circuitry configured to:

transmit a representation of a first statement and an icon representing the source of the first statement in conjunction with the primary visual content via the media content output interface for presentation on the visual display, wherein the icon and the first statement are associated graphically on the visual display and are presented by sliding the icon onto the visual display via a periphery of the visual display, and wherein the icon and the first statement are coupled graphically on the visual display and are located outside a central region of the visual display;

after a period of time while the icon and the first statement are first presented on the visual display, during which a second statement by the source of the first statement is not received, remove the icon and the first statement from the visual display while maintaining the primary visual content on the visual display;

receive the second statement of the online discussion from the source of the first statement before expiration of the period of time; and

in response to receiving the second statement, replace the first statement with the second statement on the visual display, and after a second period of time while the second statement is presented on the visual display, during which a third statement by the source of the first statement is not received, removing the icon and the second statement from the visual display while maintaining the primary visual content on the visual display, wherein the icon is removed by sliding the icon off of the visual display via the periphery of the visual display, and wherein the second statement is faded as the icon is sliding off of the visual display via the periphery of the visual display.

13. The media content receiver of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

in response to receiving the second statement, replace the first statement with the second statement on the visual display, and after the second period of time while the second statement is presented on the visual display, during which the third statement by the source of the first statement is not received, remove the icon and the second statement from the visual display while maintaining the primary visual content on the visual display.

14. The media content receiver of claim 12 , wherein:

the media content input interface comprises the communication interface.

15. The media content receiver of claim 12 , further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive the second statement of the online discussion from the user of the media content receiver.

16. The media content receiver of claim 15 , wherein the icon is a first icon, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

in response to receiving the second statement, transmit a representation of the second statement and a second icon representing the user in conjunction with the primary visual content for presentation on the visual display, wherein the second icon and the second statement are associated graphically on the visual display, wherein the second icon and the second statement are located on the visual display outside the central region of the visual display, and wherein the first icon and the second icon do not overlap on the visual display; and

after the second period of time while the second icon and the second statement are presented on the visual display, during which the third statement by the user is not received via the user interface, remove the second icon and the second statement from the visual display while maintaining the primary visual content on the visual display.

17. A television content receiver, comprising:

a television content input interface configured to receive primary video content;

a television content output interface configured to provide the primary video content to a television display for presentation to a user;

a communication interface configured to receive a plurality of statements in an online discussion, and an identification of a source of each one of the plurality of statements; and

control circuitry configured to:

transmit a representation of a first statement and an icon representing the source of the first statement in combination with the primary video content via the television content output interface to the television display; wherein the icon and the first statement are associated graphically on the television display, wherein the icon is presented by sliding the icon onto the television display via a periphery of the television display, and wherein the icon and the statement are located near the periphery of the television display;

after a period of time while the icon and the first statement are presented on the television display, during which a second statement by the source of the first statement is not received, remove the icon and the first statement from the television display while maintaining the primary video content on the television display, wherein the icon is removed by sliding the icon off of the television display via the periphery of the television display;

receive the second statement of the online discussion from the source of the first statement before expiration of the period of time; and

in response to receiving the second statement, replace the first statement with the second statement on the television display, and after a second period of time while the second statement is presented on the television display, during which a third statement by the source of the first statement is not received, removing the icon and the second statement from the television display while maintaining the primary visual content on the television display, wherein the icon is removed by sliding the icon off of the television display via the periphery of the television display, and wherein the second statement is faded as the icon is sliding off of the television display via the periphery of the television display.

18. The television content receiver of claim 17 , wherein:

the television content input interface is configured to receive the primary video content from at least one of a satellite, a cable head-end, and a terrestrial antenna;

the communication interface comprises at least one of a telephone connection and a wide-area network connection.

19. The television content receiver of claim 17 , wherein the icon is removed by sliding the icon off of the television display via a bottom periphery of the television display.