example pvr 114 may record programs transmitted via the host system 102 and played back on the digital media system 104 at a later time the digital media system 104 of fig1 further includes storage 122 for housing information utilized by the viewpoint control application 118 storage 122 may comprise internal memory i e main memory built into the digital media system 104 or may be external or secondary storage located outside of the digital media system 104 in exemplary embodiments storage 122 houses user profiles and or group profiles generated via the viewpoint control application 118 a user profile provides particular preferences supplied by a user of the digital media system 104 via the viewpoint control application 118 the user 39 s individual preferences are stored in the user profile and are accessible via the viewpoint control application 118 for use in implementing the individual rule based automation features which are described further in fig2 group preferences refer to the collective preferences of a group of users that may be viewing a particular program at a single location e g user 39 s home or may be two or more users viewing a particular program at different locations but who wish to experience the program via the same viewpoints for example two users are each viewing a program from a different location and are also experiencing the program e g via instant messaging telephone or other communication means the group features of the viewpoint control application 118 are described further herein storage 122 may also house information tracked by the viewpoint control application 118 that relates to user activities with respect to.