Abstract: A system processes packetized program information, from different broadcast sources, containing programs and program specific information including associated content rating data. A program specific parameter of a desired program is selected based on its source from equivalent parameters from alternative broadcast sources. The desired program is processed for display, recording or playback using the selected program specific parameter. The selected program specific parameter may comprise a content rating that is mapped to a different program content rating system and used in multi-level validation of authorization to access the desired program.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for compressing digital data of a sequence of synthesis images describing a scene which is the subject of a script, comprising a processing step for modelling the scene on the basis of mathematical data, a step of image rendering for creating a synthesis image from this modelling and a partitioning of this synthesis image into image blocks, differential coding of the current image block on the basis of a block of at least one synthesis image, this block being defined on the basis of at least one motion vector, so as to provide a residual block, characterized in that the motion vector is calculated from mathematical data emanating from the synthesis script and defining the apparent motion of the various objects constituting the scene which is the subject of the sequence. Applications are image synthesis in production. For video games, these are for example interactivity or virtual reality applications.

Abstract: A communication data format conveys digital ancillary data in a vertical blanking interval of a video signal. The format employs a reference symbol including a plurality of digital pulses for indicating the start of the ancillary data and also includes a header byte following the reference symbol. The header byte contains an identifier identifying a destination service for a payload of the ancillary data or an address identifying a destination of the payload. The format also conveys multiple payload bytes, following the reference symbol in which individual bits have a period substantially comprising, a first integral multiple of a first clock period associated with a first data format, and a different second integral multiple of a second clock period associated with a second data format.