Abstract: A method of building an interactive display related to TV programs in an internet protocol television (IPTV) environment includes parsing a plurality of TV programs provided in an IPTV environment for display to a user. The step of parsing includes capturing an image in each TV program, identifying video content in each captured image, interpreting the video content, capturing audio data, identifying an audio content in each captured audio data, and interpreting the audio content for each captured audio data. The method further includes the steps of identifying a selected TV program by the user; determining a correlation level between the interpreted video and audio content of the selected TV program and the interpreted video and audio content of each of the other TV programs; determining TV programs other than the selected TV program; and building and presenting a mosaic display on a TV display including the selected TV program.

Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed herein provide methods, systems, and devices for capturing broadcast streams, analyzing the broadcast streams to obtain information about the media content transmitted in the broadcast streams, obtaining additional information about the media content if available, and assigning a unique event identifier specific to the instance of broadcast of the broadcast stream and/or media segment transmitted in the broadcast stream. In other embodiments, the unique event identifier is broadcasted to broadcast receiving devices. With the unique event identifier, broadcast receiving devices can access the obtained information associated with the media content.

Abstract: A method for controlling an inactive channel for building a channel map in an internet protocol television (IPTV) receiver and the IPTV receiver thereof are provided. The method includes receiving a master service information (SI) table including a first element defining location of a virtual channel map table, parsing the first element in the received master SI table, receiving the virtual channel map table including a second element defining location of a virtual channel description table based on the parsed location element, parsing the second element in the received virtual channel map table, receiving the virtual channel description table, which includes a third element indicating designation of times when a virtual channel service is active, based on the parsed second element, parsing the third element in the received virtual channel description table, and controlling display of a virtual channel according to the parsed third element.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting a percentage of an advertisement playable by a smart appliance is disclosed. A server receives metadata associated with an advertisement in a transport signal stream from an encoder. The server determines a length of the advertisement and a frame rate of the transport signal stream based on the received metadata. The server divides the advertisement into at least one segment based on the length and the frame rate. The server instructs the encoder to insert at least one marker into at least one frame of the advertisement corresponding to the at least one segment of the transport signal stream to create at least one marked segment.

Abstract: A method for enabling channel selection for an electronic apparatus such as a television signal receiver is performed via a user input device having a key capable of being rotated and pressed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes enabling selection of a plurality of channel numbers to form a group, enabling a first one of the channel numbers to be selected as a initial channel number in response to the selection of the plurality of channel numbers in the group, enabling display of the initial channel number, enabling display of a second one of the channel numbers that is larger than the initial channel number if the key is rotated in a first direction, enabling display of a third one of the channel numbers that is smaller than the initial channel number if the key is rotated in a second direction, and tuning to one of the initial channel number, the second channel number and the third channel number responsive to depression of the key.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of managing video content quality. The method includes receiving performance data at a video quality prediction system where the performance data is related to a plurality of network elements of a network path linking a video-head end with a set-top box device. The method also includes predicting, based at least partially on the performance data, a quality of video content received at the set-top box device and determining whether the predicted quality of video content is greater than or equal to a video quality threshold. In addition, the method includes identifying at least one of the plurality of network elements not satisfying a performance requirement, based on the performance data, when the predicted quality of video content is less than the video quality threshold. Further, the method includes outputting data indicating the at least one network element not satisfying the performance requirement.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes an image receiver configured to receive video. The apparatus also include a first channel buffer configured to store first bit rate video data and a second channel buffer configured to y store video data when a network transmission speed corresponds to a preset condition. The apparatus further includes a decoder configured to receive and decode the video data stored in the first or second channel buffer. In addition, the apparatus includes a controller configured to transmit the video data stored in the first channel buffer to the decoder while the data is stored in the second channel buffer, and configured to transmit the video data stored in the second channel buffer to the decoder when a predetermined amount of video data is stored in the second channel buffer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for transferring a partially viewed media content file from a digital video recorder to a mobile device. In one embodiment, the method transfers only a remaining portion of a partially viewed media content file to the mobile device. In other embodiments, the method may transfer the entire partially viewed media content file with an indicator of the current viewing point of the partially viewed media content file. The indicator enables the mobile device to begin playing of the partially viewed media content file starting at the current viewing point.

Abstract: A method may include selecting a plurality programs to recommend to a user based on preferences of the user. The method may include displaying a program guide including a timeline, wherein the program guide indicates times that the plurality of recommended programs are scheduled to play. The program guide may also include a gap between the displayed recommended programs, the gap indicating a time during which one or more programs not selected to recommend to the user is scheduled to play. In one embodiment, the method may include displaying a video on demand (VOD) program or a personal video recorder (PVR) program in the gap between the displayed recommended programs.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a wireless communication unit wirelessly communicating with any of a plurality of external devices which each comprise a display, a display displaying content including specific content, an input unit receiving an input for selecting the specific content, and a controller. The controller searches for an external device that is available for communication with the electronic device, establishes communication via the wireless communication unit with a selected first external device, which is one of the plurality of external devices identified as a result of the search for an external device, receives content specification information from the first external device to determine the first external device's capability to display the specific content, and causes displaying of the specific content on the display of the first external device upon determining that the first external device is capable of displaying the specific content based on the content specification information.

Abstract: An AV session restoration method and a control point for performing the same are provided. The method includes collecting AV session information, and restoring the AV session based on the collected AV session information when an error occurs in the AV session.

Abstract: Matching advertising information to media content/user combinations in which information and content are delivered to a user over a network is disclosed. Content providers and advertisers may find out about the offerings of one another as well as user profiles and preferences thereby facilitating agreement of ads with content and users. Viral syndication is also facilitated by allowing the user to share downloaded media with friends and associates. Users may bookmark, share, and/or request/find more content with similarities to the downloaded content with various analytics being reported with respect to the same.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to the generation and provision of media metadata are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a computing device having a logic subsystem configured to execute instructions, and a data holding subsystem comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor to receive an input of a video and/or audio content item, and to compare the content item to one or more object descriptors each representing an object for locating within the content item to locate instances of one or more of the objects in the content item. The instructions are further executable to generate metadata for each object located in the video content item, and to receive a validating user input related to whether the metadata generated for a selected object is correct.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus generating output pixel values with respect to pixels of an input image selected in accordance with an image feature direction in the input image and including a comparing mechanism comparing blocks of pixels of the input image, the blocks disposed with respect to a pixel position under test so that a correlation between the blocks would indicate an image feature direction applicable to that pixel position; and a validating mechanism detecting whether an image feature direction may be used to interpolate an output pixel value at the pixel position under test. The validating mechanism: (i) detects whether a detected image feature direction for the pixel position under test meets one or more predetermined directional criteria; and (ii) detects whether pixel values in image regions disposed with respect to the pixel position under test in accordance with possible image feature directions meet one or more predetermined pixel value criteria.

Abstract: A bridge is provided for connecting multiple satellite receivers to multiple accessories in a video distribution system such as a direct broadcast satellite system. The bridge is designed for interposition between multiple satellite receivers (set top boxes or STBs) and controllable accessories (e.g. LNBs or multi-switches) of the video distribution system. The bridge provides controlled communication between STBs and controllable accessories using, for example, customized vendor extensions to the DiSEqC communication protocol. The bridge includes a communication protocol transceiver for each STB port, a communication protocol transmitter for each controllable accessory port, a mailbox for each STB port, a mailbox for the bridge, and a controller, processor, processing means or processing logic controlling or regulating video distribution system communication.

Abstract: At a client, a video is received. The video includes one or more advertisement slots. The video is played back to a user. During the playback of the video, an impending advertisement slot is detected. One or more advertisements are requested for placement in the advertisement slot. The one or more advertisements are received and placed in the advertisement slot.

Abstract: The invention relates to video distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video/audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based recording, storage and playback system. Customers preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for only the video/audio content that is actually viewed.

Abstract: A user interface arranged as hierarchical grid of tiles configurable to be individually and dynamically programmed for both content type and content placement according to a set of rules defining content placement and display specified by a content controller.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.