Abstract: An IPTV group profile is dynamically generated based on individual IPTV user profiles, whenever a user joins or leaves a shared IPTV session at an IPTV Terminal Function (ITF). The IPTV group profile may be implemented as a modification to the IPTV user profile of each user. In one embodiment, a “group” branch includes the additional access privileges and/or restrictions from the IPTV user profiles of other group members. The modified IPTV user profiles of users in the group are placed on a network entity such as an XDM Server (XDMS), to which the ITF subscribes via XCAP. As users join or leave a shared IPTV session at an ITF, the IPTV-AS updates the IPTV user profiles on the XDMS, which notifies the ITF of the changes. Each user's IPTV user profile at the ITF thus reflects group access privileges, preferences and restrictions for the duration of the shared IPTV session.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying audio/video content using temporal characteristics of a signal are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and methods receive a signature associated with audio/video content presented at a monitored site, wherein the signature is based on a plurality of time intervals associated with audio features of the audio/video content presented at the monitored site and identify the audio/video content presented at the monitored site based on the received signature.

Abstract: A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience.

Abstract: A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience.

Abstract: A system and method automates a scheduled retrieval, storage, and access of media data. Media data is retrieved from an external source and downloaded to an end user media device storage for subsequent playback at the end user media device. Media data is accessible from the end user media device storage based upon criteria including a selection of the end user, rules regulating the media data, and whether a playback time of the media data is sufficient to retrieve additional media data. The system performs regularly scheduled dynamic controls to determine whether additional media data is required for continuous and uninterrupted access of the media data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing media program information to a user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a command to provide a menu guide from a plurality of menu guides defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart, wherein the menu guide is associated with a first daypart, and providing a menu guide comprising a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information. The apparatus comprises a receiver having a tuner for receiving the media program and the media program information, a processor, communicatively coupled to the tuner for providing a menu guide having a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information, wherein the menu guide is selectable from a plurality of menu guides together defining a program information space segmented by a daypart.

Abstract: A multicast services control system is provided for Internet protocol television transport. The system includes a service distribution platform, at least one service concentration platform, and at least one set-top box. The service distribution platform has a multicast table. The service distribution platform is configured to receive channels from an Internet protocol video source and the multicast table is configured to include an entry for each of the channels. The at least one service concentration platform communicates with the service distribution platform for forwarding “leaves” and receiving “joins” with the service distribution platform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal. In this present invention, information identifying a product item, which is in a scene to be presented from a broadcast signal, is provided together with a broadcast signal, then a signal receiving terminal stores the product information for a new product item and displays the stored information to a viewer to select one product item while or after watching an interesting broadcast program, and transmits data identifying a selected product item to a predetermined web site and receives web site address for the selected item from that site. As a result, detailed information for the selected item is acquired from a server addressed by the received web site address.

Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.

Abstract: In order to easily download a program obtained from the outside onto a connected device while a device on which a program is to be downloaded is being properly selected, when a second device connected to a first device is controlled by executing a first program inputted to the first device from the outside and a second program prepared beforehand in the first device, the most desirable device is selected as the second device by executing the second program and the first program is executed by using information on the selected device.

Abstract: The present invention registers a content so that its composition can be easily recognized, and promotes the reduction of a load in playing processing on the registered content, and improves convenience of users. Also, it evaluates the value of production of a content more properly. An information processing apparatus includes: a generator for generating meta information including content composition information representing a composition of a content to be registered, and mashed-up-or-not information representing whether a content to be registered is a unitary content or a mashed-up content in which a plurality of contents are combined; and a register for registering the generated meta information as content information.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method is described that may include applying at least one of a capitalization rule and a spacing rule to a word obtained from compressed electronic program guide (EPG) data. The compressed EPG data includes a plurality of word encoding values and a plurality of character encoding values. Each of the capitalization and spacing rules may be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one said word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to one or more character encoding values. The capitalization and spacing rules may also be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to at least one other word encoding value. An output is made of the obtained word to which there has been applied at least one of the capitalization rule and the spacing rule.

Abstract: A PSI converter includes: a protocol data extractor, a protocol data converter, a protocol data inserter, and a system controller. The protocol data extractor is configured for demultiplexing a terrestrial broadcasting TS or a satellite broadcasting TS, and extracting audio/video data and PSIP/PSI data or audio/video data and SI/PSI data from the terrestrial broadcasting TS or the satellite broadcasting TS, respectively. The protocol data converter is configured for converting the PSIP/PSI data or the SI/PSI data into PSIP/PSI data of a corresponding digital cable television broadcasting standard. The protocol data inserter is configured for inserting the digital cable television broadcasting standard PSIP/PSI data into the audio/video data extracted by the protocol data extractor though TS multiplexing, and generating a digital cable broadcasting TS.

Abstract: A carousel having multiple instances of at least one data or object module. The carousel may be encapsulated into a transmission, such as an MPEG-2 transport stream, for periodic transmission to a receiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data contents processing method and apparatus for processing and displaying data contents in relation with a TV program in a DTV having a browser function. The data contents processing method according to the present invention includes the steps for: separating audio/video (A/V) signals and data contents upon receipt of a broadcast signal and extracting information on the currently received channel and a program identifier; constructing a database by forming an integrated information of a channel/program identifier information and data contents in connection with each other; controlling the conversion of data contents by checking whether or not the data contents to be displayed are consistent with the current A/V signal according to the integrated information; and, when the data contents is converted to thus select a user-desired data contents, displaying the A/V signal and the data contents.

Abstract: A gateway screen for interactive television includes a television content panel and an internet content panel. The gateway screen is displayed by an interactive television (ITV), e.g., when the ITV is turned on. The gateway screen allows a user to quickly and easily view information from multiple sources, e.g., a Web site, a television signal source, and an ITV system server, at a glance. This allows a consumer to gain a quick overview of the information presented by the multiple sources. The gateway screen also allows a consumer to select commonly accessed sources. The gateway screen can be tailored to fulfill a specific consumer's needs and can be established based on preferences input by the consumer.

Abstract: An image transmission apparatus for processing hierarchically encoded image information includes an accounting unit for performing accounting processing in correspondence with the resolution of the image information.

Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for incorporating broadcast television into Web pages. Broadcast television can be embedded into Web pages using, for example, a “tv:” attribute in conjunction with common HTML tags. Within the “tv:” attribute, a Web-page author can reference a TV station by channel number, network, or broadcast call letters. HTML documents are parsed to recover both the conventional tags and tags that include TV attributes. The resulting Web pages display the identified broadcast TV in a frame specified by the TV attribute. One embodiment supports the presentation of television in the background of an HTML document. In that embodiment, HTML tags corresponding to overlying HTML content are provided with an attribute that defines a level of transparency from zero to one-hundred percent. The transparency attribute allows content providers to overlay any type of HTML information over a broadcast television show without completely obscuring the underlying show.

Abstract: A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus suggests programs for viewing by a subscriber. Terminals installed at a subscriber's home and at central locations, such as bookstores, video rental stores and libraries, provide responsive or intelligent search functions to suggest programs for viewing according to a subscriber's viewing preferences. Responsive searching includes posing questions to and receiving answers from the subscribers. Intelligent searching includes gathering historical data, such as the subscriber's history of programs watched. The programs include videotapes, videodiscs, television programs and electronic books. Subscribers indicate their selection and order the programs using a menu system. An automated billing system tracks the programs ordered.