Abstract: A multimedia device processes a remote control signal that includes a unique identifier. A profile associated with the identifier is provided to the remote control over a bi-directional link that includes a cellular connection between the remote control and a cellular base station. A display mode instruction from the remote control may control a display mode determining whether content is sent only to a remote control display, only to a television display, or to both. A content mode instruction may determine whether all content is displayed or commercial-free content only is displayed. An interactive display may be provided in accordance with the display mode instruction and the content mode instruction. The multimedia device may provide a notification message indicating a change in content status of a multimedia program to the remote control.

Abstract: Digital video data and digital multiple-audio data are extracted from a source, using a hardware processor in a content source device within a premises. The extracted digital video data is processed for display on a main display device in the premises; and the extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into a primary soundtrack in a primary language, to be listened to within the premises in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data. The primary soundtrack corresponds to the displayed extracted digital video data, in the primary language. The extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into at least one secondary audio asset, different than the primary soundtrack; and the at least one secondary audio asset is transmitted to a personal media device within the premises, for apprehension by a user of the personal media device in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data.

Abstract: A method and system for digital closed caption transport are provided. In one example, the method involves receiving closed caption data and a program feed having video content, embedding the closed caption data into a standard video syntax, and encoding the video content into the standard video syntax as a background, wherein the closed caption data and the video content are encoded into a closed caption program feed.

Abstract: An image display apparatus for receiving and processing a broadcast signal and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method includes displaying a home screen including a plurality of card objects, displaying a broadcast image and a favorite channel object representing favorite channels in a broadcast card object representing a broadcast image among the plurality of card objects, and displaying a favorite channel list including favorite channel items on the display, upon selection of the favorite channel object.

Abstract: In a method for transferring data via a digital television (DTV) network and a mobile communication network using an electronic device, the method receives a DTV signal via the DTV network and detects a decode error rate (DER) of the DTV signal at a first frequency. The method further detects the DER of the DTV signal at a second frequency and detects an average signal strength of the mobile communication network when the DER is continuously greater than a first threshold value. The method builds an electronic connection between the electronic device and a multimedia server via the mobile communication network and receives multimedia data from the multimedia server when the DER is continuously greater than a second threshold value and when the average signal strength is continuously greater than a third threshold value.

Abstract: A multifunctional display device includes a processor to control display of at least one of a broadcast signal, data packets or signals from the remote controller. Also, a home screen includes a first area displaying a program, a second area displaying one or more card objects, and a third area having a prescribed number of applications. The home screen may be changed to display additional applications when an icon is selected using a remote controller.

Abstract: Methods of providing a media file include receiving the media file and an identification of a destination set-top box for the media file at a server device. The received media file is transmitted from the server device to the identified set-top box in an Internet protocol television (IPTV) multimedia format.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a genre-based video mosaic from multiple of video sources in a cable services network system. A cable services head end periodically searches a database for a genre descriptor identifying a type of programming broadcast in the cable services network, selects a group of video sources associated with the genre descriptor which are currently being broadcast in the cable services network, and generates a mosaic including the group of video sources associated with the genre descriptor which are currently being broadcast in the cable services network. A set-top box receives the mosaic from the head end, executes an application program enabling a subscriber to selectively tune the video sources in the mosaic, and displays the mosaic on a broadcast channel in the cable services network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recording programs, a multimedia system and a network side device. The multimedia system includes a network side device and a plurality of nodes, wherein the network side device is configured to generate a recording task after receiving a recording request, and send in advance the recording task to each node in which a channel specified in the recording task is stored, and the nodes are configured to record a program on the channel specified in the recording task after receiving the recording task, and return recording result information to the network side device. According to the recording method of the present invention, when the recording is failed, inter-node mutual reconstruction and complementary recording can be performed, which greatly decreases the possibility of failure in the recording of the program, and provides the quality of service of more fluent TVOD for users.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for handling situations where requested services require more network capacity than presently available, and notifying network users of an delay in providing such services. In one embodiment, the invention comprises apparatus and methods for the detection of capacity (e.g., bandwidth) shortage, determination of a delayed delivery mode and schedule for the delivery of the requested content, and notification of the availability of the content to the user via, e.g., on-screen display, e-mail, text message, or other mode. The user can also specify their own notification preferences and delivery time. Requests for and delivery of the content may be performed from/to different locations as well. Network server apparatus, consumer premises equipment (CPE), and a software architecture adapted to implement the foregoing functionality, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a universal television receiver that is capable of processing television channel signals, that are transmitted according to a variety of broadcast standards, to provide video and audio information for a desired television channel signal. The processing includes producing a coarse channel signal that includes a desired television channel signal and then applying resampling techniques to adjust a normalized bandwidth of the desired television channel signal to generally correspond to the normalized passband of a main filter that is used for each of the broadcast standards.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide apparatus, methods, and systems including an input to receive data associated with a channel viewership of a network; a distribution unit coupled to the input, the distribution unit to determine one or more relative viewership distributions based on the data; and a configuration unit coupled to the distribution unit, the configuration unit to provide one or more reconfiguration settings for one or more reconfigurable servers coupled to the network.

Abstract: A method for controlling presentation of data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes obtaining a registration for a plurality of source devices and for one or more sink devices. A first indication that a first source device from the plurality of source devices has become active is received at the wireless home entertainment hub. A second indication that a second source device from the plurality of source devices has become active is received. A first instruction is transmitted to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the first active source device. A second instruction is transmitted to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the second active source device. A first indication is transmitted to the first active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data, and a second indication is transmitted to the second active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data.

Abstract: A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network.

Abstract: A mobile TV system architecture for a mobile terminal that reduces the processing required by the main processor during reception of digital broadcasts such as DVB-H. The mobile terminal architecture includes a main processor system and a mobile TV receiver device. The mobile TV receiver device includes units for SI/PSI processing, IP processing and decryption engine. The SI/PSI (service information/program specific information) processing unit receives non-protected transport stream (TS) packets and extracts SI/PSI tables which can be stored in memory local to the receiver device. The IP processing unit receives decrypted error-corrected protected packets containing multimedia content. The receiver device may include an HTTP server for communicating with a browser application running on the main processor system. The browser application presents multimedia content, received via HTTP, corresponding to a URL entered or selected by a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retrieving an I frame are disclosed in the present invention, wherein, the method includes: analyzing transport stream packets in a transport stream one by one, and if it is determined that the current transport stream packet is a video packet and includes a Packet Elementary Stream (PES) header, then making a determination according to data after the PES header in the current transport stream packet to locate initial and/or end locations of the I frame. In the present invention, without parsing syntax elements in H.264, such as a Sequence Parameter Set (SPS), a Picture Parameter Set (PPS), a slice etc., the location of the I frame can be positioned by simply comparing various Transport stream (TS) packets in the TS stream and making a determination.

Abstract: A personalized content overlay is generated and sent for display to a subscriber. The content overlay may be generated in response to a request by the subscriber, such as a request to watch a program. The content overlay can include personalized information tailored to the subscriber based on subscriber information. The content overlay can also include information obtained from a third party, such as an advertiser, that has a preexisting relationship with the subscriber. The content overlay can include one or more triggers that, when activated by the subscriber, enable interactivity between the subscriber and a third party.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing remote set-top box access functions in an Internet browser extension is disclosed. Web page content of a currently viewed web page is compared to an entertainment content database. The web page content is determined to be associated with entertainment content in the entertainment content database. Also, it is determined that there is a media manipulation action for the entertainment content, and a notification that the media manipulation action is available for the entertainment content is displayed.

Abstract: A system and method employs an online site for making stored digital video recordings available for selection and download to a wireless communications device. Upon receipt of a selection for a digital video recording, the system and method causes the selected digital video recording to be wirelessly transmitted to the wireless communications device. The selected digital video recording is also made available to a personal computer associated with the user who made the selection. At least a title of the selected digital video recording is stored in a personal storage account of the user.

Abstract: A disclosed remote control, suitable for use with a set top box or other form of multimedia handling device, includes a processor, a user input device, and a display. The user input device and the display are communicatively coupled to the processor. A communication adapter is configured to place the processor in bi-directional communication with the multimedia handling device. The remote control further includes a storage medium that may include a unique identifier of the user and a user profile indicative of the user's channel preferences and viewing permissions. The storage medium may further include software instructions to synchronize the user profile with a corresponding user profile on the multimedia handling device, receive input from the user via the user input device, the input including commands from the user to manipulate the multimedia handling device, and display output on the display screen in response to the user's commands.