Abstract: A method of processing television images consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a command from a television user interface to capture a television image; capturing and storing a frame of the television image to a frame memory device; receiving commands from the television user interface for editing the captured image to at least isolate a portion of the image; editing the captured image in accord with the editing commands; and storing the isolated portion of the image to a storage device for subsequent retrieval. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A selective encryption decoder for decrypting and decoding a selectively encrypted digital video signal has a demultiplexer that receives packets of digital video, certain of the packets being unencrypted and certain of the packets being encrypted. Certain of the encrypted packets carry data representing an active region of a video frame. The unencrypted packets have a first packet identifier (PID) and the encrypted packets have a second packet identifier (PID). A decrypter receives the encrypted packets having the second PID and decrypts the encrypted packets using a first encryption method to produce decrypted packets. A PID remapper changes at least one of the first and second PIDs so that the unencrypted packets and the decrypted packets have the same PID. A decoder decodes the unencrypted and decrypted packets to produce a decoded video signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting since other embodiments can include more, fewer or different features than those described in this abstract.

Abstract: A television set-top box has a receiver receiving a digital television signal comprising, a plurality of unencrypted packets; and a plurality of encrypted packets. The encrypted packets are of at least one selected packet type and the at least one selected packet type has at least one of the following: packets containing a video slice header appearing in an active region of a video frame, any packet carrying data describing an active region of a video frame, I Frame packets, packets containing motion vectors in a first P frame following an I Frame, packets having an intra_slice_flag indicator set, packets having an intra_slice indicator set, packets containing an intra_coded macroblock, packets that carry data for a slice containing an intra_coded macroblock, packets containing data from a first macroblock following the video slice header, packets containing video slice headers, packets containing anchor data, and P Frame packets for progressively refreshed video data.

Abstract: A power circuit device has a housing. A connection electrically couples AC power to an interior portion of the housing. A female electrical socket is coupled to the housing and is electrically coupled to and receives AC power from the connection. An AC to DC converter is electrically coupled to the connection to receive AC power therefrom and produce a DC output therefrom. A current sensor senses current drawn by one of the AC to DC converter and the female electrical socket. A switch, responsive to the current sensor, selectively removes power from the other one of the female electrical socket and the AC to DC converter when a drop in current is sensed by the current sensor. AC versions without DC conversion are also contemplated. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of displaying items from an RSS feed on a television display involves registering the RSS feed with an RSS aggregator, the RSS feed aggregator being operatively coupled to the television display for display of RSS feed items; at the RSS aggregator, polling the RSS feed for RSS feed items; determining if the RSS feed contains an item that has been newly added since a preceding poll of the RSS feed; and if the RSS feed contains an item that has been newly added since a preceding poll of the RSS feed, downloading and displaying the newly added item on the television display replacing a previously displayed item from the RSS feed. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of carrying out wireless video communication involves at a wireless receiver (WR) device, providing a digital certificate, the digital certificate containing a High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection (HDCP) Key Source Vector (KSV), a device identifier for the WR device, and a digital signature cryptographically binding the identifiers; at the WR, responsive to an initiation of a wireless communication session from a wireless transmitter (WT) device, sending the digital certificate to the WT device; the WT receiving the digital certificate and having the identities in the digital certificate checked against a revocation list; and if one of the WR device's identities has been revoked, halting the wireless communication session. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A modular remote control consistent with certain implementations has a first end module having a sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a mating sliding connector, wherein one of the sliding connector and the mating sliding connector is designated male and the other is designated female, respectively. A last end module has a mating sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a sliding connector. At least one intermediate module has both a sliding connector and a mating sliding connector, wherein, the modular remote control is assembled with the first end module mated by the sliding connection with the at least one intermediate module, and the last end module is mated to the at least one intermediate module by the sliding connection to produce a linear configuration of modules.

Abstract: A circuit producing a wake-up signal with a frequency selective RF amplifier that produces an amplified RF output. An RF detector detects the RF output and produces a signal W indicative of the the RF output signal's presence. A threshold detector determines if the amplified output signal has reached a predetermined threshold and produces an output T. A clock signal is generated in response to the threshold detector output signal T. A data decoder logic circuit turns off the clock in the absence of an RF output signal for a time period and decodes the RF detector output W into a stream of output signals. A serial comparator compares a most recent stream of N output data from the data decoder logic with a stored reference to generate a wake-up signal that enables power to an electronic system. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A receiver remote controller has a storage device storing electronic program guide (EPG) data that relates content to television channels containing said content. The remote controller is contained in a remote controller housing with the housing containing: a data interface that receives the EPG data provided by an EPG data source for storage in the storage device; a speech interface that receives speech input from a user and produces speech signals therefrom; a natural language speech processor engine that receives the speech signals and translating the speech signals to a query of the EPG database; and a processor that receives results of the query from the natural language speech processor, and either conveys the results of the query to a user utilizing a user interface or sends navigation commands to the receiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A translation transceiver device consistent with certain embodiments has a 60 GHz band receiver for receiving SD type device compatible transmissions. A demodulator demodulates the SD type transmissions. A decoder decodes the demodulated SD type transmissions into received data. An AD type encoder encodes the received data to produce AD type transmitter compatible data. An AD type modulator modulates the AD type transmitter compatible data, and an AD type 60 GHz band transmitter transmits the modulated AD type transmitter compatible data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of auditing operation of a television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for content substitution, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention involves receiving data representing content, the data having at least first and second packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second portions of content. The content having the first PID is placed into a data stream. An initiation flag is received indicating initiation of a PID mapping operation. The content having the second PID is then mapped to the first PID and the mapped content is placed into the data stream. A termination flag is received indicating termination of the PID mapping operation at which point the process returns to placing content having the first PID into the data stream. The content substitution process can be used to replace advertisements, provide multiple plots, multiple endings, multiple views as well as other applications. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An automated method of attaching metadata to a segment of content using a programmed processor consistent with certain embodiments involves retrieving metadata relating to the segment of content; rendering the metadata as visually perceptible text in one or more frames of video; appending the one or more frames of video to the video as the first one or more frames of the video to produce metadata enhanced video; and storing or transmitting the metadata enhanced video. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A prosthetic breast form that is worn external to the human body to simulate a missing breast or portion thereof has a fabric pouch that defines an outer shape that approximates a breast shape or portion thereof, and that further defines an inner compartment; and a filler disposed within the inner compartment, the filler comprising a free flowing blend of clustered fiber filler, filler beads and weighting beads that are intermingled, where the weight of the filler is between approximately 1.25 ounces and 40 ounces. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of automatically changing an attribute defining operation of a television system involves determining that a short range radio frequency (RF) transceiver device has entered RF range of the television system, the television system having a short range RF transceiver compatible with that of the short range RF transceiver device; binding the short range RF transceiver device to the television set to establish an identity (ID) for the short range RF transceiver device; determining that the short range RF transceiver device is within a predefined distance metric of the television system by use of an audio ping signal; at the television system, looking up a functional attribute associated with the identity; and setting a television parameter at the television using the functional attribute while the short range RF transceiver device is in the RF range as well as within the predefined distance of the television system.

Abstract: A television content delivery system consistent with certain embodiments has a receiver system that receives television content from a plurality of content suppliers. A selective multiple encrypter selectively multiple encrypts the television content, wherein the resultant selectively multiple encrypted content stream is encrypted under at least one conditional access system (CAS) and at least one digital rights management system (DRMS). A transmitter transmits the selectively multiple encrypted television content stream to multiple receivers, so that the selectively multiple encrypted television content stream can be decrypted under either a system using at least one CAS or at least one DRMS. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain embodiments of identifying a functional command set for an access device that accesses television programming provided by a service provider at a control device involves transmitting a first command from a first command set of a group of possible command sets for the access device to the access device. The first command includes a command that is expected to cause the access device to generate a text containing video frame. A determination is made as to whether the extracted text corresponds to the first command set. The first command set is identified as the functional command set for the access device in response to determining that the extracted text corresponds to the first command set. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure consistent with certain implementations has a crystalline substrate oriented with a {111} plane surface that is within 10 degrees of surface normal. An epitaxially grown electrically insulating interlayer overlays the crystalline substrate and establishes a coincident lattice that mates with the surface symmetry of the {111} plane surface. An atomically stable two dimensional crystalline film resides on the epitaxial insulating layer with a coincident lattice match to the insulating interlayer. Methods of fabrication are disclosed. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A digital television (DTV) signal converter consistent with certain embodiments has a satellite band receiver that receives satellite television broadcast data from a satellite service and demodulates the satellite television broadcast data into a digital data stream. The digital data stream contains television content, satellite television logical channel identification information and electronic program guide data, and wherein television content, the logical channel identification information and the electronic program guide data are associated with a set of logical channels provided on the satellite service. A data mapper maps the satellite television logical channel identification information in the data stream to DTV channel identification information. A quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulator modulates the DTV channel identification information, the television content and the program guide data for transmission as an output comprising one or more QAM transport streams to a digital television.

Abstract: Certain embodiments consistent with the present invention involve a method of selectively encrypting digital video content that involves receiving a plurality of packets containing the digital video content; identifying packets containing start of frame (SOF) headers; inserting padding into the packets containing SOF headers to move the content of the packets containing the SOF headers to a previous or subsequent packet and create padded packets containing the SOF headers; selecting certain of the packets for encryption according to a selection criterion, wherein the selected packets exclude the padded packets containing SOF headers; encrypting the selected packets; and retaining the padded packets containing the SOF headers unencrypted to form selectively encrypted digital video content. Corresponding decoding method as well as encoding and decoding apparatus are also taught. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.