Abstract: A program replacing method includes registering a first program so that message transmission is enabled between the first program and a detachable point of deployment (POD). The first program has an identifier that identifies a program type of the first program. When a second program having the same identifier as the first program exists in the broadcast receiving terminal apparatus, the second program is notified that message transmission between the second program and the point of deployment is to be terminated. Approval for terminating the message transmission between the second program and the point of deployment is received from the second program. The message transmission between the second program and the point of deployment is then terminated.

Abstract: Disclosed is related to an interactive multimedia service system and method thereof using mobile station that is enable to see a broadcasting with real time/non-real time. A broadcasting station broadcasts a multimedia contents composed of the broadcasting contents being broadcasted and the other multimedia contents generated by the mobile station, and transmits the composed multimedia contents to the mobile station. Therefore, the user of the mobile station can see the broadcasting, which the user of mobile station participates in the interactive broadcasting with real time/non-real time.

Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of video on demand (VOD) in a digital cable system. A statistical remultiplexer (stat mux) acquires metadata that statistically describes the bandwidth characteristics of each VOD channel. When the metadata indicates that the VOD channel will require more bandwidth than is available, the stat mux can re-encode or re-compress other streams or the VOD stream streams to meet the bandwidth limitation. The metadata is generated off-line and streamed out ahead of the VOD program content. The stat mux includes a minimal length buffer for storing VOD program content that when combined with the metadata enables a viewer to randomly access VOD program content without noticeable latency. When a VOD function request is received from the viewer, the previously supplied metadata is used to allocate bandwidth rather than waiting for a look-ahead buffer to acquire a sufficient amount of future VOD program content.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention enable a bottom up analysis approach that derives physiological responses from measured physiological data of viewers of a media, and calculates scores of instances of an event type based on the physiological responses. The scores are then aggregated to rate the event type in addition to scoring the individual event instances. The approach can also form an overall rating of the media by aggregating the event ratings of set of event types within the media.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving an identification of a media program from a broadcast channel on an electronic program guide for inclusion in a personalized channel, adding the identified program to a personalized channel at a first time, and adding one or more additional programs to the personalized channel at times other than the first time.

Abstract: A content provision system provides a content reproduction apparatus with content including main information which is at least either of video information and audio information generated by a content generation apparatus. The content generation apparatus generates a bodily sensation element by applying numeric conversion to characteristics of a bodily sensation given to a user, generates instruction information to reproduce the bodily sensation element in synchronism with reproduction of the main information, generates bodily sensation information by adding the instruction information to the bodily sensation element, and generates content including the bodily sensation information by adding the bodily sensation information to the main information.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a light source; a spatial light modulation element modulating light from the light source based on a video signal; light quantity adjustment section adjusting the light quantity of light from the light source based on luminance information in the video signal; image correction section correcting luminance level of the video signal in accordance with light quantity adjustment by the light quantity adjustment section, and supplying a corrected video signal to the spatial light modulation element; and re-adjustment section performing re-adjustment such that a light quantity adjustment target is re-adjusted to a lower value, in a case that a final display luminance level, representing a luminance of the light modulated by the spatial modulation element, is lower than a predetermined first luminance level, where the light quantity adjustment target represents a adjustment target value in the light quantity, employed by the light quantity adjustment section.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for rendering an audio signal over a wireless communication device where the video signal associated with the audio signal is being output to one or more displays in an audio-video system. The audio-video system includes a controller that outputs the video signal to the one or more displays, and a transceiver that transmits an audio signal associated with the video signal to the wireless communication device. A transceiver in the wireless communication device receives the transmitted audio signal from the audio-video system, and an audio processing circuit renders the audio signal as audible sound to the user of the wireless communication device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a capability is disclosed for conveying a link to further information over a cable system to a consumer device, wherein the video link can be associated with an external video source. The information can be conveyed to the consume device in one embodiment by embedding the video link information within a stream of MPEG formatted video information using an EBIF application. The video link information can be a URL from which the external information, typically video information, can be received. Upon detecting the link, the consumer device opens up a display window on a television image, which is presented to the viewer in an overlaid manner in addition to the MPEG video information on a television display. Typically, after the external video is presented, the window is closed.

Abstract: Distributed and highly software reconfigurable CMTS (CMRTS) device, based on MAC and PHY units with FPGA and DSP components, for a HFC CATV network. The various CATV RF modulators, such as QAM modulators, may be divided between QAM modulators located at the cable plant, and remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A basic set of CATV QAM data waveforms may optionally be transmitted to the nodes using a first fiber, and a second set of IP/on-demand data may be transmitted to the nodes using an alternate fiber or alternate fiber frequency, and optionally using other protocols such as Ethernet protocols. The nodes will extract the data specific to each neighborhood and inject this data into unused QAM channels, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for managing and reconfiguring the FPGA and DSP based CMTRS units is also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are described to provide closed captioning preferences. In an implementation, a user interface is output that is configured to accept preferences for a plurality of closed captions. A first one of the closed captions is output, based on the preferences, when available via a particular channel. A second one of the closed captions is output, based on the preferences, when the first closed caption is not available via the particular channel.

Abstract: A method of presenting program data in a multiple zones of a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub includes obtaining a registration of a plurality of source device and sink devices at the wireless home entertainment hub. An assignment of a zone corresponding to each sink device of the plurality of sink devices is stored. A first selection of a first source device and a first zone for presentation of a first set of program data from the first source device is received. A first instruction to the first source device to transmit the first set of program data is transmitted, and a second instruction to a first subset of sink devices in the first zone to receive program data from the first source device is transmitted.

Abstract: A method of swapping channels in a broadcast system includes a broadcast operation channel management system receiving broadcast operation channel swap data for a first station and a second station. The channel swap data comprises an effective date, a first station identifier and a first position and a second station identifier and a second position. A traffic scheduling system database communicates a first channel mapping data for a first channel to the broadcast operation channel management system. The traffic scheduling system database communicates a second channel mapping for a second channel to the broadcast operation channel management system. The broadcast operation channel updates the first channel mapping to form a first updated first channel mapping by setting a first end date of the first channel mapping to the effective date for the first station and communicating the first updated first channel mapping to the traffic scheduling database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request associated with a user for media-related programming information, obtaining a plurality of media episode indicators for a time period associated with the request and with the user, and generating code for displaying the plurality of media episode indicators in a calendar associated with the user.

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 computer-implemented method includes receiving information associated with a user of media services, wherein the received information does not uniquely identify one media head end for he user, identifying a plurality of head ends responsive to the received information, and generating, for display on a client device associated with the user, information for displaying a program guide aggregating channels for the plurality of head ends.

Abstract: A program replacing method and apparatus replaces a program in a broadcast receiving terminal apparatus. A first program is registered so that message transmission is enabled between the first program and a POD (Point of Deployment), the first program having an identifier identifying a program type of the first program. If a second program exists in a broadcast receiving terminal apparatus, the second program is notified that message transmission between the second program and the POD is to be terminated. The method receives approval for terminating the message transmission between the second program and the POD, from the second program, terminates the message transmission between the second program and the POD, and notifies the first program that message transmission between the first program and the POD has been enabled.

Abstract: A program replacing method capable of updating a program by executing a temporarily downloaded program without deleting an existing program, as well as being capable of easily restoring such existing program. When a function not equipped to the existing program is required to be added, the program replacing method downloads a program so that it can be executed concurrently with the existing program.

Abstract: A broadcast receiving terminal, which implements a service executing method, includes a receiver operable to receive an application, a recording medium, and a service executer operable to execute a service that uses one or more resources in a service execution environment intended for the service. The terminal also includes an associater operable to associate the service execution environment with resource set information indicating the one or more resources used by the service, when the application requests the service executer to execute the service, and a storager operable to store, into the recording medium, a plurality of service execution environments together with the associated resource set information that are associated by the associater. The terminal further includes a resource manager operable to provide, to a selected service, one or more resources indicated in the resource set information in the associated service execution environment, in the recording medium, stored by the storager.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods to navigate, browse, search and/or playback digital media assets (e.g., media items) hosted on a media server are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention pertains to a user interface arrangement, such as a hierarchical menu system, that facilitates navigation, browsing and playing of media items remotely stored on a media server. The user interface arrangement enables user scrolling or browsing with respect to a list or set of information pertaining to media items, where the list or set can be expanded to include information for additional media items that are subsequently acquired. The user interface arrangement can also present and permit navigation of categorized media items. The user interface arrangement can be presented on a display device associated with a client device. In one embodiment, the display device can be a television and the client device can be an electronic apparatus that can couple to the media server via a network.